Heat Vs. Mavericks, Game 1 Update: Shawn Marion Tonight’s Unsung Hero Thus Far

Predictably, the announcers have focused much of their chatter on the 'Big Three' and Dirk Nowitzki tonight. When they're not discussing those players, Mike Bibby's poor shooting and all of the Dallas Mavericks' guards have gotten some face time on television. However, for some reason, the ABC broadcast team hasn't talked a whole lot about Shawn Marion, and it's tough to figure out why.

As the third quarter comes to a close, Marion has been arguably the best player on the court. He isn't taking a lot of shots, predictably, but he's shooting an efficient 5-9 from the field and 3-4 from the free throw line with three minutes remaining in the third, good for 13 points. He also has nine rebounds, three of those offensive, to go along with three assists. His defense, whether he's had to guard Dwyane Wade or LeBron James, has been solid all night. Dallas are hanging on to a narrow 57-55 lead at the moment, and the all-around effort of Marion is a major reason why.

For live coverage of Game 1 of the NBA Finals, keep it tuned to this StoryStream. To see the up-to-the-minute score, along with information from around SB Nation on the game, keep your browser on this Heat-Mavs score page. Throughout the NBA Finals, check out our 2011 NBA Finals hub for more coverage. For more on the two teams, Mavericks fans should head over to Mavs Moneyball and SB Nation Dallas, while Heat fans should check out Peninsula Is Mightier.