Seems rally clear Knicks better without Marbury

Thomas has a huge dilemma here. If he benches Marbury again, he risks creating another massive distraction. If Thomas continues to let Marbury run the team his way - through himself - he risks losing the rest of the team. Yet he needs Marbury to play lights-out in order to cash in on any slim chance he has of trading him.

Thomas also has to decide where Eddy Curry fits in all of this. Thomas isn’t utilizing David Lee in the front-line rotation as much as anticipated, partly because Lee hasn’t been productive enough. But something has to give, because the 1-2 post punch of Zach Randolph and Curry isn’t working.

Decision time is today. The Knicks can’t afford to play the plodding style that comes with Marbury running the offense and the floor clogging up with Curry and Randolph dueling for space in the low post.

The Knicks’ best chance is to play unselfishly and with the sort of energy that leads you to believe they enjoy playing together. Short of Marbury waking up today and flying to Phoenix by himself, I don’t know what advice to offer Thomas other than “good luck.”