Even if his team lost this series, we have seen the birth of a new superstar in the NBA. What Amare Stoudemire has done is incredible. He has had a career series with game changing slams and game saving blocks. He's averaging 35.8 ppg. 8 boards and a block against the best and most disciplined team in the NBA. He has absolutely been amazing outdoing Tim Duncan in this series even thogh Duncan's team won the series. This is great for the NBA because he has Hall of Fame potential that has been on dislay all season long.
Agreed, Amare is a beast now. If Phoenix can re-sign Johnson long term and keep the core intact, add some depth, we are looking at a few years of dominance. Now that Phoenix has gained valuable playoff experience and it will help them in the long run.
I personally think Johnson is gone, he may be worth too much for them to keep. But players do love playing in a fun offense, so you never know. All I know is if you give Nash and Amare an offseason together, that could be the greatest pick and roll of all time (yes, better than "him" and "him") Amare isn't to far away from being the hardest man to guard in the NBA (hell, he may be there now)
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting briang8818:</div><div class="quote_post">Amare isn't to far away from being the hardest man to guard in the NBA (hell, he may be there now)</div> I dunno... I would still put Shaq in that spot.
As far as toughest guards go: It used to be Shaq > Duncan > anyone else is debateable Now it's Shaq > Amare > Duncan > anyone else is debateable Amare is like a young Shaq but not as dominant. He's quickly becoming one of the best players in the league and dominated 1st Team All-Defense Tim Duncan in the Spurs series.
Shaq unguardable Heyyy... i still think shaq is the playerin the L that NO ONE can guard.. i mean ya'll been watching the play offs? Ben Wallace (probably the best Defender in the leuge) can't even guard shaq..i think he heat will win the next game of the series, shaq/wade...actually the whole team is killin out there.. peace hame
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Heat4Life:</div><div class="quote_post">As far as toughest guards go: It used to be Shaq > Duncan > anyone else is debateable Now it's Shaq > Amare > Duncan > anyone else is debateable Amare is like a young Shaq but not as dominant. He's quickly becoming one of the best players in the league and dominated 1st Team All-Defense Tim Duncan in the Spurs series.</div> you still didn't see the spurs double-teaming amare as much as you saw the suns double-teaming tim. i think it's much more even than the stats suggest. dave
Amare's da bomb. He will be a super beast in the paint. I was just wondering whether ya'll think he'll stay at the center position, which has worked forh im, or put back to his natural position if Suns GM can find a decent starting center. That way having Johnson or Q-Ric on the bench gives the Suns some much needed depth.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting dakeem1:</div><div class="quote_post">Amare's da bomb. He will be a super beast in the paint. I was just wondering whether ya'll think he'll stay at the center position, which has worked forh im, or put back to his natural position if Suns GM can find a decent starting center. That way having Johnson or Q-Ric on the bench gives the Suns some much needed depth.</div> IF they bring in a good C one of those guys will probably go to the bench Q Rich being the one to go with Jim Jackson. Besides Hunter though they have inside players coming off the bench.
Amare Stoudemire is gonna revolutionize the game for years to come and the scary thing is he is really only scoring points based on raw talent and athleticism i just cant wait to see what he will be doing when he develops the low post game and learns to be an excellent defender. He is willing to put in the work to become one of the best of all time and i think he is gonna do it.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Dave McNulla:</div><div class="quote_post">you still didn't see the spurs double-teaming amare as much as you saw the suns double-teaming tim. i think it's much more even than the stats suggest. dave</div> Its not really that the Spurs didnt want to double Amare, its just that it doesnt make very much sense to double him. Its not like Amare gets the ball alot in a stationary position with his back to the basket in the low post, where a double team stands a chance of being effective. He gets most of his points rolling to the basket on pick & roll situations. So the only chance a team ever has of stoping Amare Stoudmire really is by keeping Nash from turning the corner after the pick is set because once Nash turns that corner opposing bigs(in this case it was Tim Duncan) has to step up. And that gives Amare a clear cut to roll to the basket. And Amare is such a strong finisher around the basket that once he catches the ball on the roll toward the hoop its almost a automatic two and one alot of the times as well. So until a team figures away to keep Nash in front & not continously turn that corner, Amare is going to be a killer against alot of teams. And honestly look alot better then he really is....He is a killer on a basic set play, because nobody can keep Nash out the lane.
How quick everyone is to write off last year's MVP, Kevin Garnett? Amare Stoudemire is the real deal, but I think he has more work to do on his game before he can be mentioned in the same group as Shaq O'neal, Tim Duncan, or Kevin Garnett. Without Nash, Amare really struggled to score. He's still not able to create his own offense and doesn't really have any polished low post moves he can use. For his size and athleticisim, Amare is a poor rebounder still and relies on his ability to out jump a player instead of working for positioning. Hopefully Amare can become the player Shawn Kemp was projected to be.
i thikn amare can be that or become even better. I think he's learned to keep out of trouble unlike Kemp.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Now it's Shaq > Amare > Duncan > anyone else is debateable</div> You should really think about stand-up comedy. Anyways, I agree with shapecity to the fullest. This is the same thing that's going on with LeBron and Wade. I can't believe that people honestly think they're(Wade, LeBron) are better than the likes of Kobe, Iverson, Kidd and so on. These guys are young, they have tons more to prove and a couple good or more like exceptional seasons won't cut it. Yes Stoudemire is diamond in the rough and put Duncan All Defensive Team selection to question and shame, but the fact and the matter is that he's going fishing and Duncan will be resting up for the NBA Finals. Okay, he's young and that could be used as an excuse, so why can that not be used as a reason on why he should NOT be ranked over the likes of Duncan, Garnett, Shaq and even Dirk? So all in all, Amare could be on his way to being one of the best PF's of this generation but just 1 Playoffs worth of work isn't enough to be ranked with the elites.
Just watching Amare in the playoffs this year has made me into a huge fan. I'm sorry, anyone who can put up 30+ 7 times in a row against the first or second best defensive team in the NBA is the man. I swear watching Amare is like a highlight everytime he touches the ball...
The notion that Amare is on the same level as Kevin Garnett is laughable. Regardless of the personal achievments, Amare still doesn't know how to make his teammates better. Also, if his offensive game isn't going, he does not find other ways to help his team win and get out of a funk. He's a ridiculous talent and freakishley athletic, but he still lacks mental toughness and intelligence that players like Garnett, Duncan and Shaq has. He still has long ways to go, but he isn't on the same level as those guys yet; isn't even close.
Amare runs the court better, has a quicker first step, and is a better finisher than Garnett, even the 22-year old Garnett. I think he has the potential to exceed Garnett in the coming years, however. He's like a hybrid version of a young Karl Malone and young Hakeem Olajuwon. The Suns need to improve their depth, and Amare needs to make a stronger effort on the boards and on defense in general, add some post moves, and he'll be THE MAN in this league. He, LeBron, and Wade are far and way the brightest young stars in this league.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting durvasa:</div><div class="quote_post">Amare runs the court better, has a quicker first step, and is a better finisher than Garnett, even the 22-year old Garnett. I think he has the potential to exceed Garnett in the coming years, however. He's like a hybrid version of a young Karl Malone and young Hakeem Olajuwon. </div> KG is a bit overatted as a defender, but Amare still has light years in order to catch up to him on that end of the court, both as a help defender and on-ball defender. And rebounder. Offensively, He has to learn how to do more then just score and be a finisher around the basket inorder to be better then KG. Garnett has excellent floor vision & playmaking skills for a big. And that has more to do with instincts and court awariness, some times that cant be learned. So Iam not saying that he doesnt have the potential to be better, but he got so much phases to add to his game, that I am a long way from see him being that complete type player. I dont see him with the low post foot work with his back to the basket that Dream had honestly. I think a young Karl Malone is a respectable comparison tho.. people forget how Karl Malone use to run the floor in the opencourt early on...and of course the pick & roll play is obvious. But for him to reach that type of level once again getting stronger on D will be key. Also just like Malone worked on adding that consistency to his range on the J, Stoudmare is going to have to do the same. I think that once he adds that consistency from 15 feet to the point teams actually have to send their bigs out to play him there then his ablity to create his own shot will become better, because from 12 to 15 feet, he has the skills to put the ball on the floor and go past most bigs.
