They credit assists differently in Europe - don't ask me how, but it has been long known that assist numbers across the board in Europe are generally lower. That said, he hasn't shown anything yet...the only people calling him great so far are those that are super-hype oriented.
jay - fairly sure assists are same in europe as here in australia (both under international rules) in that i think the scorer can't dribble for it to be an assist and at least use the dribble to create a shot.
Knicks fans are crazy. I was reading their board and they were SHREDDING the Marbury deal talking about how they traded away their future for Marbury. What future!? Had a guy who MIGHT be good, but nobody knows, and some people questioned his work ethic (Lampe), and first round draft picks. The Knicks are now a young team, minus Mutombo, and an instant threat to get out of the East. I mean, they got a freaking franchise PG who is about 27 years old, and they're complaining about losing Lampe!?
And Bostjan Nachbar is a Peja Stojankovic clone with a better first step and Mirsad Turkcan is the best pure shooter around...Marko Jaric may be the best point guard on the CLippers roster and Vladimir Radomanovic is like a young Larry Bird, while Nicoloz Tshikitsvili is like Kevin McHale wiht a better vertical... be wary of the euro hype.
^^^Yeah I started cracking up when I read that. So the next two meetings the rockets should win without any resistance from the suns but we play NY this week.
When it was revised to include Lampe, I think this made it a slightly better risk for the Suns. If the Knicks' pick is a lottery pick (believe it or not the Knicks are only two games back of the East playoffs), then the Suns would probably have two top 13 picks this offseason and some big cap space. Not bad. I was surprised they bailed so quickly on their touted triumvirate though. Certainly they are saying "no mas" to this season I think. We'll see. You never know... sometimes when you move a major player on your team others step up and shine. I doubt we see slinslin and his troll buddies around here too much though. As much as I don't like Isiah Thomas and think he's been terrible in his post-playing career, this was probably a good move for the Knicks. 1) He did the impossible by moving Howard Eisley. Wow. 2) With the ticket prices they charge, they have got to win now. Marbury gives them a very good PG who is from the area. Still though, how many "elite, franchise" point guards have been traded four times? Maybe all he talk last year about Marbury now being unselfish was just that ... talk. I mean damn .... he's only 27. Man how fast did Frank Williams move down the depth chart. Think of the underlying stories in this one also: <UL>1) Van Horn and Marbury are teammates again. That didn't work too well, and make sure you remember the comments Marbury made recently when the Knicks acquired Van Horn. "I don't see it working here for Keith. It's a whole other world here. I don't see Keith playing here long. I don't think he'll want to play here long. He's been put in this situation. The atmosphere and the team is not suitable for him. You've got to be way tougher than Keith is to play in New York. You've got to be gritty. You've got to be a grinder. Sprewell fits that description. Michael Jordan fits that description. So does Tim Duncan and Allen Iverson. But Keith is not a player who fits that description. I'm just being honest. It's not just following Sprewell that'll be tough for Keith. It's just the way you've got to come out on the court from the jump. When you play here, you've got to come out and dominate from the start. I hope it works out for Keith. But based on the past, his numbers don't show him being a dominant player. He's a talented player, but he's not a threat like Sprewell." 2) The Knicks-Nets rivalry just got much more heated. Van Horn, Mutumbo and Marbury are ALL Nets rejects, and none of them can be too thrilled with New Jersey. Not to mention Marbury and Kidd were traded for each other and Marbury has been trying like hell to make that trade not seem lopsided. This is great for New York ... 3) Antonio McDyess is back in Phoenix. He stunned the NBA, rejecting the idea that for free agents Phoenix is one of the "places". He actually took less money to leave Phoenix. I have no doubt that the Colangelos took that very personally... I don't know, they strike me as vindictive people anyhow. I can see them loving the extra benefit of rejecting McDyess (unless he shows something the second half of the season)</UL>Lastly, in the new cap-conservative era of the NBA, is Carroll Dawson the only GM to ever have to sweeten a deal (first round draft picks) to give up a big, expiring contract (Glen Rice)? Granted the Jazz already had the cap space and were doing us a favor in that sense so we could make a move right then and there (Jim Jackson), so they had to be compensated, but it seems holding on to it would have had much more value this time of year.
Clutch, I think the thinking is that this team is "young enough" and that draft picks at this stage is not going to help us. We needed veterans to mix with our current youth. (And at the time of the trade I dont think we were thinking that the Griffin fiasco was going to happen). Additionally it allows JVG to look at this team the ENTIRE season and then make a move using the Trade Exception in the Summer, rather than HAVE to use the Rice contract in February to make it worth anything. One just gets the feeling that JVG wants to REALLY test drive this team before making any BIG moves. He wants to see which players will fit his system and is willing to giver everyone the season to show what they got. Some may learn faster than others. But I dont think he wants to jump the gun on anyone. Now, I am not foolish enough to think that was their primary reasoning to make that transaction becuase I am sure the cutting of payroll and getting under the LT was a BIG factor (perhaps the main factor), but the end result might turn out really good for us this summer. Time will tell. BUT...point noted in the Expiring contract. For the "moment" it is tough to swallow that we couldn't get more for the expiring contract. We see Brandon's contract effectively turn into Sprewell and now Dice, Ward, etc turn into Marbury. Just goes to show if a team is WILLING to "take on" salary that quality talent can be acquired! Dallas is another great example with their Antoine(s). You have to wonder what type of player would Les "ok" to take on significant salary? Again, guess we have to wait for the summer to see what happens.
That trade definitely sucks for Phoenix for the time being. They were fine with Marbury, Marion, and Amare I thought. Whatever though, it will just take them longer to rebuild now and be less of a threat to the Rockets, so that's fine with me.
What a great trade for the Suns!! Seriously, it's not that bad a trade for Phonex. They got rid of Penny's horrible contract and they got two legit prospects in Lampe and Milos Vujanic (who was the best PG in EuroLeague last year), and two first round picks. Oh, and they are now officially out of playoff race.
I don't know. Phoenix is supposedly looking to deal even more. Don't know how or what. If Indy wants to use its trade exception to move Artest, and if we'd use our own trade exception, I'd love to send Cat and 2nd round picks to Indy, send Artest to Phoenix (Artest making half of Marion's salary, Marion being 1st year BYC I think) and send Shawn Marion here. Yeah. Essentially, Cat and 2nd rounders to Indy so that the Pacers can give up their headache named Artest. I mean, why not? Phoenix would have even more cap space to go after Show-be Bryant (provided he isn't in jail). That would give them Bryant/Artest/Stoudemire, and would give us Francis/Marion/Yao. Yeah, that's it. Sure, why not? Then I woke up.
I guess I am in the minority thinking the Suns really got the best end of this deal. Normally, the team receiveing the best player via a trade in basketball is better off but not in this case. Here's why: 1) Marbury is a cancer on and off the court. On the court because he is a "ME" not a "WE" type player. Off the court because his teams tend to develop factions. 2) Max player that doesn't make his team better. MAX type players must guarantee 40-45 wins a year or they are not worth their contract. He is a handcuff to his team. 3) McDyess is under 30 and will be a dominating player again. 4) Kobe possibilities! Expiring contracts! 5) Euro team that will play exciting basketball, much like the Kings. The fans will be back! Addition by subtraction IMO!
I agree. Phx definitely got the better end of the deal. The euro point guard won't be worse than jaric, and he is pretty good. Lampe might be a good player, plus they get 2 first round picks. Who wouldn't trade a headcase for 2 first rounders, and 2 really good prospects w/ potential, AND free up cap space???
looking back it looks like the Knicks trade Camby and Nene and Spree and a couple future first rounders, Lampe, Eisley and that young euro pg for Marbury, KVH, Penny and Frank Williams
I'm surprised Knicks fans are upset, but I agree the deal's not so bad for Phoenix. However, everything hinges on the wonderful p-word. Lampe and Vujanic are highly touted prospects, but they were still second-rounders (although with Lampe, it was due to his contract). A Knicks lottery pick is nice, but this year's draft sucks. On the other hand, dumping Hardaway and coming up with that much cap space is huge, although they're stuck with Eisley for a couple years. JuanValdez, ESPN says that Ward will probably be bought out. I really, really hope the Rockets pick him up. Ward's exactly what we need at backup point.
for all the crap marbury gets for being a me player its surprising to me that no one mentions that he is regularly in the top 5 in assists per game, much better than the pg we have. that being said i do believe that marbury is not a team player in the sense of locker room leadership. but on the courts he does distribute the ball and score, in fact he could be the epitome of a scoring pg in the league today. being back in ny may be in fact helpful for him and i do believe that the knicks will be in the playoffs again this year (what seed is to be determined though) honestly i think that phoenix got the better of the deal. If mcdyess is anything like he was before the sugery than its a steal with ward/eisley manning the point. Also isiah has pretty much put a strangehold on the finances in NY for some time now with the major contracts he has. and if either of the picks sent to phx pan out then its a bonus, but with that all being said, i am shocked that they shipped marbury out of phx
suns win this trade Its like they knew all ALONG that barbosa would break out. Damn I saw him tonight and he looks like a smarter,more passing Mobley. They also have amare and marian and that euro Lampe and that other Euro that broke his wrist(he is a player also,he was busting out when he got minutes) They also have TONS of cap space now. If they get Kobe its over. They will win the championship next year guaranteed. However, I must say that Marbury (in the east) will do alot better than in the west and will flourish making people this year think NY won the deal. I just dont know why poeple call marbury selfish. He averages ALOT more assists than Steve,yet steve must be good enough to warrant a max contract from Cd,fans wanting to see him play,and an allstar birth again. Marbury>francis. BUt kobe >marbury
