As I continue to finish up what the former North Carolina Basketball players did in this year’s 2012 Summer League we catch up with floor general Kendall Marshall, who premiered in the tournament just a game before. In this game, played at the Thomas And Mack Center, Las Vegas, NV., the Phoenix Suns (1-2) once again lost, this time falling by 17 to the New Orleans Hornets (1-2). For the former Carolina point guard it was once again not a great outing in this one statistic wise, but on the court he was a lot better than the first game.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-ci8T2hkAA&version=3&hl=en_US]
Marshall, who was on the court for close to a team high 31 minutes in all, scored 3 points (1 for 10 ~ 0 for 1 ~ 1 for 2) to go with a game high five assists, a steal and a pair of turnovers while having a pts differential of -23. And while this game was still not what anyone that has followed the 6’4″ guard expects he seemed to be a lot more aggresive on the hardwoods on both sides of the ball. Of course for those that just read the box score of this game are going to see 1 for 10 and not focus on anything else. However the reality is that Marshall was able to drive to the basket several times, unfortunately he was not able to convert in any of the drives, and was able to be a much better leader.
“Just came out more relaxed,” Marshall said. “Obviously the outcome was still the same. We have to find a way to score the basketball as a team, but individually I just felt like myself out there playing. It was nice to get one game under my belt yesterday.”
His coaches also saw the improvement from the first game Marshall played to this one, saying…
“He looked more comfortable you can see his confidence growing,” Suns assistant coach and head summer league coach Dan Majerle said. “Still got a long way to go but he made strides definitely from last game.”
Yes, for the young man out of the North Carolina Basketball program there is still much road to travel before he can be at the level the coaching staff wants him at. But the fact that he has made strides from game one to game two, without any practice in between, shows that Marshall has the basketball IQ to get it altogether before the regular season begins. For more information on Kendall Marshall and all other present and former Tar Heels make sure to come back often to isportsweb!