Marbury has hope for Phil, triangle
With the Knicks still looking for a point guard, Stephon Marbury was back at the Garden on Sunday with his 12-year-old son, preaching the merits of the triangle and presence of Phil Jackson.
Marbury said he will play one more season in China before retiring, then plans to land a coaching job there, possibly with Beijing.
Marbury, the Coney Island icon who fell out of favor with Knicks fans during his rough stint from 2004-08, received a warm cheer when he was shown on the video board.
The former Knicks point guard said he doesn’t think Carmelo Anthony and the triangle mix, but said he feels they should still try to meld the two styles instead of divorcing.
“I play basketball, I actually like the triangle,’’ the 40-year-old Marbury said. “It opens things up if you know how to move without the ball and know how to cut. That’s the game you learn in high school and younger — pass, cut — basically the fundamentals of basketball, which makes it extremely difficult to guard.
“Guys like Melo who request the ball in certain positions and spots — they knew this before they gave him all the money they gave him. Mix the two components together — the triangle and his style — it may take until next year.’’
Unlike many Knicks fans, Marbury said he still believes in Jackson despite three straight 50-loss seasons.
“I think it can change [with] commitment and time,’’ Marbury said. “Coaching — get a guy like Phil Jackson, you expect the coaching to change right away and things to change right away. Ultimately it takes a lot of time. With him as leader and making decisions, they’re in a great place in having someone like that.’’
Marbury said he doesn’t think Anthony wants to split from New York, despite Anthony’s hints his time here may be over.
“It’s New York — it comes with it,’’ Marbury said. “Real New Yorkers know that. He’s handled it great.