Hotmail
D'Antoni curses Garden chant for Marbury
by MARC BERMAN, New York Post
2009 NBA Finals
 |
Sunday's Game 5
- Lakers 99, Magic 86 (Lakers win 4-1)
FOXSports.com analysis
- Playoff results, schedule
- 2009 NBA Playoff Central
- Rosen: Why the Lakers won
- Behrendt: L.A's title sequence
- Rosenberg: Kobe not done yet
- Tomasson: Kobe proves critics wrong
- Feigen: Jackson in class of his own
Video
- Postgame: Lakers celebrate 15th title
- Postgame: Kobe leads Lakers to title
- Postgame: Magic discuss Finals loss
- Marques Johnson's NBA Finals recap
Photos
- NBA Finals, Game 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1
With some in the Garden crowd surprisingly chanting "We Want Steph" with 11:10 remaining in the fourth (others booed the chant), a stewing D'Antoni was caught on MSG Network cameras Wednesday in a tirade, mouthing:
"You've got to be (bleeping) kidding me. You've got to be (bleeping) kidding me. What a bunch of (bleeps)."
Yesterday after practice, D'Antoni acknowledged his frustration with the Marbury chanters, showing how strongly he believes the lightning-rod point guard does not belong on the court. Marbury received a DNP, his second of his career, and is out of the rotation indefinitely despite likely being the team's most skilled player.
"Sometimes I don't think the fans quite get it," D'Antoni said. "It's like who you draft. They're going to boo. When you make a big decision, someone's going to like it, someone's not. You'll hear from the people who don't.
"Did I look exasperated?" D'Antoni added. "I was into the game. You get so much adrenaline at that point and you react. I'm into the game, into the moment. Sometimes I can be better than that. I'll make mistakes. I'll do better."
D'Antoni is known for his emotional rants on the sidelines, his battles with officials and his stubbornness and belief in his convictions that eventually led to his feud with Suns' management.
D'Antoni's blunt approach could get him into hot water now that he's under the New York microscope. He already has ticked off Eddy Curry for telling reporters he was out of the rotation before telling the player. The wisecracking D'Antoni also said when Curry missed the first day of training camp that it might be a blessing because he may have "dropped dead." Curry has a heart arrhythmia.
Ten minutes after D'Antoni said he was riled by the Marbury chants, a Knicks public relations official brought back the coach to reporters, where he then denied the curses were directed toward fans.
"There's no way I'd do that to the fans," he said. "It was a great opening night. That's what should be the story."
Unfortunately for D'Antoni, the story is also about Marbury, whose days are numbered following the coach's bold decision to take him out of the rotation after playing him 20 minutes per game during preseason.
A logical conclusion to this roaring controversy is president Donnie Walsh waiving Marbury. Walsh may have held him hostage so he would agree to take less than the $21.9 million he is owed. Marbury has told The Post he would want "every penny." Marbury currently has no agent.
More from the New York Post
Walsh said it's too early for buyout talk, but he didn't rule out that scenario.
"I wouldn't read the future," Walsh said. "We've played one game. I'm not clairvoyant. I don't know what's going to happen with any player. We haven't gone long enough. I'm not making hard and fast decisions on anything right now."
Though D'Antoni didn't want Marbury with the team at the outset and Walsh convinced him, Wednesday's benching came as a shock.
D'Antoni never hinted during the preseason that Marbury's spot in the rotation was in jeopardy and praised his performances. D'Antoni didn't give advance warning to Marbury, letting him suffer the humiliation before his hometown crowd.
D'Antoni could have known all along Marbury would not be in the rotation, but deceived him during preseason so he wouldn't create a major distraction.
D'Antoni denies this and says Mardy Collins' solid preseason convinced D'Antoni to bench Marbury. D'Antoni said he felt Collins is better suited to handle a minor role than Marbury, who has been a malcontent in the past. D'Antoni said all players had a clean slate, but apparently it did not apply to Marbury.
Collins, whose option for 2008-2009 was picked up last week, played 10 minutes in the opener and D'Antoni said he feels he's part of the future, unlike Marbury, whose contract expires after the season.
"It'd be rubbing his face in it (if I said), go in for three minutes, then come out," D'Antoni said. "He's a better player than that. Either there's a big-time role for him or there isn't. That's what I was wrestling with the whole preseason."
advertisement
