Stoudemire fired up this offseason

[FArting]

On Sunday night, Suns Managing Partner Robert Sarver used a break during the Mercury game to check in on his other basketball team's star.
Amaré Stoudemire had clocked in for a 400-shot workout at the US Airways Center practice court, but Sarver's view was obstructed by a midcourt curtain, allowing him only to see balls coming off the rim like theater popcorn.
But the misfires were from Stoudemire's crew, not the hands of the Suns star, who had made 71 percent of his shots. "It got me a little nervous," Sarver told Stoudemire.
Stoudemire's recent words and actions might alleviate nerves for those invested monetarily or emotionally in the Suns.
He is talking about and working on his defense. He declares his passion for the game to be at an all-time high, bringing him to the court morning and night most weekdays. He is raving about his new coach, Terry Porter, and teammates.
He is worry-free about his surgically repaired knees. And his good effort has extended off the court, having just returned from a week in Sierra Leone to be part of a project to rehabilitate water wells that he helped fund.
"People say they prayed for me every single day," Stoudemire said. "We were greeted with dances, cheers and tears. It was a life-changing experience for me. They struggle, yet they still have joy."
Stoudemire's joy comes in finding more basketball potential to tap. Sporting a "frohawk" hairstyle, he acts as his own smack-talking foe ("STAT, you can't miss two in a row, let alone three!") and motivator ("It feels good coming off my hands") as he calls out that he is shooting from "kill spots."
"I feel fit and fierce," he said. "My health is tremendous. I have no worries about extra work. Before, I never wanted to overwork. I always wanted to do more, but I was coming back from injuries. I can do whatever I want on the court without second-guessing now."
Stoudemire said watching the U.S. team win the Olympic gold medal last month did not cause any second-guessing, either. Stoudemire was included in the national team program during his knee rehabilitation and would have had a spot in Beijing if he wanted it. He said his withdrawal this summer was not health-related.
"It had more to do with rest," Stoudemire said. "I love those guys. I love Coach K (Mike Krzyzewski). I love all of the coaching staff. I just had to make an executive decision to rest up.
"When you're playing year-round four straight years, even though I had surgeries, playing year-round takes a toll on the your body, whether folks know it or see it or not. I want to make sure I maintain a long career. Hopefully, I'll be blessed enough to be back in the Olympics in 2012."
Stoudemire is equally sure about the Suns front office's decisions to hire Porter as head coach and pick up Robin Lopez, Matt Barnes and Goran Dragic.
"I couldn't be more ecstatic about the decision," Stoudemire said of the Porter hire. "He's very organized. He knows what it takes to win. He wants to be the champion. That falls into the category of the Stoudemire brand and also the Phoenix Suns brand. We want to be champions, whatever it takes to do it."
It will take more defense from Stoudemire, for starters.
"I want to be Ron Artest," Stoudemire said, explaining the focus of his recent work on defense, along with efficiency in his offensive moves. "I want to be that guy you fear when you see him guarding you."
After placing sixth in last season's MVP voting, Stoudemire is intent on improving the team's sixth-place finish in the West. Coming off a first-round playoff exit, Stoudemire said Phoenix's first NBA title is his top goal, and this is the best Suns team in his tenure.
"Expectations are higher than they've ever been," he said. "As I improve and I get better, we get better. I have no problem putting the total weight and everything we have on my shoulders. If we lose, I have no problem taking that burden. If we win, just make sure you guys give props where props are due. We're ready."

http://www.azcentral.com/sports/suns/articles/2008/09/09/20080909sunsamare0910.html

 

[nowagimp]

This part is interesting:

"Before, I never wanted to overwork. I always wanted to do more, but I was coming back from injuries. I can do whatever I want on the court without second-guessing now."

If stat is finally physically back from his injuries, this is very good news. In my eyes he was playing soft, non physical defense, and if it was because he wasnt fully healed or was afraid of reinjury, I understand that and he gets a pass from me for his lack of intensity on defense last year. Its a new year and stat will get my full support. Bring it on amare, lets use that body to deny position down low on defense. Box out with strength and proper positioning now that you are healed.

 

[elindholm]

"It's been tough, being forced to play with injuries all this time. You know, I try to make sacrifices to help the team, but people don't understand. For the first time in years, I'll be able to show people what I can do when I'm fully healthy."

sounds ... vaguely ... familiar ...

Someone else wore #1 for the Suns a few years back, right?

 

[dodie53]

Penny!

 

[Irish]

"I want to be Ron Artest," Stoudemire said, explaining the focus of his recent work on defense, along with efficiency in his offensive moves. "I want to be that guy you fear when you see him guarding you."

Just stay out of the stands...

I get the feeling he has been hearing the stuff about his defense. Since attitude is a big part of defense, let's hope this gets to the floor.

 

[jbeecham]

I saw an interview with Amare on local TV here in PHX (3tv) and he said that he only has 2% body fat right now.

 

[Andrew]

Holy Freaking Hell, I Am Hyped.

 

[SirStefan32]

"It's been tough, being forced to play with injuries all this time. You know, I try to make sacrifices to help the team, but people don't understand. For the first time in years, I'll be able to show people what I can do when I'm fully healthy."

sounds ... vaguely ... familiar ...

Someone else wore #1 for the Suns a few years back, right?

I wonder is Penny is finally at 100%.

 

[msdundee]

Just curious--am I the only one who laughed a couple of times reading that?

 

[YouJustGotSUNSD]

He's his own biggest fan. I'd rather him talk weak and play strong though...

 

[arwillan]

i'm a little worried that he wants to be a disturbed man like artest. that's sort of like a young, aspiring writer saying that their dream is to be like edgar allen poe. but either way i like the fact that he is showing some sort of desire to improve in that area. I hope he can do it. amare is his biggest fan and biggest obstacle at the same time.

 

[shazaam6]

 

[dodie53]

i hope Diaw is fired up too

 

[Irish]

I can see enough bad stuff related to Artest that I'd be concerned about renting him the way Houston is doing. But I'll give him credit, Artest is physical but does not the reputation for being dirty that Bowen does. I'm glad Bowen was not mentioned.

Obviously if Amare was ALL talk, I'd dismiss this as just off season blather. But I think Amare is finally getting the message that to become an MVP, he has to play both ways.

 

[leclerc]

Well... didn't Dirk Diggler and Stevie Nash recently win MVP? Do they play both ways? They probably do but they're not ticket holders on All NBA defensive teams either...

That said I believe in Amare. He's one of the worlds best ball players and he's always been confident. Good to hear he's positive about the coming season and working hard. I think the trip to Sierra Leone will also have a big impact on him. Comparing him to Penny is a bit cruel. All though I see the similarities, Amare has returned to his previous form after serious knee injury and Penny never did. Come on guys...

 

[nowagimp]

I saw an interview with Amare on local TV here in PHX (3tv) and he said that he only has 2% body fat right now.

HAHAHA! Dont buy that bullcrap, 2% isnt enough to protect the internal organs. One good elbow to the gut and he would bleed internally. Amare is obviously low in body fat, but he is so full of crap on this one.

As far as the defense, I just hope he is not the liability that he was in the lane when shaq sits. If he did the fundamental dirty work with his body, like Kt, I'd be happy.

 

[Irish]

Well... didn't Dirk Diggler and Stevie Nash recently win MVP? Do they play both ways? They probably do but they're not ticket holders on All NBA defensive teams either...

That said I believe in Amare. He's one of the worlds best ball players and he's always been confident. Good to hear he's positive about the coming season and working hard. I think the trip to Sierra Leone will also have a big impact on him. Comparing him to Penny is a bit cruel. All though I see the similarities, Amare has returned to his previous form after serious knee injury and Penny never did. Come on guys...

Good point, but this suggests that regular season record is more important than how the guy plays. The Suns won 62 games the first year Nash got and the Mavs won 67 when Dirk got it. Kobe got it when the Lakers finished with the best record in the West (I'd guess that Garnett and Pierce probably took votes away from each other).

Amare has to do what he can to make the team successful and that is going to mean defense.

 

[nashman]

Big talk coming from Amare thats new! Stop talking about it and do it we heard the same crap a few years ago, blah blah I am goint to work on my D... and well we all know it still sucks. Amare is so full of himself its offputting, I like Amare but he needs to stop talking about it and DO IT.

 

[Roca Dolla]

Big talk coming from Amare thats new! Stop talking about it and do it we heard the same crap a few years ago, blah blah I am goint to work on my D... and well we all know it still sucks. Amare is so full of himself its offputting, I like Amare but he needs to stop talking about it and DO IT.

calm down u bandwagoner.

 

[Irish]

Amare does this stuff to get himself motivated. He's always done this and it seems to help. If it was tall talk it would be different, but he does seem to be a pretty good player anyway.

 

[da_suns_fan]

We've heard this all before.

When is Amare gonna start caring about rebounding?

 

[Treesquid PhD]

you guys make me laugh, pathetic words, taking bits and pieces out of context and stretching it beyond the point of a rational argument.

Amare is a star working his ass off in the offseason, not good enough, nothing ever good enough. He wants t be Artest n D, wait let me spin that to mean I want to be him as a person. Or better yet let's just attack him for no reason. lol, maybe you can rip his 2 year old for being scared of a dinosaur, I wouldn't put it past a few of you old fat ******* anyways.

And I fully believe Amare is much closer to 2% body fat than most of you are below 25%.

No No not here in the land of idiots, where some scrub like DJ Strawberry or Robin Lopez scores 25 in a summer league and you all want to run the offense through them. I know you guys are Suns fans and all but the horse ***** that comes out of your biased mouths is simply lame and over played.

I really feel very few of you have any clue what you are talking about and that includes the "intellectuals" who talk about commas and dangling verbals as much basketball.

 

[Treesquid PhD]

Amare does this stuff to get himself motivated. He's always done this and it seems to help. If it was tall talk it would be different, but he does seem to be a pretty good player anyway.

jez you think? Boris scores Amare's average against a very old and very small 2 guard and half the board wants to run the o through him. Yeah I'd say Amare is a "pretty good" player.

I am serious you guys are way off on Amare as usual, I am just wondering who the next wonderchild of the board is going to be this year...Probably the first time Lopez puts up 11 and 10. While Amare's 34 and 9 will be crap.

 

[devilfan02]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.... Same story, different year. I'll believe Amare can play defense when I actually see it. Till then, he's still one of the worst defensive PF in the NBA

 

[arwillan]

you guys make me laugh, pathetic words, taking bits and pieces out of context and stretching it beyond the point of a rational argument.

Amare is a star working his ass off in the offseason, not good enough, nothing ever good enough. He wants t be Artest n D, wait let me spin that to mean I want to be him as a person. Or better yet let's just attack him for no reason. lol, maybe you can rip his 2 year old for being scared of a dinosaur, I wouldn't put it past a few of you old fat ******* anyways.

And I fully believe Amare is much closer to 2% body fat than most of you are below 25%.

No No not here in the land of idiots, where some scrub like DJ Strawberry or Robin Lopez scores 25 in a summer league and you all want to run the offense through them. I know you guys are Suns fans and all but the horse ***** that comes out of your biased mouths is simply lame and over played.

I really feel very few of you have any clue what you are talking about and that includes the "intellectuals" who talk about commas and dangling verbals as much basketball.

2% body fat is the bare minimum for a human male to survive and have functional reproductive abilities. People in poorer countries who eat very little and perform extremely strenuous work would be an example of someone near 2% body fat. Amare is probably around 4%, which is perfectly acceptable. Also, until you've seen every person on this board in real life I wouldn't be so quick to say anything about their body fat. Take a chill pill, it's only a message board.