http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/15/sports/basketball/15knicks.html?_r=1&oref=slogin&ref=sports&pagewanted=print

By HOWARD BECK
PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 14 — Stephon Marbury’s assist totals seem destined to take a major dip this season, but if they do, the Knicks will not complain.

The algebra is changing for the Knicks under Coach Isiah Thomas. Marbury’s playmaking, a subject of consternation for some former coaches and teammates, will apparently not be an issue. In fact, under Thomas, it is almost necessary for Marbury’s assists to decline.

The offense Thomas is running calls for a number of players to handle the ball and initiate the offense. The team as a whole is expected to generate a lot of assists, but with the ball moving around a lot, no one player is likely to collect a majority of them. So it was not particularly bothersome to Thomas that Marbury had no assists in Friday’s preseason opener, or only one Saturday night against the Philadelphia 76ers.

“The way we look at a stat sheet is totally different than the way maybe someone else would look at it,” Thomas said before the Knicks’ 102-100 victory against the 76ers here Saturday. The Knicks are 2-0 in the preseason.

Thomas’s offense is based on crisp passes and quick cuts, and players who have played the traditional point-guard role — Marbury, Steve Francis and Jamal Crawford — will now be giving up the ball up earlier in a possession.

“When you go back to old-school basketball, with five men passing and five men moving, it’s not one guy’s responsible for all the assists, all the points and all the rebounds,” Thomas said. “It’s O.K. if we have five guys with three assists as opposed to one guy with 15. So it makes the game that much easier to play, as opposed to putting all the responsibility on one person, saying, ‘You’re the reason why we won,’ or, ‘You’re the reason why we lost.’ ”

In general, Thomas does not want his guards to rely on one-on-one moves. But, curiously enough, Saturday’s game came down to exactly that situation. With the score tied at 100-100 and less than 20 seconds remaining, Thomas put the ball in Crawford’s hands and asked him to come up with a victory all by himself. Crawford dribbled out about 15 seconds near the top of the key, shook free of Andre Iguodala and drilled a 21-footer with 1.3 seconds left.

If there is a time and place for individual creativity in Thomas’s offense, this was it.

“It’s definitely nice to know that,” Crawford said. “And it’s nice to know that my teammates and coach have a lot of confidence in me. They know that 9 times out of 10 in that situation, I’ll come through.”

Crawford, who made four game-winning shots last season, also converted a 3-point play Saturday to tie the score at 100-100. He finished with 21 points, 5 assists and 4 rebounds. Although he started Saturday’s game, Crawford seems likely to open the season as a sixth man. He also seems a sure bet to always be on the court when the game is on the line.

“You definitely like him on the floor at the end of the game,” Thomas said.

Much of the Knicks’ offense Saturday revolved around center Eddy Curry. He was quick to the basket and light on his feet early on, scoring 12 of the Knicks’ first 15 points. He finished with 25 points and 10 rebounds in 26 minutes. It was a nice turnaround from Friday’s opener, in which Curry committed five fouls and scored only 8 points. Curry said he had “first-game jitters,” but felt better Saturday. Thomas said he had “an All-Star performance.”

The new offensive philosophy presents a challenge for the Knicks’ veteran point guards. Francis, Marbury and Crawford have been known — and sometimes criticized — for dominating the ball. With few exceptions, Thomas is generally shunning one-on-one play.

“They’ve embraced playing without the basketball and playing the game 94 feet instead of standing out top and dribbling,” Thomas said. “Thus far, there’s been no resistance.”



[Edited by - rvhoss on 10-15-2006 09:47 AM]

so far, and that's a big SO FAR, the predictions of ball domination killing the offense have been obliterated.

our players are professional and know the difference between individual stats and team goals.

atleast so far.

february is a great benchmark. I agree.

I'm waiting until the 23rd win...I'm thinking that will occur just before the all star break and that will be the lead in to almost every story.

"the knicks eclipse last season's win total by the all star break"

brown never played marbury off the ball, his idea of marginalizing is benching and dnp.

It's time to move on from the "LB did that too" mantras.

they are weak and falling on deaf ears.

but I like that you attribute isiah's coaching ability to being "more likeable".

is that like saying he speaks well?

Originally posted by Holfresh:
Balkman and Lee is all hustle...Didnt this I would see this but Balkman has made me forget about Reezy already, not really yet, Reezy had a DNP due to injury, but Balkman is on his way

I forgot about Ariza in the summer. It was clear from summer league play that Balkman is simply better than Ariza. He can actually dribble and create offense and still provides the same defensive intensity. They both cannot shoot, but I think Balkman is still slightly better in that area also.

Originally posted by BlusSeats:
Ironically, this is not so far from what Brown was trying to do with a quickly initiated offense with the PG being but one distributor, without a reliance on the pick and roll and penetrate and dish, and with movement off the ball. Isiah is obviously more likable, but what he's asking of his guys probably isn't all that fundamentally different than Brown.

Everyone is intitialed to their opinion, but I think you are reaching on this one. I think Isiah's offense is totally different from what LB was trying to run and LB has never been known as an offensive guru. And, I don't think it is that IT is more liked (even though he obviously is), but I think the players realize that IT believes in them and is prepared to go to war with them this season. LB never gave that impression to his players.

I'm no basketball guru but have an opinion...I really think if the Knicks are going to be successful, Marbs will be the third option...Frye and Curry will battle for first option in the coming years...Initially, Marbs will be asked to create something when all else breaks down...But right now, Curry seems to be number one with Marbs a close second...

Posted by BlueSeats:

Posted by rvhoss:

brown never played marbury off the ball, his idea of marginalizing is benching and dnp.

Yeah but what difference does the position make? Marbury wanted to move off the ball because getting assists was "too hard" and he wanted to shoot whenever he wants without having to think about it. THAT is not being marginalized. That's a need to be a bigger Starbury from a different position.

It's time to move on from the "LB did that too" mantras.

they are weak and falling on deaf ears.

Hey, I'm willing to see who can go longer without bringing him up. It'll be like the anti-masturbation contest on Seinfeld. You'll be like Elaine and we'll all think you'll be able to cruise for months, but then you'll see Ariza have a 12/7 outing and you'll lose it, like she did over John-John.

but I like that you attribute isiah's coaching ability to being "more likeable".

is that like saying he speaks well?

He pretends to be their friends. Ever know a white guy who act totally different when he's around blacks so they'll like him? That's how Isiah is wherever he goes. He changes personalities faster than Starbust changes his cheap sneaks.

[Edited by - blueseats on 10-15-2006 10:33 AM]

Look, last year, no one on the knicks could score for jack, and Marbs could. So if you have a talent that can help the team and is not being utilized, why not ask to be put in the position to score more?

Posted by BlueSeats:

No surprise, I'm thrilled to see Marbury's role marginalized.

Ironically, this is not so far from what Brown was trying to do with a quickly initiated offense with the PG being but one distributor, without a reliance on the pick and roll and penetrate and dish, and with movement off the ball. Isiah is obviously more likable, but what he's asking of his guys probably isn't all that fundamentally different than Brown.

Yeah, it's great to see all of LB's work from last season finally coming to fruition.

im no genius either, but the fact remains zeke has 1 season to show improvement and will be dismissed if he can't has to be major part of the formula

what other nba coach is in the same situation ?

If Marbs only real responsibility is to score this year and hand out a few assists, I'll be happy. Marbs ain't good wit' no responsibility.

[Edited by - joec32033 on 10-15-2006 12:39 PM]

I am also not a basketball genius, but I play one on TV.