Author | Thread |
Bonn1997
Posts: 58654 Alba Posts: 2 Joined: 2/2/2004 Member: #581 USA |
4/20/2005 10:42 PM
He's done everything I could have asked him to including playing thorugh pain, but it's good leadership skills for the team's star to say he'll take the blame for a bad season.
http://nypost.com/sports/knicks/23254.htm STEPH: BLAME ME FOR AWFUL SEASON By MARC BERMAN April 20, 2005 -- Bulls 92 Knicks 91 CHICAGO — If you must slap the blame on him for this grotesque Knick season that ends tonight, Stephon Marbury said he'll accept it, right or wrong. Though he indicated he can't do it all himself and made an interesting reference to Phoenix star Steve Nash, Marbury understands. "When you don't win, it doesn't matter," Marbury said before being benched in the fourth quarter of last night's 92-91 loss to the Bulls. "It's all about getting W's. The way I look at it, if I average 12 or 15 points and we win 63 games, then I'm an MVP candidate." Nash, who replaced Marbury in Phoenix, is averaging 15.5 points for the 62-win Suns. "I think that's what I've got to do," said Marbury, who claimed he sat last night because of a bunion on his foot while coach Herb Williams said it was his sore knee tightening up. "We've just got to win games. That's how you're going to be judged in the NBA. And I'm at the point in my career where I can deal with that. I can deal with getting criticized for not winning. "That's what it boils down to, regardless of the other 11 people being on the team. But that seems to not have a factor. It's about Stephon Marbury, he didn't win again. If I could win by myself, believe me, I would try to do it every night. But that's not the case. So, for me, it's not about numbers." Last night was so typical in this 32-49 season. Jamal Crawford, booed repeatedly in making his Chicago return, blew two free throws with 11.6 seconds left and the Knicks up one. Then rookie Ben Gordon hit pull-up jumper over Jermaine Jackson for the game-winner with 5.8 seconds left. Crawford missed a 20-footer at the buzzer, spoiling his 24-point night. Marbury's offensive numbers are efficient — 21.8 ppg, 46.2-percent shooting, 8.2 assists, 520 free-throw attempts, 298 more than the next Knick. Scouts say he tried to get others involved more than ever. His downfall was defense and hitting the big shot. Marbury said the Knicks can use a shot-blocker and "it would be great to have a wing player that is very athletic, long, a lockdown [defender]." On Crawford's year, Marbury said, "He was having a stellar season before he got hurt [Dec. 26]. That kind of set him back. I think next year he's going to be a lot better." Marbury won't weigh in on the next coach. "Whatever they do, I'll be behind it. It's going to be right for the team." |
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Rich
Posts: 27410 Alba Posts: 6 Joined: 12/30/2003 Member: #511 USA |
4/20/2005 10:45 PM
Talk is cheap.
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