Statement game
Now to see who blinks first.
Mike D'Antoni made the first bold move, by going with the decision to exclude Stephon Marbury from his rotation, which ballooned to 10 players. Too many by his own admission, which means by Friday's game against the Sixers, the rotation may be 8 or 9 at best.
Marbury handled it calmly and said all the right things afterward. But this was just one of 82. If this keeps up, history shows it will boil over.
The plan, of course, was to have removed Marbury from the situation well before any of this became an issue. There was talk of waiving him a week before training camp opened, but Donnie Walsh just doesn't believe in buyouts. But he also doesn't believe in telling his head coach who to play. So the end result is what we saw in the season opening win over the Heat: Marbury with a humbling DNP-CD.
Stephon is smart enough to know that making this a contentious issue in the media doesn't help his situation one bit. Why give the team any reason to suspend him and, therefore, dock his pay? He wants all of the $21.9 million owed to him and Walsh believes it is the team's responsibility to pay all of the money.
"This is a business and I understand the decision if that's the way they want to go," Stephon said after the game, "I have no problem with it."
D'Antoni made it clear that Marbury "has done nothing wrong" and that it is just a matter of the direction this team is headed, with D'Antoni steering the ship. It's not Marbury's team anymore. That era is over. Officially over. Marbury may have the most talent and, statistically, be the most accomplished player on the team, but what has already been proven here is that the Knicks can lose with Marbury and Eddy Curry, to that matter.
So if the Knicks are going to lose, D'Antoni seems to prefer to lose with young players such as Nate Robinson, Wilson Chandler, Mardy Collins and, yes, Danilo Gallinari. Those players off the bench fit into his plan. What does using Marbury for 13 minutes (basically the minutes Collins and Gallinari combined for in the game) really get you?
No, this is about the future. Marbury, though he is still here now, is the past. No disrespect, just it is what it is.
“We’ve got to know certain things as we go forward," D'Antoni said. "We’re trying to build a team, and this is not this year, it’s a two-to-three year project. I don’t want to get started next year, I want to get started right now . . . We need to build a team and know that’s who we are . . . right or wrong."
It helped D'Antoni that Jamal Crawford got off to a red hot start and put up 29 points. If Crawford falters, it opens the door for D'Antoni to become desperate for scoring, which Marbury can provide. But the fear is in relying on Marbury too much to the point that you get to mid-season and he's suddenly 90 percent of your offense. D'Antoni clearly doesn't want to find himself in that situation, so he faced the inevitable in Game 1 instead of waiting for it in Game 41.
* *
* - Gallinari said he was a little nervous before the game, but once D'Antoni called his name he got excited. He looked shaky out there and he admitted that he knew his first shot, which bricked off the side rim, had no chance of going in. But what about the second one, a corner three-point attempt? "I thought was in," he said, "because it came out real nice from my hand.” Expect more minutes for him in Philadelphia on Friday.
* - The fact that Eddy Curry opted not to come out and sit the bench for the second half -- team officials said he was icing a sore right knee -- is disappointing behavior from a guy who, at the very least, is usually a good teammate.
* - Speaking of Marbury and his non-role with this team right now, the Miami Heat have some serious issues at the point guard position. Daequan Cook shot the ball well but he didn't enter the game until late. Rookie Mario Chalmers looked lost on defense several times (he once literally walked away from Crawford to allow him a wide-open look from three) and clearly has some growing to do. Marcus Banks did very little and Shaun Livingston showed he is miles away from getting back to the level he was at with the Clippers after recovering from a major knee surgery. Would they be interested in Marbury?
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Comments (30)
great game tonight despite being a lil shaky at the end. however the knicks do this season, good or bad, its nice to kno a new era has begun.
i read on ESPN of a possible al harrington for curry swap. i dunno how harrington would fit in. i mean he would fit in but who would be out of d'antoni's already tight rotation? but i mean its still a good deal cuz it gets rid of curry. ESPN also mentioned how g-state would want a package centered around lee. i dont like that idea at all. lee is a beast.
GO KNICKS!!!!!!!!!!!!
Starberman wlll give his love toy Marbury a back rub today to soothe his bruised ego. Instead of pouting in public Curry took the high road and stayed in the locker room in the 2nd half.
These 2 are real team players.
D'Antoni is laying down the law very clearly to Steph as to "Who's the boss" from the very beginning.
We all saw heart, passion, pride, and desire to win last night from our Knicks. Something we haven't seen in a long long time around here.
LGK!
i doubted alan, mike d, and donnie. i was wrong. big brass monkey you know what by mike d. steph sat and curry quit from the bench. opening night win. thanks.
I have Zero sympathy for Marbury. In fact what
D'antoni is doing now is exactly what Zeke should
have done last year. Steph divded the team and
disrespected the franchise with his Awol. The results
and poor decision by Zeke to play him the next game
is the deliniation of that horrific season last year.
Is there upside to this move? YES. Marbury needs
a long azz time on that bench to reflect and let
it really sink in. 10-20 games won't do. He should
collect splinters and be a cheerleader until at least next
Febuary. If he does that, he may really help down the stretch
if we are close to an 8th seed. He has no choice and to
release him is to reward him. FUGG NO! If he acts an Azz
that will give Dolan reason NOT to pay him. A truly humble
Marbury...is a dangerous player that can only help the Knicks
late season. This move may be the best move by Walsh/D'Antoni
yet.
The Knicks are holding Marbury hostage. Why? Is it his fault he had to play with an overweight Curry and James, out of shape Q, no-D Jamal, youngsters Lee, Nate, Chandler, Balkman, Collins?
The Knicks have the right to play who they want, but they shouldn't be allowed to destroy a player's career. They are embarrassing him unjustly.
Unlike Curry, Marbury was fully prepared for his season. He lost weight, looked quicker with his decisions.
He dominates the ball. So? Crawford and Nate do it EVERY NIGHT. Let's see how that works throughout the season with real ball defenders on them.
This is wrong. Cut him already. Let him play elsewhere.
HarleminMD,
You're right that Marbury showed up in great shape this year before training camp...but why is it he failed to do that in previous seasons?
The team isn't trying to embarass him, he's done that to himself with his attitude, venting to the media and total disrespect to his teammates.
You defend Marbury for his talents, but at the same time completely forget about the real elephant in the room.
This guy walked out on his team at the beginning of the season last year, and was not held accountable whatsoever. He might be doing this "team player" song and dance right now for the new coach and management, but the jig is up. Everyone remembers what he did, except apparently, you.
Don't blame the Knicks for "destroying his career", when he was given countless opportunities to become a team player in the city he always wanted to play in, despite whether or not his teammates were below average. Because guess what dude, the really great players, make there teammates better...not the other way around.
I can't wait for your response.
long time listener, first time caller.
other than collins, i was very impressed by the team. chandler definitely has a future. team defense was still a revolving door. i couldn't keep track of how many guards made it to the rack uncontested. maybe dantoni can open up a defensive advisor role or 2 for oakley and starks. the heat just didnt hit shots, and that wont happen against better teams. the team passed the ball well, very well. the team needs to establish a closer, which doesnt seem to be zbo or crawford.
as for marbury, let him play a bit. give him a chance to f up. if he can play within the system, give him 20 minutes. collins doesnt deserve those minutes yet. as soon as marbury steps out of line, bench him. the marbury era is closed but we might as well try and get some trade value for him with the contract expiring, even if its just a 2nd rounder. he'll have no value if he doesnt get any minutes.
I dont understand how the team was up by 20 points and the fans started to chant for Marbury to come into the game. I cannot stand how people talk all the trash about the guy and want him off the team but here are the Knicks beating miami by 20 points and playing hard and we are all calling for him to enter the game. I also feel the fans were doing it because they dont like Mardy Collins. Everytime Collins turned the ball over they called for Marbury and that is not something we need right now. We need to give them postive reactions and not negative reaction that can make players lose confidence.Yesterday felt so weird and i was so pump up watching the game, it just felt different . Was it just me that felt like this people?
Nice to see the Knicks start the season with a W. Q played like a leader and they seemed to lose their focus in the 4th when he ran out of steam and Coach D had to pull him from the game. Lee showed more confidence in his shot. Randolph had a nice game and while he may not fit in with this style of offense, he didn't drag it down either.
Crawford was feelin' it at times as he often does but he made more of an effort to keep his team involved than Ive seen before. Sometimes he tried to drive to the rim and kick it to a teammate but he kicked it out too soon and it didn't work out. He has to work on selling that move to the rim before he gives up the ball because there were times when the defense wasn't buying it. He also needs to stop doing that shake n' bake, then heave at the top of the arc. Doubt D'Antoni likes that. The fewer dribbles he uses to break down his defender the better.
Duhon looked good, played within the offense. Nate looked like he has grown a few years in the space of one summer when it comes
to maturity on the court. He played in control and showed that he is the guy to give the ball to when you want to eat up the clock. Tough for bigger defenders to get the ball from him.
Chandler, wow! The man is athletic. Didn't know he had that repertoire of moves. If anything can cheer Isiah up it should be that
Chandler is making him look good. He was great at erasing his teammate's mistakes, should call him the eraser.
We all talk about how athleticism plays such a big part of D'Antoni's offense but he got them to use their athleticism on defense as well. Not something the Knicks have been able to do much of in the past. They still gave up some easy buckets though but I'm sure he will be pointing out those lapses.
Overall there were stretches were they were really clicking and I thought that it would take them a few months to get to that point and
they are doing it already. Very encouraging. If they can work on keeping their focus in the 4th and not let the other team get back in it I believe that they will surprise some of the elite teams out there. Still a lot of work to do but they are ahead of schedule in my book.
I was thinking how keeping Ewing Jr. would be such a great gift to the fans but I believe keeping Curry on the bench was a bigger one. Not out of spite but to show that playing for the Knicks means something again.
Ahhh, the NYK of old!
I think we will have a lot of games like this...they seem like runaways, but then the team plays like complete @ss for a half and it ends up too close for comfort!
Again Nate outscored and Had more assists than Duhon. NAte needs to start.
"In case anyone wants too see a real hackey disgrace...read Starberman's blog today.
PATHETIC! Truly, truly PATHETIC!"
WOW! that it was! even the idiot commenters were slob-knobing Steph lol
In case anyone wants too see a real hackey disgrace...read Starberman's blog today.
PATHETIC! Truly, truly PATHETIC!
Thoroughly entertaining game. Miami is another team coming off a terrible season with a new coach, even if they're further along in the rebuilding process in some ways (they already have their superstar). I was impressed with Chandler's offensive game - the next step for him is to draw contact and get to the line more. With his athleticism and awareness and his youth, he should be able to add this. I also liked the overall hustle - without big time defenders, that sort of effort is one way to put pressure on the opposing offense.
About the Marbury issue - its clear D'Antoni doesn't want him around, and probably figured he'd be gone by now. He's also on a four year contract and looking towards future development - playing the guys who may be around longer term. If Marbury isn't part of his plan, then he shouldn't play him - its refreshing to see a coach who actually has a plan and is sticking to it.
That said, I also agree with HarleminMD that leaving Marbury nailed to the bench is the best solution, and I put that on Walsh. Specifically the no buyouts rule. While money shouldn't just be thrown around, the buyout is one of the tools available for roster management, and to categorically refuse to use it is foolish. The statement I see being made in this is from D'Antoni to Walsh - whether Marbury's bought out or not, he's getting paid to not play. He's gone next year anyway - cut the guy, inaugurate the new future and use the slot on a young pup for the D League.
I meant I agree with HarleminMD that leaving Marbury in the bench is NOT the best solution. Ooops.
I'll give Marbury credit for handling it like a man last night. I thought that there was going to be some drama at halftime or something, but he handled it professionally.
Too little, too late. It's a shame really. I feel bad for him, but not nearly enough to start chanting for him in the 3rd quarter.
Crowd was pretty lifeless last night. Anyone else notice? I don't know if it's because they were shocked that the Knicks stormed out to a 23 point lead, or if they got bored, or if it's just a different group of people that go now...
The Knicks are holding Marbury hostage. Why? Is it his fault he had to play with an overweight Curry and James, out of shape Q, no-D Jamal, youngsters Lee, Nate, Chandler, Balkman, Collins?
The Knicks have the right to play who they want, but they shouldn't be allowed to destroy a player's career. They are embarrassing him unjustly.
*****
Marbury was born an embarrassment. To himself. To his family. To Coney Island. To the Big Apple. To the state of New York. To the game of basketball. To the United States.
Take the entire Marbury family and that candy ass, Bassy Telfair, and throw 'em all in the East River. There's never been a Marbury worth his or her weight in spit. And there never will be.
Don't give Marbury a damn thing. He had a 212 area code full of chances. He urinated every single one of 'em away. And we won't even discuss Minnesota, Jersey, and Phoenix.
Park his ass on that bench with Lazy Eddy and don't let either one of 'em move. They'll get their $31 million. That's the stupidity of Dipstick Dolin, Senior and Junior. But don't let 'em touch that floor.
Think about it. Would you sit courtside at 82 NBA games to get checks totaling either $21.9 million or $10 million? Only a damn fool wouldn't.
A damn fool. Or a Marbury. Or a Lazy Eddy.
Pouting about sitting on your ass to get $21.9 million or $10 million. Fools, each and every once of you, grow the hell up.
SplinterBottomBury-
Now maybe you will accept "1 penny less" than your 21 mil.
Like you said, you earned it
and you earned your benching too.
How you like me now SplinterBottom!!!!!
Keep hearing how SplinterAssBaby handled this like a man...Guess what...He is a man and has been one for a long time
should we give him a trophy because he didnt act like a pompous stuck up baby...1 TIME!!!????
Mardy to Splinter "hold my towel"
For all you Jamal Haters
Jamal does it again! Solid Classy, softspoken.
take a breath....
Seems like this benching isn't Coach D's move, but came down from the higher ups...even Dolans.
Wondering what coach can do so that we dont have 2nd half relapse all season like last year.
Cant stand Zeke, but the guy seems to know how to draft, Chandler looks good. Maybe if he had saved some of our draft picks, he could have put together the team he wanted.
above comments not directed at any Fixers!
Love you guys and this blog
Just blowing off some steam.
Amazing how SplinterBottom ran so many people into the ground and now D'antoni has stepped up to handle him.
Actually I wish SplinterAss good luck. For his own sake I hope he finds some humility and direction in his life besides gloating about his money while us lifelong fans watch him act out his manboy problems
we all grew up in NY Steph, life is hard, we all grew up, now its your turn
SplinterBaby
I was at the game yesterday, and what really stood out as a major difference from last, is that the team tried and worked hard from minute one to the end of the game. I remember too many games last year where the team was down by 15 before I settled in my seat.
Also, its worth noting, that a small band of fans started the "Steph" chants and the majority of the Garden was stunned. When those same fans tried to start the chat later in the game, the majority of the fans were ready and booed loudly to drown out the ridiculous chants.
Its great that D'Antoni is insisting that the most team oriented, hardest working players will play, and those that don't fit that criteria will not. Exit, stage left, Marbury and Curry.
the only option is to buy out Steph. He is a ticking time bomb and will cause a ruckus in due time.,
There is NO Option to trade him. There are no contracts to match up and maintain cap flexibility in 2010
You can let him stew on the bench and he most definitely deserves it but it will end up coming back to bite the Knicks.
Curry is another story. Walsh should do Curry for Harrington straight up
Marbury showed up in shape and played well. He hasn't complained that much, and we should remember that he's constantly being baited by the media. The only reason for benching him should be if he mouthed off to a coach or did something else distasteful. if this was just about putting the guy in his place and was completely arbitrary, than it is a mistake. Players don't like to think that they can play well and still be dumped from the rotation on the coach's whim.
I'm in northern California, WoodenPearl, and watch the Warriors.....Harrington does zero in the clutch, is timid and just doesn't run plays well, defend or play with much instincts....he is a constant source of frustration and not worth it at all.
Last night: Gallinari walks like he has rocks in his shoes.....wut's up wit dat? He looks like Mike Dunleavy II.
Wilson C has arrived -- what a stud! Great news! and the 2 point guards do the job well. Mardy looks like a D-leaguer.
Knixed looked like an organized team last nite! Kudos to D'A, who is showing is what a real coach is supposed to do. Hope Isiah realized he should never have taken over and shoulda hired a real coach or stuck with Wilkins.
But......they need to replace J-Rich with a center, any lively center. Anyone see a center on da Knix bench? Anyone? Anything close to resembling a center, one with a brain and some intensity and bidy fat under 15%? I saw 2 big blobs on the bench, but not sure what they were. Heard one of them spent the 2nd half icing his knees. That's useful. If I was paid $120,000 to put on shorts and a t-shirt for a few hours a night I'd stay in a room and ice my knees too.
Walsh is playing poker with the other GMs of the league, hoping some numbskull will bail him out by taking on da Knix dead weights.....how long before the frayed nerved erupt? Not too long.....coming soon.....Starby is surely heating up and about to vomit it up to the press .....
DTR
My guess is that based on Starbaby's behavior, he has a gag order on him (and not by Starberman!)
I bet that an amount has been established for fines for those that blab to the NY BOAST or any newspaper and he "can't" do it anymore without consequences.
The worst consequences he could imagine...not getting "ALL his money!!"
curry for harrington and zach for hughes and noah. helps financially and helps interior defense. last night showed we're gonna get mudered inside by any team that has a legit center. we get rid of zach's contract and chi gets rid of hughes. we'd have to get rid of jj or roberson roster wise.
From ESPN: ""We want Steph. We want Steph," a small portion of the crowd at Madison Square Garden chanted as New York was comfortably ahead late in the third quarter of what would eventually become a near collapse as the Mike D'Antoni era kicked off with a 120-115 victory Wednesday over the Miami Heat.
The chant broke out again early in the fourth, and your ears really perked up this time because of the way most of the crowd responded to the chant -- by drowning it out with boos. "
From Starberman: "Some fans booed the chant."
Way to spin it in your boy's favor...YOU HACK!
"Spin, Spin, Spin...Spin the black, spin the black...Spin the black circle!!"
The one think I love about this new team is the head coach is a fire ball. Unlike Larry, Lenny, and Isiah. I noticed when they were not playing well he was coaching telling them to go for the jugular and kill. I'm liking what I'm seeing from the coaching position and I have not said that in a while.
Marbury didnt handle it like a man. He was saying "This is perfect" to Jerome "Haven't Played in Years" James.
No class. No guts. No place for him on this team. Let him rot on the bench. We'll earn out 21 mil back by keeping him out of another team's clubhouse. Remeber, MARBURY QUIT. So he doesnt deserve another chance.
GOOSE
Finally we have a great Coach and Pres in charge of this former asylum!
I am becoming proud of this team, our organization and our future!
Keep it up players, Mike, Assistants, Donnie!
Go Knicks!