<font size=""5"">Despite Being the Target Of Rumors, Marbury Not Knicks Biggest Concern</font> By Dennis L. Silva, II. 11.16.05 It’s only been a mere seven games, and yet Knicks point guard Stephon Marbury sees his name being thrown about amidst potential trade rumors. As soon as former Detroit Pistons head coach Larry Brown was announced as New York’s new head man on July 28, NBA analysts and Knicks loyalists both knew there was a possible conflict. After all, this was the same Larry Brown who had not seen eye-to-eye with Marbury when the two were trying to lead the USA Basketball team to Gold (and failed) in Athens, Greece in 2004. All summer, Marbury said all the right things. “Playing for Larry Brown, it's going to be a great thing," added Marbury, who spoke at his camp at Basketball City this summer in Manhattan. "He is a great coach. Hands down, he's a flat out winner. From us having been together, I know the man he is -- he strives for perfection. His style IS different but it's easy to adjust to. I know how to play 94 feet -- when I get out there, there aren't too many things I can't do. I just can't wait to start playing. And playing for him, it's going to be a plus." Marbury had even embraced the possibility of playing the shooting guard spot, which Brown had mentioned before, noting Marbury’s talent as a scorer and shooter. "Actually, I want to play the 'two',” Marbury said. “If I play the 'two', it's going to be scary. It's going to be scary because I can shoot whenever I want to shoot. I think I'll even be more of a playmaker because, instead of nine people watching what I do, I'll be playing behind the defense." That would have, perhaps, been the most ideal situation. Have Marbury at the two-guard spot, breaking down defenses with his strength and quickness, and using his body to draw contact and get to the foul line. And had Brown acquired his old friend Eric Snow (who was the steady point guard on Brown’s former Sixers teams that he had coached), that would have been the perfect scenerio. Unfortunately, having Marbury play off the ball would mean having guard Jamal Crawford (who has a career assist/turnover ration of 2.06) handle the ball more and initiate the offense. That would not have been the perfect ideal for Crawford, who is better suited as a scorer (17.7 points/game last year as a Knick) and shooter (3.6 field goal attempts per assist). Therefore, Marbury has stayed at his usual point guard spot, and has received most of the blame or the Knicks’ early 2-5 start this season. However, Marbury has changed his game, focused on the defensive end of the floor, and also prioritized his play towards being a true playmaker who makes those around him better. Marbury is averaging three less field goal attempts per game, and has rebounded the ball better (3.6 rebounds per game so far) and is shooting his best percentage from the floor (46.7%) than he has in his whole career. So why is Marbury’s name being thrown around like a rag doll in the tabloids? There’s been the Marbury-for-Francis rumor. There’s been the Marbury-for-Rose rumor. The sooner the Knicks realize that Marbury is not their primary concern, the better off they will be. Marbury is the scapegoat; the most convenient name to blame since he is the point guard and is the only player on the Knicks, aside from the little-used Anfernee Hardaway, who has All-Star credentials. No, instead the Knicks choose to ignore the fact that Quentin Richardson is still parking his athletic, 6’8” frame outside the 3-point arc (46% of his shot attempts are 3-point attempts). No, just watch as the Knicks choose to downplay the fact that Eddy Curry has trouble guarding players without reaching or holding, hence his 3.7 fouls/game and his paltry 25.6 minutes per game. Ignore the fact that Marbury receives no backcourt scoring help, as Crawford manages only 12.4 points per game, and the next closest “offensive threat” in the backcourt is rookie guard Nate Robinson’s 4.4 point/game output. Or that no one else outside of Marbury averages more than 2.9 assists per game. Or maybe the Knicks just don’t want to accept the fact that center Jerome James and his laughable contract is their biggest blunder in years. No, instead, just blame it on the point guard who has tried to change his game and accommodate his head coach in order to try and turn around a franchise he grew up adoring. No, instead, just blame a point guard who you are certain has no selfish intentions because he grew up idolizing those who wore the blue and orange. The Knicks have bigger problems that Marbury. They have to find a way to get Crawford and his ill-advised shot selection out of New York. It would help if he could run 10-15 minutes per night at the point guard spot, but when you have as itchy of a trigger finger as he does, there’s just no point (no pun intended). The Knicks also have to find a way to get some height and length off their bench. Malik Rose and Maurice Taylor just aren’t cutting it, especially when rookie David Lee is showing more heart and hustle and is the epitome of a Larry Brown type of player. Ad for goodness sakes’, someone either guide Jerome James to a treadmill or find some naïve GM to take his contract and weight off their hands (Rob Babcock, I know you’re reading this). Right now, the Knicks’ roster stands as claiming a legit backcourt point guard and a legit frontcourt presence. Nothing much more, aside from energetic rookie bunch who have been playing extremely well, but surely you can’t rely upon for significant and consistent contributions. To get rid of one of your two solid foundations for a player(s) who you know won’t end out at equal value would be pointless and just another ploy to distract the media temporarily from the mess that has been assembled to this point.
