KEY POINTS:
New Zealand basketball player Sean Marks is keeping himself at high alert as he awaits a call to make his debut in the US National Basketball Association (NBA) playoffs.
With his Phoenix Suns side 0-2 down in the seven-game Western Conference playoffs against his former team, the San
Antonio Spurs, Marks said today waiting on the bench was part and parcel of the game.
Since becoming the first New Zealander signed to the NBA in 1998, Marks has never made an appearance in a play-off match.
But his hopes of breaking that duck have been raised after he set a series of personal bests for the Suns in the final game of the regular season earlier this month.
Marks equalled his career-high output in the NBA with 16 points as the Suns beat the Portland Trailblazers 100-91 in Phoenix.
Playing 24 minutes, Marks also pulled down the most rebounds of his eight years in the world's elite professional league, managing 13.
The 32-year-old landed his first three-pointer and managed a steal and a block in a fine allround display.
It was only Marks' third match of the season, having made brief appearances over the last month after returning from injury.
His only other 16-point haul was for the Miami Heat seven years ago.
The Suns dropped both opening playoff matches against the Spurs 115-117 in double overtime and 96-102 after poor third quarter in the second game.
Marks said it had been a great experience to get a runaround in the last two games preceding the playoffs.
"I enjoyed it but from a selfish standpoint I wish there was more of that throughout the season.
"But at the same time you can't be focused on individual goals at this stage in the season.
"It is all about winning and for myself and the four or five guys who don't get a lot of court time, we have to continue to stay ready because you never know when you are going to be needed.
"If there's an injury or something in the playoffs, you may be called upon to go straight out there and so we have to be focused and be ready at all times.
"It is frustrating not to have won a game so far - the main goal now is to win the two at home and then that way it hopefully becomes a best of three series and we can go back to San Antonio with momentum going in our direction."
Marks said the arrival of NBA legend Shaquille O'Neal had been a huge boost to the side.
"He give us belief because he's all about winning championships... he's got four and he wants more.
"... it's a lot of fun to go to work with a guy like that in the locker room."
The third playoff game in will be played on Saturday (NZtime).
- NZPA
