Is this a slip of the tongue or does coach mean it?

[JCSunsfan]

Rumor: Stoudemire would play in Game 5
By Scott Bordow, Tribune
June 2, 2006
A rumor spread through American Airlines Center Thursday morning that Amaré Stoudemire would play in Game 5 against the Dallas Mavericks.

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Phoenix Suns / NBA

Stoudemire has been moving ahead with his rehabilitation, but coach Mike D’Antoni said again that Stoudemire is done for the season, even if the Suns make it to the NBA Finals.

“I heard that rumor,” D’Antoni said. “Let’s see. I just can’t see how a guy who hasn’t played for 10 months, hasn’t practiced and has no desire to play would suddenly wake up one day and say I want to play. It would be great, but it’s not going to happen. Take my word for that.”

Has no desire to play? Interesting choice of words.
Contact Scott Bordow by email, or phone (480) 898-6598
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http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/index.php?sty=66883

 

[jbeecham]

really interesting choice of words......

I can't imagine Amare without the desire to play.

 

[Espo]

Could this possibly be a set up and Amare is going to start game 6? Just kidding but Coach D says a lot of things sarcasticaly. I can't imagine Amare has no desire to play. He probably has no desire to rush back after what happend earlier in the year.

 

[SpokaneCardfan]

I could be mistaken but don't NBA teams have to have a set playoff roster? If so, Is Amare on that roster.

 

[CaptainInsano]

I remember seeing amare on it for some reason but im not seeing it now.

 

[wsupkid]

YES HE IS! He has been on it. Now why would that be? From someone frome the Suns front office. (he is going to play next series)

 

[devilalum]

Warming up before game 4.
Looks ready to me?

You must be registered for see images

 

[elindholm]

That's weird, but at this point, I'm inclined to believe it. It seems to be a general trend with Stoudemire that he's much more concerned about the player he's "going to" be than about the player he currently is. That was true even before he got hurt.

 

[Mainstreet]

That's weird, but at this point, I'm inclined to believe it. It seems to be a general trend with Stoudemire that he's much more concerned about the player he's "going to" be than about the player he currently is. That was true even before he got hurt.

This worries me.

There are only so many chances a player has (with the right supporting cast) to win a Championship. I'm afraid this year was the Suns chance to win a Championship but I see it slipping away. I wish Amare had stayed healthy. IMO, this would have been the Sun's year unless the Suns play reaches a new high in the Mavs series.

 

[Yuma]

I'd play Amare 10 to 15 minutes ONLY if there were no chance of further injury. Just think of the crowd in Phoenix if he was announced in the starting lineup! The place would go nuts! Especially when he gets his first DUNK! (hopefully over Nowitske for a foul, too!)

 

[Mainstreet]

Unfortunately D'Antoni is usually very thoughtful with his choice of words. I tend to think he means what he says. I believe D'Antoni would play Amare like Raja if the desire was there to play.

There can be different schools of thought here: Amare is still not fully recovered from knee surgery; Amare needs more rehab before he starts practicing (similar to first); Amare has made his own decsion to sit out the rest of the year even though it may not be medically necessary. I'm sure there are other options as well.

The first and third school of thought worry me the most.

I would really like to see the old Amare back in uniform soon, if not this year, then next. However, there are doubts than are beginning to form in my mind and I hope I'm wrong... seriously.

The last information I am aware, besides the D'Antoni comment, is that Amare is progressing well with his rehab and nearing the final stage.

 

[TucsonDevil]

When D'Antoni made the comment about "Warriors heal faster", I took that to be a disguised slap in Joe Johnson's face. Are we now to suppose he was slapping Amare? WOW! If that is true, I don't like our chances to have multiple championships in the future with Amare. It takes a certain mindset and moxy to win multiple times... I thought that Amare had that.

I hope I wasn't wrong...

 

[Nasser22]

My dad thinks it's a big deal and Stoudemire will never be the same again. He likes to think if the family are losers so is that person. I don't believe that and personally, I think my dad's being an idiot....

 

[Chaplin]

Gimme a break. Stop looking for conspiracy theories when there is none. Amare playing is a 70 million dollar gamble. Raja playing is a 25 million dollar gamble. Which one would you take?

 

[krispydude]

i wouldnt have much desire either if i came back earlier in the season and had to get surgery on my other knee. the microfracture isnt something that heals quick like a torn muscle can in raja's case. id rather have amare at 100% for next year then risking another knee injury right now

 

[elindholm]

Amare playing is a 70 million dollar gamble. Raja playing is a 25 million dollar gamble.

Huh? Both of their contracts are guaranteed, so they're making that money whether they play or not. If anything, Bell is the one who should be more cautious, since he'll have made less money by the end of his contract and thus will be more in "need" for his next deal.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Chap, this isn't a theory. The coach said it. At this point, you have to be creative to find a way to explain it away.

It looks like the coach believes that Amare quit on this team. He could have set his sites on coming back but he didn't.

Coach not only said it, he repeated the idea in several different ways so it is unmistakable.

He hasn't practiced in 10 months.
He has no desire to play.
He is not going to wake up and say "I want to play."
It would be nice if he would, but he won't.

Oh, and remember, this is not only the coach, but also the GM.

Here is the seeming conclusion. Amare is about Amare, not about the Suns. His tremendous drive to achieve is not about winning championships, its about becoming a great player (which in his mind is not the same thing).

Amare=Kobe

My only hope is that he will grow out of this. . .and that we win a championship without him. If we lose this year, but win next year with him, his head will bloat to an unimaginable size.

 

[asudevil83]

Chap, this isn't a theory. The coach said it. At this point, you have to be creative to find a way to explain it away.

It looks like the coach believes that Amare quit on this team. He could have set his sites on coming back but he didn't.

Coach not only said it, he repeated the idea in several different ways so it is unmistakable.

He hasn't practiced in 10 months.
He has no desire to play.
He is not going to wake up and say "I want to play."
It would be nice if he would, but he won't.

Oh, and remember, this is not only the coach, but also the GM.

Here is the seeming conclusion. Amare is about Amare, not about the Suns. His tremendous drive to achieve is not about winning championships, its about becoming a great player (which in his mind is not the same thing).

Amare=Kobe

My only hope is that he will grow out of this. . .and that we win a championship without him. If we lose this year, but win next year with him, his head will bloat to an unimaginable size.

holy crap....i'm speechless.

so now we are to hate amare because he doesnt come back for the tail end of the playoffs.

and this all comes out of ONE, just one sentence Coach D said to the press. you have absolutely no idea what context this was taken from, nor do you know how Coach D said it.

Amare already had his sites set on coming back once, and look what happened.

i think the last thing amare wants to do is become another Penny Hardaway or Grant Hill. that would kill the TEAM.

 

[JCSunsfan]

holy crap....i'm speechless.

so now we are to hate amare because he doesnt come back for the tail end of the playoffs.

and this all comes out of ONE, just one sentence Coach D said to the press. you have absolutely no idea what context this was taken from, nor do you know how Coach D said it.

Amare already had his sites set on coming back once, and look what happened.

i think the last thing amare wants to do is become another Penny Hardaway or Grant Hill. that would kill the TEAM.

I am not usually an extremist, but I am on this one.

No, its not out of one sentence. It's the final straw. Its from hearing Amare talk about himself like he is god for more than 2 years now. Its about rarely hearing Amare say anything about the team. Its about NOT HEARING AMARE SAY ANYTHING POSITIVE ABOUT THIS TEAM RIGHT NOW!

This comment from the coach seems to confirm suspicions. I hope I am proven wrong, or maybe I'm right but he grows out of it.

The coach could have easily said, "He's not ready, he's not physically capable to come back, there is too great a chance for repeat injury, we wouldn't let him come back, or any other of a number of things.

But you have a coach and GM, who is very careful with his words btw, say very specifically and in at least 3 different ways, that Amare is not back because he does not WANT to be back.

It was a very deliberate statement. Interpret it how you will.

 

[Arizona's Finest]

Chap, this isn't a theory. The coach said it. At this point, you have to be creative to find a way to explain it away.

It looks like the coach believes that Amare quit on this team. He could have set his sites on coming back but he didn't.

Coach not only said it, he repeated the idea in several different ways so it is unmistakable.

He hasn't practiced in 10 months.
He has no desire to play.
He is not going to wake up and say "I want to play."
It would be nice if he would, but he won't.

Oh, and remember, this is not only the coach, but also the GM.

Here is the seeming conclusion. Amare is about Amare, not about the Suns. His tremendous drive to achieve is not about winning championships, its about becoming a great player (which in his mind is not the same thing).

Amare=Kobe

My only hope is that he will grow out of this. . .and that we win a championship without him. If we lose this year, but win next year with him, his head will bloat to an unimaginable size.

This whole statement is complete lunacy. Amare is not willing to suffer another set back. As a fan of this team, I complelty agree. I think D'Antoni agrees too and you are taking what he is saying out of context. He has no desire to play, because he has no desire to suffer another set-back. Does that not make sense? I'm sure he wishes the circumstances were different but they are not.

Quit looking into things. You shouldnt count on Amare to come back and more importantly the team shouldnt have it in their mind that he is coming back. Cant we just enjoy what this current roster is doing and look forward to what happens next year, when hopefully the team is healthy?

Geez - Sounds more like JVsunsfan to me ......

 

[JCSunsfan]

This whole statement is complete lunacy.

Quit looking into things. You shouldnt count on Amare to come back and more importantly the team shouldnt have it in their mind that he is coming back. Cant we just enjoy what this current roster is doing and look forward to what happens next year, when hopefully the team is healthy?

Geez - Sounds more like JVsunsfan to me ......

Um, well. I am willing to consider alternate interpretations of DAntoni's statement, but I still think that my take on it is the most "face value" interpretation.

I am not sure how calling it "lunacy" and calling me names adds to the conversation. I have never done that on this board, an I don't intend to get into that kind of thing now.

 

[Arizona's Finest]

Um, well. I am willing to consider alternate interpretations of DAntoni's statement, but I still think that my take on it is the most "face value" interpretation.

I am not sure how calling it "lunacy" and calling me names adds to the conversation. I have never done that on this board, an I don't intend to get into that kind of thing now.

I just think its ridiculous to start questioning the "franchise player" because D'Antoni made a comment that reflected STAT's concern of his future potential being compromised to try and give something of value to a team that is only two wins from the Finals. I'm skeptical at value STAT could provide anyway at this point in the season with no real prior playing time. I don't think D'Antoni questions Amares willingeness to help the team (he has been with the team the ENTIRE time and always supportive during games. The fact that he has not made any comments is likely becasue he is a little bitter about the bad luck and doesn't want Suns fans to think they don't need him anymore. Its a natural reaction.) but rather is stating, lets let the guy heal up and see what we can do next year. I'm sure there a part of Mike thta wants Amare out there (the coach part) but an even bigger part that knows its best for him to rest and rehabilitate for next year (the GM part)....

I just think its bad timing, looking way to much into things, and causing a stir about our best player when there, to the rational eye, there is nothing there.

Other than that I'm right with ya

 

[Dan H]

Maybe it's a smokescreen and Amare will be playing tonight. Why not? He was going to be playing for the US in the next couple of weeks anyway, and the season is on the line.

 

[slinslin]

And 1 week before D'Antoni said they wouldn't allow him to come back even if it is eating him up...lol

 

[green machine]

D'Antoni has already said that Amare isn't coming back, that he wouldn't allow it. I would guess that Amare would like to return, but him and Coach D understand that it would be tough to integrate him into the lineup right now...which is why once the return in March failed, that was it for STAT.