01-09-2006, 03:36 AM
Quote:STARKS FULL OF ADVICE FOR KNICKS
By MARC BERMAN
KNICK NOTES
Ten days ago in Milwaukee, John Starks and Stephon Marbury found a hidden corridor inside Bradley Center before the Knicks faced the Bucks. Starks, who's wearing many hats with the Knicks these days, had an animated chat with Marbury, whose relationship with Larry Brown had reached a new low.
During Thursday's practice, the former Knick guard sat down with embattled Trevor Ariza for a heart-to-heart with the 19-year-old sophomore who was feuding with Brown.
Starks knows a thing or two about battling with coaches — he and Jeff Van Gundy had their share of run-ins.
"I'm strong-willed, Jeff is strong-willed," Starks said. "When you got two strong-willed people, you're going to butt heads. And Steph and coach Brown are two strongminded individuals. But they'll come to a common ground."
Since the Starks talk, Marbury has played his best basketball as a Knick, averaging 11 assists and 23.4 points, as the Knicks (9-21) are riding a season-high two-game win streak entering today's 1 p.m. matinee against the Sonics.
"I told him just relax and play basketball, go out and be aggressive," said Starks. "It's the most important thing because we need for him to score. He understands that. He's had a complete game on both ends of the floor the last three games."
Starks' title is alumni relations advisor and today he will host kids from the National Alliance of Autism Research as part of the Knicks' Autism Awareness Day when they face the Sonics. Starks is also doing radio and TV work and becoming a sounding board for the players.
"Coach Brown told me to pull players aside and talk to them," Starks said. "Stephon knows Brown is a great coach. It's just he's played a certain way for so long and the system is so different from what he's used to. It's a transition period. Great players adapt. I don't see him not adjusting."