STEPH DOESN'T MIND FEEDING CURRY
By MARC BERMAN
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December 4, 2006 -- Stephon Marbury can't complain now about Isiah Thomas' new missive of making this Eddy Curry's team and ensuring the guards get the ball down low to their big center at all costs.

The Knicks have become a low-post team, and though it does nothing for Marbury's scoring average, he's fine as long as Curry is putting up these gigantic numbers.

For the first time in his career, Curry has posted six straight 20-plus games and has also become the Knicks' go-to guy in the fourth quarter. He's shooting a remarkable 52 of 88 (59.1 percent) from the field during this stretch and getting to the free-throw line repeatedly. Curry would be even more efficient if he can knock down more free throws. He's a ghastly 36 of 69 (52.2) in this defining six-game stretch.

"He's playing great, really good basketball right now," Marbury said. "When you've got a guy rolling like that, you've got to continue to ride him."

Are the players trusting Curry more? Probably. But it's more a matter of following Thomas' new instructions. Marbury took issue with his offensive role nine days ago, but has come to grips that he's not going to be hitting for 20 on most nights because of the Curry edict.