Posted by holfresh:
Posted by BlueSeats:
Posted by nixluva:
I think we have to also realize that this team is just getting started with this new approach to the game. They are going to get better. On D and O. Steph isn't really even trying right now. Guys who've been in the league as long as he has aren't going to go all out in a preseason game when most of the teams we've played aren't even playing their best players. Now we may not like it, but he's got a LOT of wear on those legs and he's just nott going to kill himself in games that don't count. This is more for the other guys. Steph knows what he can do. I'm actually shocked no one else has realized that by now.
This should come as no surprise but I for one am sick of him saving himself. He doesn't accept isiah's invitation to come to camp early, his practice habits are suspect, he saves himself in pre-season, he rests on defense, he's slow out of the gate in most games. And then he tells us we suffer from lack of chemistry and playing time together. This guy has been the face of the franchise and he's constantly saving himself- for what? - for a post-season that doesn't come cause he's saving himself?
This isn't a team like the Spurs, who know what they are doing and people know their roles. Marbury may feel secure that isiah is his daddy and he'll be taken care of, but the rest of the team needs leadership, and they need to see how to make things work. This is not a team that can push a button and be on.
I'm so sick of this nonsense that Marbury is above the rest of them. Frankly, if he's gonna be out there just going thru to motions I'd rather he sit and his PT goes to someone who cares. Let them form the chemistry. Give it to the guys who practice hard, study hard and lead by example.
You are out of your mind if you think Marbs should be going hard in the preseason...It's one thing to call the guy out during the season for lack of effort but this is preseason...Marbs doesn't need the work, he has been at this for 11 years now...The rest of the team needs to find out how they can contribute at this level..Last thing the Knicks need is this guy going down in preseason to prove what, he cares to the straggling Larry lovers who still has their doubts?...Prove that to me during the season when the team needs your effort...The main thing for the players now is getting into game shape, learning the offense, getting to know each other's game in the new offense...Marbs diving on the floor is not what I want at this point in time...There will be ample opportunity for Marbs to show is hustle when it matters...Now isn't that time...
Yea, yeah, yeah, it's so important that he always save himself. Like the way he saved himself last year for his 7 games of effort. And the way he saved himself the year before by spending practice on the massage table.
You know, Marbury likes to compare himself to Iverson. He says people would regret drafting Ivy before him. He says he wants to be set free, like him. Well Iverson is older than Steph and has twice the milage on him, but thru 4 games he's out there logging the second most minutes of all guards at 34 mpg. Steph is around 40th (of guards) at 27 mpg. Iverson ranks 4th in Assist/TO, Marbury is at about 165th. Iverson ranks about 27th in steals per game, Steph ranks about 140th. Iverson ranks about 60th in RPG, Steph is at about 170th. Remember, these rankings are among guards, and I wont even talk about scoring...
You can give me a zillion reasons for Steph to slack and be lackadaisical - I'm sure they're all valid. But after the debacle of two consecutive seasons of implosions nothing is more significant than setting a tone of seriousness and commitment. Going through the motions ain't gonna cut it no more. If he wants to be an overpaid role-player hobbyist, perennially on the trading block, that's fine by me. Really. But if he wants to talk about being a captain and proving doubters wrong he needs to set one serious muthafrucking tone at every possible opportunity. No more pretending to play a leader on television. Lead now or get out of the way.
10/18/2006 12:26 PM
