Demise of Marbury's star detailed in news, notes

	Stephon Marbury's feud with Larry Brown is just the latest conflict the point guard has been involved in as an NBA star.

Turn out all the lights, crank up all the Luckies and take in a weekend's worth of top-gear NBA journalism ...

• The New York Daily News presents a lengthy detail of Stephon Marbury's fall from grace, but it's hardly the withering attack you'd expect from a tabloid. Rather, the article is just a matter-of-fact, well-written bit of harsh recounts from neutral observers and frustrated ex-teammates. Lots of anonymous sources in this one, though, so tread carefully....

• The whole point of reading these articles is to learn something new about a game we enjoy, whether it comes from a solid anecdote, an interesting turn of phrase, a new opinion or a revelatory statistical breakdown. This article, written by 82games.com contributor Michael Wilczynski, documents team win/loss records for the squads featuring players with a penchant for the remarkable. Deduce what you will from his findings -- there are no right or wrong ways to take this fascinating piece -- but definitely give it a read or 12.

• Peter Vecsey is still hung up on the exclusion of Allen Iverson from the Olympic team tryouts; he thanks former Raptors GM Rob Babcock for handing the Nets this year's Atlantic Division championship; and rounds out the piece with the usual, gotta-do-it-every-Sunday Isiah Thomas-bashing.

• While Chris Ekstrand breaks down the game of each and every prospect playing in this year's NCAA tournament, the New York Times only wants to talk about LaMarcus Aldridge and his pretty, pretty game.

• The New York Times' Liz Robbins wants to compare Sacramento's Ron Artest acquisition with the one that sent Rasheed Wallace to Detroit back in 2004, while Kings GM Geoff Petrie just wants to make the playoffs first. Sounds about right.

• Peter May says the NBA's playoff bracketeering is all mussed up (fo' shizzle, yo). He wants everyone to know that Paul Pierce's attitude has changed (shock, horror!) and that Jake Tsakalidis is having a career year (seriously, good stuff there). Moving on, it turns out that Joe Forte is finding ways to screw up in several different countries at this point. May wraps everything up with some Knicks-bashing. I'm satisfied.

• It's mid-March, and time for Mark Heisler's annual way-too-early mock draft. And, as it is every year, I've heard of, like, three of these guys. 

• San Antonio Express-News columnist Mike Monroe is all over the place in his Sunday NBA go-round. He points out that the TNT Thursday night doubleheader forces some of the better, national TV-worthy teams into plying their trade all seven nights of the week while the also-rans can often bank on a Thursday off. He also gives Jeff Van Gundy a break from cribbing down plays for Luther Head and allows the Rockets coach to offer schedule-makers some unsolicited -- and possibly impossible-to-act-upon -- advice.

• Ira Winderman discusses the alternating fortunes of the Pistons and the Heat, while showing us once again why KISS bassist Gene Simmons is a little creepy, a little scary and a little sad all at once.

• At his Sacto Kings blog, Tom Ziller recounts a nutty year for the guys in purple (when they're not sporting that odd, somewhat jaundiced color). Raptorblog sage Scott Carefoot changes his mind, forgives Darrick Martin (something Timberwolves fans should never do) and joins the rest of us in calling Rafael Araujo the worst player in the NBA.