Off days are key for Amaré - The Arizona Republic

[DevonCardsFan]

http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/sports/articles/1009sunsnb1009.html

Off days are key for Amaré

Paul Coro
The Arizona Republic
Oct. 9, 2006 12:00 AM

COLOGNE, Germany - He caught the ball in traffic and powered for baskets.

He clapped his hands, yelling out "That's good stuff!" to Jumaine Jones as he stalked the sideline pulling for his practice team. He dribbled and drove past Kurt Thomas and at one point pleaded to get back into practice.

Was this really the Amaré Stoudemire who, two days earlier, could not muster the wherewithal to practice because of sore knees? Indeed it was, with Stoudemire calling it one of his better days of his on-again, off-again camp. advertisement




He also had a self-prescription, saying that a "recovery day" is all he needs once in awhile. Suns coach Mike D'Antoni did not play Stoudemire in Friday's scrimmage (because he pulled out of Thursday's practice) and the team had Saturday off.

"It just shows you how much recovery helps, especially in my case," Stoudemire said. "I really need that - try to string together a few great practices, get a recovery day, string a few more great practices, recover and it should last me the whole season."

He had yet to share his plan with the coaching staff.

"We have to have one of these days (consecutively)," D'Antoni said. "When he does that, he'll be the 'STAT' of old. If he never does that, he'll never be. We'll see if it keeps going."

Captain Steve Nash was more diplomatic, saying, "I'd just like to see him continue to learn the game. While he's recovering and getting his athleticism back, it's a great opportunity for him to learn how to think the game and play with his head."

Stoudemire said he had not felt any discomfort in either knee the past three days. On Thursday, he said the right knee stiffness and soreness had caused the left one to ache.

"I know there's going to be pain, but I'm not a huge fan of pain that's unbearable," Stoudemire said. "There's definitely going to be pain. I understand that. It's going to be pain that I'm going to have to push through.

"It's definitely going to be tough for a guy coming off two knee surgeries to practice every day. When I'm sore, it's tough for me to stay motivated and stay positive and interact with the players, because I sometimes get frustrated when I can't perform."


Free throws


Nash, Raja Bell, Leandro Barbosa and Boris Diaw attended the Italian national soccer team's game Saturday in Rome.

"We were singing and cheering with the Romans," said Nash, whose group re-entered the hotel singing that night.


• D'Antoni said his team was caught in between pick-and-roll defenses in Friday's preseason opener but worked it out Sunday, when the Suns communicated well.


• D'Antoni said his team is not fazed by distractions, whether it is the hectic European camp schedule or Stoudemire's roller-coaster camp. "They're very mature in how they handle distractions on and off the court and distractions among themselves," D'Antoni said.

 

[DevonCardsFan]

This article really makes me think Amare has poorwork ethic and does not have a high tolerance for pain, I don't know why but I really do not like this article.

 

[Errntknght]

DevonCardsFan, "This article really makes me think Amare has poorwork ethic and does not have a high tolerance for pain, I don't know why but I really do not like this article."

I certainly don't have any inside knowledge but what we've heard since Amare joined the Suns is that he had a great work ethic. And it seemed to be borne out by the speed with which his game developed.

As far as playing with pain, there's a difference between pain that you understand and are sure it is not indicative of further damage being done, and pain that you wonder whether it's a signal that you're doing damage to yourself. It helps some to have docs and therapists telling you that the pain is merely pain and its safe to ignore it but it takes a long, long time before you really believe it.

 

[asudevil83]

DevonCardsFan, "This article really makes me think Amare has poorwork ethic and does not have a high tolerance for pain, I don't know why but I really do not like this article."

I certainly don't have any inside knowledge but what we've heard since Amare joined the Suns is that he had a great work ethic. And it seemed to be borne out by the speed with which his game developed.

As far as playing with pain, there's a difference between pain that you understand and are sure it is not indicative of further damage being done, and pain that you wonder whether it's a signal that you're doing damage to yourself. It helps some to have docs and therapists telling you that the pain is merely pain and its safe to ignore it but it takes a long, long time before you really believe it.

thats exactly what i feel amare is trying to get over right now. is his pain telling him that something might be wrong, or is it just a consequence of training? and this is why we are getting treated to the rollercoaster ride.

 

[CaptainInsano]

The worst part is we all know or at least have a good idea about the rigors of physical therapy. Hurts like hell but is REQUIRED for the best recovery. What Amare is doing (or what he should be doing) is step 2 or step 3 basically of physical therapy because of the extent of his injury (microfracture).

Amare HAS to go out there and work through the pain no matter how bad because it is for the best. If he can keep going through it his knees will recover in the best way possible otherwise if he keeps taking days off and resting his knees it can be very bad for the knees health and recovery.

People that have broken a bone or had a muscle problem and had to go through intensly painful physical therapy will know exactly what I am talking about. It is very painful, not fun, mentally taxing, frustrating, etc and yet for the best.

 

[George O'Brien]

I would much rather Amare take his time and make sure he's ready than to get pushed and end up straining stuff and lose even more time.

 

[BirdMan21]

DevonCardsFan, "This article really makes me think Amare has poorwork ethic and does not have a high tolerance for pain, I don't know why but I really do not like this article."

I certainly don't have any inside knowledge but what we've heard since Amare joined the Suns is that he had a great work ethic. And it seemed to be borne out by the speed with which his game developed.

As far as playing with pain, there's a difference between pain that you understand and are sure it is not indicative of further damage being done, and pain that you wonder whether it's a signal that you're doing damage to yourself. It helps some to have docs and therapists telling you that the pain is merely pain and its safe to ignore it but it takes a long, long time before you really believe it.

As someone who has gone through three knee surgeries and plays a sport professionally....I can honestly tell you the toughest part about coming back is getting past the part where you can TRUST your knee. I play golf for a living and in no way is golf nearly as physically demanding as basketball, but it is very difficult to come back from surgery. I had my last knee surgery back in March (torn meniscus) and it took me 5 weeks to be cleared by doctors and now almost 7 months after the surgery I still worry about the pain I feel on the golf course. I have gone though this before and I know that everything is fine and will get better....so if these were Amare's first surgeries he personally doesn't know the pain will go away and he will feel better. Once he gets past this mental block I think he will be fine, more than likely never the same ridiculous athlete as he was before, but able to play. I just hope this is the problem and it’s not a structural issue that will plague him his whole career.

 

[Errntknght]

CaptainInsano, "Amare HAS to go out there and work through the pain no matter how bad because it is for the best. If he can keep going through it his knees will recover in the best way possible otherwise if he keeps taking days off and resting his knees it can be very bad for the knees health and recovery."

I'm no expert but I doubt that its all that certain what Amare's best course is. I know I've read a number of players saying they came back from MFS too quickly or tried to, but I've yet to hear one say that what hurt him was coming back too slowly.

 

[George O'Brien]

CaptainInsano, "Amare HAS to go out there and work through the pain no matter how bad because it is for the best. If he can keep going through it his knees will recover in the best way possible otherwise if he keeps taking days off and resting his knees it can be very bad for the knees health and recovery."

I'm no expert but I doubt that its all that certain what Amare's best course is. I know I've read a number of players saying they came back from MFS too quickly or tried to, but I've yet to hear one say that what hurt him was coming back too slowly.

Absolutely. I don't much care if Amare is ready by Oct 31. I want him to get healthy and not risk injury just to prove he's tough.

 

[panfolk]

Absolutely. I don't much care if Amare is ready by Oct 31. I want him to get healthy and not risk injury just to prove he's tough.

Agreed, with the caveat that he should be in by All Star break if he plans on being in the playoffs.

 

[CaptainInsano]

Who knows, maybe he really does need the breaks?

It is just my opinion that a year after the surgery he has to exercise and work his knees and muscles into shape at this point.

He did say unbearable pain, not knee stiffness according to the announcers. I was going off the knee stiffness comments and thought that even if it was painful he would have to play through it. Unbearable pain of course is a different story.