Amaré's best yet to come

[lancelet's cousin]

Original Article

Dan Bickley
The Arizona Republic
May. 15, 2005 12:00 AM

DALLAS

Amaré Stoudemire was 16 years old when he broke his first and only backboard.

It happened at a park in Florida, and, oh, what a proud moment it was.

"It wasn't a breakaway rim, but I smashed it pretty good," Stoudemire said. "I went home and put it on my wall."

Stoudemire is now the single greatest attraction in Arizona sports. For jaw-dropping effect, his dunks have filled the void left by Randy Johnson's strikeouts. Watch this kid on any given night, and chances are you'll see something that makes you gasp in awe.

And to think these frightening displays of power were born out of necessity, a therapeutic exercise that helped a young boy cope with a hardscrabble upbringing.

"I just think that when I was a kid, when I first started playing basketball, with my family background, I took my aggression out on the rim," Stoudemire said. "Whenever something happened, I'd go to the park and play and just take it out on the rim. Now it's a habit. I can't do anything else but dunk hard."

Oh, he can do plenty more than that.

His goal to be one of the best players in history is a dizzying tribute to raw ambition. As opponents begin to prod and poke at his temper during the 2005 postseason, his composure has been remarkable. Then there's his increasingly reliable jump shot, which was almost a joke when he first worked out for the Suns.

"His shooting took literally a month, where with other guys, it takes years or maybe they never get it," Suns coach Mike D'Antoni said.

What it means is this: The Suns have found a franchise player while the rest of us have that rare athlete ascending to greatness before our eyes. It is a gift that should not be taken lightly, especially because Stoudemire refuses to take his own gifts for granted.

His headstrong nature and supreme focus may cause angst for the Suns this summer. He does not want to play center much longer, and this sore subject will be part of the give and take when the Suns hope to extend his contract when the season is over.

"Yeah, that's part of negotiations that will carry on this summer. We're going to discuss some things, but that's behind closed doors," Stoudemire said. "I want to have a long, successful career. I don't want to be a guy that has four great years and then injuries take over."

This potential conflict has serious ramifications. If the Suns need to bring in a big-bodied center to pacify Stoudemire, it could mark the end of the team's breathtaking style of play, one that has taken the NBA by storm and led to robust season ticket renewals in Phoenix.

When asked how to combat such a potential conflict, D'Antoni quickly smiled.

"Probably a lot of groveling will be involved," D'Antoni said. "Amaré and all the guys are equally important, and it's important to have everyone in the right frame of mind. So, whatever it takes."

The Suns will surely impress on Stoudemire that if they extend him and pay Joe Johnson this summer, they'll only be able to afford a trash-heap center, and such a stiff will only make the team worse. They'll impress that even with a true center dropped in the lineup, Stoudemire will still attract the biggest, toughest player on the other team.

Yet Stoudemire's unbreakable will is something that can't be discounted. It is why he's dominating the league at age 22. And while he sounds somewhat pliable, this issue will eventually come to a head.

"I'm not sure, but I don't want to do it too long because it takes a lot of wear and tear on your body when you're playing against 7-footers and 300-pounders," Stoudemire said. "I want to have a long and healthy career, so I'll put a little more thought into it."

Whatever, it's wise to just enjoy the moment. Not many players can rack up 30 points and 16 rebounds, as Stoudemire did in Game 2, and have it be considered an off night. His talent is so absurd that after that game, Mavericks center Erick Dampier jabbed at Stoudemire for not liking physical play.

After seeing Stoudemire's rim-wrecking performance in Game 3, Dampier may learn to keep his mouth shut.

What we're seeing against the Mavericks is not unlike Michael Jordan's breakout postseason in 1986, when he went off for 63 points in a game against the Celtics. Talent is starting to meet desire, and for Phoenix fans, this sort of luck should balance the scales when it comes to losing that coin toss for Lew Alcindor (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar) many decades ago.

After all, in his last private workout for the Suns, Stoudemire injured his shoulder. He worked out for only one other team, the Nuggets, and canceled the rest of his visits. This is why he was available when Phoenix stepped to the draft podium in 2002.

Now, he's coming into his own, and while we marvel at this phenomenon, another strange thing is happening. These days, when Stoudemire goes up for one of his patented power dunks, members of the opposition can be seen scurrying out of the way.

"It's not a bad idea," Stoudemire said.

No, not at all.



Reach Bickley at [email protected] or (602) 444-8253.

 

[Joe Mama]

I would like to know when Amare Stoudemire actually made these comments about playing center. First of all there are only 2-3 300 pounds centers in the NBA. Secondly, going to be much harder on him and his body if he has to guard guys like Tim Duncan, Randolph, Kevin Garnett, Dirk Nowitzki, Carlos Boozer, Troy Murphy, Kenyon Martin, and Elton brand night in and night out. And those are just the power forwards in the Western Conference. The only centers in the Western Conference as big and bruising as those guys are Yao Ming, possibly the San Antonio duo (although they aren't any bigger than Tim Duncan), or maybe Jerome James.

Frankly these complaints border on the absurd. I would totally understand it if it was Shawn Marion. He draws the other team's best and most punishing players on a nightly basis, and they are usually several inches taller and more importantly 20-40 pounds heavier than him. I can only really think of two match ups each year where Amare has a legitimate complaint. Those are the 5-6 times during the regular season that he will face Yao Ming or Shaquille O'Neal.

I think it would be great if the Phoenix Suns had a big center off the bench that they could insert into the lineup when they face these big centers. I mean it's possible that the Suns could play them 7 times each in the playoffs as well. However these guys don't grow on trees. More importantly if he's playing next to one of these big centers they have got to be a will to hit an outside jumper to keep defenses from clogging the paint. I wonder if Amare realizes how much more difficult it will be if he's playing next to the big center he wants.

Sorry, I'm just frustrated. This is not the crap I wanted to hear from him during the playoffs when he and the rest of the team are playing so well together.

Joe Mama

 

[elindholm]

Frankly these complaints border on the absurd... Those are the 5-6 times during the regular season that he will face Yao Ming or Shaquille O'Neal.

I'd say even fewer than that. O'Neal will be retiring soon, and Yao isn't exactly a punishing presence.

I think the writer is just trying to stir something up.

I agree about Marion. I don't think this arrangement can work in the long term for him. So, assuming the Suns eventually get another PF/C to go alongside Stoudemire, who gets dropped from the starting lineup? My hunch has been that the Suns would let Johnson go if he had a poor season (or postseason), but that hasn't happened, so I believe the Suns when they say they'll keep him. While I do expect the current starting five to be together for a while, I don't expect them to be, well, the starting five.

Still, we can worry about that later.

 

[lancelet's cousin]

I don't understand Amare's point of view either. He is already one of the most dominating centers in the NBA. That is far more prestigious than being a dominant foward. This is the first time I've heard of the health excuses.

But, as you alluded to Joe, this could be recycling of old quotes.

It would actually be nice for him to have a forceful agent with situations like these, instead of no agent. But I can't fault his logic for going without one.

I'm not too concerned at the moment, though. Even if he wants a real starting center, the poorer record it would bring could/should make him change his mind.

 

[sly fly]

I would like to know when Amare Stoudemire actually made these comments about playing center. First of all there are only 2-3 300 pounds centers in the NBA. Secondly, going to be much harder on him and his body if he has to guard guys like Tim Duncan, Randolph, Kevin Garnett, Dirk Nowitzki, Carlos Boozer, Troy Murphy, Kenyon Martin, and Elton brand night in and night out. And those are just the power forwards in the Western Conference. The only centers in the Western Conference as big and bruising as those guys are Yao Ming, possibly the San Antonio duo (although they aren't any bigger than Tim Duncan), or maybe Jerome James.

Frankly these complaints border on the absurd. I would totally understand it if it was Shawn Marion. He draws the other team's best and most punishing players on a nightly basis, and they are usually several inches taller and more importantly 20-40 pounds heavier than him. I can only really think of two match ups each year where Amare has a legitimate complaint. Those are the 5-6 times during the regular season that he will face Yao Ming or Shaquille O'Neal.

I think it would be great if the Phoenix Suns had a big center off the bench that they could insert into the lineup when they face these big centers. I mean it's possible that the Suns could play them 7 times each in the playoffs as well. However these guys don't grow on trees. More importantly if he's playing next to one of these big centers they have got to be a will to hit an outside jumper to keep defenses from clogging the paint. I wonder if Amare realizes how much more difficult it will be if he's playing next to the big center he wants.

Sorry, I'm just frustrated. This is not the crap I wanted to hear from him during the playoffs when he and the rest of the team are playing so well together.

Joe Mama

Good points, however I wouldn't worry about it. I'm sure Suns management has or will get this point across.

In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if Bryan Colangelo reads this post and personally hand delivers it to Amare.

 

[AZZenny]

Come on, guys! It's BICKLEY! How can he possibly let players or fans actually enjoy themselves without putting a thorn in it? Whatever Amare said, it has been trimmed, magnified, and edited to fit the columnist's single point.

You think he sought out a reporter to express these concerns? I bet he really loved Bickley cornering him to ask about contracts, playing Center, etc etc right now. Amare himself seems to be saying 'this isn't the time or place to talk about contracts and so on. I'll think about it later.' Hope next time he shows the reporter a rim-busting dunk up close and personal.

 

[Chaplin]

Most likely Bickley is taking comments out of context. He does it all the time.

 

[devilalum]

Since Bickley doesn't seem interested in covering the playoffs maybe he should be banned from the Suns lockeroom and practice facilities until the playoffs are over.

 

[DeAnna]

Come on, guys! It's BICKLEY! How can he possibly let players or fans actually enjoy themselves without putting a thorn in it? Whatever Amare said, it has been trimmed, magnified, and edited to fit the columnist's single point.

You think he sought out a reporter to express these concerns? I bet he really loved Bickley cornering him to ask about contracts, playing Center, etc etc right now. Amare himself seems to be saying 'this isn't the time or place to talk about contracts and so on. I'll think about it later.' Hope next time he shows the reporter a rim-busting dunk up close and personal.

Exactly.

 

[Azlen]

Amare's feelings were also noted in the article I just posted from the NY Times. We can't blame Bickley for this one.

"When D'Antoni approached Stoudemire with the proposal last fall, Stoudemire's response was to the point: "I'm not a center."
"I was a little skeptical, knowing that most centers are 7-foot and 300-pounders," he said.

Despite the Suns' wild success, Stoudemire remains skeptical of playing the position long term, worrying that his career could be shortened playing against bigger, stronger players. It is an issue he plans to revisit this summer, when the team discusses a contract extension for him.

But D'Antoni says he has nothing to worry about.

"I don't think he is out of position," he said. "He puts everybody else out of position."

In truth, outside of O'Neal (7-1, 325) and Yao (7-6, 310), there are few mammoths playing center in the N.B.A. Against those two, Stoudemire has the advantage of quickness. He averaged 29.5 points in two games against O'Neal and the Miami Heat, and 22.8 points in four games against Yao and the Houston Rockets.

 

[Treesquid PhD]

I think it would be great if the Phoenix Suns had a big center off the bench that they could insert into the lineup when they face these big centers. I mean it's possible that the Suns could play them 7 times each in the playoffs as well. However these guys don't grow on trees. More importantly if he's playing next to one of these big centers they have got to be a will to hit an outside jumper to keep defenses from clogging the paint. I wonder if Amare realizes how much more difficult it will be if he's playing next to the big center he wants.

Sorry, I'm just frustrated. This is not the crap I wanted to hear from him during the playoffs when he and the rest of the team are playing so well together.

Bickley loves to do this kind of stuff and he does twist words around I just keep in mind he is a columnist and not a reporter there is opinion and pot stiring intentions behind his writings. Several things could be going on in Amare's mind you never know who has his ear. He is only 22 and probably very impressionable.
I can see his point in that at some point he would like to move to his natural postion as he ages, he is not going to be able to leap over everyone forever.

I wouldn't worry about it, I think it will all work out.

 

[devilalum]

Amare's feelings were also noted in the article I just posted from the NY Times. We can't blame Bickley for this one.

"When D'Antoni approached Stoudemire with the proposal last fall, Stoudemire's response was to the point: "I'm not a center."
"I was a little skeptical, knowing that most centers are 7-foot and 300-pounders," he said.

Despite the Suns' wild success, Stoudemire remains skeptical of playing the position long term, worrying that his career could be shortened playing against bigger, stronger players. It is an issue he plans to revisit this summer, when the team discusses a contract extension for him.

But D'Antoni says he has nothing to worry about.

"I don't think he is out of position," he said. "He puts everybody else out of position."

In truth, outside of O'Neal (7-1, 325) and Yao (7-6, 310), there are few mammoths playing center in the N.B.A. Against those two, Stoudemire has the advantage of quickness. He averaged 29.5 points in two games against O'Neal and the Miami Heat, and 22.8 points in four games against Yao and the Houston Rockets.

At this point I don't understand why anybody still wants to talk about this especially Amare himself.

Why is Amares career going to be shortened playing center? It's a lot easier to defend all the slow stiff centers in the league than it is to defend all the big strong fast power forwards. Shawn Marion has worked his butt off guarding all the PF's this season while Amare hangs around in the lane and takes half the defensive plays off. He's rarely guarded by a center and when he is he totally abuses them. If anything playing center will lengthen his career not shorten it.

D'Antoni's absolutely correct. I understood where Amare was coming from at the beginning of the season but it makes no sense at all at this point.

Just look where playing a big stiff at center has got KG and the T-wolves

 

[Treesquid PhD]

At this point I don't understand why anybody still wants to talk about this especially Amare himself.

Why is Amares career going to be shortened playing center? It's a lot easier to defend all the slow stiff centers in the league than it is to defend all the big strong fast power forwards. Shawn Marion has worked his butt off guarding all the PF's this season while Amare hangs around in the lane and takes half the defensive plays off. He's rarely guarded by a center and when he is he totally abuses them. If anything playing center will lengthen his career not shorten it.

D'Antoni's absolutely correct. I understood where Amare was coming from at the beginning of the season but it makes no sense at all at this point.

Just look where playing a big stiff at center has got KG and the T-wolves

Ok understad what you are saying but I think you are looking at it from a fan or team aspect in the now. Amare is going to be a superstar probably by the end of the Suns run this year. One thing he and his people are looking at is where do I fit? Not with the Suns not with the team but as a superstar. Look at Marion he is getting hosed right now becuase he is playing out of position he gets passed up for awards becuase now he is lumped in with power forwards he cannot compete with..Now Amare is a great center and a great PF but nationally they don't really know where to fit him so fair or not he gets penalized becuase some consider him a PF and some consider him a C, can you see how this would impact his future? This type of hybrid stuff reeks havock on an individual.

Now I know what you are thinking this is about the team. Well as a fan I agree but if I can't fault Amare for seeing the dollar implications of him being a man without a position (btw, AMare is not just concocting all this stuff on his own, there are people in his ear too). It's not always about team for anyone no matter how much they talk it.

This is the same reason Iverson moved from the point to 2. Iverson got killed for being selfish pt guard when he moved to 2 bam MVP. I don't think that move was about team.

It's stupid but it's very real in the world of superstars, agents and mega millions.

 

[devilalum]

Ok understad what you are saying but I think you are looking at it from a fan or team aspect in the now. Amare is going to be a superstar probably by the end of the Suns run this year. One thing he and his people are looking at is where do I fit? Not with the Suns not with the team but as a superstar. Look at Marion he is getting hosed right now becuase he is playing out of position he gets passed up for awards becuase now he is lumped in with power forwards he cannot compete with..Now Amare is a great center and a great PF but nationally they don't really know where to fit him so fair or not he gets penalized becuase some consider him a PF and some consider him a C, can you see how this would impact his future? This type of hybrid stuff reeks havock on an individual.

Now I know what you are thinking this is about the team. Well as a fan I agree but if I can't fault Amare for seeing the dollar implications of him being a man without a position (btw, AMare is not just concocting all this stuff on his own, there are people in his ear too). It's not always about team for anyone no matter how much they talk it.

This is the same reason Iverson moved from the point to 2. Iverson got killed for being selfish pt guard when he moved to 2 bam MVP. I don't think that move was about team.

It's stupid but it's very real in the world of superstars, agents and mega millions.

If he leverages the team into getting a big ****** to play center so he can play PF on a slower uglier team and the Suns start losing as a result its not going to help his "superstar status." Like I said before it's done wonders for KG.

Unless Amare wants to wind up crying to John Thompson on national TV.

Like I said all this crap about Amare having to work harder because he plays center is rediculous. Isn't obvious to everyone that the opposite has been true all season.

The only Suns that has had to work harder because he's playing out of position has been Shawn Marion.

I still want to know when this quote was taken?

 

[Mainstreet]

I just do not read the Arizona Republic Sports Columist articles, at least not in detail.

There just seems to be too much venom, lack of facts or ignorance over there for me, especially from Bickley, Gambo and FanBoy. I guess maybe Boivin might be the least biased there but then again I remember her gushing articles about Jason Kidd after he was traded and it made me sick.

I just try to glean the facts from whatever I read over there and stay away from the columnists as much as possible.

 

[AZZenny]

Some of you are acting like you think Amare sought out these reporters to say this stuff right now. I think that is pretty unlikely.
"Yeah, that's part of negotiations that will carry on this summer. We're going to discuss some things, but that's behind closed doors."
Does this sound like someone screwing up the clubhouse chemistry right now by making excessive demands? To me it sounds more like a guy being pestered by reporters about things he's said in the past (there isn't a single new thing here, after all): "yeah, yeah, whatever; not now, man."

The Suns, alas, are not really a good story to most of the media, who do much better with conflict or angst. They've already said the teammates like each other, no Dirk-Dampier stuff here, Coach D won't whine and kvetch for them, ownership is blessedly unobtrusive - how can you write about THAT placid, sunny nonsense for long?

I'm almost starting to think Treesquid is right about an undercurrent of real anti-Amare feeling around here. So many people are quick to take up the cudgel every time he opens his mouth.

 

[haverford]

My complaint about the Repulsive's coverage is only that Paul Coro is one of the worst writers I've ever seen in print. His sentences are often incomprehensible, with weird uncontrolled mixtures of tenses and metaphors. Sorry no examples at the moment--but they're there, every damned day, in all their howling glory.

 

[F-Dog]

"Probably a lot of groveling will be involved," D'Antoni said. "Amaré and all the guys are equally important, and it's important to have everyone in the right frame of mind. So, whatever it takes."

I don't know about this quote at all. If Amare's making these kinds of unreasonable demands, the Suns are going to have to dump him.












Seriously, if playing C is a deal-breaker for Amare, then the Suns should switch him to PF. It will probably cost them a few games a season to start every half with six minutes of Steven Hunter instead of Joe J or Q, but if that's what it takes to keep Amare on board, then that's what the Suns need to do.

Oh, yeah, and Bickley is being a complete tool, as usual.

 

[Joe Mama]

I think the real problem with acquiring a center or even another power forward type to play alongside Amare Stoudemire is that it's going to congest the middle of the floor on offense. There are not many power forwards/centers out there with the shooting range and the consistency to keep defenses honest. I don't believe it's actually small ball that works so well for the Phoenix Suns. I think it is putting Amare Stoudemire, Steve Nash, and three good perimeter players on the floor at the same time with the commitment to run and find good, quick shots.

He isn't available, and he isn't the kind of personality the Suns want around. Rasheed Wallace would be a perfect forward/center fit for this team. The problem is that those type players are almost as rare as good, quality centers. They usually cost as much as well.

I guess one of the thing that bothers me about these comments is that if he really is insisting on a traditional lineup he is essentially saying do not re-sign JJ. Q is not going to come off the bench, and even if he does he's going to play 35 minutes per game.

Joe Mama

 

[jbeecham]

He isn't available, and he isn't the kind of personality the Suns want around. Rasheed Wallace would be a perfect forward/center fit for this team. The problem is that those type players are almost as rare as good, quality centers. They usually cost as much as well.

Joe Mama

I was just talking to someone about Rasheed the other day. I was completely against getting Rasheed when he was in Portland, but he would fit in perfectly with the Suns now. There's no way we'd get him without trading a core member or could afford him if he were a FA.