<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">It was a Category 4 exhale, a sigh of relief strong enough to rattle US Airways Center on Thursday night. Amar? Stoudemire survived his first live-action test, the Suns secured their hold on the Pacific Division and the team's playoff aspirations received a 245-pound shot of adrenaline. Part 1 of the That's Amar? Comeback Tour was a resounding success. Part 2 is the one that will shape their postseason accomplishments. The glee surrounding Stoudemire's return is tempered by a concern of how it will impact the rest of the team. Privately, there is anxiety about a room of fragile egos. This is a fact of life in the NBA, a league of highly paid athletes whose success is fueled in great part by their self-absorption. This is not a criticism. Just a reality. How, for example, did Boris Diaw feel about taking just four shots against Portland and finishing with four points, more than nine below his average? "Boris is going to do what it takes to win," coach Mike D'Antoni said after the Suns' 125-108 victory. "He's probably the happiest guy in the locker room right now." How did Shawn Marion feel about the pregame video montage of Stoudemire and his many spectacular dunks? It's easy to say that for the good of the team, none of this should matter. Maybe it won't. But remember, we're dealing in an alternate universe, one that is difficult for the civilian to grasp. Most players define themselves by their points, their minutes. It is how they measure their self-worth, it is how their court credibility is determined by their peers. On the court Thursday, all looked well. Stoudemire and Marion exchanged repeated high-fives and Marion walked away with 20 points, the same as Stoudemire. Still, this can't be easy for Marion. After spending much of his career unappreciated for his spectacular gifts, he is finally being applauded for his talents. Much of the appreciation has come with Stoudemire in a rehabilitation room. Marion's second-fiddle status has created a sizable chip on his shoulder but to his credit, he has not let it become a major distraction. My gut says he is above it becoming an issue. For all the chess D'Antoni is about to play with his minute-hungry players, he has to feel good about Stoudemire's effort Thursday. He's still the highlight of the pick and roll, he's still an inside presence and he still has his shooting touch. He lacked his usual explosiveness, but that's to be expected. More than anything, his presence opened up offensive opportunities for his teammates and in the end that may prove his greatest gift this season. Boy, was he happy to be back. He was chillin' an hour before the game in the most literal sense, his body soaking in a cold tub, his nose in the pages of a car magazine. If he was nervous, it didn't show.</div> Source
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Air-Carmelo:</div><div class="quote_post">did u see the miami game?!?!1/ they had 70 somthing points in the first half!</div> Yeah, Amare really improves the offense.
Im happy to see Amare back. He looks good and only can improve. Most injurıes tend to be a mental thing when you come back and thats understandable when you have had an injury like his, his career could of been over and that would of been a big loss to not only the Suns but the world of basketball he's defınitely got game. As far as the egos goes I think and would hope that the Suns know that basketball ıs a team sport and that inorder for them to win that they must play as a team and other members of the team getting upset of what their score averages were shouldnt even be an issue. I understand maybe for Diaw who hasnt played wıth Amare to get some chemistry in playing together but also now Mr. Nash job will be even more ımportant to make sure that he gets everyone involved and work as a team.
