Updated Oct 23, 2002 7:07 PM ET
PHOENIX
Unless a spit wad hits the blackboard, you will not be tested on this later.
The information about to be provided serves as a statistical basis for reformatting of opinion.
Comparative analysis is in order, and the highfalutin roll call goes like so:
Shaquille O¿Neal couldn¿t do it from point-blank range.
was shockingly close, but surrendered to a one-season lapse.
discovered the three-pointer, so he hasn¿t.
probably couldn¿t do it in a video game.
failed like a champ, but probably assisted others who succeeded.
? Well, his higher road was paved by a modest beginning, but he did it.
What Marbury — still working as point guard for the Phoenix — accomplished was an improvement in field-goal percentage during each of his first six NBA seasons.
This possibly confounding (to you) numerical platform is recorded in the ¿ media guide and has been co-opted by me as a reminder that seeming shouldn¿t command believing.
OK, Marbury has seemed like less than a stellar teammate and mild waste of enormous talent; I¿ll concede the former and offer a mild disagreement with the latter.
And while that¿s going on, we¿ll examine the premise of Marbury hustling the past the velvet ropes and back into the Western Conference playoffs.
My initial advice for fans involves exhaling and bookie avoidance.
But I do believe the may improve just enough to lurch into the post-season IF — a few Western point guards are unable to prevent simultaneous landslides from the competition.
For example:
First-year L.A. Clipper must overcome rampant contract-extension limbo as he and his new cronies seek that oblique-looking next level.
, whose uniform has a higher number than his Social Security card, must resume this mind-numbing level of leadership for playoff ball to continue in Utah.
The Houston have Chinese take-out at center, but won¿t sniff playoff fortune with in citizen clothes. Francis, who reportedly has roared past his migraine crisis, will reach out to considerably more often than did the guards on that Chinese National Team.
The Seattle should hope the spaceship does not arrive with a demand for the return of kinder, gentler and alien . The Sonics would be obliged to take back the crusty, earthling , who has one year left on an unearthly contract.
Remember, GP was this caliber of jittery way before that Starbucks guy purchased the team.
The Phoenix edition of this playoff-handicapping, point-guard derby is Marbury.
Before beating the drum for his importance, it is noted that ascension requires improvement from shooting guard and center Jake Tsakalidis, with reasonable contributions from a few pricey veterans.
I have not forgotten the crucial existence of small forward , a multi-tasking star who will be super when he quits floating slightly sideways on his mid-range jumper.
The variables also include rookie power forward , a drastically confident 19-year-old who probably wouldn¿t bother to pump fake Godzilla.
Stoudemire¿s basket-banging existence will demand that I write an entire column on him in short order.
Now, let¿s return to Marbury, the favorite go-to Sun.
If Spike Lee favors us with a Stephon-based film, its title will be He Got Blame.
The impetus for any prevailing negativity was established when the traded to the New Jersey .
Kidd, you may recall, was considered expendable after an ugly marital spat reminded the that Jason wasn¿t exactly leading them into the bonus playoff rounds.
Their end of the deal was Marbury, a severely talented lead guard whose assumed baggage had a realistic shot at being sidetracked on America West Airlines.
The first lap in this journey was a real hay ride.
Kidd, fortified by the burden of proof, steered the into the NBA Finals. He was vigorously promoted as league MVP because many contributing variables went virtually unnoticed.
The ¿ training room — which was sold out during Marbury¿s last campaign in New Jersey — was relatively clear.
, and combined injuries for 125 missed games in the season before Kidd¿s arrival.
The franchise uprising also was nailed down through the addition of malleable role players and bitter collapse of the Eastern Conference.
Out in the desert, Marbury¿s statistically excellent adventure was camouflaged by the rarely emphasized eradication of power forward Cliff Robinson and veteran displacement (Rodney Rogers, ) from the Johnson deal with Boston.
Mix in his DUI event, and a respected franchise quickly appeared to be on the ropes.
But I¿ve read testimony that supports a Marbury revival and have seen exhibition-season evidence of a leadership attempt. Basketball watchdogs are advised not to forget how good this kid is.
For professional perspective, I now enlist a few opinions offered by an assistant coach from a Western Conference team:
"He¿s the truth," the assistant said of Marbury.
OK, we¿re going to need more than that.
"A lot of people see the points and assume that Marbury can¿t create opportunities for opponents and doesn¿t even think about doing it," the assistant coach said. "But he¿s averaged eight assists per game for his career, I think.
"His reputation almost seems wrecked by his ability to score with ease and on anybody. When you look at the , who would you rather have taking the big shots? In Jersey and early last season, he was looking to involve his teammates, but when they don¿t produce or get hurt or whatever, Steph starts looking for his shots."
That¿s my cue to introduce the proposed new offensive scheme.
Frank Johnson, who¿s had the ¿ head-coaching gig since Scott Skiles was dismissed last season, is the latest sideline sharpie to turns his back on traditional, NBA post-up-and-watch offense.
His player-ratified, passing-and-cutting-oriented offense seems to be using the ballyhooed triangle formation as its base set. But don¿t expect Johnson to incorporate any Zen accessories; the only Far Eastern influence is Marbury¿s status as a son of New York.
Although the regimen of a continuity-generating, ball-reversing (mind your manners) offense makes things easier (in theory) for everybody, the key benefactor from this X and O largesse is Marbury.
In the olden days, Marbury was responsible for either breaking down his defender with a wicked crossover or whipping into the lane after a ball screen from on high.
Such hackneyed NBA style can wear out a point guard, and Marbury wasn¿t quite begging for an excuse to play mediocre defense. The kid has too much quickness, strength and basketball sense to not be a mean defender.
Continuing the theory, he now should have plenty of pep for the shot-clock-eating strategy of pressuring the opposing ballhandler.
Marbury will produce the same type of offensive numbers (20 and 8) this season; Johnson¿s plan is to make them arrive through a more efficient procedure, enrolling teammates to share a portion of the ballhandling chores.
On hand to help refine the deployment is one of the league¿s best assistant-coaching lineups.
The holdover is skill-development coach Phil Weber, who used to choreograph the off-season workouts of NBA players at UCLA¿s Men¿s Gym.
Webber either works like a maniac or purchases T-shirts with a built-in sweat stain.
The newcomers don¿t slouch a bit.
Mike D¿Antoni is a former NBA head coach (Denver) who offers tactical insight, personnel-generating know-how and player-development experience.
Marc Iavaroni checked in as a former Miami assistant whose low-post-ministry has been influenced by big-man guru Pete Newell.
Player-development veteran Tim Grgurich may be the NBA¿s best at tutoring players. Many of his peers think so. Despite the acclaim, Grgurich — who has combined forces with Jerry Tarkanian and George Karl, among others — insists on a maintaining a low profile.
If identified as a crime-scene witness, he¿d probably turn down an interview request from the police.
This takes us back to Marbury, who never has threatened to make the interview all-star team either. Fine by me.
Marbury¿s wary approach to reporters shouldn¿t prevent us from reporting that he also is among the league leaders in charitable, off-court activity.
Now, if he rises from a gifted and very good player to inclusive superstar, perhaps a Marbury charity can take a few kids to the playoffs.
For the record, this is where I recommend that you exhale and enjoy the show.
Randy Hill can be reached at his e-mail address: rhill@foxsports.com.
