http://www.newsday.com/sports/basketball/knicks/ny-spknix1004,0,699348.story?coll=ny-sports-headlines
Marbury buying into Brown's program
Eager to shed image as a me-first player, Marbury says he'll do whatever Brown asks to help team improve

BY GREG LOGAN
STAFF CORRESPONDENT

October 4, 2005

GREENBURGH, N.Y. -- In the devastating aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Knicks star Stephon Marbury dropped his tough-guy façade to reveal a different side of himself with an impassioned plea for the victims. He backed it up with a personal commitment of at least half a million dollars from his own bank account that left no question about his sincerity.

Back on more familiar turf during the Knicks' media day session yesterday, Marbury said all the right things about how he expects to handle the demands of new coach Larry Brown, who has talked about moving Marbury from point guard to shooting guard.

"I think I'll be able to adjust to the way he wants me to play," Marbury said. "What will separate us as a team is when guys put their pride and egos on the side."

Coming from a player so often branded a "loser" because he's never advanced beyond the first round of the playoffs, some might question Marbury's sincerity. After all, Marbury is used to running things his way, and he takes immense pride that his career averages of 20.6 points and 8.3 assists rank him among the elite point guards of all time.

But Marbury has come to understand that those numbers alone aren't the measure of the player, and now that he's entering his 10th NBA season with a chance to win under Brown, it just might be a mistake to sell Marbury short.

It won't be easy. Playing for Brown never is, as Marbury learned in the 2004 Olympics. But Marbury insists he's ready to sacrifice.

Already, Brown has compared this situation to the one he inherited with Philadelphia in 1997. He shifted Allen Iverson from the point to two-guard, and four seasons later, the 76ers were in the NBA Finals. As Marbury said, it's easier for him to score if he sets up behind the defense rather than in front of it as the point guard.

"I never had the opportunity to be totally offensive-minded and not worry about getting other people involved," Marbury said.

"Despite people saying I don't pass, my numbers speak for themselves. But when you don't win, it doesn't matter. It's not justifiable. I understand that, and I accept that.

"More importantly, I think everything has to be predicated on one ball, one team. I don't think we can say, 'This is my spot; this is my role at this position.' If I'm asked to play the two, I'll go out and I'll play the two. If I'm asked to play the point the way our coach wants the point to be run, if that's what he says it takes to win a championship, that's the only thing that matters.

"Now I think we can talk about winning a championship because it's realistic now with the coach that we have."

Marbury isn't the only one who must sacrifice. Jamal Crawford said he spent the summer working to "buckle down on .defense," and he will be forced to look to pass first if he's running the point.

The fight for playing time should be intense, and some veterans are bound to be left out. But Marbury said the hiring of Brown proves the organization is committed to winning and competing for a championship. He's ready to embrace whatever change is required of him by Brown.

"In order to love, you've got to leave yourself completely vulnerable," Marbury said. "I'm not the one to judge. I'm always being judged, so I know how it feels. I always allow the book to stay open."

If you take him at his word, the book still is open on Marbury's career. With Brown's help, maybe he can write a surprise ending.

I didn't even catch this one. Good post, hoss.

Isiah has delivered. He is assembling a pretty squad to help Marb succeed.