What do Suns fans think of Amar'e?

[Naan]

Let me know the positives and negatives. No, this will not be trolling. I want honest scouting reports from fans who know him best.

[justinb80]

Positives:

- Probably the most potent offensive weapon in the NBA, especially among power forwards
- Pretty durable (sort of ironic ... when he's missed time, it's been for major surgeries; however, he went almost two seasons without missing a game)
- Is still young
- Has a great jump-shot
- One of the best "and 1" players in the league
- Solid help defender and shot-blocker

Negatives:

- Has a low basketball IQ
- Can't keep his mouth shut
- Hasn't grasped the important of defense in being an elite player
- Has had some major surgeries that have been career-threatening to other players

[The_Setz]

Positives:

Powerful as hell
Outstanding hands
Great from <18 feet
Good at finishing after contact
Good at help D...blocking shots anyway
Can man up on skinny PFs/Cs
Unstoppable on pick n roll
Can change directions/stop/start really well
Can finish with both hands

Negatives:

Can be out-muscled on the low block on defense
Lost a little lift on his jumping ability post Microfracture
Hasn't really improved low post game much (no go to moves)
A little slow on help defense when it comes to picking up other people's men
Got a little jumpshot happy but that could have been the O'neal factor
Has to be the "Man"
Loses his cool too often and gets T'd up

[aIvin adams]

i dont think he has a low bball iq on offense. maybe a little too focused on his own production than the team's, but thats hardly noticeable so long as his production is inextricably linked to the team's!
he's often in the right spot at the right time and ahs been since he was drafted by the suns.

on D his bball smarts are average to below average. he's an athletic and heads up help defender but he rotates slowly (if ever sometimes) and is out of position too much to be considered a positive contributor to defense. his man to man defense is below average also

[Wormwood74]

Positives:

* Best in the game at "and ones". Literally gets more opportunities at this, and converts, per game than anyone

* Prettiest jump shot in the game for a big man. Hits a ridiculous percentage from 12-18 feet for a big man.

* Unbelievable finisher on the pick and roll. Knows how to be the "roll" man as well as anyone in the NBA.

* Freakishly high FG and FT%

* Posseses nice spin moves around the basket, as well as the ability to drive to the basket and finish that is rare in big men.

* When he's rolling on offense, he's simply one of the best players in basketball, and is nearly unstoppable unless you put a top flight defender on him and cool him down quickly.

* Unbelievable athleticism allows him to make emphatic plays (dunks, blocked shots) which can change the momentum of a game in one play.

* Great body control and timing allows him to block shots as well as make high degree of difficulty buckets.

* Emotional player... but that's atwo edged sword.

* Range goes all the way out to the 3 point line.

* Comes to camp every year looking like he's been training for a Mr. Universe competition. 2nd most chisled player in the league behind D. Howard IMHO.


Negatives:

* Very low IQ on defense. Slow on rotations, and is an atrocious defender of the post. No idea how to use his strength or use leverage to keep people from getting inside position.

* Below average rebounder. 48th out of 77 amongst PFs in rebounding rate according to Hollinger's stats.

* Out of control emotionally...doesn't use his head. Way too many technicals, and that suspension vs. San Antonio a few years ago may have cost us a championship.

* No go to post moves or back to the basket game. Amare's post game is comically bad when faced with a really good defender like Tim Duncan. I remember watching Amare try and post up TD 3 possessions in a row...and all three turned into TO's or badly missed shots.

* Black hole on offense... 45th out of 77 PFs in assist rate. He doesn't make other players around him better.

* Effort is sporadic. Usually one of the last guys up the court on a fast break based team. Only puts out effort on defense when he's not in any foul trouble.

* Game appears to have peaked. His offense is fine... but Phoenix fans have been waiting for him to show improvement on the defensive side of the ball, whether it is in terms of effort, technique, footwork, or bball IQ, and we have seen none in the past 5 years.

[NashtyNas]

Everything you want offensively from any PF, you will get from him. There's no complaints on him about anything except keeping his mouth shut, and not giving any effort at the other side of the ball. If he could maybe go to a KG camp or something to learn the importance of defense, he would be unstoppable.