Posted by misterearl:

Interesting that a piece of thorougly-researched and analytical writing only receives a few snippy one-liners as a response.

The Marbury Story was told in the context of his NBA career to date, and yes, there is plenty of food for thought that many people would rather ignore... or simply refuse to consider as valid...

...but the fact remains, Marbury is as enigmatic as any New Yorker ever was for good reason. Not the least of which are the descriptions and accounts of his previous lives which begin to take on the personality of truth over opinion.

I would offer that Marbury, for all his human flaws, is the type of lightning rod subject that the media loves to build up and then tear down at the first opportunity, because he does not fit the prescribed "way" of behaving or saying things.

People villify him for being a "shoot first" point guard but are deadly silent when he performs to the best of his ability, despite playing with an injury.

Marbury is not The Debbil.

Just a man.

[Edited by - misterearl on 03-30-2007 1:40 PM]

Posted by nixluva:

I Actually have argued MANY of the same points in Marbury's defense over the years. I think it's all too easy to point to Steph as some pariah when he's really not that bad of a guy at all. He's gruff at times, but he's been a law abiding citizen and for the most part he's been playing hard for this team since he's been here.

Now I think he's playing the best ball of his career from a team perspective. I think that those who want to see him gone are totally WRONG! Now is the time to keep him and make use of all of his experience and talent. What he's shown me is that even hobbled he's still one of the BEST players in the league at his position. Just go an look at what he's done since the Brawl and you can see that he's MORE THAN JUST EFFECTIVE. He's showing just how good someone is gonna have to be to replace what he gives this team. As this team starts to improve I think what he does will have a greater effect, cuz guys will be able to finish more of the plays. Right now a lot of what he does is wasted when guys miss easy shots, don't take shots like Frye or Francis or when Curry doesn't react well to a double team. Guys like Balkman, Collins and Jared also kill off many good plays that Steph sets up. Let's try to be fair about who he's been playing with since he's been here. There's only so much you can do. You can't make a guy like Jared execute an easy layup, he's got to do that himself or be replaced.

Are you arguing that Marbury can be an important part of a championship team here? Or that he will serve an essential teaching function? Because both of those sound far-fetched.

Posted by codeunknown:

Posted by nixluva:

I Actually have argued MANY of the same points in Marbury's defense over the years. I think it's all too easy to point to Steph as some pariah when he's really not that bad of a guy at all. He's gruff at times, but he's been a law abiding citizen and for the most part he's been playing hard for this team since he's been here.

Now I think he's playing the best ball of his career from a team perspective. I think that those who want to see him gone are totally WRONG! Now is the time to keep him and make use of all of his experience and talent. What he's shown me is that even hobbled he's still one of the BEST players in the league at his position. Just go an look at what he's done since the Brawl and you can see that he's MORE THAN JUST EFFECTIVE. He's showing just how good someone is gonna have to be to replace what he gives this team. As this team starts to improve I think what he does will have a greater effect, cuz guys will be able to finish more of the plays. Right now a lot of what he does is wasted when guys miss easy shots, don't take shots like Frye or Francis or when Curry doesn't react well to a double team. Guys like Balkman, Collins and Jared also kill off many good plays that Steph sets up. Let's try to be fair about who he's been playing with since he's been here. There's only so much you can do. You can't make a guy like Jared execute an easy layup, he's got to do that himself or be replaced.

Are you arguing that Marbury can be an important part of a championship team here? Or that he will serve an essential teaching function? Because both of those sound far-fetched.

This team becoming a championship team will rely more on the REST of the team that it will what Steph does. He's more than capable of giving any team solid play at the point. He's one of the main reasons we've been able to even be in games this year. Like I said go and look at his game logs and see what he's been doing for this team. If we had some guys that could hit shots his stats would be even better. He's not our problem. He can easily be part of a championship team.

What you seem to be suggesting is that Steph is somehow not good enough to help a team. If we had a decent SF/SG like say Joe Johnson or Michael Redd, do you think that would make a difference in this teams fortunes? Add a decent backup PG and to me there's no reason why this team couldn't one day become a Title contender. By the way a player like Joe Johnson or Redd can be found even when we draft. Every year there are guys who become much better players than people thought they would be. If we can finally find the right combination I believe Steph is more than capable of helping this team win. The guy just turned 30. He's not over the hill. Kidd is 34 and Nash 33, I think Steph will continue to be effective for a while. It's up to Isiah to find a backup and more help scoring wise so that he doesn't have to carry so much of the load anymore.

Posted by codeunknown:

Posted by nixluva:



What you seem to be suggesting is that Steph is somehow not good enough to help a team.

No I didn't. I suggested that he won't be good enough when the rest of the team becomes good enough. And this year's game logs have nothing to do with that unfortunately.

Nixluva, its tough to post a counterpoint to you sometimes because I feel like I'm breaking your heart. Read carefully. Stephon is a very good player now. But, when do you expect us to become contenders - another 3 years? And you think Stephon is going to be an adequate, injury-free point guard at that point? What kind of money should he get at that point? How many minutes will he be good for? When should we start trying to replace him? You can't run a team based on hope.

Well it depends on just what you expect of him at that point in time. Obviously at 34 Kidd is still capable of playing this game. He get's more rest now but that's the main point. If we have help for Steph he should be to extend his career a bit. Pat Riley is still using Payton for 22 mpg at age 38. It's all in how you look at what a player can give you. By then Steph may be that guy off the bench to give you some savvy play.

Posted by nixluva:

Posted by codeunknown:

Posted by nixluva:



What you seem to be suggesting is that Steph is somehow not good enough to help a team.

No I didn't. I suggested that he won't be good enough when the rest of the team becomes good enough. And this year's game logs have nothing to do with that unfortunately.

Nixluva, its tough to post a counterpoint to you sometimes because I feel like I'm breaking your heart. Read carefully. Stephon is a very good player now. But, when do you expect us to become contenders - another 3 years? And you think Stephon is going to be an adequate, injury-free point guard at that point? What kind of money should he get at that point? How many minutes will he be good for? When should we start trying to replace him? You can't run a team based on hope.

If we have help for Steph he should be to extend his career a bit. Pat Riley is still using Payton for 22 mpg at age 38. It's all in how you look at what a player can give you. By then Steph may be that guy off the bench to give you some savvy play.

So, then , that makes him unnecessary. Right? Back-up point guard will not be a make-or-break position in the ride to our next championship - I guarantee you. If you really need a back-up point 3 years from now, you will have cheaper and younger options through the draft and free agency (if we ever allow it). What about the world famous Mardy Collins? We have to let Marbury come off the books in 2008, re-signing him at the MLE or anything close would be a huge mistake.

Posted by misterearl:

>>He walks around like he has the weight of the world on his shoulders and he seems miserable.

GhandiOrr - I would imagine that being Stephom Marbury, hailing from Coney Island with the weight of his entire extended family on his shoulders since high school... just for starters, might make a lesser man resort to things other than playing basketball.

Marbury could be gradually coming to terms with his vulnerability (through the injuries), and the realization that the end of his basketball career is closer than he ever imagined when he was on the playground.

What is sad is how many people are eager to judge him, and players like him, and place him in a permanent, zip lock, extra duty trash bag...

... instead of allowing him the benefit of a reasonable doubt.

Marbury is just a man.