Amare out 2 games, McDyess to the IL

[Joe Mama]

Well, I think this article is disappointing on a couple levels. Amare Stoudemire is going to be out at least 2 games, and it isn't a certainty that Lampe will replace McDyess on the active roster. Apparently there still talking about bringing Williams off of the IL. I would like to see Williams on the active roster because I think he could really help this team. I just wish they could put Tom Gugliotta on the IL. With the injuries to McDyess and Amare Stoudemire and with Cabarkapa holding his wrist I figured Lampe would see some action tonight. Oh well.

Joe Mama

http://www.azcentral.com/sports/suns/0119sunsnb0119.html

Injured Stoudemire to miss 2 games
Bob Young
The Arizona Republic
Jan. 19, 2004 12:00 AM

Forward Amare Stoudemire did not travel with the team to Los Angeles and will miss tonight's game against the Lakers and Wednesday's game in Denver after aggravating the left ankle that he sprained earlier this season.

Stoudemire missed 18 games with that injury but seemed to be at full strength again. He injured it with about five minutes to play in a 96-92 victory over Portland on Sunday night.

Portland's Ruben Patterson stole the ball from Stoudemire, who ran him down and blocked the shot. But Patterson landed on Stoudemire under the basket.

"My toe hurts more than my ankle right now," Stoudemire said. "I've got to take it day by day. I might not play on this trip, though.

"I got fouled on the play, man, so I didn't want him to get away with it. I wanted to get him back on defense so I was chasing behind him to block the shot and he came down right on my ankle.

"I've got to take my time and let my ankle heal. I can't let anybody force me to come back and play or tell me it's OK when I know it's not. So I'm going to take my time and take it day by day. Go by my inner feeling."


Dice headed to list


The Suns will put Antonio McDyess on the injured list today, but it isn't definite that rookie Maciej Lampe will replace him on the active roster for tonight's game.

Suns coach Mike D'Antoni said the team is considering its options, which could also include activating veteran Scott Williams. It also is possible that more than one roster move could be made.

What appears certain is that McDyess will be out indefinitely while rehabilitating his left knee and quadriceps muscle.

Trainer Aaron Nelson said McDyess has full range of motion in the knee, but there is a "strength deficit" in the leg.

"We'll spend however long it takes to get him back to where he can be efficient and strong," Nelson said. "With so many games right now, it's hard for him to do both (play and strengthen the leg).

"It's enough (of a deficiency) to limit him. He's not fully comfortable, and you can see he compensates. He uses his right leg as much as he can.

"He's been working on it for a couple of days, and things are going good. We'll get it stronger and he'll be ready to roll. But we're not going to put a time limit on it."

 

[scotsman13]

lets see you can have 12 players active and up to 3 on the IR. we have 14 player under contract right now we have
marion
amare
barbosa
jj
casey jacobson
eisley
zarko
jake
googs
white
harvey
williams
lampe
mcdyess

if you move mcdyess to the IR. i think that williams is a shoe in to come off the IR (after all this the player that took malone out, heck for that he should receive a 1 million dollars bonus). williams answers to many problems at this point he can play center and power forward, rebounds well and has a good outside shot. lampe may have a lot of skills but what he can bring the team right now there is a big question mark. maybe googs can go but i really dont know. none of the guards will go to the IR we are to short there with only 4 to begin with.

 

[Wally]

Originally posted by Joe Mama
Well, I think this article is disappointing on a couple levels. Amare Stoudemire is going to be out at least 2 games, and it isn't a certainty that Lampe will replace McDyess on the active roster. Apparently there still talking about bringing Williams off of the IL. I would like to see Williams on the active roster because I think he could really help this team. I just wish they could put Tom Gugliotta on the IL. With the injuries to McDyess and Amare Stoudemire and with Cabarkapa holding his wrist I figured Lampe would see some action tonight. Oh well.

Joe Mama

http://www.azcentral.com/sports/suns/0119sunsnb0119.html

Injured Stoudemire to miss 2 games

I felt the same way when I read it. I am really looking forward to see Lampe show us what he can do... even if he makes mistakes which I’m sure he would.

 

[devilalum]

"My toe hurts more than my ankle right now," Stoudemire said. "I've got to take it day by day. I might not play on this trip, though.

"I got fouled on the play, man, so I didn't want him to get away with it. I wanted to get him back on defense so I was chasing behind him to block the shot and he came down right on my ankle.

"I've got to take my time and let my ankle heal. I can't let anybody force me to come back and play or tell me it's OK when I know it's not. So I'm going to take my time and take it day by day. Go by my inner feeling."

Does this sound really imature to anyone but me?

I think it's going to be a couple of years before Amare is ready to take on a leadership roll with this team.

 

[scotsman13]

devilalum, i dont think that it sound inmature at all. he is just saying that he needs to make sure he is fully health before he can get back on the court. if he doesnt do that he may end up missing more time from reinjuring his ankle because he didnt take the time or let someone push him back to soon.

 

[Chaz]

I was really disappointed in what I saw last night before the injury regarding Amare. The guy often looks lost on offense. The other players are moving and cutting and Amare tries to set some screen and rolls, then he just stands around watching. Players standing still are very easy to cover.

Other times when Amare was open and made himself available for the pass it was like he was invisible and the guards didn't pass. I wonder if guys are freezing him out a little because he doesn't pass out of the double very well and sometimes doesn't pass no matter what.

Amare is young but he needs to make more effort to be in position to receive the ball and do a better job of passing when the defense is focused on him.

Even with all the complaints about Amare, he still needs to touch the ball at least once each time down the floor when he is playing. I hope he doesn't stay out long and I hope the coaches address this before it becomes a problem on the team.

Is Amare being given to much pressure and responsibility to soon?

 

[dyle_ph1]

Originally posted by SirChaz

Other times when Amare was open and made himself available for the pass it was like he was invisible and the guards didn't pass. I wonder if guys are freezing him out a little because he doesn't pass out of the double very well and sometimes doesn't pass no matter what.

I wasn't able to watch the game but on NBA Fastbreak last night, they were talking about how the Rockets guards are not feeding Yao MIng the ball. Greg Anthony brought up a very interesting point.

IN order for the guards to give you the ball, big men should DEMAND for it. Amare can't be content in just battling for a position. He has to communicate with his guards that he is open down there and wants the ball.

 

[Chaz]

Originally posted by dyle_ph1
I wasn't able to watch the game but on NBA Fastbreak last night, they were talking about how the Rockets guards are not feeding Yao MIng the ball. Greg Anthony brought up a very interesting point.

IN order for the guards to give you the ball, big men should DEMAND for it. Amare can't be content in just battling for a position. He has to communicate with his guards that he is open down there and wants the ball.

That is very true but only half the story.

Amare needs to make himself available to receive the ball. Move to an open spot or cut to the basket.
Zarko seems to do a good job of finding places and providing a target for the guards to get the ball to him. Amare needs to learn some of that skill. When he is open they need to be looking for him and get him the ball.

 

[George O'Brien]

Amare is a KID!!! Good grief, last year he did not have clue as to what he was doing and he made ROY. Then he had to all but take the summer off because of his toe surgery.

I have always felt he was at least a year or two away from getting enough experience and training to be a super star. I could pick apart his game, but it's not like he is a six year veteran with four years of college.

What I see is a guy who keeps getting better, yet has a way to go. But even now, he is pretty damn good in spite of it all.

 

[frdbtr]

Originally posted by George O'Brien
Amare is a KID!!! Good grief, last year he did not have clue as to what he was doing and he made ROY. Then he had to all but take the summer off because of his toe surgery.

I have always felt he was at least a year or two away from getting enough experience and training to be a super star. I could pick apart his game, but it's not like he is a six year veteran with four years of college.

What I see is a guy who keeps getting better, yet has a way to go. But even now, he is pretty damn good in spite of it all.

I agree 100%. We all need to have a little patience with this guy. He is going to be a superstar (my prediction) someday but it is going to take time. It took KG, Kobe, TMac and Jermain O'neal at least 3 years to do anything. Amare already seems to be just a little ahead of that curve. We still need to be patient.

 

[sunsfn]

Amare has improved his game a lot since last year.
His outside shot is much better and he anticipates better than last year.
However, he dribbles too much, does not move enough on offense etc.

But at this stage I think you let him do what he wants in the game. He has a good feel for the game and is improving all the time.

Patience is needed with this whole team. JJ needs another year to get cosistent, Amare probably needs two years, Barbosa will need two more years, lampe will need three years, Zarko needs another year, etc.

Next year we will have a young draft pick that will need 3 years, the guard from europe will need less time, but will need some time next year to learn his new team mates.

That is why I think the suns will not be looking for the big free agent this year. (unless something falls in their lap) (fat chance)

I think in two years they will try for a free agent to mesh with the other players at whatever position they need at that time.

 

[Chaz]

I understand and agree Amare is a kid as has a lot of growing and learning to do. I guess the part that concerned me was a tendency to disappear from the game for big stretches.

This is partially due to Amare's inability to make himself available to receive the ball but I wondered if players are not passing him the ball because he might turn it over or not pass back when he needs to. That combined with a seeing frustration on Amare's part that lead to his being a little more selfish. I have to wonder is he being expected to take on to much too early? Now that Steph is gone it was supposed to be more of "Amare's team" even with all his talent is it just way to early to consider it such?

 

[Joe Mama]

I've been very impressed with the improvement of the team since the big trade. I think they will get better and better at finding the open man, moving, and passing the ball as the coaching staff works with them more and they become more familiar with each other (assuming half of them are traded away anytime soon).

Of course there are still some problems and things the team does not do well. They turn the ball over far too much. I expect them to improve on these things though.

Joe Mama

 

[frdbtr]

Originally posted by SirChaz
Now that Steph is gone it was supposed to be more of "Amare's team" even with all his talent is it just way to early to consider it such?

Yeah, I think it is a little too early. He is going to grow and Mature and get better. I am sure that the coaches are constantly working on his game. I would guess that within a year he won't disapear from the offense as much. One other thing. Zarko's hand probably won't be 100% until next year. My brother broke his wrist and it took him 2 years to get his shooting touch completely back. The Suns obviously have more physical therepists so he will get it back much sooner then my brother did, but it is still a bad injury for a shooter to recover from.

 

[Chris_Sanders]

Actually according to Bryan Colangelo this is now Marion's team not Amare's.

I think they are trying to keep him from a leadership role until he really knows the game.

 

[George O'Brien]

Originally posted by Chris_Sanders
Actually according to Bryan Colangelo this is now Marion's team not Amare's.

I think they are trying to keep him from a leadership role until he really knows the game.

Shawn is the oldest of the core players and the only one who has been on the U.S. national team and the All Star team so it is natural that he be the off the floor leader. On the floor, it looks like JJ is taking on the role of being the guy who takes the shot in crunch time.

Besides being young, Amare has a nother problem. He has not played in D'Antoni's offense very long. You would think that he could learn by watching, but the NBA is too fast for players to think about anything other than react - which takes playing to integrate.

 

[Wally]

So, what's the verdict? Amare went on the IL - who came off: Williams or Lampe?..... or both? (if Googs went on too)

I'm really anxious to see what Lampe can do
edit:
opps, McDyess went on so Lampe probably came off.

 

[Mainstreet]

On channel 12, Mark Curtis says Lampe was activated today for tonight's game. I did not hear about what other roster moves were made.

 

[Wally]

Originally posted by Mainstreet
On channel 12, Mark Curtis says Lampe was activated today for tonight's game. I did not hear about what other roster moves were made.

Thanks, I wonder if he'll get to play. I'd be surprised if he gets any time - We'll know in a few hours.

 

[Joe Mama]

Originally posted by Mainstreet
On channel 12, Mark Curtis says Lampe was activated today for tonight's game. I did not hear about what other roster moves were made.

I used to really like Mark Curtis, but more and more I realize that he, like most sports reporters, doesn't know a whole lot. I believe in comment on his pal, Zenner.

Tonight, Mark Curtis' comment on Lampe was that he would provide some MUCH-NEEDED scoring. If he actually watched the games he would realize that the Phoenix Suns have not really had a lot of trouble scoring. They've had more trouble stopping the other team from scoring.

Joe Mama

 

[George O'Brien]

Originally posted by Joe Mama
I used to really like Mark Curtis, but more and more I realize that he, like most sports reporters, doesn't know a whole lot. I believe in comment on his pal, Zenner.

Tonight, Mark Curtis' comment on Lampe was that he would provide some MUCH-NEEDED scoring. If he actually watched the games he would realize that the Phoenix Suns have not really had a lot of trouble scoring. They've had more trouble stopping the other team from scoring.

Joe Mama

Yes, but thats why more scoring is so much needed.

 

[Chaz]

Originally posted by George O'Brien
Yes, but thats why more scoring is so much needed.

We need to get that shooting percentage up over 70%.