From AZCentral...
Stoudemire faces high standards
Bob Young
The Arizona Republic
Sept. 28, 2003 12:00 AM
Last season, Amare Stoudemire knew which question he was going to hear in virtually every NBA city:
"What is the biggest adjustment going directly from high school to the NBA?"
Or some derivative of it.
"Man, I heard that question a lot," he said. "I knew I was going to."
Stoudemire answered that question and a lot more en route to the NBA's Rookie of the Year award. He made the adjustments on and off the court.
Now he's pretty sure he knows what this year's question is going to be: "So, how will you respond to the expectations on you now?"
Or some derivative of it.
Stoudemire entered last season saddled with virtually no expectations. In fact, many pundits thought the Suns reached to take him with the No. 9 pick in the first round of the draft.
But after he averaged 13.5 points and 8.8 rebounds as a rookie, dropped 38 points on the Minnesota Timberwolves in a breakout performance and then averaged 14.2 points and 7.8 rebounds in a playoff series, most of the skeptics are gone.
But now, as the Suns prepare to start training camp, Stoudemire is expected to play at that high level more consistently and combine with All-Stars Stephon Marbury and Shawn Marion to turn the Suns into a Western Conference player.
So . . . ?
"I have high expectations, too," he said. "My expectations are to have more of an all-around game.
"That's basically what I want to do. I'm learning the game - you know, the IQ aspect of it. I already understand the game a lot more, and I've been working on my fundamentals a lot."
Suns coach Frank Johnson admits that he and his assistant coaches often laugh at the thought of where Stoudemire was at this point a year ago. They had to teach him even the simplest aspects of the game, such as where to position himself defensively against an opponent in the low post.
"We don't have to worry about those things anymore," Johnson said. "He's comfortable on the court and off the court now. He's even telling other guys who weren't here last year where they're supposed to be and how to rotate when he's trapping. He is so far ahead of where he was a year ago."
Team insiders will tell you Stoudemire has a knack for picking up things he's taught, and the chutzpah to put them into play on the court at the first opportunity.
That's why Johnson has no fear of a "sophomore jinx" for his budding star under the weight of great expectations.
"The only problem with guys like Amare sometimes is getting them to concentrate on one thing at a time," he said. "They want to learn and do everything at once. But I'm impressed with how hard he's working at his game. Sophomore jinx? No, I'm not worried about that at all."
But like everyone else, Johnson is curious to see how Stoudemire will handle the increased attention that will come his way.
"He's going to see a lot more of the double teams this year," he said. "We may move him out a little bit so he can hit that 12- to 15-foot jump shot. If he can make that, now they have to come out a little bit. But they can't get too close because he's just so quick."
Stoudemire underwent surgery to fix a bunion on his right big toe, which kept him out of the team's summer league program. That left him to work a lot on his shooting and ball handling. He also underwent surgery to improve his eyesight.
"It would be unwise to heap too much responsibility on one player," said Bryan Colangelo, Suns president and general manager. "But I think you're going to see a player who is a lot more comfortable.
"He's been there. He's experienced it all. We've seen him (in informal workouts), putting the ball on the floor more and pushing it up. He's going to be more effective in the low post with some moves he's been working on. And he's more comfortable with his shooting stroke.
"It's too early to script out what his impact will be, or what steps he'll take. But the talent and athleticism and raw ability are there for him to take another step every year."
Stoudemire was one of the surprises of the league a year ago. And he flashes a mischievous smile when you ask him whether he has any more surprises in store.
"Everybody knows I can come with power," he said. "I'm trying to add a little finesse to it with the jumper. I've been working on it."
Which will lead to the next question: "Where did that come from?"
Stoudemire faces high standards
Bob Young
The Arizona Republic
Sept. 28, 2003 12:00 AM
Last season, Amare Stoudemire knew which question he was going to hear in virtually every NBA city:
"What is the biggest adjustment going directly from high school to the NBA?"
Or some derivative of it.
"Man, I heard that question a lot," he said. "I knew I was going to."
Stoudemire answered that question and a lot more en route to the NBA's Rookie of the Year award. He made the adjustments on and off the court.
Now he's pretty sure he knows what this year's question is going to be: "So, how will you respond to the expectations on you now?"
Or some derivative of it.
Stoudemire entered last season saddled with virtually no expectations. In fact, many pundits thought the Suns reached to take him with the No. 9 pick in the first round of the draft.
But after he averaged 13.5 points and 8.8 rebounds as a rookie, dropped 38 points on the Minnesota Timberwolves in a breakout performance and then averaged 14.2 points and 7.8 rebounds in a playoff series, most of the skeptics are gone.
But now, as the Suns prepare to start training camp, Stoudemire is expected to play at that high level more consistently and combine with All-Stars Stephon Marbury and Shawn Marion to turn the Suns into a Western Conference player.
So . . . ?
"I have high expectations, too," he said. "My expectations are to have more of an all-around game.
"That's basically what I want to do. I'm learning the game - you know, the IQ aspect of it. I already understand the game a lot more, and I've been working on my fundamentals a lot."
Suns coach Frank Johnson admits that he and his assistant coaches often laugh at the thought of where Stoudemire was at this point a year ago. They had to teach him even the simplest aspects of the game, such as where to position himself defensively against an opponent in the low post.
"We don't have to worry about those things anymore," Johnson said. "He's comfortable on the court and off the court now. He's even telling other guys who weren't here last year where they're supposed to be and how to rotate when he's trapping. He is so far ahead of where he was a year ago."
Team insiders will tell you Stoudemire has a knack for picking up things he's taught, and the chutzpah to put them into play on the court at the first opportunity.
That's why Johnson has no fear of a "sophomore jinx" for his budding star under the weight of great expectations.
"The only problem with guys like Amare sometimes is getting them to concentrate on one thing at a time," he said. "They want to learn and do everything at once. But I'm impressed with how hard he's working at his game. Sophomore jinx? No, I'm not worried about that at all."
But like everyone else, Johnson is curious to see how Stoudemire will handle the increased attention that will come his way.
"He's going to see a lot more of the double teams this year," he said. "We may move him out a little bit so he can hit that 12- to 15-foot jump shot. If he can make that, now they have to come out a little bit. But they can't get too close because he's just so quick."
Stoudemire underwent surgery to fix a bunion on his right big toe, which kept him out of the team's summer league program. That left him to work a lot on his shooting and ball handling. He also underwent surgery to improve his eyesight.
"It would be unwise to heap too much responsibility on one player," said Bryan Colangelo, Suns president and general manager. "But I think you're going to see a player who is a lot more comfortable.
"He's been there. He's experienced it all. We've seen him (in informal workouts), putting the ball on the floor more and pushing it up. He's going to be more effective in the low post with some moves he's been working on. And he's more comfortable with his shooting stroke.
"It's too early to script out what his impact will be, or what steps he'll take. But the talent and athleticism and raw ability are there for him to take another step every year."
Stoudemire was one of the surprises of the league a year ago. And he flashes a mischievous smile when you ask him whether he has any more surprises in store.
"Everybody knows I can come with power," he said. "I'm trying to add a little finesse to it with the jumper. I've been working on it."
Which will lead to the next question: "Where did that come from?"
