"The Boston Celtics rolled the dice when they acquired the head case that is Stephon Marbury.

If any team could harness the me-first Marbury, it was felt the reigning NBA champions would be best constructed to deal with the guard's baggage.

Marbury hasn't done anything to disrupt team chemistry, but he hasn't done anything on the court either to make the Celtics better.

Boston head coach Doc Rivers even questioned the decision to start Marbury over Eddie House in Sunday's home disappointment against Orlando.

With incumbent Rajon Rondo unavailable because of an ankle sprain, Rivers turned to Marbury to lead the Celtics.

The game turned in the Magic's favour almost from the opening tip.

To say Marbury was a non-factor would be to state the obvious.

In 20 minutes, Marbury recorded three turnovers, scored four points and posted the grand total of zero assists.

The Celtics trailed by as many as 22 points, scored a season-low 33 first-half points, but managed to make it a game, in spite of Starbury's presence.

The guy hasn't played in about a year and yet there are some who actually believe he can contribute.

Maybe in time Marbury will prove the critics wrong and all it requires is one breakthrough game.

The Celtics are trying to ease Marbury into a rotation and perhaps his impact won't be felt until the post-season.

But going into tomorrow night's game in Miami, the Marbury experiment isn't working.

"It's going to take time," Rivers said of Marbury's impact. "The only way he's going to get right is by playing."

The Sloan oversight

Here's a reason why reporters and broadcasters should never be asked to vote on league awards.

Because of bias, agenda and flat-out ignorance, Jerry Sloan has never won coach of the year honours.

If he doesn't win this year, it'll be yet another injustice.

Not that Sloan cares, but how does a coaching titan such as Sloan not have a single award to his name?

Heck, Sam Mitchell won coach of the year two years ago and he's unemployed.

Go figure.

Utah has won 11 straight, the team's longest streak since 1999.

Utah closes out its current five-game road swing with a stop in Orlando on Sunday in what could be a preview of the NBA final.

Sloan and his Magic counterpart, Stan Van Gundy, should be the two leading candidates for coach of the year honours."