I wonder how Amare Feels

[ASUCHRIS]

I woke up this morning wondering if Amare is embarassed by the fact that in crunch time that Marion was guarding the far larger Gasol. I was somewhat encouraged lately with Amare's effort on the defensive end, but his performance last night was pathetic. He was schooled the entire night, while Marion and Hunter did far better. His "play no defense, then try and cherrypick routine" is getting pretty old. The Suns had their best success when Hunter was guarding Gasol, with collapsing help, because of the Grizzlies poor shooting.

Amare should be far more effective on the defensive end, and at least put up some challenge to the opponents shots. I know he is afraid of getting fouls, but if that is the major issue, have someone else guard the other team's best player, because Amare is just a sieve at this point. I didn't believe it at the time, but the scout who said that Amare is one of the ten worst defenders in the league maybe wasn't as far off as I originally believed. Before we can put him in the same breath as Duncan and Garnett, he has major improvement to do on the defensive end.

 

[Chaplin]

Come on now, he had 2 fouls within the first 6 minutes of the game. True, he probably could have been more aggressive on defense, but he was clearly concerned about foul trouble, considering he was having such a good offensive game.

Is Amare upset? Why? There's no reason to be, especially since Shawn had 2 blocks on Pau in crunch time anyway.

 

[ASUCHRIS]

Come on now, he had 2 fouls within the first 6 minutes of the game. True, he probably could have been more aggressive on defense, but he was clearly concerned about foul trouble, considering he was having such a good offensive game.

Is Amare upset? Why? There's no reason to be, especially since Shawn had 2 blocks on Pau in crunch time anyway.

My point is, that Amare, with his size and athletic ability should be as good, if not better a defender than Shawn. I realize that Shawn is an incredible athlete for his size, and that he is a better matchup for guys like Dirk and Pau, but I believe Amare has the ability to guard these players; what I question is his desire on the defensive end. I see Amare get rebounds over three guys on the offensive boards, and physically dominate people on that end. On the defensive end, he constantly lets mediocre players blow by him, (like Brian Cardinal in the first game) and allows Pau Gasol to get wherever he wants and score at will on Amare, without even an arm raised.

To be a superstar, you have to do it on both ends, and I question Amare's desire to do it on the defensive end. The lack of an interior presence when Hunter was out of the game almost cost us the game, and could become a bigger problem as the series goes on.

 

[elindholm]

Stoudemire doesn't yet have the maturity of the league's other young superstars-in-the-making, James and Wade, but give him time. He has made great progress during his first three years of real basketball and I expect the trend will continue.

Whether he steps it up in time to have a defensive impact on this year's playoff run remains to be seen. I wouldn't bet on it, but you never know. He has surprised us before.

 

[ASUCHRIS]

Stoudemire doesn't yet have the maturity of the league's other young superstars-in-the-making, James and Wade, but give him time. He has made great progress during his first three years of real basketball and I expect the trend will continue.

Whether he steps it up in time to have a defensive impact on this year's playoff run remains to be seen. I wouldn't bet on it, but you never know. He has surprised us before.

I agree, Amare has an uncanny ability to pick things up. Hopefully he decides that it is important enough to stop the other team from scoring. An interesting article regarding Wade and James, some maturity and defensive issues mentioned...

http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/3455812

 

[Chaz]

Amare did not have much instruction or experience guarding good players before coming to the NBA.

Learning what you can and cannot get away with will take some time.

Of course it is up to him to make a commitment to that end of the floor.

 

[Tank]

All I know is that I was screaming for him to let players drive past him so that he wouldn't pick up more fouls. The game played out the way it needed to. Amare did not have to guard their best player most of the game so that he would be on the floor when and where we needed him, the 4th quarter on the offensive end.

 

[jibikao]

I think Amare just needs to learn how to play with foul trouble.

If Amare didn't get 2 fouls in 6 mins, I think he can be just as aggressive as Gasol. Well, Amare sure punished Gasol on the other end, didn't he?


It's true that Amare's defense can fade away sometimes but he also has made some big plays. I think Amare CAN play defense if he is not in foul trouble. I remembered in the last game against the Rocket, I thought Amare had the best defense of all. He went after loose ball all the time and he tried to guard T-MAC but too bad the refs just gave Amare bad calls every time he plays defense aggressively.

I honestly think the refs may have different sets of rules for Amare when it comes to "fouls". The refs tend to give Amare those "little" fouls but the refs also give Amare a lot favors in the paint when he drives inside and jumps over people.


If putting Marion/Hunter on Gasol works, why don't we keep doing that? You don't need to put Amare on Gasol to win games just like I don't like the idea of putting Nash on Parker.

 

[JPlay]

A couple of things.

Amare is always worried about foul trouble so he never plays physical or goes for the block 100%.

Amare gets ticky tack fouls called on him when he tries to play tough D.

He doesn't yet understand that him shutting down players will make him a truly complete player and superstar in this league.

 

[elindholm]

He doesn't yet understand that him shutting down players will make him a truly complete player and superstar in this league.

What evidence do you have that he doesn't understand it? Maybe he just doesn't know how to do it yet. There's a big difference.

 

[haverford]

I'm going to give Amare credit for a high basketball IQ move done toward the end of the game: when he flagrantly fouled Cardinal, it seemed foolish and unnecessary--immature even. But from then on Cardinal was not the same player he had been--passing on shots, playing weak defense, etc. Amare seems to know what needs to be done, and when.

Now, of course I wish he would choose consistency over theatrics, but Amare is no dummy and has nothing to be ashamed of. He's learning, even as he gives out some excellent and unorthodox lessons occasionally.

BTW, the Grizz are the new Kings for me--bunch of arrogant, disrespectful pricks. No accident that they have two Dukies and, as with the Kings, J Will.

 

[jandaman]

He needs to work on it, thats for sure.


As most stated he is very cautious on fouling out or sitting out and affecting his team in the offensive end.

But I think he's only a frew adjustments from being a reliable defender. He still likes play defense by blocking the shot, instead of trying to beat opponents into their offensive spots and force them to shoot akward.

But defense should improve as he gets wiser.. He's so young really... if he could improve to the most dominant inside scorer since Shaq from one season to the next. Then being a decent defender should be a tad easier.

 

[F-Dog]

I'm going to give Amare credit for a high basketball IQ move done toward the end of the game: when he flagrantly fouled Cardinal, it seemed foolish and unnecessary--immature even. But from then on Cardinal was not the same player he had been--passing on shots, playing weak defense, etc.

I think Cardinal played the same way before and after the foul. He was passing up shots all game, and he didn't stop flopping. (It seemed like Cardinal's only concern was drawing fouls, and he focused so much on doing so that it took him out of his own game.)

Anyway, Amare is a humble young fellow who's only concern is helping the team out wherever he can. Seriously, though, he seems to have two modes--foul too much or let everybody go to the basket. I'm sure he'll improve; the only question is when...

 

[Treesquid PhD]

ASU chris steven hunter is not that good, you can't even put him in the top 150 NBA players

 

[Treesquid PhD]

Furthermore, how many of us watch every move of Wade and James like we do stat..Seriously I call nit picking.

btw Hunter is a product of low expectations

 

[Treesquid PhD]

Anyone see that steal and dunk by Amare? not bad for an "average player" eh Chris?

 

[BC867]

Amare is 22 years old and, between this season and last, he has improved both his outside and free-throw shooting tremendously. And he's become the team's most popular spokesman.

We've come to expect instant perfection from him.

Does anyone have any doubt that, as he matures, his defense, rebounding, and staying out of foul trouble won't step up as well? I don't.

 

[Treesquid PhD]

very true so he's not 100% perfect, if Lebron was so damn good maybe the cavs would have made the playoffs.

Maybe he puts it all together and s the most dominate player in the league by 24 I am willing to wait.
I am just so happy ASUChris is not the GM of the Suns.

 

[ASUCHRIS]

ASU chris steven hunter is not that good, you can't even put him in the top 150 NBA players

Nice personal attack newb, it's hard to choose what stupid argument of yours to attack first. Perhaps you aren't bright enough to understand the original post, but here goes. Amare has many nights where his defense is inconsistent, and I believe that a lack of effort and focus is a part of the issue. I don't think any objective Suns fan would disagree with that.

Furthermore, your comparison of Amare and Stephen Hunter is competely irrelevant. At no point did I ever intimate that Hunter was a better player, and at no point was that ever discussed, you just pulled that out of your ass. Your love affair with Amare blinds you to the fact that his defense is often lacking. Let's face it, Hunter is a far better defender than Amare and his interior presence is something this team is often lacking. Even someone of your incredibly knowledgeable background should be able to see this. If you want to get into a thoughtful discussion about specific issues relating to the Suns, by all means, join in, but if your 42 posts of crap are what's to be expected, take it somewhere else.

 

[ASUCHRIS]

very true so he's not 100% perfect, if Lebron was so damn good maybe the cavs would have made the playoffs.

Maybe he puts it all together and s the most dominate player in the league by 24 I am willing to wait.
I am just so happy ASUChris is not the GM of the Suns.

I can't even follow your train of thought here, between your rambling thoughts and your pathetic grasp of the english language. What the hell does Lebron have to do with any of this? Am I arguing at any point that Amare won't put it all together? I will wonder later why I am responding to any of this, clearly your reading comprehension and communication skills aren't up to par. Keep up with the personal attacks though, see how far they get you...