Marbury is a decent shooter over his career. He's not Ray Allen but he has been able to stick a jumper over his entire career.
I don't see a better alternative than someone already familiar with the team, plays, system, and coaching staff who can play. No we're not getting all-star Marbs but this is a guy who can definately be competent in a back-up role..
Dave Bing was a decent shooter over his career too, but that career is over. Same with Marbury. What Marbury did 5 years ago is irrelevant.
So past coinflips do or don't predict future coinflips? I'm having trouble integrating this with your last analogy.
He was crap last year, so the odds are that he will be crap again this year.
It's ridiculous to assume that he's somehow going to rediscover his game. He isn't.
I'd much rather have a player like Kevin Ollie. He's make the right basketball plays, play decent defense, won't turn the ball over and he'll make his free throws. Plus he's 6-5 so he can cover sg's when paired with House. He'll also be a solid citizen in the locker room and in the community, and he won't cost you the LLE.
I'm hoping that this rumor was started by Marbury's agent in a desperate attempt to stir up some interest. I hope everyone realizes that NO OTHER TEAM either in the NBA or in Europe has shown the slightest interest in Marbury. That ought to tell you something right there.
Remember when MJ came back after sitting out a year? Was he the same MJ that first year that he came back?
In '93 he shot 49% from the field and averaged 32.6 pts per game.
In '94 in the 17 games that he came back, he averaged 26.9 and shot 41%
I '95 he was back averaging 30.4 pts per game and shooting 49%
From this we can learn 2 things:
1. Marbury is not Jordan
2. Even for Jordan, its hard to come back after missing most of the season and be the normal player that you are.
Give the guy a break. You are judging him on a playing in a difficult situation. The weight of the world was on his shoulders. His primary goal last year was fitting in, and looking like a model citizen. He did that, and he even had some good moments. By signing this year, he only has to focus on basketball, with a full training camp. I think he will have an outstanding year, and be challanging Rondo for minutes.
Let's not forget, that at his peak, he was, unquestionably, a better player than Rondo is at this stage of his career. Not saying that he is better now, but at one point of his career, he was.