Hooped Up

So proud of his off-season conditioning program, Stephon Marburyis producing a 45-minute fitness video due out for the Christmas shopping season. The question for Mike D’Antoni isn’t whether Marbury has rebuilt himself into a superstar. It’s whether Marbury has rebuilt himself into the starting point-guard role he’s held his whole career. All indications during Camp Saratoga was D’Antoni desperately wants his new pickup, Chris Duhon, to start at point guard and envisions Marbury as sixth man, playing more wing. When the 197-pound Marbury was asked about his competition with Duhon, Marbury predicted he’ll be in the starting five opening night Oct. 29 at the Garden against Miami. “You can’t assess it yet,” Marbury told The Post. “When the 29th comes, when the lights come on, it will be different. It doesn’t matter now who is on the court at what position. I know when that the game starts, I’ll have the ball or I’ll be receiving the ball to make plays for others and myself.” Because D’Antoni has a high-school crush on Duhon, Marbury’s prediction may turn inaccurate. Most league scouts regard Duhon as a very good backup point guard, not a starter. But a source said when D’Antoni watched tape of Marbury’s 24 games last season, he felt the club ran the ball more fluidly when Marbury was on the bench and Nate Robinson was in. The knock on Marbury is he dribbles too much and doesn’t make enough vertical passes to make the high-tempo hum.

New York Post