When Pacers president Larry Bird decided prior to training camp to support coach Jim O'Brien's fervent desire to exile Jamaal Tinsley, I thought it was a lousy idea. Why on earth would an opponent want to acquire a player owed $21 million over three seasons when the parent team finds him so repugnant?
Still, at least management eliminated any chance of Tinsley or O'Brien creating an embarrassing or prickly disturbance. Every once in awhile, the Indianapolis media has attempted to update trade/buyout possibilities; that's been it . . . no incidents or accusations, hints OR allegations of insubordination. Boundaries were agreed upon and neither party has crossed them publicly. 'Marriage is over'
Sunday's action
- Aldridge, Blazers roll past Pistons
- Bulls easily take care of Sixers
- Nuggets lose Anthony, still top Rockets
- Harris has 47 as Nets run past Suns
- Pau, Kobe push Lakers over Raps
FOXSports.com analysis
- Vecsey: Knicks bungle Marbury ordeal
- Rosen: Blazers looking like contenders
- Hill: Surprises and disappointments
- Galinsky: NBA power rankings
Photos
- Celtics celebrate 17th title
In any event, all you need to know about the state of Stephon and the Knicks is Plaxico Burress had a better week.
Clearly, there's enough disingenuousness to go around in the wake of Marbury rejecting "offers" of serious minutes from D'Antoni against the Bucks and Pistons and his subsequent fine for not playing at the Palace and last night's Garden suspension with Golden State in town.
In no way do I absolve Marbury, who owns the NBA's all-time record for ticking off teammates, staff and civilians, but why would a coach give a player the option to play. Asking a demoted player if he wouldn't mind dressing to meet the league minimum of eight and, oh, yeah, 30-35 minutes are yours if you want them, is a first in my 40 years of covering professional basketball.
D'Antoni's testimony on camera following both episodes was unambiguous. He'd asked, not ordered, Marbury to break a sweat. Surprising no one, Hooked on Stephonics re-confirmed his legendary selfishness by leaving his under-manned team in the lurch. But that ask-order technicality, it says here, will recoup the money he was docked when his case goes to arbitration.
Marbury is sufficiently street slick or schooled by union lawyers to have figured that much out. Yet he wasn't smart enough to realize he'd blown an extraordinary opportunity to repair his contaminated image.
Imagine the respect Marbury would have gained by rising above being callously discarded and coming to his decimated team's rescue. Instead, Stephon confirmed why so many of us disrespect him so deeply.
