Amare Out Four Months

[Russ Smith]

This surgery is well documented in the NFL.... the only player to ever have true success after it was Bruce Smith.

There have been countless careers lost to this surgery

In general the guys who have it in the NFL and NBA are last resorts. There are numerous success stories in skiing which is where Steadman developed the procedure and is really his area of expertise(he's been the US national team surgeon for years).

Most of the NFL guys who had it were literally at a last resort. Seems really weird Amare needed it this early in his career with no prior history though?

 

[Chaplin]

Stoudemire out four months after surgery
ESPN.com news services

PHOENIX -- The Phoenix Suns will be without All-Star forward Amare Stoudemire for about four months after he underwent microfracture surgery to repair damage to his injured left knee on Tuesday.

Amare Stoudemire
Forward-Center
Phoenix Suns

Profile
2005 SEASON STATISTICS
GM PPG RPG BLK FG% FT%
80 26 8.9 1.6 .559 .733

The injury turned out to be far worse than the Suns had hoped when they announced on Monday that team doctor Thomas Carter would perform what was termed "diagnostic" surgery.

"It was better to do the microfracture now instead of chancing that the lesion would grow, which might affect Amare down the road," Rodney Rice, Stoudemire's manager, told the Arizona Republic. "It was best to do the procedure now."

Stoudemire, who turns 23 next month, signed a five-year, $73 million contract extension last week, the maximum allowed under the NBA's collective bargaining agreement with the players union.

In a news release, the Suns said Carter repaired a joint surface defect roughly one centimeter in diameter on the inside of his left knee.

"The surgery went well and other than the defect that we treated today, Amare's knee is remarkably and structurally healthy," Carter said in the statement released by the team. "Given Amare's age and the nominal size of the location of the defect, I am confident the microfracture procedure performed will allow a healthy and normal return to action."

Considered the cornerstone of the franchise, Stoudemire has improved each year and was a main component of a team that won a league-best 62 games last season.

The 6-foot-10, 245-pound forward was fifth in the NBA in scoring at 26 points per game last season, his third in the league. He averaged 30 points in the playoffs, 37 in the Western Conference finals against Tim Duncan and the San Antonio Spurs.

Stoudemire's loss will leave the Suns with a vastly different team through most of the regular season. The only starters from last season's team will be the NBA's most valuable player, Steve Nash, and all-star Shawn Marion.

Stoudemire had been bothered by soreness in the knee for several months. He had worked out last week in training camp, but sat out the team's scrimmage and final practice to have the knee examined by three doctors.

The arthroscopic operation found the cartilage damage in Stoudemire's left knee to be more severe than anticipated, the Arizona Republic reported.

Suns team physician Tom Carter treated a joint surface defect, roughly 1 centimeter in diameter on the medial (inside) side of the left knee.

"The surgery went well and other than the defect that we treated today, Amaré's knee is remarkably and structurally healthy," Carter said. "Given Amare's age [22], and the nominal size and location of the defect, I am confident the microfracture procedure performed will allow a healthy and normal return to action."

 

[dreamcastrocks]

I agree with Chandler.

I think that we are a championship contender with Amare 100%. We are a borderline playoff team without him.

 

[Mike Olbinski]

BTW, I apologize if I am underestimated his loss to us, maybe I'm still in shock and denial...

I was so pumped to watch the season, go to games...and now he's not even around for FOUR MONTHS...this hurts.

Mike

 

[Arizona's Finest]

Come on now, Amare wasn't even our best defender in the frontcourt. Kurt Thomas will do just fine on either one of those guys and Brian Grant will be competent as well.

Chap, cmon man...there is optimism and then there is foolishness. I have survived Joe Johnson, I survived McDyess, and I survived Penny, but i agree with eric that this is the worst news in franchise history. Our franchise is literally in the hands of a surgeon and the previous cases show a VERY BAD worst case scenario....

Look at it this way. When Amare comes back (and if he loses any explosiveness it takes away from what makes him so dominant) and even if he plays very well, every time he misses a dunk or shot, or a rebound, or gets dunked on, I'm going to think "That would have never happened pre surgery" This guy relies on his jumping ability so much that I'm thinking of Penny when he was in Phx. Ugh.... Couldn't get to the rim anymore and it completly changed him.

I dont mean to be doom and gloom (although this might be the lowest i have felt since following sports see 97 Rose Bowl (when i was growing up in tempe) and 2005 NCAA tournament).... but this is so much worse then anything i could have even thought of....I'm starting to think im cursed with all the bad that has gone down since i have moved from Az (JJ, the entire 2005 Cardinals season, UA in the tournament, Apathetic Dbacks and the dissapointing Conor Jackson, and now Amare) Can God shine a little light on a poor guy here????

Why doesn't this happen to guys like Duncan, or Jordan, or KG, or Lebron, or Dwade, or Kobe??? No, the only player i have been able to hitch my wagon to so to speak is the one superstar who has to go through microfracture. This city has to have set some sort of record for this procedure. Maybe its in the water..

 

[Arizona's Finest]

Let's not overreact here. Microfracture surgery seems like a huge risk with low likelyhood of success, but the data we're comparing with Amare's situation is hugely different. With Penny, the surgery was necessary because he didn't have any cartiledge in his left knee. Sure, the difference between his explosiveness in the 2000 playoffs and when he came back from rehab in 2002 was huge, but the microfracture was his fifth major knee surgery. Dr.'s were telling him his career was over, and that a major microfracture was the only option, and plus he still has tendonitis in his knee that no surgery can fix. With Allan Houston, he had microfracture surgery on both knees, and he's had other surgeries as well. It's hard to tell what the situation is with Chris Webber, because to go along with his microfracture, he has chronically bad ankles. A bad knee and two bad ankles is going to limit a player's mobility, and he was never the most agile player to begin with. And finally, let's not forget that all 3 of these players had the microfracture procedure done in their 30's.

Amare Stoudemire is 22 years old with no history for knee problems. Obviously, if the result of the microfracture was always the player coming back a shell of his former self, the doctors wouldn't perform the surgery. And there's different sizes of the procedure that need to be taken into account here. They cut a huge hole in Penny's left knee and let it bleed; he was off his feet for four months! This is not nearly as serious. Although I don't honestly see Amare coming back as soon as expected, he should be the same player when he does return.

That helps

so does this....

 

[Chaplin]

Chap, cmon man...there is optimism and then there is foolishness. I have survived Joe Johnson, I survived McDyess, and I survived Penny, but i agree with eric that this is the worst news in franchise history. Our franchise is literally in the hands of a surgeon and the previous cases show a VERY BAD worst case scenario....

Look at it this way. When Amare comes back (and if he loses any explosiveness it takes away from what makes him so dominant) and even if he plays very well, every time he misses a dunk or shot, or a rebound, or gets dunked on, I'm going to think "That would have never happened pre surgery" This guy relies on his jumping ability so much that I'm thinking of Penny when he was in Phx. Ugh.... Couldn't get to the rim anymore and it completly changed him.

I dont mean to be doom and gloom (although this might be the lowest i have felt since following sports see 97 Rose Bowl (when i was growing up in tempe) and 2005 NCAA tournament).... but this is so much worse then anything i could have even thought of....I'm starting to think im cursed with all the bad that has gone down since i have moved from Az (JJ, the entire 2005 Cardinals season, UA in the tournament, Apathetic Dbacks and the dissapointing Conor Jackson, and now Amare) Can God shine a little light on a poor guy here????

Why doesn't this happen to guys like Duncan, or Jordan, or KG, or Lebron, or Dwade, or Kobe??? No, the only player i have been able to hitch my wagon to so to speak is the one superstar who has to go through microfracture. This city has to have set some sort of record for this procedure. Maybe its in the water..

That wasn't your question. You overreacted and foolishly proclaimed that Chris Mihm and Kwame Brown will dominate us. I disagreed and brought up examples of why they won't.

Not exactly sure what else you inferred from my post.

 

[scotsman13]

The Suns should still be a playoff team, but this certainly ruins any chance of winning the division. Gonna need someone to step up in a big way.

what team in the division do you think can give us a run for the title? the queens or the faker? no, not even close. the only way they would stand a chance is if nash went down.

 

[elindholm]

Unless Stoudemire is going to be fully ready for the playoffs, I don't care whether the Suns qualify or not. I've seen enough 50-and-fade seasons to last a lifetime. If they aren't going to be contenders, fold up the tent already and start planning for the future.

 

[thegrahamcrackr]

what team in the division do you think can give us a run for the title? the queens or the faker? no, not even close. the only way they would stand a chance is if nash went down.

Sacramento and even Golden State could pass us. However, it won't be by a large margin. If Amare really comes back in February, we could still pull out the division.


Without Amare, we will win 40-45 games. We still have the MVP and an allstar in Marion. We have a very solid group of role players.

That is more than the formula for the playoffs. A stud big man will win you a ring, but the Suns hit the playoffs for 13 or so straight years - and we only had a stud big man for a couple of those.



AZFinest, do you really think that the Suns sans Amare is worse than the Kidd led teams of the late 90s?

 

[haverford]

Unless Stoudemire is going to be fully ready for the playoffs, I don't care whether the Suns qualify or not. I've seen enough 50-and-fade seasons to last a lifetime. If they aren't going to be contenders, fold up the tent already and start planning for the future.

What does this mean? I ask in all earnestness. What would you have the Suns do now by way of folding the tent? They were going to play a deep bench anyway. Trades for picks???? Is that possible (I'm not a capologist, apologies....)?

My sense is that we will see some interesting young players pressed into uber-D'Antoni basketball. Take it for what it is, but it will be intriguing.

 

[Chaplin]

Unless Stoudemire is going to be fully ready for the playoffs, I don't care whether the Suns qualify or not. I've seen enough 50-and-fade seasons to last a lifetime. If they aren't going to be contenders, fold up the tent already and start planning for the future.

Giving up on the season before it even begins. Nice. You're sounding like a Hawk/Hornet/Clipper fan.

 

[thegrahamcrackr]

Unless Stoudemire is going to be fully ready for the playoffs, I don't care whether the Suns qualify or not. I've seen enough 50-and-fade seasons to last a lifetime. If they aren't going to be contenders, fold up the tent already and start planning for the future.

I am kind of with that sentiment right now. Of course, I think he will be at least able to make a lot of noise by playoffs. That is 7-8 months away. Even if we shut him down for 6 months, and give him a month to get his legs back he should be ready to go for the playoffs.

 

[SactownSunsFan]

Somebody kill me and bring me back to life 4 months from now...PLEASE!

 

[Treesquid PhD]

I would be surprised if he came back in 4 months, the Suns are always going to tell us the best case scenario, just like yesterday it was 3-4 weeks. Back reading into all the media was reporting of the gloomy faces of the Suns team and management,they knew there was a chance this was a huge deal. I do not believe 4 months not from this franchise and they way they control information, I think this is the absolute miracle scenario. (Not saying they are in the wrong just saying that is the history I see and I don't blindly believe anything they say anymore)

I am not counting on seeing Amare this season and that blows he is by far the Sun I look forward to watching play the most.

 

[greensborohill]

Wow

First Q-Rich
Then JJ
Now Amare

You guys aren't gonna be very good.

Still a playoff team, but not a contender.

 

[Treesquid PhD]

First Q-Rich
Then JJ
Now Amare

You guys aren't gonna be very good.

Still a playoff team, but not a contender.

It's going to be quite a different team out there. I am going to need a program.

 

[elindholm]

You guys aren't gonna be very good.

Still a playoff team, but not a contender.

Thanks for the insight. If you're going to troll, at least show some intelligence.

 

[thegrahamcrackr]

First Q-Rich
Then JJ
Now Amare

You guys aren't gonna be very good.

Still a playoff team, but not a contender.

Well losing Amare hurts us for being a contender. Losing JJ and QRich doesn't have anything to do with this since they were made up for elsewhere.

 

[ASUCHRIS]

Wow, I definitely can't think of a bigger loss, college or pro to any single team. Hopefully he comes back 100%. My heart hopes, my brain...ugh...

 

[elindholm]

What does this mean? I ask in all earnestness. What would you have the Suns do now by way of folding the tent?

No, I just meant the hell with trying to find some stopgap big man off the scrap heap to help the Suns muddle through the next few months. If it's a young guy with promise, sure, give him a chance. But Antonio Davis, please.

Also, now is definitely the time to figure out who the backup PG is. Forget playing Nash 36+ minutes per game -- the Suns need him next season, not next month. I'd be in favor of keeping Nash around 30 minutes per game (which was never going to happen while the Suns were chasing a title) and letting the young guys sink or swim. If they cost the team some games, so what?

Finally, it might make sense to let Brian Grant go elsewhere. He came to the Suns to play for a contender. Now that they aren't, it would be only fair to finish out his career with a team that is still in a position to let him chase his dream. It's not like he has much time left, so why force him to endure this season with the Suns?

 

[ASUCHRIS]

Finally, it might make sense to let Brian Grant go elsewhere. He came to the Suns to play for a contender. Now that they aren't, it would be only fair to finish out his career with a team that is still in a position to let him chase his dream. It's not like he has much time left, so why force him to endure this season with the Suns?

Eric, I can be as pessimistic as almost anyone, but to be honest, I don't think the situation is as desperate as you paint it to be. I still think that Amare can come back this year and be effective by playoff time. While microfracture has been associated with some disasters, this injury doesn't seem to be nearly as severe. In addition, I believe we have a roster that is competent enough to at least get the 7-8 seed anyway. With a healthy Amare by playoff time, I would say we would have as good a chance of anyone. Having said this, it is just impossible to believe that this was waited on until now to get checked out. Perhaps there is more to this story...

 

[Treesquid PhD]

What does this mean? I ask in all earnestness. What would you have the Suns do now by way of folding the tent?

No, I just meant the hell with trying to find some stopgap big man off the scrap heap to help the Suns muddle through the next few months. If it's a young guy with promise, sure, give him a chance. But Antonio Davis, please.

Also, now is definitely the time to figure out who the backup PG is. Forget playing Nash 36+ minutes per game -- the Suns need him next season, not next month. I'd be in favor of keeping Nash around 30 minutes per game (which was never going to happen while the Suns were chasing a title) and letting the young guys sink or swim. If they cost the team some games, so what?

Finally, it might make sense to let Brian Grant go elsewhere. He came to the Suns to play for a contender. Now that they aren't, it would be only fair to finish out his career with a team that is still in a position to let him chase his dream. It's not like he has much time left, so why force him to endure this season with the Suns?

I agree let's not make any cap mistakes by trying to salvage the season and pretend we are still a contender. At this point Amare is not going to be Amare this year even if/when he comes back.

 

[thegrahamcrackr]

I agree with you Eric, except on the Brian Grant front.

We won't know our title chances until we see Amare back on the court. It is very very possible that the Suns wind up with the 5th-6th seed, and have a healthy Amare on the court for the playoffs. I wouldn't count them out of the title race then.


I don't care about the ADs of the world either. What is the point? However, going for Wilcox is the smartest thing they could do right now. It isn't like Amare is our entire team, even though he is the best. If we have even a competent post player, which Wilcox is at this point, then our other pieces could put us at 50 wins. If he plays like he did when Brand was out, Amare could take even more time to rehab before the playoffs.

 

[thegrahamcrackr]

I agree let's not make any cap mistakes by trying to salvage the season and pretend we are still a contender. At this point Amare is not going to be Amare this year even if/when he comes back.

Well assuming we just use the TE, any move we make won't have any serious financial implications this season. The salary slot just isn't big enough.