So until the Knicks take care of this whole Marbury fiasco, it's going to be a three-ring circus around the team. Donnie Walsh, while speaking to the unusually large throng of media that was here in Greenburgh today, reiterated he wants to find a solution.

“I want to resolve the issues, if there are issues," Walsh said. "I don’t even know if there are issues. It’s more of a thing that happened and it happened over a weekend.”

When asked what he meant by issue, Walsh said: “The fact that he is not playing and you guys are asking me. I want to understand why and I want our coach to … If he’s got a valid reason, that’s one thing. If not, that’s what we are talking about.”

d'antoni needs to switch to verizon b/c his call about benching steph must've dropped...

[Edited by - djsunyc on 11-03-2008 8:58 PM]

it didn't drop. donnie was snoozing in his office when the call came through. this gm is practically mccain-aged.

Only in Knicks Land.

How much more will we have to stand before things really start looking better?

Is this a joke...Are these clowns kidding us...

Isn't it funny it took 4 years to people to hate on Isiah and about 3 games into the season for everyone to jump on Walsh and D'Antoni? I find it hilarious.

Indiana isn't making a big deal about Tinsley being banished. In NY we make mountains out of mole hills. Last year, and the year before the media absolutely obliterated Marbury. Called for his head, wanted him banished from NY, etc. Now we got a coach in here who is actually dong what most people wanted, and now its his fault. Only in NY and only NY fans....

Posted by Uptown:

Indiana isn't making a big deal about Tinsley being banished. In NY we make mountains out of mole hills. Last year, and the year before the media absolutely obliterated Marbury. Called for his head, wanted him banished from NY, etc. Now we got a coach in here who is actually dong what most people wanted, and now its his fault. Only in NY and only NY fans....

Indiana banished Tinsley the right way. They did not bring Tinsley into camp, and then he looked really good in camp, and then benched him by surprise. Absolutely no comparison.

oohah

Forget the plan, the coach and the GM are not in agreement of how to execute the plan! Read it and weep.


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http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/04/sports/basketball/04rhoden.html?_r=1&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=slogin


Marbury Has a Fan Where It Matters

By WILLIAM C. RHODEN
Published: November 3, 2008

Depending on whom you speak with — and believe — the Knicks are either turning the page or beginning a new chapter of absurdity.

Stephon Marbury was inactive Sunday against Milwaukee and has not played this season.

My vote is for absurdity. It centers once again on Stephon Marbury, the veteran point guard with whom the organization appears to be locked in a fatal embrace. The new coach, Mike D’Antoni, has sent a clear message that Marbury will not be part of the team’s present or future.

Donnie Walsh, the team’s president of basketball operations, hinted on Monday that while the Knicks are pining to get rid of Marbury, he — if not his coach — is entertaining the idea of playing him.

Granted, in this drama of spy and counter spy, who knows the truth? The Knicks want to get value for Marbury and know they can’t do it if he’s sitting on the bench in street clothes. It’s in the Knicks’ interest to tout Marbury’s attributes — how he came to camp in the best shape of his life and even agreed to play off the bench.

“I think he can play in this style,” Walsh, referring to D’Antoni’s frenetic offense, said Monday after watching practice. “I think that what Mike is trying to do is play younger guys, but on the way to that I think Stephon can be helpful. That’s what I’ve got to find out.”

The scene at practice was bizarre. As the Knicks scrimmaged and D’Antoni coached, Marbury, in full practice attire, leaned against the basket support, watching intently. Walsh sat on a folding chair about 20 yards away. I wondered if this scene seemed as bizarre to Walsh as it did to the rest of us?

“Let me put it this way,” he said. “This is an unusual situation. I have to talk to Steph. I don’t want to see him just sitting there. He’s a player. I think we have to have some direction as to how he’s going to be played. That’s how I feel.”

In fact, Walsh suggested he was surprised by the current events that have Marbury in limbo as a seemingly permanent fixture on the team’s inactive list.

“Steph was playing, coming off the bench,” Walsh recalled. “He said he was fine coming off the bench. And then all of a sudden, the first game he didn’t play, then that chant and everything was in there.”

He was referring to the “We Want Marbury” chorus on opening night at Madison Square Garden and again on Sunday.

“Then the next game I think it was a mutual agreement between Steph and Mike that it was becoming a distraction with so much attention, so he went on the inactive list,” Walsh said. “Quite honestly, I did not expect this. I’m not thinking it’s going to continue. Then all of a sudden here I am.”

•

Is there still a grudge between D’Antoni and Marbury from their time together in Phoenix?

“I don’t get that feeling from Mike,” Walsh said. “I don’t get the feeling that Mike doesn’t think Stephon can’t really play. I think it’s more or less, let’s go with some young guys, see how they can go and right now, I think he’s trying to make up his mind what’s he’s going to do.”

Everyone — including Marbury — realizes that his Knicks career is over. On the surface, the stalemate revolves around the $21.9 million that the Knicks owe on the final year of his contract. Marbury, who operates without an agent, refuses to entertain a buyout that would pay him a penny less.

Nothing crazy about that, especially for the Knicks, who eat bad contracts like jelly beans.

Walsh said he did not consider making such an offer.

“I wouldn’t go to him with that, because I wouldn’t take it,” Walsh said. “I never did go to him, ever. I wouldn’t do that in this situation.”

•

The source of the conundrum is that while D’Antoni wants to get rid of the vestiges of the previous management, Walsh wants value for Marbury who, at 32, is still the team’s most talented player. Walsh doesn’t simply want to waive Marbury without getting so much as a jump shot out of the deal.

The stalemate is so bizarre that the N.B.A. Players Association offered on Monday to intervene and possibly assist Marbury in any negotiations.

“Quite honestly, I’ve never done that before,” Walsh said. “I’ve never just said — particularly to a very talented player, ‘Oh, O.K. — goodbye.’ ”

Marbury can still play; his talent has been the siren song for a multitude of coaches at virtually every level. So if the Knicks decided to put Marbury in uniform for a day or a week or a month, what would Walsh have him do?

“Play,” he said. “Just play. He knows how to play this style, too, because he’s played it. Honestly, since I’ve been here, he seems to have been doing that. As far as what I’ve seen, he’s played hard, he came off the bench, said he’d be all right doing that. I know what I’m seeing.”

For good measure, Walsh said there was no rift between him and D’Antoni. They’re on the same page.

“I back my coach,” Walsh said. “And I believe in my coach. Right now, I’m just trying to see if we can make a workable situation out of this, and I think we can. I’m going to continue to try.”

The Knicks are home for two of their next three games.

Please. Let’s end this scene. In fact, let’s end the entire play.


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oohah

Let's see if Marbury can get D'Antoni fired too.

For the last time - Nobody is trading for Marbury for a number of reasons and we don't need to trade Marbury. We need to waive him and get it over with. Plain and simple.