Misterearl, what are you so excited about? Weren't you saying that our 5 games is not a big enough sample set for the season? Were you perhaps disappointed but didn't admit it?

I doubt anyone will take Marbury off our hands unless it's another Randolph type trade where a team is dumping a player it does not want anymore and views Marbury's 2 years as a lot friendlier than 4 or 5 left on said player.

I can't see us buying him out until the end of the season either given the size of the contract.

If we did buy him out then what happens to our guard situation? Collins or Fred Jones start and Crawford becomes what he and Isiah always envisioned: The starting PG?

This is quickly becoming a very big problem. Marbury will go soon but that just opens the bigger problem of Crawford not really being a SG and not being a dependable PG.

I wouldn't want to be the man to try to solve this and I also have given up faith in Isiah's ability to solve this problem.

Posted by misterearl:

mythfaze - exactly. it only takes a spark from a careless smoker.

how else do you think forrest fires get started?

With that said, Marbury's last five minutes against Miami, added to the Summer baggage, is enough to piss off Dolan enough to have the sit-down with Isiah.

Ah. Thus the "only you can prevent forest fires" comment in your original ESPN post. Glad it took so much time for that to click for me.

[Edited by - mythfaze on 11-13-2007 09:36 AM]

Cosmic, I suspect the PG spot would be platooned between Nate and Mardy, with Jamal manning the 2. Reason being, Jamal isn't necessarily the best PG of the three, but he may be the best SG of the 3.

I'm just not gonna get all worked up by this kind of thing. It is clear that Steph is winding down, but the idea that we're gonna move him seems far fetched. WHO in their right mind would bring him in now at this advanced age, with his contract and with his history? I think this is another big guess by a writer who won't face any embarrassment if it doesn't happen. Who ever goes back and chastises these guys when they write junk and it turns out to have no basis in truth?

We need some kind of change at guard, but as the writer did correctly point out. It's not just Steph who's been messing up, but Jamal too. we just focus more on Steph cuz his position is so important. I've been calling for Mardy to get a shot for a while and I always believed that it would come in time. He's not great, but I think he'd be more solid defensively and stick to the gameplan. We'd just lose a bit of scoring punch when he's in. Steph's minutes should be cut and I felt they would this year. I just didn't anticipate Mardy taking so long to heal from his injury or Nate getting a minor injury, which has slowed him down.

There's a place for Steph in a reduced role and I'd also like to see Chan get some burn. Q is another guy that should have his minutes reduced. I'd even say for him to take games off and allow the kid to get in there and learn. We've got Balk who could start, so why not make good use of the depth we have early, so that later in the season these guys will be more ready to contribute.

I see Boston, and Miami, Atlanta, and Cleveland in the East, and Houston, LA Lakers(If they can keep Kobe and Odom), and the Clippers can all use Steph, IMO.

I can see:
Miami:
Incoming Players
Dorell Wright
6-8 SF from Leuzinger (HS)
6.8 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 1.0 apg in 22.4 minutes
Udonis Haslem
6-8 SF from Florida
14.8 ppg, 11.2 rpg, 1.7 apg in 36.3 minutes
Mark Blount
7-0 C from Pittsburgh
4.8 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 0.3 apg in 15.2 minutes
Outgoing Players
Randolph Morris
6-11 C from Kentucky
No games yet played in 2007/08
Stephon Marbury
6-2 PG from Georgia Tech
15.2 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 6.8 apg in 37.1 minutes


Atlanta:
New York Trade Breakdown
Change in Team Outlook: +8.3 ppg, +7.1 rpg, and -1.1 apg.
Incoming Players
Josh Smith
6-9 SF from Oak Hill Academy (HS)
17.0 ppg, 7.8 rpg, 3.7 apg in 37.1 minutes
Lorenzen Wright
6-11 C from Memphis
No games yet played in 2007/08
Tyronn Lue
6-0 PG from Nebraska
6.5 ppg, 1.5 rpg, 2.0 apg in 21.0 minutes
Speedy Claxton
5-11 PG from Hofstra
No games yet played in 2007/08
Outgoing Players
Stephon Marbury
6-2 PG from Georgia Tech
15.2 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 6.8 apg in 37.1 minutes

Cleveland:

Change in Team Outlook: +2.6 ppg, +11.9 rpg, and -4.8 apg.
Incoming Players
Ira Newble
6-7 SF from Miami-OH
4.2 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 0.5 apg in 11.0 minutes
Drew Gooden
6-9 PF from Kansas
13.6 ppg, 10.3 rpg, 1.5 apg in 34.9 minutes
Eric Snow
6-3 PG from Michigan State
No games yet played in 2007/08
Outgoing Players
Stephon Marbury
6-2 PG from Georgia Tech
15.2 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 6.8 apg in 37.1 minutes

Houston:

I couldn't find anything.

Lakers:

Incoming Players
Jordan Farmar
6-2 PG from UCLA
7.6 ppg, 1.8 rpg, 2.6 apg in 19.7 minutes
Vladimir Radmanovic
6-10 PF / SF from Serbia-Montenegro (Foreign)
11.3 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 1.8 apg in 19.7 minutes
Kwame Brown
6-11 PF / C from Glynn Academy (HS)
5.7 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 1.7 apg in 24.6 minutes

Javarius Crittenton works instead of Farmer, also.
Outgoing Players
Stephon Marbury
6-2 PG from Georgia Tech
15.2 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 6.8 apg in 37.1 minutes

Clips:

Can't find anything.

Image Is Everything

nixluva - it's not simply Steph's performance but it's the perception that concens Dolan the most. Dolan is all about image because as a salesman he understands image is more important that wins. If Marbury does not excel on the court, Dolan has no use for him.

Marv Albert, one of the greatest broadcasters of all time, was not canned for his performance but his image.

When Spree and Camby violated the house media policy, they were gone because of image. Not their peformance. Spree and Camby (especially) both had tread left on the tires. Visualize Camby and Zach Randolph in the frontcourt with David Lee.

When Patrick TALKED about his money he was gone because of image. Same with Larry Brown talking to the media and other NBA teams. Image. Larry Gotta go.

you think Dolan has heard enough wisecracks from fans about Marbury from his choice seats?

Image

In all honesty, I would love to condense some of all this young talent we have in a package and get a real player player for Stephon.

nixluva, if you've ever had a failing it's been your inability to even consider the enviro-chemical reactions between players, and how toxic they can become. Marbury scowling around under a towel, sucking on sour grapes, is not conducive to this team developing the winning mood and direction so desperately needed.

Marbury is like a clogged toilet. Making the team keep using a clogged bowl is one approach, but not a very good one. Clearing the clog makes a lot more sense. It's time for fresh air.

I don't belive this is true, or at least all the way true. Its not like we have a lagit back up, and steph is better then any guard we have, buying him out as a PR move that would be absolutely stupid.

I know making stupid moves is right up dolans ally, but they should truely leave this alone until the summer, i mean big time. I dont want JC as my starting PG and Mardy can't shoot a lick . This is certainly not the days of Patrick, were any ol pg would do, we suffered those years with out being able to get over the hump becuase of it. Jesus how many contracts have Dolon brought out in the last 5 years. I thought they had curb that Idea after failing to buy francis out which was the ultimate cancer in the lockerroom.

Frank Isola is extermely suspect anyway,

Bon Voyage

joeC - if Dolan decides it's time for Stephon to go, he will put him on the first trans-continental flight to Italy, in first class, with a juicy bonus check on top of the total balance of his salary.

it ain't your money