I have to say I really like the way that Mike D'Antoni is handling the Stephon Marbury situation. For those not familiar, here it goes:

Marbury is still owed 21.6 million dollars on his contract. He's never in his life been a DNP-CD (Did not play, coach's decision) in his life (except after some personal issues in which it was justified), but has started the season sitting squarely in the number 13 spot. That is, he's healthy, he wants to play, but D'Antoni is simply refusing to play him.

In the past, there have been a million reasons to sit Stephon. Marbury has often been criticized as a sort of lockerroom cancer. His own cousin in a recent biography (of the cousin, not of Marbury) accused Stephon of being selfish and "just out for Steph". His off the court antics are stuff of youtube legend, and his habit of being the cornerstone on bad teams is well documented.

Last season, Isiah Thomas benched Marbury in favor of Mardy Collins. Marbury responded by simply leaving the team. Shortly there-after, Marbury was invited back to the team and into the starting role. Why? Because even then, he was easily the Knick's best player. No sane person would let someone like that sit on the bench.

Fast forward to this year. Marbury is sitting on the bench. Tensions are high between the much maligned point guard and his hometown. So much so that during home games, half of Madison Square Garden chants "We Want Steph", while the other half booes the first half.

Now you would think Marbury might not take this in stride, like maybe he'd be a little upset. He's got the contract swagger (believe that guys who are paid more are entitled to playing time), he's got the obvious talent, he's a hometown guy, so why wouldn't he have a cow? I believe the reason is Mike D'Antoni.

When Isiah benched Stephon last year, it was obvious that it wasn't about talent. It was personal. The Pacers are facing a very similar situation this season as the knicks in their own irratic point guard, Jamaal Tinsely. Larry Bird trusts Tinsley so little, that Tinsley is not even allowed in Conseco field house.

Here is what D'Antoni is saying about Stephon:

"It's a tough, delicate situation," D'Antoni said. "It's not (Marbury's) fault." (after the first DNP-CD)

"I just don't think he's one of those guys that you can play with," D'Antoni said. "'Oh get in for a sec, oh get out, oh get in.' I think that's ... I don't want to use the word disrespectful because it's a privilege to play in the league, but at the same time I feel for him."

"He does make a lot of money and you never know what happens," D'Antoni said. "Obviously we went into a different direction but at the same time we owe him money and if an injury happens I wouldn't hesitate putting him back in. I wouldn't even hesitate putting him back in as a starter, but if an injury happened at a certain spot. But until that happens, then I think common sense is just that he's inactive right now."

How is Marbury reacting to all this? So far, so good. He doesn't pout with a towel over his head like we have seen in the past. He doesn't run out of the lockerroom after games. He doesn't even look like he is sulking on the end of that bench during games. Considering that this guy has started almost every year he's been in the league, that's pretty special.

So often last year when reading the post game comments or hearing the sound bites you felt like everyone on the Knicks were looking for someone to blame. Isiah blamed the players, the players blamed Isiah, Stephon said weird stuff and blamed Isiah. A lot of times in media and from the Knicks organization its self, Marbury was pegged as a sort of scapegoat, and quite unjustly.

D'Antoni is doing two things here no one in the Knicks organization was able to do consistently with Stephon Marbury :

1) He's sitting him, and he's openly telling the world that the Knicks are a better team for it, and he's not making up phony reasons or excuses (ahem *injuries, Eddy Curry?")

2) He's treating Stephon Marbury like a man, and like a professional.

Good job Mike D'Antoni.