"When Bill Russell told the New York Post last week that the Knicks may have damaged Stephon Marbury with their treatment of the current Celtics point guard, there was a celebration on Coney Island.

For Marbury, this kind of recognition from one of the greatest names in the game was sheer vindication.

And for his family, there was an emotional release.

"My whole family, when they read it, were thanking God," Marbury said following the Celtics' video session and walkthrough at the team hotel yesterday. "When the legend speaks, you have to listen.

"Every word took a weight off my shoulders. He flushed out of my system all of this stuff I was feeling. He cleansed my spirit and my basketball soul. It was different because he was the one saying it. I mean, Bill Russell - when he speaks, there's nothing more that has to be said."

Russell, now in the Boston area on a book tour, was in New York signing copies of his new book, "Me and Red - My Coach, My Lifelong Friend," when approached by a Post reporter.

Marbury had a contentious stint with the Knicks, who kept him inactive this season before the veteran agreed to a buyout of his contract. He was then waived, leading to his signing with the C's in February.

"If it's up to the (Celtics) then he'll have a positive effect," Russell said. "But you don't know how much he's been damaged psychologically from playing here. No matter how strong you are, the kind of stuff that went on this season was so ridiculous. I think what the Knicks did to him, having the whole thing play out in the papers, was wrong."

Marbury now gushes daily about a situation he equates with any other high point in his life, except that his current arrangement may be even more important.

"That's because I've had to pick myself back up," he said. "A friend of mine told me that's the hardest thing to do."

Marbury has done this without becoming a starter and without playing long stretches of time. He hasn't, as Rivers anticipated on several occasions, "won a game" for the Celtics during their current contentious playoff run, which continues tonight with Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Magic.

But Marbury has produced during his limited stretches on the floor, and, contrary to the predictions of his detractors, has not become a divisive element in the locker room.

Marbury has often gone out of his way to make the right pass, leading to speculation that he has lost faith in his scoring ability.

But as evidenced by his eight-point second quarter during the Celtics' Game 1 loss to Orlando, his confidence may be returning.

And now he has Russell speaking on his behalf.

In Marbury's view, absolutely nothing counts for more."