Stephon Marbury, Jamal Crawford, Quentin Richardson, Zach Randolph, and Eddy Curry are recognizable names. Individually, they are all extremely talented, perhaps some of the most talented at their positions in the NBA.

If you check out their statistics in years where they WEREN’T playing for the New York Knicks, they had very good statistics for their respective teams. They are all very talented in various facets of the game — including most especially points and rebounds.

On paper, at least, they seem to make a very good team.

Their second team, on the other hand, is not quite so recognizable, especially outside of New York City.

Nate Robinson (of mostly slam dunk fame), Fred Jones, Renaldo Balkman, David Lee, and Randolph Morris make up the New York Knicks second team (although honestly Randolph Morris rarely sees the light of day).

They may not individually be better than any of the players on the first team, but you have to wonder if the New York Knicks might just be better off with these five as the starters. They shoot a better percentage from the field. They turn the ball over less. They rebound better, with the possible exception of Zach Randolph’s often gaudy numbers. They certainly seem to have more energy than the five Isiah Thomas is currently starting.

They haven’t had much time in the lime-light, but they very easily might play better team basketball than the players they are following, despite their lack of experience. (They certainly couldn’t be much worse, could they?)

It’s odd to think that the New York Knicks might very well be better off cutting their five starters and picking up five players out of the NBDL to replace them — but I think that is the point that the New York Knicks have reached.

I wonder if Isiah Thomas will ever realize that.