The question that seems to weigh heavily on many New York Knicks fans seems to be whether or not Kicks stars Carmelo Anthony and Amare Stoudemire are a good fit together. Well now you can count ex-Knick Stephon Marbury among those who think they can't.
Many have expressed the same concerns with the Knicks' star duo. In their season and a half together, the Knicks have a sub .500 record when both are in the starting lineup.
"Amare needs a point guard like Steve Nash (to thrive). He's a pick-and-roll guy, a pick-and-pop guy. He can't play in the half court where everything's slowed down," Marbury told ESPN New York during a brief interview in Manhattan on Wednesday.
In addition to his thoughts on Stoudemire, Marbury also questioned the Knicks' motivation to obtain Anthony in a three-team blockbuster deal in February of 2011.
"I don't know if (Knicks owner James) Dolan brought him in to win games or to make money," Marbury said. "I think it was to make money."
Marbury went on to say that he felt that Anthony is the Knicks' best player and that the team should be built around his strengths. As it seems new Knicks head coach Mike Woodson seems more comfortable in putting the ball in Anthony' hands in the low and mid-post and letting him operate in isolation after he took over in late March.
"You knew what he was when you got him," Marbury said of Anthony. "Let him do what he does.
"I think they have a good team," Marbury said. "They could make the second round (of the playoffs)."
Marbury is five years removed from his controversial tenure in New York. The Brooklyn native came home in a trade midway through the 2003-04 season and led the Knicks to the playoffs that season. But losing seasons and clashes with management, coaches and teammates followed. He and the team agreed to a buyout in the 2007-08 season.
Marbury currently plays for the Beijing Ducks in the Chinese Basketball Association. He led the team to a championship last season and is heading back to China this week.
