Taking stock of his many trials and tribulations with Stephon Marbury in what has deteriorated into a catastrophic Knicks season, and considering what it would be like without Marbury for another 15 days, Larry Brown summed it up yesterday as perhaps only he can.

"We haven't survived, with him or without him," Brown said. "I mean, I'm on life support."

If there is a worse condition, Brown and his 14-32 team soon could be headed there as Marbury yesterday revealed he may sit out the next six games due to his bruised left shoulder. He hasn't heard anything definitive, but he is open to the idea of returning after the Feb. 17-19 All-Star break, if that is what is recommended by the team's medical staff.

"If they say they think that that's the best thing, then I'm gonna do that," he said. "Every time I get hit on it, it sets me back. The Atlanta game, I took two or three shots. Then I took a shot in the Laker game, and that was back-to-back, so that kind of set me way back."