I have been thinking about this for a couple of days now...Amare Stoudemire is a beast. He has improved greatly every year he has been in the league and what I want to know is...can he be better than LeBron? Both players are straight out of HS and both have won the Rookie of the Year award. LeBron obviously has the better all around game, but Amare is more of a force in my opinion. What scares me about Amare is that...he doesn't know the game yet. He is playing on basic instinct and raw ability. Imagine how good he can be when he figures out some post moves, starts hitting his jumper with consistency, and utilizes his freakish athletic abilities to the maximum. They say you can't win a championship without a dominant big man, well..Amare is a dominant big man..lets compare stats to some players straight out of HS in their second/third year. <u>Kevin Garnett's 3rd Year</u> 18.5 ppg, 9.6 rpg, 4.2 apg, 1.7 spg, 49% FG, 73% FT <u>Kobe Bryant's 3rd year</u> 19.9 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 3.8 apg, 1.44 spg, 46% FG, 83.9% FT <u>Jermaine Oneal's 2nd Year in Indy</u> 19.0 ppg, 10.5 rpg, 1.6 apg, .63 spg, 47% FG, 68% FT <u>LeBron's 2nd year</u> 24.9 ppg, 7 rpg, 7.3 apg, 2.4 spg, 49 % FG, 74% FT <u>Amare's 3rd Year</u> 26 pg, 8.7 rpg, 1.6 apg, 1.63 spg, 57% FG, 71% FT ---------------- Now I understand LeBron is only in his second year and is putting up MVP numbers, but he understands the game a lot more than Amare does. Amare is getting a lot of points off of dunks because he hasn't fully developed his back to the basket game and his mid range J. Both players are going to be superstars, and both are freak athletes..so what I am getting at is, do you guys think Amare will be better than LeBron?
That's really a good question to put out there. Both players really need to refine their skills a lot. For example, they're both shooting good percentages, but for the most part, their shots aren't difficult. Both players need to work on their jumpshots is mainly what i'm getting at, and to get good post games. That is what, in my opinion, will be their go to games. Another thing to throw out there is that Amare is, if i'm not mistaken, 2 years older than Lebron, now does that necessarily mean much, no. But, it could, depending on how their bodies hold up and all that, lebron theoretically has 2 more years to develope his game, and then to be in his prime athletic, and mental stage. The way I see the whole thing going down in the years to come, is that they will both be amazing players, that is if they develope their games to the fullest that they can. So with that said, it will probably be a debate of which player is better, as in, they will both be so great that it depends on how youlook at it. But if its not a true toss up then i'd have to be leaning towards Lebron on who will end up being better, but thats just me.
It's a tough question that I think we will not know the answer to until the next couple years. Both players are superstars, all-stars, even MVP candidates but nor has even hit the tip of the ice burg as far as their potential goes. What I am trying to say is that both of these players have a lot of room for improvement, Lebron's jumper can use some help as well as Amare's. When these two players reach their full potential I will say this league better watch out. These guys should be in college and they are both lighting up the league. If I had to pick 'Who is better right now Amare or Lebron?' I would have to say Lebron, he just does so much for his team in all parts of his game, I mean 25, 7, 7, and 2 steals a game is a joke for any second year player coming out of high school. Even Amare's numbers are unbelievable when it comes to him only being in his 3rd year in the league coming from high school. I would also think Lebron is better right now because he is the main focus on his team, where Amare might not actually be the MVP of the Suns after what is happening since Steve Nash?s injury.
No, hell no. He's probably not top 5 power forward in the West. Amare isnt even the best player on his team. Lebron does everything and holds the second best record in the east with a bunch of no namers. If Amare gets more votes for MVP than Nash than that would be a disgrace.
Lebron's jumpshot is underatted by most, it's not great by any means, but he isn't a bad shooter or something, he's pretty good. Amare's jumpshot has also improved a lot, he averages 3 dunks a game, but he scores the majority of his FG's on jumpshots. He averages 6.9 points a game on jumpshots. What Amare needs to work on to be better than [or get to the same level] Lebron is his defense, rebounding, and passing skills. His defense has improved, but he's still only average [Lebron is only average himself], his passing is still pretty weak, he's not able to be a playmaker in the post, or in the high post, and needs work on that. His rebounding also isn't where it should be for a guy with his athletic ability and body, if he can get those things which are easier said than done, the sky is the limit.
Lebron is really the guy that makes everyone around him better because of his all around skills, so I'd say Lebron is better than Amare at this point. Although Amare is also a man-beast, his bbal skills are way less refined. Kind of raw, but incredible upside due to his physical skills. Hard to find that kind of strength and athleticism with the right mentality, out of high school. When he develops a good perimeter game like Chris Webber or Karl Malone's midranger, he will be f--n awesome. He already looks decent on defense when he tries.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting samoan-maverick:</div><div class="quote_post">No, hell no. He's probably not top 5 power forward in the West. Amare isnt even the best player on his team. Lebron does everything and holds the second best record in the east with a bunch of no namers. If Amare gets more votes for MVP than Nash than that would be a disgrace.</div> We aren't talking about this year...in the future...when both players have developed more.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Rimwrecker:</div><div class="quote_post">Exactly. That's like comparing Jordan to Shaq.</div> I would have said it's like comparing Jordan to Wilt, but what ever
I think theyre both probably just as good at their own positions... ya cant really compare em like that. by the way, Amare is the top F in the game without a doubt! Him and KG are the best, AND THEN DUNCAN.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting FooDoggg3xB:</div><div class="quote_post">I think theyre both probably just as good at their own positions... ya cant really compare em like that. by the way, Amare is the top F in the game without a doubt! Him and KG are the best, AND THEN DUNCAN.</div> Duncan is probably one of the greatest of all time for his position. He's consistant, hard working, etc. The problem is he's not nearly as fun to watch as some of the others (KG, Amare, etc). He's more of a coach's dream than a fan's. In my opinion anyway.
Duncan isn't the best player, he's the best... ROBOT. Have you seen the guy. The consistent, flawless technique; no emotion whatsoever; the engine fluid he drinks during timeouts. What?... Oh, that's Gatorade?.... Whatever. The guy's a machine I tell you.
well if you want the real answer to the question.. no but still who cares, Lebron looks to be that next main guy.. its obvious but Amare can end up being the best big man in the game possibly, or at least in the Duncan-KG class.. which is good enough lol
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Downtown:</div><div class="quote_post">Duncan isn't the best player, he's the best... ROBOT. Have you seen the guy. The consistent, flawless technique; no emotion whatsoever; the engine fluid he drinks during timeouts. What?... Oh, that's Gatorade?.... Whatever. The guy's a machine I tell you.</div> I couldnt agree with you more there. I wondered if he has ever smiled. Ive seen him cry. (Remember when Marbury took the first game of the playoffs from Spurs 2/3 years ago? Man, he was such a baby in the interview after... I laughed so much)
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting FooDoggg3xB:</div><div class="quote_post">I couldnt agree with you more there. I wondered if he has ever smiled. Ive seen him cry. (Remember when Marbury took the first game of the playoffs from Spurs 2/3 years ago? Man, he was such a baby in the interview after... I laughed so much)</div> Oh, yeah I remember that. I guess they made a soft robot.
