First of all, Penny saying that thing about getting 25 points and 10 dimes doesn't have to be directed at Stephon Marbury at all. As an individual basketball player, pretty much the best you could do is average those stats and be an all-star, so Penny is stating that some players on this team are reaching for those types of games instead of the types of games where you get a W.
So far this year, this team has been crap. Every game we lose, it's always "forget about it, we have a game in 2 days, let's look to that." That's fine, until the losses start piling up. Mike D'Antoni says you need luck to get out of a slump. Stephon Marbury says you gotta focus on the positives. It doesn't seem like Shawn Marion quite understands, and Scott Williams doesn't hold enough credibility because he is a guy averaging like 15 minutes a night. Somebody needed to say it. Players are sulking on the court, but once the game is over they act like everything is fine. I have news for you guys, and I think Penny Hardaway would agree with me on this: Everything is not fine. This team does need a kick on the ass. Now, I guaruntee you everybody that read Penny's comments is going to be focusing on the games a little closer, seeing if players might be playing somewhat selfishly. The next time somebody displays a "me-first" attitude on the court, we'll all see it. And, believe it or not, that's a deterrent.
The fact of the matter is, whether Penny's comments are true or not, it will certainly force some self examination. At least it will if some of these guys will look past their egos and see the truth as it is.
In the NBA where nobody is held truly accountable, this might have been a very good thing for Penny to do. The team struggles for the first 20 games of the season, and who is blamed? Frank Johnson. Now the players think, "well, it's not my fault that we've been losing, it's our coach's." D'Antoni's record is horrible, it's his fault. Penny's comments will force some of the players to reevaluate their roles on this team, and their part in this young season's blunders.
Penny Hardaway is the ONLY player on this team who has been a 1st or 2nd option on a lot of playoff teams. Stephon Marbury has had very little success anywhere he's gone. Shawn Marion has been notorious for folding in the playoffs. Joe Johnson's never been there before, and either has Amare or Barbosa or Voskhul or Zarko or any of these guys. Bottom line: Penny knows how to win. So when he says something, I suggest these young guys listen. Because let's face it, we are 9-16, and that's far from okay.