Being Amare Stoudemire
This is the man who wants revenge.
Amare seems to respond best when people question his ability to accomplish something. So here are a few questions for Amare.
You've said you want to be Most Improved Player and Finals MVP this season, will that improvement be on defense?
You've mentioned adding a three-point shot and playmaking skills to your arsenal, do you want to play like Dirk?
Are you aware that many of the Celtics title teams were running teams and their MVP was a dominant defender?
Why are your assist numbers so bad on a team that leads the league in scoring?
Would the Suns have won the title if you didn't leave the bench during Game 4?
How seriously do you take leadership on a team where you aren't a captain?
How does the First Team All NBA center not start on the US National Team?
Would you rather be known as a dominant player or a winner?
Do you realize how good this Suns team was without you?
Did the loss to the Spurs motivate you to do whatever it takes to win a title?
Labels: Amare Stoudemire, Phoenix Suns
posted by Hersey @ 1:23 AM
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If he *knows* things are wrong with his game, he'll probably work on them...we're always hearing that he has a good work ethic.
Hey, what if the Suns signed Charles Oakley? He recently said he runs three miles a day, shoots and works out, so maybe he could run with the Suns. It would be much harder to question their toughness after getting an enforcer.
It's not displaying the second image.
Also, Oakley is bat sh!t crazy cuz he said he wants like 5 mil per year.
At 43? That's ridiculous! How disappointing--I thought he actually just wanted a ring.
The second image does load but slowly for some reason.
As much as I like Oak, there is no way he would work in PHX.
Amare did get the start for the national team tonight... they had a huge first quarter but had their worst defensive effort of the tourney. Hmm...
Strawberry got a year guaranteed, hope he gets minutes to develop.
Great, I personally wanted Strawberry to stick. No more of this crap about defensive specialists being kept on the bench because they don't score. Let the stupid scoring drop, if that's what it takes to play more defense. And by the way, Suns, it seems Steve Nash's teams aren't even the best in franchise history offensively; Eddie Johnson mentioned that his group, with KJ, Hornacek and Chambers, scored 120 PPG one season. *That*, I'd like to watch.
Last year we had one of the most efficient offensive teams in the history of the league, and that includes the EJ-KJ-Hornacek-Chambers one, and also the Barkley Suns.
Well, sir, I can cheerfully back off this (except for the obvious fact that EJ's team scored the most, which is all I meant), because I unfortunately didn't become a fan until the Lakers series in 1993.
But what's offensive efficiency, if it doesn't produce more points than a less efficient team (EJ's)? More succinctly, what's offense but points? (Educate me if necessary, because it took me years to figure out what a "pick and roll" was and that it's the same as a screen-and-roll.)
Though I've been watching only since '93, I've watched Suns basketball long enough not to be impressed anymore by any display of offense other than buzzer-beating shots. What if all their running were specifically for the purpose of defense, and they said "We'll take whatever we get on offense?"
Wow Hersey. Those are some tough questions for Amare. But certainly legitimate. Barring a roster addition, STAT must play better defense this year or else the Suns will take a step backward. And that may lead to a Marion trade or even worse he walks for nothing.
I especially love the guestion,"How seriously do you take leadership on a team where you aren't a captain?" I find it funny that his face is synonymus with Phoenix, yet he isn't a captain and I hardly doubt anybody on the team listens to him or takes heed to him unless his performance is lacking. But he will be a cornerstone to this team when Nash does leave the game. He'll need to be what Bill Russell was for that Celtic dynasty from 1959-1966, which by the way was a fast paced (for its time) team with excellent passing that contributed to an efficent offense. Speaking of which, offensive efficency isn't just scoring, its how you score. Do the teams run their offense methodically and take their alloted time to make a shot, or do they practice floor cohesion with fast legs, percision passing, and timely positioning (Phoenix) to gain a quick shot? Or do they just dick around and have some hot-shot no ring punk try his hand at useless isolation plays. Basically its how well your team can score in the grander scope of the match.
Also: Why are your assist numbers so bad on a team that leads the league in scoring?
I can answer that one: Because the ball doesn't run through Amare. Amare is an incredibly efficient scorer and a so-so passer. I'd rather have him trying to score, because when he tries to set up teammates he's doing other people's jobs.
And concerning the offensive efficiency thing: It's points per possession, basically. The Suns take less shots than quite a few of those old teams did back in the day, because the pace of the game was absolutely nuts for a lot of the teams, so it's not necessarily about how many points you put up, it's how often you score off of your possessions (far more valuable than how many points are actually put on the board, really, as it renders the pace of the game irrelevant). For instance: The Spurs are a very efficient offensive team. (#5 in the league last year.) They don't really put a ton of points though. (100.1) The Pistons are #4 with just 95.9 PPG. And yet, Golden State, who scored 105.7 points per game last year are number 10. Denver, who put up 108.3 PPG last season are number 9.
Hope that explains things a bit.
Did anybody read Shawn Marion's comments in the Slam Online interview?
slamonline.com/online/2007/08/live-with-marion-pierce-foye-frye-west-and-arenas
I'm telling you guys - it feels like the Matrix is a time bomb. And I think his time in Phoenix will be up at the end of this year. But the Suns are not deep enough to give him up for nothing.
I see that...his response to the Amare question made me uneasy, like the Lakers playoff game where I watched Marion and Stoudemire awkwardly defer to each other on a rebound.
I'm sorry, people, but I think Shawn Marion isn't too bright; I've suspected it for some time. He's the highest-paid Suns player, and is popular with fans, but that apparently doesn't satisfy him. On top of that, he has alleged weaknesses--he's not a creator, and doesn't deliver in the playoffs. He should realize the rope connecting him to the Suns is frayed and that if he keeps complaining, the Suns will eventually take it seriously and dump him.
If Marion leaves, Boris Diaw could suddenly become much more important. He'd probably become the starting SF, and be the good playmaking forward Marion allegedly wasn't. He, Grant Hill and Alando Tucker could probably hold down the fort at SF if Marion were traded in midseason.
I'm glad you guys are digging into these questions.
The reason I bring up the passing is Shaq and Duncan are dominant post scorers and excellent passers. Does Amare look at their games or does he aspire to be like Zach Randolph? This team is loaded with slashers and shooters who could feed off Amare. If he wants to improve as a playmaker, this is the area.
I agree will a lot of what I've read from other posters about offensive efficiency. Adding two more slashers to the mix might actually produce more easy baskets this season.
I don't know what to make of the Marion comments. I do think he'll walk at season's end. After all, he and Joe Johnson are tight and he knows he won't get 17 million on his next deal. Amare might be part of his reasoning for stayling or leaving too.
Man, I'm sick of people baggin' on Marion. He is what he is and positives in his game make his negatives meaningless. You guys just assuming he isn't happy and that he's going to tear this team apart doesn't do anyone any good. He's not the player that needs to improve, it's Amare.
True indeed Anon. I'm not down on Marion. He does the dirty work on D, runs the floor and can score. That being said, it's Marion who brings up not getting enough credit and with the opt-out situation looming- a lot of us have doubts that the team will overpay him going forward.
Marion's right in what he says in the Slam article that it's all about the team getting better- which is what I've been writing about all summer. They are giving this roster one more shot. That specifically means Marion. They need Marion to be 'the Matrix' to win it all, and now with the lack of bigs there is no other option.
Which brings everything back to Amare. Amare can improve defensively and make things easier for Marion. He could quit talking about awards and dominance and realize he plays with FIVE other players with All Star talent. He could grow up and defer a bit to Marion in the media. He is older and has accomplished a lot in his career. It could make a difference.
What part of Amare's defence do you guys think he should work on? I'm not disagreeing just looking for specifics.
I don't know enough about the nuts and bolts to comment about that but it seems to me he's always looking for the "glory" move. In defence it's the other guy decides what happens next. I don't think Amare likes that psychologicaly.
As for Shawn's future, I don't think he'll leave. He's just sensitive and pessimistic by nature. Anyway I hope not, Nash + Amare adds up to less than Nash + Shawn.
Concerning Amare's passing... it's not that he can't pass, it's that in the Suns system, he's not doing his job if he's passing. When Amare gets the ball, it's supposed to mean he fought hard for position, or moved off the ball well to get an opportunity from one of the primary creators (Nash, Boris, Leandro, and now Hill) who actually handle the ball. You'll notice that, as far as most 20+ PPG scorers go, they have the ball in their hands an awful lot, and they usually take a good deal more shots than Amare does.
His efficiency on the offensive end is, in the end, because he *hasn't* become Zach Randolph. He plays as well off the ball as any big in the league, and really, about as well as *anyone* in the league.
Also, considering the deference thing: One of the things that makes Amare special is his ego. You take that away from him, he may just be another offensive option. With it, his sole reason for existing is crushing the opposition. In the end, Amare is the #2 player on the team, Shawn is the #3. Older or not, Amare doesn't have any in-game reasons to defer to him. Matrix can play his game, Amare can play his, and the best problem we can have in a lot of cases is that we have too many people grabbing rebounds.
Thought this was kind of interesting, may have been a pseudo-jab at Amare from Shawn.
"Marion: I mean, how you gonna tell another player not to add another dimension to their game? Basically you’re telling them stop where they’re at and add nothing else. That’s not encouraging. Amare’s a very talented player and if he’s gonna do that he’s gonna do that. Everybody got aspects of their game they can work on. It’s either scoring, or passing the ball or playing defense, there’s all kinds of stuff they can do. They can make themselves better and their teammates better."
Notice the 'Defense or passing' and 'making teammates better' things? ;)
I thought the same thing, Zei--a jab at Amare--though mostly at Shawn's blunt "no" on whether he's watching Amare right now.
I'm not really on the trade Marion bandwagon. I just think, as Hersey does, that Marion will leave OR that he'll opt out to demand more money, and paying him even more money?--forget it. The thing is, if he's ever going to be traded, he should be traded before he has a chance to opt out. If he forces an even bigger contract, he'll be harder to trade.
I never really wanted Shawn Marion to be traded for Tracy McGrady, which was the big rumor a summer or two ago. McGrady's explosive scoring doesn't impress me that much; he's more fragile than Marion, more injury-prone, and is probably not as good a defender.
Amare tends to take possessions off. He won't challenge shots, he'll overpursue on penetration leaving his man open for dunks and he fouls too much. He's more of an explosive jumper than a quick jumper so he probably won't block many more shots than he does now.
A lot of it is inconsistent effort and simply just wanting to score, in my humble opinion.
Mike D'Antoni on Amare and the National Team
Q: What does Amaré Stoudemire draw from this?
A: "He's really trying to turn it on defensively and rebounding. He's getting a wealth of experience in all phases. It doesn't do anything but enhance the chances that he's going to be a better player, so that's exciting."
Q: Is your relationship with him closer after this?
A: "This has helped us. All players like assistants. I can talk to him and build him up so, yeah, we've become closer. Next year, he will take more of a leadership role with the (Suns)."
No matter how skilled a young buck is, some times you have to defer and gas up the vets. If Amare gave Marion some credit instead of talking about being MIP and Finals MVP- he would do a lot for team chemistry. Amare's ego is nothing special. What makes Amare any different than a player like Josh Smith? Better teammates.
This team is the only real team Amare has been a part of for longer than a season having moved from HS to HS and never going to college. Perhaps the concept of a pecking order is sorta lost on him. He is still learning how to play basketball and he is in the precarious position of growing into a great player while being surrounded by veterans who are in their prime and ready to win. Being great in a team sport requires ability and sacrifice.
Concerning "What makes Amare any different than a player like Josh Smith?"
Work ethic. ;)
Actually there isn't much of a difference except that Amare can't block shots.
Those are fighting words!
I love Amare more than anyone but look at the numbers. Josh: 2.88 on 36 mpg, Amare: 1.34 on 32 mpg. And look at Diop: 1.40 on 18 mpg. Sure you could argue that numbers don't mean anything if he plays good defense, but who honestly thinks he does?
Amare wins a comparison with Josh Smith for the same reason that is often used to claim Michael Jordan was greater than any other player including Wilt Chamberlain(!): Stoudemire's team wins more than Smith's does.
Even though the Suns don't need another wing very much, I really think they should at least try to sign Doug Christie, since he wants to come back. He's only 37, unlike Reggie Miller or Charles Oakley.
Also noting that Josh Smith's offensive game is considerably worse than Amare's, and it's not even close.
Also noting that, for all the shots that Smith blocks, he's not a good perimeter or interior defender, and gives up a lot of easy buckets chasing every shot that goes up and leaving his man. (As opposed to doing it when he's supposed to.)
Am I correct in concluding that blocked shots are nothing more than the sexy part of defense, and more like a bonus on top of the real interior and/or perimeter defense Smith lacks?
Well, not necessarily. Blocking shots is a vital part of any defense, without a good intimidator in the post you're going to give up a lot more buckets. But part of that is playing good defense as well.
Alonzo Mourning and Dikembe Mutombo are great examples of what an interior defender/shot blocker should be like.
My point in comparing Josh Smith (who is very talented and stuck on a nowhere team) with Amare is you have two guys who came into the league out of high school and have shown great promise in their first few years. Amare has had the great fortune of playing with great teammates on a team that wants to win. Both players have been headaches in their own way but have to develop other aspects of their games to be elite players.
Amare's flaws are masked by the Suns success- until they play the Sp*rs. A player like Smith has his talent dwarfed by Atlanta's terrible record. Amare is the better player offensively but Smith puts points on the board, he has quick hands for steals and uses his great leaping ability to block a lot of shots. If Smith played for a like the Heat, he'd get a lot more attention and acclaim.
This explains my primary complaint about Amare. He talks about himself like he's all world but he's arguably not even the most important player on this team. Amare seems obsessed with everyone knowing how good he is, when he plays for an organization that desperately wants to win a title. He says a title is all he thinks about. If that's the case, we need to see it on defense because the team makes the game easy for him on offense. If he doesn't improve defensively, this team won't win a title. Improving the aspect of your game most necessary for team success is the true sign of a leader. I want to see this in Amare Stoudemire.
That's fair, and not much different from what I say, except that I think that with his work ethic, he'll surely try to learn more defense. He can't be lazy enough to have a "they don't pay me enough to play defense" attitude.
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