scotsman13
Registered User
http://www.azcentral.com/sports/suns/articles/0314suns0314.html
Big hurdle for Amaré is mental
Opinions of outsiders complicate decision
Paul Coro
The Arizona Republic
Mar. 14, 2006 12:00 AM
SEATTLE - Sometimes, it's all in what day you catch Amaré Stoudemire.
Stoudemire hit a low Sunday because of continued swelling in his right knee - not the knee that underwent surgery 5 1/2 months ago. He gave a comeback this season only a 50-50 chance.
But while the Suns had Monday off, Stoudemire had a session of weightlifting and conditioning. Afterward, Suns head athletic trainer Aaron Nelson noticed that Stoudemire's right knee swelling had "decreased significantly" and told him how much better it looked. advertisement
"Yeah, I'm feeling better," Stoudemire told him.
Monday's positive energy wasn't unexpected, given that Sunday's doldrums were caused in part by several three-on-three games Friday. The natural healing process brought a better day Monday, but the mental hurdle to return may be the most difficult part of Stoudemire's rehabilitation, especially with so many outsiders telling Stoudemire to not come back.
"That's a big part of it," Nelson said. "It does make it a lot more difficult when he's got people from everywhere telling him all sorts of things and they don't really know it. It's got to be hard and frustrating when somebody is telling you that you shouldn't play."
After Phoenix gets home for a Wednesday game, Stoudemire will have Thursday's practice and three non-game days next week to play and work up to his first five-on-five scrimmage.
"The thing we're trying to get across to him is that physically and mentally, you're going to have a little bit of discomfort and hopefully, as you get in better shape, it'll go away," Nelson said. "Our No. 1 goal in this whole thing is to make sure Amaré is healthy."
The coach and newly named executive, Mike D'Antoni, has the same tough tasks. He is keeping his eyes on the long-term interests of Stoudemire and the club while saying he does need to prod Stoudemire.
"He's going to have ups and downs," D'Antoni said. "He's going to have days where he feels sorry for himself and a day that he is a beast.
"It's going to take a monumental effort and work to come back. It's not 100 percent sure that he should come back. I'm careful about not pushing him because I don't know how he feels. He wants to be out there and he's afraid to be out there."
D'Antoni said Stoudemire could just play for USA Basketball this summer, and that would be considered the best course "in some quarters." The Suns have 20 games and five weeks left in the season.
"We've just got to go cautiously with him and make sure that's he's 100 percent convinced about what he's doing with his body and mind," D'Antoni said. "We're going to do the best thing for him and this franchise. Whether we sacrifice a month of basketball or the playoffs, so be it."
Free throws
D'Antoni said complacency found its way into the Suns' fabric during an 11-game winning streak. Phoenix has fallen behind at halftime in five straight games, losing two of the past three with the offense trying to work in Tim Thomas and the defense falling off.
"Our defense is not gritty enough," D'Antoni said. "Little by little, our grittiness went away. Now, we've got a wake-up call and we've got to get better."
• Boris Diaw sprained an ankle in the first quarter of Sunday's loss at Portland and had strep throat Monday. Raja Bell was still sore from the stinger he suffered Sunday. Both are expected to play tonight.
• Dijon Thompson had microfracture surgery Monday on his right knee. He is expected to miss up to six months.
Big hurdle for Amaré is mental
Opinions of outsiders complicate decision
Paul Coro
The Arizona Republic
Mar. 14, 2006 12:00 AM
SEATTLE - Sometimes, it's all in what day you catch Amaré Stoudemire.
Stoudemire hit a low Sunday because of continued swelling in his right knee - not the knee that underwent surgery 5 1/2 months ago. He gave a comeback this season only a 50-50 chance.
But while the Suns had Monday off, Stoudemire had a session of weightlifting and conditioning. Afterward, Suns head athletic trainer Aaron Nelson noticed that Stoudemire's right knee swelling had "decreased significantly" and told him how much better it looked. advertisement
"Yeah, I'm feeling better," Stoudemire told him.
Monday's positive energy wasn't unexpected, given that Sunday's doldrums were caused in part by several three-on-three games Friday. The natural healing process brought a better day Monday, but the mental hurdle to return may be the most difficult part of Stoudemire's rehabilitation, especially with so many outsiders telling Stoudemire to not come back.
"That's a big part of it," Nelson said. "It does make it a lot more difficult when he's got people from everywhere telling him all sorts of things and they don't really know it. It's got to be hard and frustrating when somebody is telling you that you shouldn't play."
After Phoenix gets home for a Wednesday game, Stoudemire will have Thursday's practice and three non-game days next week to play and work up to his first five-on-five scrimmage.
"The thing we're trying to get across to him is that physically and mentally, you're going to have a little bit of discomfort and hopefully, as you get in better shape, it'll go away," Nelson said. "Our No. 1 goal in this whole thing is to make sure Amaré is healthy."
The coach and newly named executive, Mike D'Antoni, has the same tough tasks. He is keeping his eyes on the long-term interests of Stoudemire and the club while saying he does need to prod Stoudemire.
"He's going to have ups and downs," D'Antoni said. "He's going to have days where he feels sorry for himself and a day that he is a beast.
"It's going to take a monumental effort and work to come back. It's not 100 percent sure that he should come back. I'm careful about not pushing him because I don't know how he feels. He wants to be out there and he's afraid to be out there."
D'Antoni said Stoudemire could just play for USA Basketball this summer, and that would be considered the best course "in some quarters." The Suns have 20 games and five weeks left in the season.
"We've just got to go cautiously with him and make sure that's he's 100 percent convinced about what he's doing with his body and mind," D'Antoni said. "We're going to do the best thing for him and this franchise. Whether we sacrifice a month of basketball or the playoffs, so be it."
Free throws
D'Antoni said complacency found its way into the Suns' fabric during an 11-game winning streak. Phoenix has fallen behind at halftime in five straight games, losing two of the past three with the offense trying to work in Tim Thomas and the defense falling off.
"Our defense is not gritty enough," D'Antoni said. "Little by little, our grittiness went away. Now, we've got a wake-up call and we've got to get better."
• Boris Diaw sprained an ankle in the first quarter of Sunday's loss at Portland and had strep throat Monday. Raja Bell was still sore from the stinger he suffered Sunday. Both are expected to play tonight.
• Dijon Thompson had microfracture surgery Monday on his right knee. He is expected to miss up to six months.
