<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> October 30, 2006 -- Stephon Marbury and Steve Francis formed a strong friendship off the court over the summer and in the Knicks' final preseason game Friday at The Meadowlands, they showed how dangerous they can be as an on-court tandem. Francis (39) and Marbury (24) combined for 63 points in the Knicks' 138-121 loss to the Nets, both players thriving in the transition offense, slicing to the basket at will. Nobody knows if the Knicks' defense will be competent enough to make them a playoff team when the season opens Wednesday in Memphis, but they should have an explosive offensive club spearheaded by the Marbury-Francis backcourt. "Steve and I have a really good feel for each other now," Marbury told The Post. "We both want each other to do well, which no one knows." During the summer, Francis did his backcourt mate a favor by filming an extended interview for a TV talk show Marbury's shopping. In the preseason opener, Francis, in a show of sneaker solidarity, wore Marbury's "Starbury Ones." Francis clearly is making an effort to be Marbury's buddy. Often compared by their playing styles, Marbury says the 29-year-olds are being propelled by the same forces. "We are trying to really win a championship," Marbury said. "Our whole lives we wanted something, and that one thing was to make it to the NBA. Now that's done. It has to be something else. And the "chip" is the only thing left to do in basketball. We have everything that we want as far as money. So now you have to have something else to push you." The moment Francis arrived from Orlando in a trade last February, Marbury immediately lobbied for the Knicks to be a "run and gun" team. Incensed at Marbury's public plea, former coach Larry Brown slowed the offense further, making Marbury look over to the sidelines to get the play every time he crossed midcourt. New coach Isiah Thomas' free-wheeling, react-and-read offense could not be more opposite Brown's philosophy. "The offense is conducive to the way [Francis and Marbury] like to play," Thomas said. "We want to play an up-tempo game, we want to put those guys in positions where they can be very effective. [Friday] they were extremely effective. They can spread the floor, they can get to the basket. They're a tough combination to guard when they're on top of their game." </div> Source
