azdad1978
Championship!!!!
Dan Bickley
The Arizona Republic
Jun. 3, 2005 12:00 AM
Amaré Stoudemire is going places.
First, there will be serious beach time at his other home in Malibu, Calif. There will be a vacation in the Bahamas, where only the drinks need umbrellas. And then comes the most important destination of all:
Completing his hostile takeover of the NBA.
"Next year, I'm going to have an even bigger role," Stoudemire said. "That's something I'm accepting, and I can't wait to get started."
In the final days of the Suns' magical season, two major events have transpired. Stoudemire elevated his game to a place where the air is thin and the breathing takes some effort. He demanded the ball down the stretch, becoming the dictator on a team once known for its on-court democracy.
Now, Stoudemire exits the 2004-05 season with a wide smile and a soaring profile. At age 22, he has proven he can handle the heat of the postseason, the ultimate gauge for any player in any sport.
During their 15-game playoff jaunt, Steve Nash and Joe Johnson bolstered quiet reputations while Shawn Marion and Quentin Richardson shriveled in status. Yet no one jumped like Stoudemire, who joined an elite fraternity after setting an NBA scoring record in the Western Conference finals, a feat accomplished against one of the best defensive big men in the game, Tim Duncan.
Hence, from now on, whenever basketball fans talk about the best player in the NBA, Stoudemire will be in the conversation.
"That's something I always dreamed of, being in that position, to be the go-to guy with this team," Stoudemire said. "Once I polish my game up a little more, I'll be able to take it to the promised land."
The other notable development happened Thursday, as the Suns cleaned out their lockers and received their report cards. Adroitly sidestepping a potential clash of wills, Suns coach Mike D'Antoni sold Stoudemire on the concept of being the team's "point center" next season.
It means the offense will move through Stoudemire's hands, and he'll be roaming the perimeter a lot more often. It means less jostling down on the blocks and more freedom to shoot outside shots, which he drained with amazing ease during the final games against the Spurs.
"I think he'll redefine the role of center," D'Antoni said.
The Suns also told Stoudemire they would hire some inside muscle, someone to come off the bench and limit the scars that come with playing interior defense in the NBA.
"It's pretty sweet," Stoudemire said. "It's playing the position I played this year, center, but with a different twist, with more of a perimeter, inside-outside game. That point-center thing, I think it's the right position to label me. I'm going to do a lot more on the court than I did this year."
Just like that, Stoudemire is no longer demanding a return to power forward that would've pulled the plug on D'Antoni's celebrated style. He is no longer worried about semantics, hearing the hidden message inside this wonderful compromise:
The team is officially his, and the man-child couldn't be happier.
"I love the city of Phoenix, I love the state of Arizona and the fans here have been amazing since the first day that I've been here," Stoudemire said. "So I've got no complaints about the organization, the team or anything like that. So it's looking good right now."
No arguments there.
This summer, Marion will vacation in Italy. Jim Jackson is heading back to the office, resuming his real estate business in Ohio. Richardson is going to "hang out with his girl," while Johnson will contemplate his future wealth from his comfort zone of Little Rock.
Stoudemire is going to "rest, recuperate and get back to work," and you couldn't hope for a better answer.
Michael Jordan became a great player because he never squandered a summer. Even when dripping with money and fame, he never lost the thirst. With superstars, it simply can't be quenched, and Stoudemire seems immune to the biggest trap facing players with great natural ability.
"Complacency," Jackson said. "More than anything, being satisfied about what happened last season. It's easy to become complacent, but I don't see that in him. I don't think complacency will be an issue with Amaré."
At the moment, Stoudemire has the world on a string. He is perusing endorsement opportunities as we speak, and says "something will be shaking here in a minute." Soon, he will be swimming in commercials, money, adulation and the national spotlight.
But Stoudemire also possesses that rare engine, that raging bonfire of ambition. And if we're really lucky, he'll never be too comfortable, and he'll always be going someplace.
http://www.azcentral.com/sports/columns/articles/0603bickley0603.html
The Arizona Republic
Jun. 3, 2005 12:00 AM
Amaré Stoudemire is going places.
First, there will be serious beach time at his other home in Malibu, Calif. There will be a vacation in the Bahamas, where only the drinks need umbrellas. And then comes the most important destination of all:
Completing his hostile takeover of the NBA.
"Next year, I'm going to have an even bigger role," Stoudemire said. "That's something I'm accepting, and I can't wait to get started."
In the final days of the Suns' magical season, two major events have transpired. Stoudemire elevated his game to a place where the air is thin and the breathing takes some effort. He demanded the ball down the stretch, becoming the dictator on a team once known for its on-court democracy.
Now, Stoudemire exits the 2004-05 season with a wide smile and a soaring profile. At age 22, he has proven he can handle the heat of the postseason, the ultimate gauge for any player in any sport.
During their 15-game playoff jaunt, Steve Nash and Joe Johnson bolstered quiet reputations while Shawn Marion and Quentin Richardson shriveled in status. Yet no one jumped like Stoudemire, who joined an elite fraternity after setting an NBA scoring record in the Western Conference finals, a feat accomplished against one of the best defensive big men in the game, Tim Duncan.
Hence, from now on, whenever basketball fans talk about the best player in the NBA, Stoudemire will be in the conversation.
"That's something I always dreamed of, being in that position, to be the go-to guy with this team," Stoudemire said. "Once I polish my game up a little more, I'll be able to take it to the promised land."
The other notable development happened Thursday, as the Suns cleaned out their lockers and received their report cards. Adroitly sidestepping a potential clash of wills, Suns coach Mike D'Antoni sold Stoudemire on the concept of being the team's "point center" next season.
It means the offense will move through Stoudemire's hands, and he'll be roaming the perimeter a lot more often. It means less jostling down on the blocks and more freedom to shoot outside shots, which he drained with amazing ease during the final games against the Spurs.
"I think he'll redefine the role of center," D'Antoni said.
The Suns also told Stoudemire they would hire some inside muscle, someone to come off the bench and limit the scars that come with playing interior defense in the NBA.
"It's pretty sweet," Stoudemire said. "It's playing the position I played this year, center, but with a different twist, with more of a perimeter, inside-outside game. That point-center thing, I think it's the right position to label me. I'm going to do a lot more on the court than I did this year."
Just like that, Stoudemire is no longer demanding a return to power forward that would've pulled the plug on D'Antoni's celebrated style. He is no longer worried about semantics, hearing the hidden message inside this wonderful compromise:
The team is officially his, and the man-child couldn't be happier.
"I love the city of Phoenix, I love the state of Arizona and the fans here have been amazing since the first day that I've been here," Stoudemire said. "So I've got no complaints about the organization, the team or anything like that. So it's looking good right now."
No arguments there.
This summer, Marion will vacation in Italy. Jim Jackson is heading back to the office, resuming his real estate business in Ohio. Richardson is going to "hang out with his girl," while Johnson will contemplate his future wealth from his comfort zone of Little Rock.
Stoudemire is going to "rest, recuperate and get back to work," and you couldn't hope for a better answer.
Michael Jordan became a great player because he never squandered a summer. Even when dripping with money and fame, he never lost the thirst. With superstars, it simply can't be quenched, and Stoudemire seems immune to the biggest trap facing players with great natural ability.
"Complacency," Jackson said. "More than anything, being satisfied about what happened last season. It's easy to become complacent, but I don't see that in him. I don't think complacency will be an issue with Amaré."
At the moment, Stoudemire has the world on a string. He is perusing endorsement opportunities as we speak, and says "something will be shaking here in a minute." Soon, he will be swimming in commercials, money, adulation and the national spotlight.
But Stoudemire also possesses that rare engine, that raging bonfire of ambition. And if we're really lucky, he'll never be too comfortable, and he'll always be going someplace.
http://www.azcentral.com/sports/columns/articles/0603bickley0603.html
