Marbury not impressed by reformed critics
The Arizona Republic
Apr. 11, 2003 12:00 AM
Stephon Marbury has no time for new love.
At least not from quick-trigger critics who questioned his worth, his discipline and his ability to lead a basketball team.
The ones who declared him a lightweight compared with the departed Jason Kidd.
"I laugh at them, because they're cowards," Marbury said. "First they were saying one thing and now they're switching up everything in a year's time, just because we're winning. Well, it doesn't just happen in one year.
"So I laugh at them. They're cowards. They have no backbone. They're spineless jellyfish. That's what I call them."
It's safe to say that Marbury has beaten the rap. That oft-criticized trade with New Jersey doesn't seem so one-sided anymore. In fact, you could make a strong argument that Marbury is having a better season than Kidd in 2002-03.
Kidd is the NBA assist leader at 8.9 per game, but Marbury averages 8.2. Kidd averages 3.1 more rebounds a game, but Marbury averages 3.8 more points.
The Suns point guard has a better shooting percentage, as well as five game-winning shots and another statistic that leaps off the page:
The Suns are on the brink of a playoff berth in a season when expectations were very low. Through 77 games, Marbury's combination of points and assists had accounted for 41.1 percent of the Suns' scoring this season.
In the NBA, only Tracy McGrady, Kobe Bryant and Gary Payton (while with Seattle) have accounted for more of their teams' outputs.
"I think he's done a good job to kind of quiet a lot of critics," Suns coach Frank Johnson said.
"Steph is going to be All-Pro this year. He's probably going to be second team. And he could have us in the playoffs. What more can you ask?"
Of course, Marbury scoffs at the notion that he has magically transformed into an elite player. In fact, the only improvement from last season's statistics is that he's scoring one more basket per game.
That said, the sudden groundswell of national love is understandable.
In their past three games, the Suns lost in overtime to the Lakers in Los Angeles, disposed of Denver with ease and smoked the Mavericks, considered one of the top three teams in the Western Conference.
It is a basic thought, but the Suns are playing like a very hungry basketball team.
They are cohesive, passionate and fighting like mad for a playoff berth that many have deemed irrelevant. Among many things, this is a sign of strong leadership.
That happened to be Marbury's stated goal at the beginning of the season, to empower his teammates.
"I think I'm doing it," Marbury said. "The guys are playing with a sense of urgency. We're playing hard, and we're playing together. Everybody is on the same page."
Marbury wants fans to know that there are other reasons for the resurgence of a once-sagging franchise. The coaching staff has done a great job, he said, and clearly, the addition of rookie Amare Stoudemire has provided a jolt of energy.
But deep down, Marbury knows this could be his season of victory. A season in which the Suns make the playoffs, and all those who questioned his value are suddenly standing out of bounds.
"They have to take it," Marbury said. "And I'll just laugh and go out and play basketball."
) and he is no longer on the air along with some of my favorite hosts. I dont really care for Gambo and Ash.
