the AMARE summer league thread

[playstation]

I'm getting pretty excited about the hint of potentially seeing Amare in a couple days maybe.

since i don't have nbatv and i'm not in vegas, anyone that can watch, please post your thoughts here, and in the meantime we can speculate/drool over what it'll be like to have him back.

do ya'll even remember how a year ago everyone was saying we'd win a title just on amare's back? time flies i guess.

 

[SactownSunsFan]

He's going to dunk on so many people.

 

[JS22]

Quick question for anyone that has DirecTV or Dish.

I'm deciding which to get, and can't for the life of me find NBA TV on either of them. According to NBA.com it is available on both, but I'm coming up blank when looking up programming packages. Can anyone verify NBA TV being available on either DirecTV or Dish?

I'd like to see the summer league games, and time is running out.

Of course, I could just call....but that would take effort.

 

[BleedRed]

Directv has NBATv. It's channel 601. Not sure about dish. Directv is better anyways. NFL ticket is only on directv

 

[Azlen]

Quick question for anyone that has DirecTV or Dish.

I'm deciding which to get, and can't for the life of me find NBA TV on either of them. According to NBA.com it is available on both, but I'm coming up blank when looking up programming packages. Can anyone verify NBA TV being available on either DirecTV or Dish?

I'd like to see the summer league games, and time is running out.

Of course, I could just call....but that would take effort.

Its part of the premium sports tier on Direct TV. Its on channel 601 and you have to pay extra to get it.

 

[JS22]

My parents have Sunday ticket, so I just drive over to their place on Sundays and mooch it.

Dish is just so much cheaper from what I'm noticing, but I'll probably grab DirecTV anyways, as I'm pretty used to them.

 

[ArizonaSportsFan]

I have DishNetwork and NBA TV is like on 402, or something close to that. Then when I buy my annual League Pass, it is also in the 500, like 572. Sorry I can't be more accurate but I am on the computer and not the TV!

 

[JS22]

I have DishNetwork and NBA TV is like on 402, or something close to that. Then when I buy my annual League Pass, it is also in the 500, like 572. Sorry I can't be more accurate but I am on the computer and not the TV!

Thank you.

I'll call Dish just to make sure. I have no idea why I can't find it anywhere in their programming lineup.

edit: Sorry. I just realized that I hijacked this thread!

 

[Muggum]

Here's a very recent video of Amare playing, and I don't know what to say, I fell into a deep depression watching it. I have crushing, legitimate fears that he's never going to be the same Amare. He's a shell. A freaking shell. At about the 9:00 mark, he gets the ball in the high post and tries to drive, but the speed just isn't there. He gets shut down almost instantly by some no-name and lamely passes his way out of trouble. Bo Jackson, anyone? God I'm depressed.

mms://phxsuns.wmod.llnwd.net/a205/o2/ro ... 060705.wmv

 

[carey]

I'm sorry, but if the Suns thought that was the case they would have traded him for any one of the offers they got this summer.

 

[devilalum]

Here's a very recent video of Amare playing, and I don't know what to say, I fell into a deep depression watching it. I have crushing, legitimate fears that he's never going to be the same Amare. He's a shell. A freaking shell. At about the 9:00 mark, he gets the ball in the high post and tries to drive, but the speed just isn't there. He gets shut down almost instantly by some no-name and lamely passes his way out of trouble. Bo Jackson, anyone? God I'm depressed.

mms://phxsuns.wmod.llnwd.net/a205/o2/ro ... 060705.wmv

I don't know aout that but he still looks really stiff.

 

[mribnik]

I'm at the halfway point in the video and am happy with how Amare looked. He's out of shape but he appeared to be doing fine. He made a long shot, and did a nice spin move with a thunderous dunk after the whistle. This summer league team is really perfect for the Suns. It gives Amare an opportunity to get into shape but it also allows him to work on his passing skills which in turn will allow the staff to get better looks at the young guys. It seemed like Amare was looking to distribute for much of the video. Phil Weber seemed optimistic about Amare, so I'm not worried about it.

Amare also said he feels better than he did when he tried to make his comeback, so it seems like the only issue is conditioning.

On another note, and while it's hard to tell because the competition is far inferior to that in the NBA, Lampe looked pretty solid.

 

[nathan]

I don't think he looked that bad. I was encouraged by the dunk at 9:45.

Maciej Lampe>>Pat Burke
I would be surprised if he doesn't make the roster.

 

[Joe Mama]

I saw about 30 seconds of him on the news this evening. I'm definitely concerned. He didn't look any better than when he came back during the season.

Joe

 

[George O'Brien]

I saw about 30 seconds of him on the news this evening. I'm definitely concerned. He didn't look any better than when he came back during the season.

Joe

I take you mean after the first game where he scored 20...

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

i saw a 38 year old amare that wasn't active, wasn't explosive, didn't exert any energy on offense or defense, and was being effectively defended by scrubs.

i also saw no one else on the court that displayed any ability.

and man is lampe a tease. he moves so well for a big man but just doesn't display any ability to convert.

that was a thoroughly depressing video. thanks for posting it.

 

[ASUCHRIS]

Will Amare ever be 100%? Even the extreme optimist in me feels that this is becoming exceedingly unlikely. What a shame. After that performance in the 2004 playoffs, especially against the Spurs, it looked like Amare would become the best player in the league. His one of a kind athleticism, combined with his basketball aptitude and work ethic made his ceiling immesurable. Now, I am sure he will be a very good player, but will probably never have the elevation that he had in the past. Terrible luck.

 

[carey]

I truly belive the Suns are cursed.

 

[mribnik]

Did you guys watch the video I did? I didn't come out depressed at all. Amare is out of shape and stiff. He says he's better than he was in March and I believe him. Phil Weber said he looked good and I believe him too.

 

[Muggum]

Don't get me wrong, my post was of the 'wandering through the deepest, darkest, most pessimistic place in my heart' variety. I'm still clinging to hope. But I do remember a giddy conversation I had in the playoffs last year, where I said, I can't believe this guy is ours. If he can stay healthy and out of trouble, we're going to be a dynasty. He's going to own the league for a decade. Then Suns-like luck struck. The worst the franchise has ever had. It breaks my heart to think about it.

But I'm going to try, try, try to have faith. It's still early.

God, microfracture surgery is butchery.

See how I go back and forth?! Sigh.

 

[George O'Brien]

Oh my god, the season starts in just four months and Amare isn't ready yet.

 

[ASUCHRIS]

Did you guys watch the video I did? I didn't come out depressed at all. Amare is out of shape and stiff. He says he's better than he was in March and I believe him. Phil Weber said he looked good and I believe him too.

Amare is out of shape and stiff ever since he had the surgery.

What is Weber going to say? Man, he looks like he is on stilts!

BTW George, getting too excited about Amare's game against the Blazers is a little much. The Blazers did their best Washington Generals impersonation, and Amare didn't show any explosion and looked stiff. Hardly worth writing home about...

 

[mribnik]

Amare is out of shape and stiff ever since he had the surgery.

What is Weber going to say? Man, he looks like he is on stilts!

BTW George, getting too excited about Amare's game against the Blazers is a little much. The Blazers did their best Washington Generals impersonation, and Amare didn't show any explosion and looked stiff. Hardly worth writing home about...

Amare has been out of shape because he's had two surgeries. He was slowly getting back into shape after the first one, then had problems, and now he's slowly getting back into shape after the second one. Amare sounded like he was content with his progress. I would have to think that a person with Amare's self-confidence wouldn't be if he didn't feel he could come back strong.

Perhaps we're cursed, or perhaps Amare's injury opened the doors for Diaw to develop and Barbosa to get more minutes, which will lead to a great season this year. Perhaps it's neither. If you look at that video starting with the assumption that Amare will never be the same then you'll probably see it that way. If you look at it with the assumption that Amare is going to rebound to his former self, you probably won't. Who knows how he'll really be, but I'll wait until he's playing in real games to start worrying/celebrating.

 

[JWF]

lol.....im sure amare wont be the guy he was before the surgery, atleast not for another year or two, but to use this video as evidence of how he will do in games, good or bad....is pretty laughable. He obviously wasnt putting in much effort in terms of scoring or defense. It seemed he was mostly trying to run up and down the court to improve his stamnia and shape, while also getting some passing practice. Id wait until about midseason of this upcoming season before you pass any judgements. Its simply way to early at this point. Especially based of rookie practice videos.

 

[carrrnuttt]

Here's a very recent video of Amare playing, and I don't know what to say, I fell into a deep depression watching it. I have crushing, legitimate fears that he's never going to be the same Amare. He's a shell. A freaking shell. At about the 9:00 mark, he gets the ball in the high post and tries to drive, but the speed just isn't there. He gets shut down almost instantly by some no-name and lamely passes his way out of trouble. Bo Jackson, anyone? God I'm depressed.

mms://phxsuns.wmod.llnwd.net/a205/o2/ro ... 060705.wmv

It's all a matter of perspective.

To most of those guys, it's their only chance this year, maybe ever, to play for a professional basketball team. To Amare, it's just one small step in the process of returning to form.

Besides, 90% of those guys won't touch the ball in the summer leagues as much as Amare will be next season in regular NBA play. Why should Amare overextend himself now?