'OUTSIDER' ISIAH RELATES TO STEPH
By MARC BERMAN

October 20, 2006 -- Isiah Thomas is Knicks coach and president, and yesterday he became the team psychologist in diagnosing why Stephon Marbury has come across as gruff and sullen in the past.

In some wild psychoanalysis, Thomas theorized Marbury put up a "hard layer" around him because as a famous superstar growing up on the Brooklyn playground, he was an "outsider." Thomas said he believes Marbury kept up the shield in the NBA, too, after being blamed for all of his teams' failures.

"I really have a soft spot for him because he's been the kid that loves everybody but he's been kicked around," Thomas said. "At the playground, he's the guy who kind of sits by himself. I was always an outsider, too. It's lonely at the top. Most superstars want to be in the group. Who wants to be alone?"

Thomas and Marbury are Westchester neighbors, their relationship airtight. There's hope this symbiosis will turn Marbury into a champion.

Thomas has told Marbury he's already a champion in life and should pay no mind to the "loser" perception because his teams never have gotten out of the first round of the NBA playoffs. Marbury's summer sneaker tour, on which he sold $15 discount kicks marketed toward low-income households, already has done wonders for his image.

"There's a vulnerable sweet side to him," Thomas said. "Because you're the kid in the park that everybody left by himself, you put on that hard layer, that hard, tough guy. But deep down inside, you're a nice guy. What I've tried to explain to him, it's OK to be the nice guy you really are, as opposed to carry the armor.

"The fight's over," Thomas added. "He's won in life already. Don't accept the tag of being a loser because in the real world and real game of life, you've won big time considering where you started from in Coney Island. It's OK to let that shy little kid come out sometimes."

For his part, Marbury is Thomas as coach. One year after his Larry Brown feud, Marbury never before has had such a close relationship with his coach.

"The road he had to go down, he sees the same thing in me," Marbury said of Thomas. "He has a big family. I have a big family. When they got together, everyone hit it off. That's why our relationship is the way how it is.

"Everyone thinks I have it easier because of our relationship. I have it harder than everyone else. Our relationship is not about basketball, he's changing the way (I am) as a person and a man."

so we wont be seeing Marbury traded any time soon?

Of all things Isiah this is probably the least healthy. Think this guy is giving a slightly biased view when evaluating Marbury's performce and role here?

Geeze

another realgm special:

That's fantastic

Posted by BlueSeats:

Poor Steph wasn't liked on the playground, like every other college star and pro.

Isiah, if you're not gonna dump him please fix his head before his knees are shot.

With all the money this team wastes on players and coaches you'd think they could hire a good shrink....

we need to turn steph's frown upside down...

Posted by nixluva:

I don't see what the problem is. Most coaches have their guy on the team that they have the closest fondness for and trust in. It's not up to us to decide who isiah feels that way towards. Despite what so many seem to think, Steph has been our best and most dependable Player. He's ALWAYS capable of taking over a game if he wants too. Thank goodness this year Steph isn't feeling the need to have to do that. He's been content so far to let the team shine.

I really don't get what the reason is for so many having a dislike for Steph. It's not his fault that so many of the players we've had haven't held up their end of the bargain. How many more shots should we have given to Shandon, Penny, Jamal, TT or QRich last year? For the most part we really haven't had many other players step up and be counted. It's not like Steph started taking MORE shots, cuz the fact is that he's been taking progressively FEWER and fewer shots since he's been here. 17.1, 16.0 and 12.9. Someone else has been taking those shots and obviously not making many of them. Steph went from 9.3 assists to 8.2 and then 6.4. This year he's giving up the ball even MORE than he ever has. The team looks like it's gonna play some good team ball and you can't point to anything that suggests that Steph won't be a good player for us in this system. So what's your beef?

So you numbers are an evidence that the marbs game is regressing. He is taking less shots, making less assists, he is giving up the ball MORE and MORE. Not a good trend.
If player is good it is no need for him to do this to prove anything. Just take your shots, look for the teammates, do not commit turnovers, stay with the set playes and game plan. Simething is wrong with Steph about all this. Isn't it?

your right nixluva.. Steph is great and he inspires his teammates everywhere he goes.

He's a chemistry killer, and if you cant see that your not looking. Your right, guys around him have failed. Steph has mad that VERY clear. How many players have to express their gratitude to be away from Marbury before you realize he's a problem?

He's NOT a clutch player either, so despite his solid numbers he's not a leader in crunchtime where he's notorious for missing FTs and hesitant to take big shots. So he's not much of a leader by example either.

Marbury's career has been 10 years of mood swings, good stats, disgruntled teammates and losing seasons. This is the guy our GM/Coach has decided to build everything around and rely on the most.

Its a problem

Posted by nixluva:

Posted by BlueSeats:

Poor Steph wasn't liked on the playground, like every other college star and pro.

Isiah, if you're not gonna dump him please fix his head before his knees are shot.

With all the money this team wastes on players and coaches you'd think they could hire a good shrink....

http://www.newsday.com/sports/basketball/knicks/ny-spknix204940702oct20,0,3941488.story?coll=ny-knicks-print

GREENBURGH, N.Y. - He has an apparel line that is more about philanthropy than filling his pockets. He has the coach he wanted from the start in Isiah Thomas. And this season, Stephon Marbury says he has matured to the point that "my approach is totally different."

Last season he tried to buy into Larry Brown's concept and made an effort, albeit a brief one, to fit his game into Brown's program. Although Brown and Thomas seem to have the same message (team concept, not one-on-one), Marbury might be understanding it better from Thomas.

At least right now, at 3-0 in the preseason, the message is getting through. Enough so that Marbury, who'll turn 30 in February, is even talking about getting a ring while he still is young and healthy enough to do it.

"My situation, I don't have that many more years to try to win a championship," Marbury said after practice yesterday. "So I have to get on the path of trying to win a championship and put myself in a situation that, when I go on the court, I'm part of something moving toward that direction."

Marbury knows his image: the Coney Island kid with the game that comes off as one-on-five, straight from the concrete courts and rims with no nets. He's read it all, he's heard it all. Even just the slightest suggestion that he used to be all about his stats makes him bristle. But with Thomas in his ear and a 59-loss season behind him, Marbury seems to have met maturity, if not reality.

"To me, it's just playing basketball now," he said. "It's not about scoring and it's not about assists anymore. It's about winning."

That's basically what seems to be going on. He's been helping Steph to see the big picture and the team seems to be benefitting from this different approach. Some of you guys just can't get off this same old crap.

I'm confused. Is it about winning a championship, or being "Starbury?" Is it all about basketball now, or is this just a hobby?



[Edited by - blueseats on 10-20-2006 3:20 PM]

I couldn't agree with you more...hey, what gives, I'm not really comfortable agreeing with you. :)

Posted by BlueSeats:

Poor Steph wasn't liked on the playground, like every other college star and pro.

Isiah, if you're not gonna dump him please fix his head before his knees are shot.
With all the money this team wastes on players and coaches you'd think they could hire a good shrink....

That being said if he continues with this attitude it's not a bad thing. Confusing, but not a bad thing.

I dont know about this "outsider stuff". My aunt said when the pg in question came to visit her 2nd grade class (she is a teacher) he brought a very large "posse" that looked like they were a gang and had horrible attitudes.