MARBURY'S FINALLY GETTING THE POINT

http://nypost.com/sports/18818.htm

August 20, 2004 -- ATHENS — Slowly, you can see the light come back to Stephon Marbury's eyes. You can see the swagger return to his step, the confidence return to his body language. Of all the puzzlements that afflicted the United States during the first few days of the Olympic basketball tournament, this was the one that shocked as much as any:
Steph looked stiff. Disjointed. Out of place.

That's never happened before, not when he was a brash kid with the Timberwolves, not when he was the only drawing card on some positively woeful Nets teams, not last winter upon his return to the Knicks. Always, Marbury carried himself like a star.

"At this level," he said, "you have to believe you know what you're doing, that you're doing the right things for your team. I'm a scoring point guard in the NBA, but that won't work here. We all make sacrifices. But it takes time."

Marbury scored one point yesterday and took four shots as the United States rallied to beat Australia, 89-79, in a preliminary-round Group B game at Helliniko Indoor Arena, and yet there were times, wide swatches of the game, when it looked as if he finally got it, when you could see something click in his eyes and in his game.

For years, coaches have been telling Marbury he doesn't have to score to dominate a game. For years, Marbury has nodded his head in agreement, sworn that he's heard what they're saying.

The problem has been, a point guard needs to get the ball in the hands of his team's best players. Marbury almost always has been his team's best player. You can't pass it to yourself. The refs will call that every time.






"Here," Marbury said, "it's like, you take your pick. You've got great players all around you."

The fact is, for all the criticism the Americans have absorbed in this first few days of the Olympics, they still have more great players than anyone else.

They still could win the gold medal. If they can somehow package the second half they played yesterday against the Aussies for future distribution, they should win the gold medal.

And if Marbury continues to embrace his current role as a pass-first playmaker, continues to grow into that job, proving that 27 is not too late to learn a few new things, they will win it.

"A point guard's education is never finished," Marbury's Olympic coach, Larry Brown, said a few months ago, during the NBA playoffs.

"The day you stop learning how to play the position is the day you stop being able to play the position."

The lessons have not been easy for Marbury. Carlos Arroyo abused him for 40 long minutes last Sunday, during Puerto Rico's 19-point thrashing of the Americans.

He looked slow-footed and uncomfortable in the early going against the Greeks, too, and somehow managed to keep the ball out of Tim Duncan's hands for the entire first half of that game. That's inexcusable, and Marbury knew it.

"If I can't get the best player in the world involved in our offense," Marbury said, "then what am I doing here?"

Slowly, he's starting to get it. All these Americans seem to be. They are playing better. They are playing with familiarity, even if their coach, Brown, still sees only gloom and clouds on the horizon.

"It's not easy for these guys," Brown said yesterday. "A lot of these young people have never been coached, never sat on the bench, never assumed a role on a team other than the guy that scores the ball and gets the shots. It can be an education for a lot of people."

Never more than the point guard. Slowly, steadily, the game is coming back to Marbury.

He had five assists. He ran the offense deftly. He got out on Aussie shooters. For one of the first times, it seems, Marbury understands: He doesn't have to score to dominate a game.

Now we see if the lesson finally sticks.

The problem has been, a point guard needs to get the ball in the hands of his team's best players. Marbury almost always has been his team's best player. You can't pass it to yourself. The refs will call that every time.

that's hilarious!

but so true. This guy is said to be a looser and a ball hog, yet, the only time he had a team (marion + amare), they made the playoffs and the spurs sweat some knives. Hadn't he hurt his shoulder, the suns were 2-1 playing at home for the fourth game, maybe there would have been a huge upset.

would he be a looser then ?

Hopefully, he brings this attitude and play back to NYC. We have shooters.

I'm just glad a writer has finally said something positive about Marbs. Someone who looked deeper into the gameplay other than the boxscore.
It's refreshing.

Marburry will be the man come next season.

Posted by mattinNH:

I'm just glad a writer has finally said something positive about Marbs. Someone who looked deeper into the gameplay other than the boxscore.
It's refreshing.

don't worry my friends, this team will be performing like a machine. We were missing character last season, and we have that now with the addition of JYD. He was the missing link. As for finding a big man, it will come.

Posted by fishmike:

when guys have the talent Marbury has its more interesting to write about what they cant do.

That's a great point.

I honestly think Tim Thomas will be the best player on the Knicks next year. He's gonna average at least 19pts. He had some huge games for the Knicks last year. He just needed out of laid back Milwalkee. He was bored there

The Kool-Aid jokes are getting a little played out. Maybe you should stop mistaking enthusiasm for a Knick franchise interested in creating a winning atmosphere for some sort of propaganda plot to lead all the naive fans into believing we might have a good season.

Professional sports is 10% athletics and 90% mental. Jordan drank the "Kool-Aid" and so have all the greats. Isiah Rider was a far better player than Micheal Jordan ever was. But didn't have anywhere near the mind.

Isiah is trying to create an environment conducive to winning, and not out to have everyone accept some sort of evil mission of acceptance that the Knicks are some super team. Dont you want Tim Thomas to have a good year? Dont you want to see this team succeed or will it hinder your senseless complaining about what we have.