NBA

Marbury: ‘Countdown’ to Knicks firing D’Antoni has begun

Stephon Marbury took some parting shots at Knicks embattled coach Mike D’Antoni before flying to China Thursday to start his second season with Shanxi.

The formers Knick point guard out of Coney Island told The Post on Monday in a phone interview that D’Antoni’s speedball offense is not suited to win in the Eastern Conference, he doesn’t teach defense enough and stars wanting to win a title should not want to play in the system.

Actually, Marbury sounded just like any other bitter Knicks fan disgusted by the team’s 3-7 start and five-game losing streak. Marbury claims to be just that – a diehard Knicks fan — though he has fallen out of favor with most supporters.

“It’s just a matter of time,” Marbury said. “That’s all I got to stay about D’Antoni’s situation. I don’t pay attention to his coaching. It hasn’t changed since he won 50 games or since all the how many games he’s lost here. If he had different pieces, he’s a very effective coach. But without any players that play with the realm of how he coaches the game, it will never be.

“It’s a matter of time,” Marbury added. “It’s a countdown now. He put a countdown on his head. Now (the fans) know we’re never going to win a championship like this.”

In D’Antoni’s first major act as head coach two years ago, he banished Marbury, who had reported to training camp in the best shape of his career. But when the Knicks needed Marbury to play in Detroit after their trades in late November of that season, he declined D’Antoni’s offer and fans have not forgiven him.

‘He doesn’t teach defense,” Marbury said. “He teaches offense. (Jeff) Van Gundy teaches defense. (The D’Antoni system) doesn’t work in New York. Not in the East. You have to have a team that dives for balls and takes the 3 when nobody expects you to take the 3. You have to be inside the fans’ minds and that’s what they want. There’s knowledgeable people in the arena. They’re talking to you while you’re shooting a jump shot.”

D’Antoni declined comment at the Knicks’ Tuesday morning shootaround in Denver.

Marbury wonders if Carmelo Anthony and other stars actually would want to play in D’Antoni’s system.

“If you’re trying to make money, play for D’Antoni,” Marbury said. “If he likes you, he’ll get you your shot from down yonder and let you shoot from the hashmark line and nobody will say nothing.

But why would a superstar go with that system who really wants to win a championship and not about making no bread. Some stars may like that, knowing nobody’s going to say anything and question that shot.”

Marbury played with Amar’e Stoudemire in Phoenix seven years ago. Stoudemire has also gone off on his teammates for not caring enough about winning.

“Amare likes to win,” Marbury said. “He’s not a loser. Nobody explained to him about New York. They don’t win, the finger will get pointed at him. First, it’s going to be about the money. He wants to win. Him being frustrated and speaking out, it’s not surprising to me.”

Marbury had a going-away party Sunday but still found time to catch their loss to the Rockets.

“I just have one question for all Knick fans,” Marbury asked. “When am I going to get blamed for this? I’m still a Knick fan even after what they did to me.”