FIVE games into last season Stephon Marbury’s demotion detonated the Knicks’ pervasive unraveling. His surprise 48-minute benching in Wednesday’s Madison Square Garden opener against the Miami Heat Stroke resulted in an encouraging-at-times victory.
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Interesting that Mike D’Antoni testified at both proceedings. As a prosecuting witness, he coached the Suns the night Marbury abandoned his team in Phoenix and went back to New York. Less than a year, he decided the Knicks were better off, at least for the time being, with Marbury seat-belted to the sidelines.
So much for anybody thinking Donnie Walsh was BS-ing when the Knicks president promised no interference with his newly hired coach regarding players. I am positive reducing Marbury to last guard in uniform was not what Walsh had in mind over the past five months since taking control of the Knicks’ front office. Just as outright releasing him, or buying out the last year ($20.84 million) of his contract never entered his computer.
From Day 1, Walsh staunchly believed Marbury could be a valuable contributor this season given he showed up to training camp in shape and focused on how he could help the team – as a starter or a sub – first and foremost. No one can say that hasn’t happened. Nor can anyone name a Knick with more panache for penetrating and creating easier offensive opportunities.
As long as Marbury pretended to buy into D’Antoni’s program by doing as was told and not telling the press what it would have loved to hear, it appeared his worth was on the rise. Walsh might have never said it out loud, but things were going so well (Marbury shot 50 percent in seven exhibitions and caused zero problems) I suspect he might have dreamt of a day when Marbury (just not his contract) became an asset, and he could move him for someone or something halfway decent.
So much for that game plan. Just when you think Marbury’s value can’t plunge any lower D’Antoni attaches him a heavier anchor. How long will it remain a story? How long will the metropolitan media keep it alive? Could that be why D’Antoni pulled the pin and created distance before the grenade could blow up in his hand down the land-mined road?
Coming into this season I was convinced Marbury would be on his best behavior and still believe he will come across if called upon should someone get hurt. D’Antoni sees the court differently.
Depending on someone already erased from next year’s playbook is unappealing. Relying on those who have a better chance to hang on for the duration is preferable. Identifying physical limitations and discovering mental awareness under duress – Jamal Crawford’s wild 3-pointers at crunch time, for instance, when reason dictated holding the ball and running down the 24-second clock – is critical before outcomes really become meaningful.
Why give away minutes and responsibility to someone who will not be on the Knicks past this season? Better to find out what others can or can’t do. Find out who deserves to be promoted or left behind. And better sooner than later.
None of the above means the Knicks will win more games or are more dangerous without Marbury. What it means is his evenings of thinking rules don’t apply to him are over. No longer can he deny services as a means to get what he wants from the hostage-held Knicks.
Hope that wasn’t me who questioned D’Antoni’s willingness to implement hardcore decisions. Who says he’s not tough enough to handle their backlash, spar with an intrusive media and backslap overzealous fans.
Regardless of whether Marbury’s downgrading to bench warmer was practical or imprudent (my thought), D’Antoni “certainly knew he was going to take some bleep for it,” Walsh said. But not from Walsh, who has never told a coach how to coach or who to play, except once, which must remain in confidence, at least until I write my autobiography, which should happen shortly after my children forget how to read. When Walsh went to Scottsdale to see D’Antoni, he told him he wanted him to coach the New York Knicks. Period.
“I didn’t ask him about defense. I didn’t ask him about offense. I knew his style. I told him ‘I have faith in you.’ ”
It’s that kind of unadulterated support that convinced D’Antoni to choose the Knicks over the Bulls, whose managing partner Jerry Reinsdorf was hemming on compensation and hawing on other pertinent particulars.
Pressured by Robert Sarver and vice president Steve Kerr to alter methods pertaining to defense and discipline (lack thereof), D’Antoni already had decided to annul his “arranged marriage” (Sarver’s term) with the Suns owner who had bought the team four seasons earlier for $401M. Such an investment, Sarver believed, entitled him to complete compliance by employees. D’Antoni felt four years of guiding a championship contender earned him the right to continue to do things his own way. Risking a popular perception he was uncoachable, D’Antoni embraced the challenge to reverse the Knicks’ mudslide.
I’m guessing a $24M, 4-year cozy arrangement made that decision less difficult. But it was Walsh’s hands-off mindset that cemented it. “I’m not here to tell Mike how to get there. He’s been doing this a long time,” Walsh said. “If it doesn’t work, blame me. I take full responsibility for what Mike does. I’m not ducking that responsibility.”
Very noble.
But what about Marbury (and Eddy Curry)? What happens if Star Burst starts to act up and drags down the team? More importantly, will the Garden sell their seats?
I haven’t seen so much money paid to people sitting around doing nothing since the last time I watched C-SPAN.