Amaré 'so ready' for Game 6

[Gee!]

Amaré 'so ready' for Game 6
Doug Haller
The Arizona Republic
May. 17, 2007 04:14 PM

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Amare Stoudemire said he's over the suspension.

His focus now turns turned toward redemption with the Suns facing elimination going into Friday's Game 6 in San Antonio.

The Suns lead the best-of-seven series 3-2.

"I'm so ready," Stoudemire said Thursday. "I was ready last night. The guys did a great job of hanging in there and playing hard, it's just unfortunate I wasn't able to play."

A rejuvenated Stoudemire usually means an aggressive Stoudemire. Sometimes that translates well.

After watching Kwame Brown grab national attention by scoring 19 points during the Suns' first-round series against the Lakers, Stoudemire promised revenge for the next game. He finished with 27 points and 21 rebounds.

Other times, however, Stoudemire's emotion and aggression work against him, as it did in Game 3 against the Spurs.

After calling defensive specialist Bruce Bowen and sixth man Manu Ginobili dirty players, Stoudemire because Public Enemy No. 1 in San Antonio.

The Suns center craved the venom, loved the boos. But his emotions got the best of him, and foul trouble limited him to 21 minutes.

"He's his own man," Suns coach Mike D'Antoni said of Stoudemire, the team's leading postseason scorer at 23.9 points. "If you haven't noticed, he's a confident guy. Yeah, he'll be excited to start, and he'll have all that energy. If the past is any proof, he knows how to handle this. . . . Amaré's always risen to the challenge."

 

[Soul_Patch]

I hope, for you guys' sake, he can focus that energy and not get into early foul trouble for being over eager.

 

[kps0001]

The Suns lead the best-of-seven series 3-2.

We do? Sweet!

 

[elindholm]

I hope, for you guys' sake, he can focus that energy and not get into early foul trouble for being over eager.

No kidding. An overhyped Stoudemire isn't going to help the Suns' cause.

 

[dodie53]

amare, for the love of GOD..
don't get into foul trouble..

 

[slinslin]

Like in game 3? When a clean block on Duncan was charged on him as his 3rd foul in the 3rd quarter and then a blatant flop by Oberto go him called for a 4th right after that?
How is that Amare's fault? Blame the refs, 2 blatantly bad calls turned against him with in 90 seconds, every broadcaster said the calls were bad, a lot of media outlets I read after that game were saying that the refs took him out of the game and also moaned at the constant hacking of Steve Nash that went uncalled.

What can he do against that? Stop playing?

 

[frdbtr]

No kidding. An overhyped Stoudemire isn't going to help the Suns' cause.

But a motivated Stoudemire, a Stoudemire that is determined to make up for having been out while the suns lost for the second time on their home floor in this series, will not be a detriment for the Suns.

 

[arthurracoon]

Like in game 3? When a clean block on Duncan was charged on him as his 3rd foul in the 3rd quarter and then a blatant flop by Oberto go him called for a 4th right after that?
How is that Amare's fault? Blame the refs, 2 blatantly bad calls turned against him with in 90 seconds, every broadcaster said the calls were bad, a lot of media outlets I read after that game were saying that the refs took him out of the game and also moaned at the constant hacking of Steve Nash that went uncalled.

What can he do against that? Stop playing?

exactly

 

[mr_sunshine]

Like in game 3? When a clean block on Duncan was charged on him as his 3rd foul in the 3rd quarter and then a blatant flop by Oberto go him called for a 4th right after that?
How is that Amare's fault? Blame the refs, 2 blatantly bad calls turned against him with in 90 seconds, every broadcaster said the calls were bad, a lot of media outlets I read after that game were saying that the refs took him out of the game and also moaned at the constant hacking of Steve Nash that went uncalled.

What can he do against that? Stop playing?

I agree as well. It's just funny to see Spurs fans claiming "But the Suns only got called for two more fouls in game 3, therefore the officiating wasn't biased!" I love how they completely neglect the timing, distribution, and lack of consistency on the fouls called. Sorry... still venting about that.

Amare gets a clean block and it's a foul. Duncan gets nothing but arm and it's a clean block. The guy still does commit stupid fouls from time to time, and needs to learn that sometimes it's okay to give up dunk in order to avoid picking up a crucial foul, thus costing himself big minutes. However, I must say in the series he's had a lot of tough calls go against him.

 

[Chaz]

I was thinking yesterday both Amare and Diaw should come back very agressive and ready to play.

Lets hope that also means they play well.

 

[arwillan]

I was thinking yesterday both Amare and Diaw should come back very agressive and ready to play.

Lets hope that also means they play well.

diaw has shown his agression, id like to see some of that mixed with some good decision making when nash is off the floor. id like to see amare not guarding duncan to avoid foul trouble. maybe he can bother the corner 3's of duncan and finey with his length or just roam around blocking shots or stopping penetration. that is, at least to start the game until he gets calmed down. on offense we need to go to him early and often, the spurs can answer his quickness so we might as well make them adjust to him asap.

 

[Toothbrush]

I can't wait for tomorrow.

 

[Phxchris1989]

Please amare, channel that rage into points, rebounds and blocks...not fouls!!

 

[cly2tw]

Like in game 3? When a clean block on Duncan was charged on him as his 3rd foul in the 3rd quarter and then a blatant flop by Oberto go him called for a 4th right after that?
How is that Amare's fault? Blame the refs, 2 blatantly bad calls turned against him with in 90 seconds, every broadcaster said the calls were bad, a lot of media outlets I read after that game were saying that the refs took him out of the game and also moaned at the constant hacking of Steve Nash that went uncalled.

What can he do against that? Stop playing?

Actually, I discern some intent of the refs to punish Amare for his stirring up the pot with his comments and blowed the whistle on him a little too quick.

In game 5, the first foul call on TD was his block attempt on LB's layup, which normally would not have been called against him, even though it's a correct call. They somehow still have the last game and the unjust punishment against the Suns in memory. Yet, later in the game, the calls began evening out.

The moral is I don't think the refs would be blowing the whistle on Amare as quick as in game 3. I'd expect they'd give him a little more benefit of doubt for the stupid game 5 suspension.

 

[hsandhu]

Im very interested to see how diaw plays tomorrow. He is gonna be the x-factor, i think. We all know the guy has all the talent in the world, its all about his mindset.

Just listening to him talk the last few days, he actually seems genuinely pissed at what happened. Not angry, thats not his personality, but that kind of "you have got to be shi**in me" feeling. He has never gotten a technical in his career, hes the most caring guy in the league, and they are gonna suspend him for checking on his layed out leader?

Maybe I will turn out wrong, but I just get the feeling he is coming to play tomorrow. Not always kicking it out when he gets under the hoop, hes going in to score (he has actually shown some poor mans Hakeem vs Drob under the basket in this series vs. duncan). Dude has all the talent in the world, just needs the motivation, game 4 may have provided it.

 

[azirish]

D'Antoni must avoid the temptation to go small when Duncan is in the lineup. The Spurs are better at attacking Amare than any other team in the NBA. Putting Amare on Duncan is too big a risk since Duncan gets too many close calls.

 

[Gaddabout]

No kidding. An overhyped Stoudemire isn't going to help the Suns' cause.

No kidding. You never know if you're going to get The Incredible Hulk or Lennie Small.

 

[Covert Rain]

To be honest guys we need FOCUSED Amare not necessarily a PO Amare. He can be a little PO. I just don't want to see him try and be aggressive to the point he gets in foul trouble again. He needs to have a huge game tonight.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

Like in game 3? When a clean block on Duncan was charged on him as his 3rd foul in the 3rd quarter and then a blatant flop by Oberto go him called for a 4th right after that?
How is that Amare's fault? Blame the refs, 2 blatantly bad calls turned against him with in 90 seconds, every broadcaster said the calls were bad, a lot of media outlets I read after that game were saying that the refs took him out of the game and also moaned at the constant hacking of Steve Nash that went uncalled.

What can he do against that? Stop playing?

That wasn't a clean block. Their arms did make contact. It was not a great call, and probably shouldn't have been called, considering how this series has been called so far, but it was NOT a clean block.

 

[Mike Olbinski]

By the way, not that it matters...but Chandler Mike is SO ready for the game tonight as well

 

[dreamcastrocks]

By the way, not that it matters...but Chandler Mike is SO ready for the game tonight as well

I'm not. I'm not ready for this ride to be over.

COME ON SUNS!!!

 

[tmtcsc]

I was thinking yesterday both Amare and Diaw should come back very agressive and ready to play.

Lets hope that also means they play well.

Diaw agressive ? Ooh La Frickin La

 

[dreamcastrocks]

Diaw agressive ? Ooh La Frickin La

Diaw has been aggressive in this series.

 

[Mike Olbinski]

I'm not. I'm not ready for this ride to be over.

COME ON SUNS!!!

It's not going to end tonight! Bank on that!

 

[Gaddabout]

Bank on that!

This quote brings to mind the mental picture of Duncan banking in 14 footers. Not a way to inspire confidence, CM. As our exalted leader, you can do better.