Amare's numbers for February

[Covert Rain]

2 of the instances where Yao outplayed Amare were in Amare's rookie season. Wasn't Amare coming off the bench then? Did'nt Yao start right away? Also, correct me if I am wrong here but Amare was matched up against forwards more then centers his rookie season.

At any rate, based on those numbers YAO makes Amare work harder. He also makes him less effecient. However, aside from 3 instances that stand out, Yao has not been able to stop Amare. However, on the flip side Yao was slowed to less then 15 points at least 4 times.

I think Amare holds his own against big guys. The guys that worry me are the guys that have the athleticism to drive around Amare. When I watch Amare against those "quicker" bigs, he seems to get in more foul trouble.

The Damp/Diop matchup doesn't worry me from the standpoint that neither one of those guys can stop Amare. What used to worry me is that fact that those guys have 12 fouls between them to beat up on Amare. However, the way Amare has been shooting free throws this year, I am not as worried about that anymore.

During the telecast they were saying the Mavs during the playoffs had a serious edge in free throw line attempts. That is not going to happen this year with Amare back in the lineup. That to me is going to be the difference come playoff time.

 

[joshstmarie]

Amare used to struggle whenever the refs let big slow defenders foul him with impunity. I remember one game when Ostertag gave him trouble.

My recollection was that the times Amare had trouble with Dampier had more to do with Amare getting into foul trouble than Dampier's defense. In any case, Amare's improved passing (not to mention shooting) could make a huge difference.

A key to attacking the Mavs is that Dirk cannot defend. This means that the PF playing with Amare could have a big game. During last season's playoffs, without Amare and KT, the scoring by the Suns inside guys was:

Game 1 won 121-118
Diaw - 34 points
Marion - 24
TT - 17

Game 2 lost 98-105
Diaw - 25
TT - 20
Marion - 19

Game 3 lost 88-95
Diaw - 20
TT -14
Marion - 10

Game 4 won 106-86 (big games by Nash and Barbosa)
Diaw - 20
Marion - 15
TT - 5

Game 5 lost 101-117
TT - 26
Marion - 20
Diaw - 16

Game 6 lost 93-106
Diaw - 30
Marion - 13
TT - 8

TT was inconsistent, but this had little do with Dirk's defense. The Mav's centers had all kinds of problems with Diaw and Boris was not nearly the offensive threat that Amare is.

Diaw caused so much trouble that the Avery began using small ball lineups. In game 1, Dampier played on 17 minutes and Diop none.
In game 2, Van Horn started and Diop played 32 minutes with no Dampier.
In game 3 Van Horn started and Diop played 25 minutes with no Dampier. In game 4, Van Horn started, Diop played 20 minutes with Dampier playing 7. In game 5, Diop played 30 minutes, Van Horn 15 and none by Dampier. In game 6, Diop started an played 21, Van Horn 4, and none by Dampier.

When I read these numbers, I wondered if Dampier was injured. But he played 27 minutes in the first game on their Miami series.

The odd thing about that series was the importance of people like Van Horn, Adrian Griffin, and Marquis Daniels to the Mavs success. None are with the Mavs this season.

whos this diaw guy? he scored 20 points 5 out of 6 games and 30+ pts 2 times?

 

[Covert Rain]

whos this diaw guy? he scored 20 points 5 out of 6 games and 30+ pts 2 times?

No kidding. Diaw I think is getting a pass this season. However, if Diaw doesn't pull out of his funk this season or into the playoffs, people are going to start comparing him to Tim Thomas.

 

[azirish]

Skorp is certainly right that the Suns need a healthy Diaw in the playoffs (mentally as well as physically).