Imo amare has been abused, used as a jump shooter all too often. Let him operate from the elbow more and he will get you more offensive rebounds as well. This of course means getting shaq(and shaqs defender) out of his way.
It's all about finding balance. Going back to just Amare as our focal point would be a mistake. When this team has looked really good there was a balance between Amare and Shaq. The games we look horrible it seems we focused on one of them too much.
Prior to getting hurt all Amare could do was dunk the ball. After the injury Amare developed a good midrange shot. Since, Amare never developed a back to the basket game, he either rolls to the hoop or jump shoots. If the pick and roll was shut down and Amare's jump shot was not going..he has nothing else. You can blame that Amare or coaching or whatever.
Even when Amare was playing our primary option and Center his weakness offensively was being able to play back to the basket. That's not going to change even with Shaq's guy out of the way and I think teams have figured that out. You stop the pick and roll and make Amare a jump shooter and take your chances.
Now factor in Amare has developed horrible hands all of the sudden. That has nothing to do with Shaq or his man. Amare is one of the league worst forwards at handling the ball based on his turnover total and turnover rate. Giving Amare more touches would make it worse.
It wasn't too long ago this board was on fire with people calling on D'Antoni to do something when the pick and roll wasn't working. I have seen more teams last year and this year being able to shut down the pick and roll with Amare.
We need balance. Maybe go to the pick and roll as the first option until a team proves it can shut it down? If it gets shut down then you milk Shaq for all he is worth. It's fools gold though if you think Amare can become any better rebounding or defensively. Amare is about as good as your going to see him get.
