Marbury Heats Up!
Point guard says he'll be back in NY next year and will play his way

BY GREG LOGAN
Newsday Staff Correspondent

April 14, 2006

CLEVELAND -- If it was Stephon Marbury's intention to call Larry Brown's bluff yesterday, he did a good job of it. The Knicks' point guard said he's not going to play Brown's way next season, and he has no plans to hit the highway out of New York.

It would seem something has to give in this supreme test of wills, but Marbury made it clear he's not backing down. In fact, he indicated his comments at yesterday morning's shootaround were just an appetizer for what is to come when the Knicks clean out their lockers on Thursday after their final game.

Marbury told the public relations staff to have a podium in place that day .because he's going to unload.

"Don't worry," Marbury said, "I'll answer all your questions."

Sounding as if he's ready to blame the Knicks' failed season squarely on Brown, Marbury added, "If things would have been in place the way they were supposed to, I don't think we would have been in this situation. But that just didn't happen. So, stay tuned. You'll hear it."

Asked if he has any regrets about this season, Marbury called it "the best year of my life." Through his trials and tribulations with Brown, Marbury said he made a leap forward to a point where he's comfortable with himself as a player and is willing to offer his version of the truth no matter how the chips may fall. He said he began this season "100 percent committed to do whatever wanted me to do. It didn't work, so, I'm going to play like I normally play.

"There have been people who played for a coach who didn't see things the same way, and it worked out. I don't see why it can't work out. But like I said: I played like Stephon Marbury this year. Next year, I'm going to play like 'Starbury.'"

Told that Brown said he'd like Marbury to play as well as he did before he suffered a shoulder injury on Jan. 16 that put him out for an extended period, Marbury replied emphatically, "Oh, he doesn't have to worry. I'm going to do everything that I did before he came here."

When it was suggested Brown might not want to hear that, Marbury said, "I don't care what he wants to hear. I'm telling you what I'm going to do."

Marbury sat out his seventh straight game with a strained left patella tendon last night as the Knicks lost, 91-87, to the Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena.

With 3:06 left in the third quarter, Brown took ill and went to the locker room for the rest of the game. Knicks officials said it was nothing serious. The Cavaliers (48-31) overcame a 13-point deficit with the help of an 11-0 run late in the fourth quarter. Larry Hughes led the Cavs with 26 points, and Nate Robinson had 32 points and Jamaal Crawford had 19 points and nine assists for the Knicks (22-56).

Brown did predict that the Knicks will win games next season if Marbury plays as well as he did during their six-game winning streak in January.

The coach indicated Marbury might not be the point guard next season and said his preparation over the summer should have more to do with attitude than basketball. "I think he's got to make up his mind to continue to improve," Brown said. "That's what all good players do. We've got to make our teammates better . . . I'm confident he'll understand that. But it can't be on one guy. We have a lot of guys that have got to step up. But believe me, this isn't going to be the same team."

Earlier this week, Brown said he has the support of owner James Dolan and team president Isiah Thomas to make whatever changes are necessary this summer. Some assume that includes an effort to trade Marbury, although he has three years worth $60 million left on his contract.

But Marbury, who has a close bond with Thomas, said he's not worried about being traded. "I'm going to be back in New York," Marbury said. "I'm not going anywhere, I don't think. Not as far as I know. I don't see why I would be anyplace else other than New York."

Marbury spoke with such conviction that it sounded as if he might know something Brown doesn't. Like the man said, stay tuned.

well its nice to know some things never change, but you gotta admit, as terrible as this season has been, the marbury brown saga almost makes up for it. as far as entertainment goes.

Am I the only one who thinks he has a persecution complex?

Maybe it was a complex once, but he gets persecuted quite a bit these days.

oohah

Earlier in the season I stuck with Marbury because he was playing hard and was actually doing what Brown asked of him. Now he's being a primadonna and throwing it all away. So screw it. I'm off the bandwagon. Ship him out.

Am I the only one interested in seeing if Zeke coaches out the string?

The team is playing well, playing hard, and the overpriced divas are not a part of it.

Marbs must be feeling very insecure to heat this stupid diatribe spewing of ego.

Isiah created a monster by bringing him home with a hero's welcome and giving him the star treatment.

Now his ego is detatched from his ability.

Unleashing his superhero "Starbury" and saying he will reveal at seasons end just baffles the mind!

I think his little cousins film has made him quite envious of attention while his game and stature has crumbled.

The only way he can reestablish it is on the court, and with wins. He does not care about winning, its about his cred and stats.

I am very disappointed him. In a season where we hoped he would establish himself as a leader on the court, and in the lockerroom he has really shown himself to be quite the opposite.

Isiah really banked alot on him and took him under his wing. Isiah made Stephs dream come true.

Steph rejects a hall of fame point guard and a hall of fame coach whom has some good cred as a point guard himself in his day. "Starbury" will only hurt himself the more he opens his mouth. This can only blow up in his face.

hypothetical question: is steph doing all this b/c he knows isiah is gonna be gone soon?

Phar,

Divas want to perform, but they are very particular about how they go about it. Its all about them.

What Steph forgets is "Starbury" puts up stats, but is not a winner. Teammates don't like playing with "starbury".

"starbury" is not a desirable commodity.

take "starburys" body of work which is individualistic and not clutch (see Iverson for similar style, but with better results) vs. a coach who preaches the team concept. Forget its Brown, just remember the concept. Brown did well with Iverson. Iverson changed. Iverson played much harder. Iverson played defense.

Sorry, Im still backing brown. He preaches the Red Holzman concept of team play and if we knick fans have just one single shread of history to hold onto, that is a worthwhile concept to back. Larry came in trying to do so with the wrong type player, but its gonna happen come hell of high water.

I don't care if you pay QDog or Butler the Max, if they play hard and produce they are not divas. But if they bring the 8th grade egocentric selfish thing on, then they are divas.

It is a serious issue about them co-existing. I give Marbury credit he made serious attempts to play Brown way but on the other hand Brown made no attempts to adapt to Marbury. When he did, it wasn't successful because Brown didn't have anyone to run point. Marbury was still the best point he had on the team which of course frustrates him become he knows Marbury can play as a pure point if he really wants. After reading those articles about Brown that DJ posted regarding his run ins with Billups and RH in Detroit. I just see Brown as a guy who can't adapt to player wanting to exceed their abilities. Brown sees that every player has a role on a team and they should stick with it, while today's player wants to expand on their abilities. Riley hates 3s but Starks, Hardaway likes to shoot 3s, what do you do. You compromise and adapt to the player you have. Different philosophies I guess.

Posted by Nalod:

Phar,

Divas want to perform, but they are very particular about how they go about it. Its all about them.

What Steph forgets is "Starbury" puts up stats, but is not a winner. Teammates don't like playing with "starbury".

"starbury" is not a desirable commodity.

take "starburys" body of work which is individualistic and not clutch (see Iverson for similar style, but with better results) vs. a coach who preaches the team concept. Forget its Brown, just remember the concept. Brown did well with Iverson. Iverson changed. Iverson played much harder. Iverson played defense.

Sorry, Im still backing brown. He preaches the Red Holzman concept of team play and if we knick fans have just one single shread of history to hold onto, that is a worthwhile concept to back. Larry came in trying to do so with the wrong type player, but its gonna happen come hell of high water.

I don't care if you pay QDog or Butler the Max, if they play hard and produce they are not divas. But if they bring the 8th grade egocentric selfish thing on, then they are divas.

Ah the AI debate, one of the most overrated parts of Brown.
Do you really want to know what Brown did for AI, nothing. He backed off him the 2000-2001 season, AI played the same way as he played in Georgetown under Coach Thompson. AI still shot the ball as many times as he wanted, still rack up his steals, still committed turnovers, showed up to practice when he felt like it but made peace with himself as far as being the guy to run the ball up the court. Snow ran point while AI played off-guard. Look at AI before Brown, during Brown, after Brown and tell me what significant impact Brown had on AI. Hell AI frustrated Brown for refusal to change to Brown's concept that Brown bolted for Detroit when he got the first chance. Where do you think must of this Brown overrated stuff comes from, Philly writers.