<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Stephon Marbury came to appreciate Sam Mitchell as a teammate when the talented point guard broke into the National Basketball Association with the Minnesota Timberwolves. Now that the New York Knicks star is trying to catch the Mitchell-coached Toronto Raptors in the Atlantic Division standings, Marbury appreciates him even more. "I think they're a really well-coached team. I think Sam Mitchell is doing a great job," said Marbury, who hopes his Knicks will be able to eat into the Raptors 5.5-game lead in the Atlantic Division as the teams square off tonight at the Air Canada Centre and Sunday at Madison Square Garden. "He's allowed them to understand how to play a finesse game but at the same time be mentally tough. I know that because I've played with him, so I know how he is as a player." While the Knicks have improved this season ? enough that Isiah Thomas was given a multi-year contract extension earlier this week ? the Raptors are the most improved team in the NBA so far.</div> http://www.globesports.com/servlet/story/R...4.wsptmarbury14
