Amare Out Four Months

[Arizona's Finest]

elindholm gets it. All of it.

Microfracture is a last-ditch effort to save a ruined knee and the effort fails most of the time.

It is quite likely that Amare's career is over.

I'm as pessimistic as the next guy skorp but whats the difference between Boldin's surgery (which he has obviously recovered from) and this one? It's likely Amare' s lift will be less, but saying his career is over is a pretty baseless comment. Especially with so many volatile people on this side of the board right now.....

 

[Arizona's Finest]

"Amare will be fine," D'Antoni said. "I fully expect him to be great when he comes back and wow the fans for 10 more years."

Read between the lines.

Somehow this comment does not make me feel better.....

 

[Chaz]

I know people hear microfracture and freak out but I am not ready to panic yet.


some info here.

http://www.myorthodoc.com/Knee cartilage defects.htm

Microfracture chondroplasty is a arthroscopic procedure in which the surgeon creates multiple tiny puncture holes in the denuded areas (exposed bone) using a sharp surgical pick. The punctures in the bone allow blood from the bone-marrow to escape and pool within the cartilage defect. Eventually the pooled blood will solidify into a type of cartilage which can cover the denuded defect. In approximately 80% of cases there is an acceptable degree of filling of the defect and symptom relief. The major downside to microfracture chondroplasty is the necessity for crutches and strict use of a motion machine (CPM) for 4-6 weeks. There is also a question of long-term durability beyond 5 years after the surgery. Nonetheless the arthroscopic debridement and the microfracture chondroplasty serve as the first-line surgical procedures before embarking onto much more complex options.

 

[DevonCardsFan]

Can you say overreacting???

Mike

How am I over reacting, it has been awhile since the Suns had a legit shot to win it all and now we are all looking at another 1st 2nd round exit, this sucks. Suns are my only salvation from being a Cards fan

 

[ASUCHRIS]

elindholm gets it. All of it.

Microfracture is a last-ditch effort to save a ruined knee and the effort fails most of the time.

It is quite likely that Amare's career is over.

I would agree, in the situations that we are most familiar with (Eric Swann, among many others) that microfracture is a death sentence. However, I choose to believe that age, previous damage to the knee and other factors mentioned by the doctors do make a difference. As the surgeon put it, ""Given Amare's age, 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."


Amare will be fine for the playoffs.

 

[ASUCHRIS]

If not, then the wrist slitting will commence....

 

[elindholm]

Maybe we can think of it sort of like cancer. In the old days, cancer had be pretty well developed before it was found, and then it was very difficult to get rid of all of it through the treatments available. Nowadays, early detection has gotten so sophisticated that it's often possible for patients to experience a full recovery, because the problem isn't nearly as large by the time it is addressed. I know some cancer survivors for whom the disease really is just a memory, because they caught it early and got it completely dealt with.

So let's hope it's like that.

 

[arthurracoon]

elindholm gets it. All of it.

Microfracture is a last-ditch effort to save a ruined knee and the effort fails most of the time.

It is quite likely that Amare's career is over.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

Also keep in mind that there is a 95% chance that Stoudemire comes back sooner than 4 months.

based on what?

 

[JCSunsfan]

Maybe we can think of it sort of like cancer. In the old days, cancer had be pretty well developed before it was found, and then it was very difficult to get rid of all of it through the treatments available. Nowadays, early detection has gotten so sophisticated that it's often possible for patients to experience a full recovery, because the problem isn't nearly as large by the time it is addressed. I know some cancer survivors for whom the disease really is just a memory, because they caught it early and got it completely dealt with.

So let's hope it's like that.

There you go--a little hope now. After, the article did say he treated a 1 sq cm area. It's not like the catastrophic injuries and surgeries that Eric Swan had, or Penny's repeated surgeries and bone on bone play.

This procedure was quite small, and primarily preventative. But, because of the time it takes for the clot to develop into cartilege, the recovery time is long and movement (especially weight bearing movement) is limited.

So, if the glass is half full, here are the positives.

1 Extended playing time for Barbosa, Diaw, Jones, and Bell. Maybe a little more for Tischer and Burke. We'll get to see if they can play or not. Also, a little floor experience could help in the playoffs.

2 Marion gets to be "the man" for a while. My guess is that he'll be anxious to get Amare back.

3. We might be forced to pick up another big man. To me, as long as he's not just a bench warmer, this could help.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

This is better than a 40 win team without Amare. Kurt Thomas and Shawn Marion are a better starting front line than a lot of other teams. Plus, we've still got Steve Nash. This guy is going to get us scoring points.

If we can pick up another solid big man with the exception and play some tough defense, this will be a playoff team. Write it down.*





* If Steve Nash and Shawn Marion break their spines going for a loose ball, feel free to ignore what I just said.

for the reasons i stated earlier, we will be lucky to net 40 wins without amare. no big to draw ANY double team means that defenders can stay home on our shooters. steve nash is the only guy who can consistently get his own shot. we'll run, but we'll get hammered on the boards 'cuz we've gotta go small again. as i said before, maybe this is our year like the spurs year when they lost david robinson and ended up with duncan.

 

[Chaplin]

based on what?

Just based on who he is, if there is a chance his knee is good after 3 1/2 months, then he'll come back. It may be common sense to keep him out the whole year, but I just don't see Amare going along with that.

 

[Yuma]

I'm not slitting my wrists yet. We can be a six, seven, or eight seed just with the guys we have now. It all depends on if Amare has any lingering future affects on whether we are doomed or not. So far, I am thinking if this goes as the doctors say, we will make the playoffs and have Amare there to give us a shot.

 

[az1965]

&*&*&^&%$$$#

Why? Why? Why?


ARRRRRGGGHHHH!
Just saw the news and was really disappointed.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

Please...how many teams really have great BIG MEN? Our guys ran everyone out of their arena's last year, and yeah, Amare is awesome, and we need him...but we can still run and shoot...

We will win 45-50 without him...easy.

Mike

we don't have the guys that "ran everyone out of their arenas last year" anymore.

 

[panfolk]

I'd like to hear from our strategists on the board how this will affect the game. Obviously Amare was unique on the time as a big that attacked the basket and we will now be missing that. It's been mentioned that this will cause perimeter defenders to stay on their man thus giving us less open shots. I do believe that Barbosa and Bell will create their own shots at the 2. How is Jones at the 3 with that? What kinda abuse are we looking at with a small ball team without an athletic freak at C? If Diaw was able to play Okur and Kirilenko straight up at the 4 is there some hope there in terms of spelling Marion? Grant isn't going to see extended time no matter what our problems are as he's not up for it. Is Wilcox really that expendable on the Clips and would they be willing to give him to us? Is his game similar enough to Amare's to give us someone to draw defenders? [I think I can be forgiven for not watching Clippers games.]
Will Burke and Tischer see minutes or get traded? Are they on guaranteed contracts?
I for one agree that we should tank the season by way of playing a full rotation and developing our talent. MAke LB's last contract season count. See if House can be a consistent talent. See if Burke and Tischer have a place in the NBA. Figure Diaw's value and place. YOu get the drift.

I'm not giving up on AMare coming back to being a dominant player just yet.

If we preserve NAsh, Marion, and Grant; exhaustively examine our roster's talent; and don't force Amare back too soon we could be looking at jettisoning the guys that don't work out next season in favor of well placed draft picks and a renewed chance at a championship.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

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.

that's delusional. we're not as good as the kings now, and we're arguably MUCH MUCH closer to the level of the warriors, lakers, and clips now.

 

[panfolk]

we don't have the guys that "ran everyone out of their arenas last year" anymore.

Bell and Jones will keep up that tradition admirably.

 

[King A]

The coaching staff is confident about the remaining group of players.
What they need is the supportment of the fans not the opposite.

They go out there and try to win games. That is what they get paid for.
We can easily for example take it with the Lakers.
They got only one All-Star and no MVP on their team.
And they (Laker fans) are confident about making the playoffs.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

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 kinda agree with all this. if we stink this year at least let's not wear out little stevie, find out some stuff about our youngin's, and maybe garner a second round pick outta grant if possible.

but d'antoni will prolly end up pressing nash into major mins 'cuz he's still gonna try to win as many games as possible. not that i begrudge him that, it's his job. still, i see this year as a growth year now.

 

[King A]

that's delusional. we're not as good as the kings now, and we're arguably MUCH MUCH closer to the level of the warriors, lakers, and clips now.

Bonzi is overrated (great name btw)
Bibby is good, no doubt, more of a scorer than Nash, but not a better playmaker
Peja had a bad year last year and is not much of a defender
Shareef is good, but it is to be seen whether he is a 20-10 threat again
Miller is a nice center but it seems to me, that he is on the decline

 

[coyotesareback]

Look this sucks but most ARE over reacting his knee was NOT trashed as in many cases with Microfracture surgery. This team will be very competitive with out him let him heal for a few months and see where he stands. I mean if he comes back after the all star break he will be that much fresher for the playoffs. This team does not suck without him this is one of the deepest teams that we have had is along time. Look for the guys to step up and play well without him and count on the best rehab people money can buy to get Amare ready to go. This is not the end of the season. Imagine if he would have not done it and totally blew his knee out during the first 20 games, that would have been much worse. They took care of a small piece of cartilige not like his knee was trashed so again everyone needs to keep perspective. The suns will be a very good team and when amare returns, which he will he is a young freakish athlete he will heal quickly, we still have a very good shot of going very deep in the playoffs.

 

[panfolk]

that's delusional. we're not as good as the kings now, and we're arguably MUCH MUCH closer to the level of the warriors, lakers, and clips now.

Not to be an ass but we've all mentioned our surprise at the quality team Mullins has assembled... they may beat us.

 

[playstation]

so how do these suns resemble last year's suns? imagine the team we had 1 year ago and compare it to now. i am starting to understand how pacers fans must have felt. goals have changed. the suns now will try to remain competitive rather than try to win a title (or reach conference finals).

also, remember that amare has a history of taking his time coming back from injuries. he's certainly earned that right, but at this point i wouldn't count on him playing during this season.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

Bell and Jones will keep up that tradition admirably.

HOPEFULLY. they haven't done it in the past. we're banking on unknowns in our system. and let's not forget that when jj and q were doing it they were doing it w/ amare running too. bell and jones don't have that luxury.