Marbury still at point for now
BY GREG LOGAN
STAFF CORRESPONDENT

October 30, 2005

GREENBURGH, N.Y. - Larry Brown's original vision for the Knicks featured an inside-outside attack built around center Eddy Curry and Stephon Marbury playing the role of shooting guard rather than running the team at point guard. But the makeover of the Knicks is a work in progress, and Brown yesterday acknowledged that Marbury still is the best point guard at his disposal.

Although Marbury will play off the ball more than he ever has in his career, expect him to be the Knicks' starting point guard in the season opener Wednesday in Boston. Ultimately, Brown would like to do as he did with Allen Iverson in Philadelphia and use Marbury as more of a pure scorer at two-guard, but for now, Brown is convinced it will work better with Quentin Richardson or Jamal Crawford at the two.

"I've got to try to adjust a little bit to utilize him as a point," Brown said of Marbury. "If he's going to really be the primary ballhandler at the point, we've got to get him more involved as a scorer in certain situations, and I'm trying to figure that out."

Marbury has averaged 20.6 points and 8.3 assists in his career, but it seemed he would be hard-pressed to match those numbers if the ball weren't in his hands most of the time. From now on, Curry will be the first offensive option, but Brown said that doesn't mean Marbury's stats will shrink.

"A lot depends on what kind of touches he gets and what Quentin's role is," Brown said. "I think Steph scores by accident. I've got to get him into situations that maximize the things he can do. But I still believe you've got to run our club."

Richardson practiced yesterday after missing the final five preseason games with a strained left hamstring. It's unclear whether Richardson will start at small forward or two-guard, with Crawford coming off the bench and rookie Nate Robinson playing a minor backup role.

On Friday, New Orleans/Oklahoma City waived 35-year-old small forward George Lynch, who played for Brown in Philadelphia and has the size and strength at 6-8 to defend that position. If Lynch clears waivers, the Knicks might sign him.

"He was awful good for me," Brown said. "But I'm trying to focus on our guys and how we can improve."

If the Knicks don't get Lynch, Richardson, Matt Barnes or Penny Hardaway could start at small forward. At power forward, Antonio Davis, Maurice Taylor and Malik Rose are in the mix. Jerome James and Davis will back up Curry at center.

Notes & quotes: The Knicks have an open practice at noon today at Madison Square Garden. The box office opens at 11 a.m. for free tickets.

THREE KEYS Marbury, defense and energetic youngsters

1. Stephon Marbury's role change:

When Larry Brown arrived, he described Marbury as a "guard" as opposed to a "point guard." He wants to maximize Marbury's scoring ability while having him play off the ball more, rather than dominating it. Because Marbury is the most experienced guard and best scorer, he still will control the ball a lot, but he must think about passing inside first rather than looking for his shot. Marbury is trying to adjust because he wants to win.



2. Defensive mindset:

From the moment Jeff Van Gundy resigned nearly four years go, the Knicks stopped working hard on defense. Last season, they allowed opponents to shoot 46.5 percent from the field, ranking 28th in that category, and they were 7-38 in games in which their opponent shot a higher percentage. Brown has to change that approach even though the Knicks are undersized on the perimeter and don't really have a defensive stopper. Improved size inside should help.

3. Youth movement:

Center Eddy Curry, who will provide the low-post scoring the Knicks have lacked, turns 23 in December and must deliver on his potential. Rookie guard Nate Robinson, 21, will play a vital role off the bench, and second-year forward Trevor Ariza, 20, could contribute. Inexperience might keep young big men Channing Frye, 22, David Lee, 22, and Jackie Butler, 20, on the bench, but energy

and athleticism could get them off it.

Posted by Knight:

Steph is not homopositional, he is bipositional. It's about time Larry brings him out of the closet.

Posted by Knight:

Do most of you remember when Marbury was on the Nets and said NY would never win a championship with Charlie Ward as our point guard? Now he is NY's point guard and has a chance to win that championship. But I'm starting to believe he cursed himself by saying that and NY will never win a championship with Marbury as our point guard--he deserves to have that quote thrown in his face until he wins here.