Amar'e Stoudemire's Resurgence

[frogfood]

good stuff Crazy

[BOOMbip]

I'm actually impressed with the improvement in his game that Amar'e has been able achieve. All the time we hear about this sort of thing but rarely do wee see a player make such a dramatic change in one off season and even less likely so late in their careers.

The best part of it is how he has employed these newly found skills. He isn't trying to become something he is not, no back to the basket ball pounding to stall the offense that results in more bad shots and turnovers than it does baskets. He's used the post moves by adding them to his already large repertoire of finishing moves in the paint.

His biggest offensive flaw use to be committing offensive fouls by charging into players off face up moves. It seems he's been using these new moves to keep his man off balance and find a route to the basket by taking what the defender gives him. I don't think I've seen him commit more than a handful of offensive fouls since he's returned.

His explosion around the basket is back to the level we first saw him arrive in NY with. He's just letting the offense flow to him and not forcing it. Opposing teams just can't focus on keeping Tyson away from the basket when both of these guys are on the floor together since both can finish plays above the rim. Both are in the top 5 in FG% so it gives penetrating players more room to drive to the basket because they can't leave either of these two to contest the shot without getting yammed on.

Great video, I really liked it. Didn't mind the text portions even though there was one mistake in 'idol' instead of the proper word 'idle'. The song was a great choice, too. Gave it a nice groovy vibe, uplifting and feel good mood to it.

[frogfood]

Good post Boombip. It's become a running joke how so many players spent their offseason "working out with Hakeem." For once it looks like it paid off handsomely.

[K_ick_God]

I definitely think Amar'e learned some tangible things -- the better footwork, a little drop-step, the baby hook.

Usually the Hakeem talk is just nonsense. I personally dismissed it, too. This time it's paying off and hopefully he can only get sharper as he gets more practice and game time.

Amar'e is a committed athlete. Remember this guy had to lay face down for like a week, all day except an hour or so, to heal his eye. His mental toughness is there.

The effort on defense is also improved. Not major improvements in actual practice there but a little it seems. He definitely knows it's a weakness and is trying to turn up his motor. Very hard to do though, because that's instinct/awareness and in the DNA.

Bravo to him. Keep it rolling.

[opeth04]

Stat catches a lot of heat from people in this forum; mainly because they have been brainwashed by the media, who tells them what to think and how to think it. The truth is this.
Amare came to this team when everyone else turned around and chose another team. Yeah you can say "We payed him all that money" Well NO. You didn't pay for sh it because its not your money! I bet that if anyone of you were in Stats shoes you would take that money on one leg.
But here is why Amare is worth every bit of that 100mil to me.

1. Without Amare no Melo. Period.
2. Without Amare no Chandler. Period.
3. Without Amare we will still suck!
4. Without Amare we are not a championship team.

Furthermore, Amare has the most integrity of anyone in this team. the dude always does what is asked of him. Yes he has been injured but like Melo said he didn't asked to be injured.

But I will never forget the excitement that Amare brought to this team his first year here. So I don't know how this year will end for him but I will be extremely happy if Amare continues to shut everyone up.

[frogfood]

Stat catches a lot of heat from people in this forum; mainly because they have been brainwashed by the media, who tells them what to think and how to think it.

He catches a lot of heat here because of his rebounding and defensive play.

[suicidedeuce]

Stat catches a lot of heat from people in this forum; mainly because they have been brainwashed by the media, who tells them what to think and how to think it.

He catches a lot of heat here because of his rebounding and defensive play.

That's like water catching heat for being wet.

At what point should reasonable people acknowledge players for who they are (who he was before he came here) rather than a fantasy version of said player?

[frogfood]

Yes, because asking for increased effort on D from a max player is asking too much.

In case you haven't noticed, STAT has been playing harder on D so your point is moot anyway.

[Sky_Knicks]

Great vid but not feeling the music choice, something a bit more serious or epic would be awesome.

With all due respect ....

Gotta say I love the music choice "Move On Up" by Curtis Mayfield. One of my all time favorite artists and songs. And it captures the spirit for the overcoming of adversity and the hope for the future.

Are you familiar with who Curtis Mayfield is?

Pusher man is my favorite of his. You gotta love Curtis mayfield.

[suicidedeuce]

Yes, because asking for increased effort on D from a max player is asking too much.

Got nothing to do with justifying the complaining. Its about ADjusting to reality.

One can justify any complaint indefinitely.

But the point again is, after a certain time the justification doesn't change the fact you're just complaining for the sake of complaining.

[Bravery]

His slashing has really improved compared to last year. Usually when he slices in traffic he either gets striped or the defender tries to get him off center on his drives which results in an out of bounds call. That still happens on a few occasions, but it seems less often. What that tells me is his back seems to be alright and he's regained his quickness/explosiveness which is what made Amar'e so damn good in PHX with a p+r PG.

I like that since his return, he's been getting most of his points inside rather then relying on his mid-range jumper. Coming off a injury and rust, he needs to establish some confidence early before he can drain those outside shots.

[frogfood]

Yes, because asking for increased effort on D from a max player is asking too much.

Got nothing to do with justifying the complaining. Its about ADjusting to reality.

One can justify any complaint indefinitely.

But the point again is, after a certain time the justification doesn't change the fact you're just complaining for the sake of complaining.

In case you didn't see the trail of replies, the poster above me was tilting at windmills, calling out people in this forum over a bevy of imaginary hate.

Regardless, your reply still doesn't make sense since his atrocious D was made a point where he himself acknowledged it and *gasp* he is playing better at it now. Not sure why this is so hard to understand?

[Capn'O]

I've noticed Amar'e playing SMARTER, not harder on D. His footwork/stance is better and he is anticipating moves and playing angles better face up.

His PNR D still blows.


Ibraheim and I started a discussion the other day about coaches wanting to "win now" and just using players as they are rather than really going back and teaching skills. With so many players coming from HS or just one year of college that approach is just so misguided. So many of these guys have just coasted on athleticism and have almost no real NBA skills. You see it with Stat. Just a little bit of fundamental big-man basketball instruction at the pro level and BOOM. Huge dividends.

It takes a player of Stat's commitment to develop later but not enough is done with these young bucks early. Surely you could tell a Derrick Favors "dude, you're not playing until you spend two weeks working on moves with 'coach x.'" OR ACTUALLY USE THE D-LEAGUE THE WAY THE KNICKS DID WITH AMAR'E AND SHUMP. If Amar'e can do it, so can you. You can even frame the discussion in terms of earning potential. If you reach a certain skills milestone you'll get a certain amount of burn and then teams will want to pay you more when you show these kinds of skills.

[Capn'O]

His slashing has really improved compared to last year. Usually when he slices in traffic he either gets striped or the defender tries to get him off center on his drives which results in an out of bounds call. That still happens on a few occasions, but it seems less often. What that tells me is his back seems to be alright and he's regained his quickness/explosiveness which is what made Amar'e so damn good in PHX with a p+r PG.

I like that since his return, he's been getting most of his points inside rather then relying on his mid-range jumper. Coming off a injury and rust, he needs to establish some confidence early before he can drain those outside shots.

His footwork on both ends is just miles ahead of where it has been at any other point in his career. He is squared and balanced for every drive. Every shot. ****, we should send JR to Hakeem

[Bravery]

His slashing has really improved compared to last year. Usually when he slices in traffic he either gets striped or the defender tries to get him off center on his drives which results in an out of bounds call. That still happens on a few occasions, but it seems less often. What that tells me is his back seems to be alright and he's regained his quickness/explosiveness which is what made Amar'e so damn good in PHX with a p+r PG.

I like that since his return, he's been getting most of his points inside rather then relying on his mid-range jumper. Coming off a injury and rust, he needs to establish some confidence early before he can drain those outside shots.

His footwork on both ends is just miles ahead of where it has been at any other point in his career. He is squared and balanced for every drive. Every shot. ****, we should send JR to Hakeem

JR is a good bad shot shooter. Maybe we can send him to Steve Nash's School of soccer shots

[suicidedeuce]

Regardless, your reply still doesn't make sense since his atrocious D was made a point where he himself acknowledged it and *gasp* he is playing better at it now. Not sure why this is so hard to understand?

Its you who does not understand. I'm not defending his defense. I am not saying previous complaints were unjustified in substance. Your response seems to indicate because his D has improved marginally, that means the complaints were justified.

That's missing the point entirely.

Unless you're arguing that a handful of knuckleheads on RealGM CAUSED Stat to reevaluate his D, then all the complaining became redundant, superfluous and pointless a LONG time ago.

Sometimes you can be RIGHT, but still be shouting at the rain AT.THE.SAME.TIME.

I already KNOW J.R. Smith is going to be streaky and try to do too much sometimes. I know Felton is going to shoot too much sometimes. I know Stat isn't going to be an elite rebounder and Melo isn't going to be as good as Durant or James.

At which point do you FACTOR in a player's strengths and weaknesses and stop hoping against hope the weaknesses disappear like magic one day?

[dperl82]

this obviously took a lot of time to put together and the fact that there was even one critique is embarrassing.

we can not win a championship without melo but how can you not love amare. i go to all the games and everyone around me (maybe not fri night) always has something negative to say about amare and chant mvp when melo is 10-30 from the field. i really dont get it.

he brought the knicks back to relevance and the hand punching snafu aside he has been a model citizen and a role model to all on and off the court. if melo or any other star spent as much time trying to improve new parts of there game like amare has the quality of the league as a whole would rise to a much better level then it is today.

Thanks for the video.

lets go STAT!!!

[frogfood]

@suicidedeuce Again...So what. What the hell does that have to do with my post? I was correcting someone and you're taking my reply out of context and making it into this RealGM board existential nonsense.

edit: W/E, Sorry for the detour Crazy!

[K_ick_God]

Regardless, your reply still doesn't make sense since his atrocious D was made a point where he himself acknowledged it and *gasp* he is playing better at it now. Not sure why this is so hard to understand?

Its you who does not understand. I'm not defending his defense. I am not saying previous complaints were unjustified in substance. Your response seems to indicate because his D has improved marginally, that means the complaints were justified.

That's missing the point entirely.

Unless you're arguing that a handful of knuckleheads on RealGM CAUSED Stat to reevaluate his D, then all the complaining became redundant, superfluous and pointless a LONG time ago.

Sometimes you can be RIGHT, but still be shouting at the rain AT.THE.SAME.TIME.

I already KNOW J.R. Smith is going to be streaky and try to do too much sometimes. I know Felton is going to shoot too much sometimes. I know Stat isn't going to be an elite rebounder and Melo isn't going to be as good as Durant or James.

At which point do you FACTOR in a player's strengths and weaknesses and stop hoping against hope the weaknesses disappear like magic one day?

This could be interpreted to mean there's not much of anything to talk about, ever, in life (basketball or other) ... because ... after all ... everything is the way it is always going to be.

[Loisl]

Nice video. You showed his improvement in a very good and illustrative manner. That's not an easy thing to do. Kudos to you, Sir.

I would change 2 things though:
1) Amp up the volume when the other players talk about STAT. I couldn't hear them, so I turned up the volume... and then your main theme returned... I almost got a heart attack.
2) Use a smaller fontsize and keep it the same size all the time. Sometimes it's too big, sometimes to small, and other times it's too much text. Keep it simple and readable.