If Boston’s missing piece is a disgruntled former superstar turned mannequin, than they’re not going to repeat

SCOTT JACOBS

The world’s worst secret is officially now out in the open.  Stephon Marbury is on the open market.  And I hate to cut the suspense, but he’s going to Boston.  But you already knew that.  Everyone knew that. Scandanavians, and Australians, and any citizens with ‘ians’ attached to their country knew that Marbury was going to go Green as soon as the Knicks let him run free.

But the question is not why New York waited so long to do the inevitable.  The bigger question is why Boston wants this clubhouse cancer, when they’ve established a ‘team,’ you know, where everyone plays ‘together.’

Now few seem to be questioning Marbury’s ego because Boston has already made it work with three superstars who were used to being the focal point of their team.  But with Marbury something seems different.  Something smells fishy.

Is this Randy Moss going to the Patriots?  You know the situation where a great player gets freed from a horrendous team only to land on an elite team and completely revive his career.  No, that won’t happen.  Can Starbury be a nice addition off the bench?  Yeah, on paper he can.

But is the Star Child ready to play second fiddle?  For that matter, is he ready to be the third or fourth option on a team loaded with players who play the game like men?  Is he ready to let his ego leave the building in favor of a chance at a ring?

Marbury could have been king.  In Minnesota he and KG could have formed a potent duo.  We could have been saying ‘potent potables’ and referred to them. But Marbury wanted out after a few seasons and the Wolves dealt him to New Jersey.  Which then dealt him to Phoenix, where he had one great game against the Spurs in game one way back when, and then his 8th seeded Suns disappeared.  After his act got stale in Phoenix they dealt him to the Knicks.

And now, Stephon Marbury’s career has come full circle: he’s back with KG.  Only the team he just signed with is the defending World Champs.  They have 17 rafters hanging up in the Garden.  Their list of hall of famers runs like the credits to a 3 hour movie: forever. They’ve got a few more cracks at another championship or two.  This team wants to win again.

But does Marbury?

Number three has never won a playoff series, nevermind played on a team that’s gone deep in the playoffs.  If he fails to get out of the first round with this team, well then he might want to move to another country.  So odds are he’ll advance past the first round.  But is he that missing piece?  That backup point guard who can offer the Celtics a veteran off the bench? The guy who can be an option in the late stages of a  big game? I’m not fully convinced.

And let’s be real.  No one will ever confuse Marbury for a good defender.

The whole, clubhouse cancer thing, well, let’s just say that doesn’t exactly help his case.

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