Stephon

Marbury

He’s not hurt. Jamison Brewer started in Marbury’s place.

He’ll now occupy the shooting guard spot, with Jamal Crawford running the offense. It’s a desperation move. “This will give Steph a chance to get off the ball some, coming off screens and have guys running at him instead of him having the ball in his hands when guys are guarding him,” interim coach Herb Williams said.

According to trainer Aaron Nelson, Marbury stretched nerves in his right shoulder and neck area, which cause shooting pain and then numbness down his right arm whenever he is hit in just the right place on his shoulder or head.

He’s expected to play Friday.

''I don’t know what you call it, but my hand is numb,’' he said after the game. ''It will be all right.’'

Marbury doesn’t want to discuss his ailments with so many of his teammates already hurting, but he’s missed some layups in his last two games so the press is heating up. Don’t expect him to miss any time.

The trade makes sense for both sides. The Suns get McDyess and Ward off the books next year, freeing up tons of cap space to go along with two potential lottery picks, Amare Stoudamire, Zarko, and Shawn Marion. The Knicks solve their point guard problem, and are playoff contenders in the Leastern Conference. Marbury will join his fourth NBA team, so he’s never been loved by the team’s that know him best. Marbury’s stats could be effected adversely by heading to the slow-down Eastern Conference, but not much.

The Knicks last night denied that an announcement is forthcoming and team president Isiah Thomas, was unavailable for comment. However, sources say Thomas plans on making the announcement after the game tonight.

''If I play the two, it’s going to be scary. It’s going to be kind of scary because I can shoot whenever I want to shoot. I won’t even have to think about it. I think I’ll be more of a playmaker because I’ll be playing behind the defense.’' Larry Brown may want him to think about it though.

Dolan isn’t accused of sexual harrassment in the suit, but of being an “aider and abettor” in the decision to fire her. She also states that she was commanded to hire Dolan’s former gardener and two of Stephon Marbury’s cousins. We have no idea what Marbury’s cousins were going to do for her, and we’re not sure we want to know.