Amare Stoudemire

[Don Draper]

I've been seeing alot of people dissing Amare on this board (some going as far as to call him overrated).

First, Amare's bad defense is exaggerated.
1. Playing out of position at center for most of the year
2. He has horrible perimeter defenders in front of him (Steve Nash, Barbosa, etc.)
3. I truly believe Mike D'Antoni told him to relax on defense so he could a) not give up fouls b) save energy for offense (especially against Duncan)
4. Sad as it may seem with Marion gone he might be the best defensive starter (Raja Bell isn't that good)
5. I admit he does suck on pick and roll and he isn't consistent
6. Who would you rather have on defense Dirk or Amare?

Offensively, no post player in the NBA is more productive or unstoppable than Amare.
1. Good midrange
2. Runs the floor
3. Well versed in the pick and roll
4. Loves to finish
5. Puts the ball on the floor
6. Can play back to the basket (still needs to work on this)
7. Shoots a good FT%
8. Very quick for his size

Amare is no worse than a top 5 PF IMO. I seriously can't see where the overrated talk is coming from. Would like to hear what you guys think.

[rsavaj]

Amare's defense is as bad as advertised. He can play some lockdown defense, but that's never beyond more than one or two possessions and that's only if he's motivated to play D, and that motivation comes from being involved in the offense. That's the first knock against Amare; unless he's scoring, he won't give a crap about playing defense.

Raja Bell is a much better defender than Amare.

As far as his offense goes, he still needs to develop his post game.

I agree that he's a top 5 PF.

[MaryvalesFinest]

Yeah if anything Amare is underated

-2nd most dunks in the entire league last season (over 200)

-Top 5 shot blocker

-Top 5 in scoring at 25 points per game

-Averaged 29 points after the Shaq trade

Yeah the only people dissing Amare either are Suns haters or don't watch many Suns games.

[Don Draper]

Amare's defense is as bad as advertised. He can play some lockdown defense, but that's never beyond more than one or two possessions and that's only if he's motivated to play D, and that motivation comes from being involved in the offense. That's the first knock against Amare; unless he's scoring, he won't give a crap about playing defense.

Raja Bell is a much better defender than Amare.

As far as his offense goes, he still needs to develop his post game.

I agree that he's a top 5 PF.

I agree but I feel that his defense looked that bad because

1) His perimeter defenders are poo cheese
2) His coach didn't care if he played defense

Mainly #2. I think Amare's defense will be much improved not playing in D'Antoni's first to 130 system. But Nash and Barbosa provide no coverage. Raja Bell's defense is not that good. It just looks good on such a bad defensive team.

[Don Draper]

Dunks don't matter.

[tsherkin]

Amare's defensive issues were exacerbated by Phoenix's weak overall defensive caliber, sure, but when you're lampooning the perimeter defenders, don't forget that Hill and Bell are both solid or better defensively and that Diaw is occasionally capable of competent defense... Barbosa, too.

D'Antoni certainly presented a problem, not emphasizing the issue but he had the same problem with Frank Johnson.

Amare has terrible defensive footwork, plays with his hands down and tries to bring his hands up and play D with his hands... all classic and flagrant departures from defensive fundamentals.

He's a straight-up bad defender man-on in the post or on the wing. He's got the physical attributes to be a good defender and when he's motivated, as rsavaj noted, he has shown that he CAN play good D, but he is most certainly as bad as advertised.

[shawngoat23]

6. Who would you rather have on defense Dirk or Amare?

Dirk.

I also disagree with you on most of the counts above.

[NO-KG-AI]

So D'Antoni told him not to play defense because he will foul, yet he was 3rd in in fouls per game in the entire league. He fouls because he is a terrible defender.

[Chubby Chaser]

Definitely overrated. His man defense is atrocious at best and is now only dominating the paint because of all the attention shaq is drawing. Most of his scoring still comes from dunks. He's undersized as well. There are a lot of other big men that I'd pick over Amare if I were starting a franchise.

[Chubby Chaser]

Definitely overrated. His man defense is atrocious at best and is now only dominating the paint because of all the attention shaq is drawing. Most of his scoring still comes from dunks. He's undersized as well. There are a lot of other big men that I'd pick over Amare if I were starting a franchise.

[Don Draper]

6. Who would you rather have on defense Dirk or Amare?

Dirk.

I also disagree with you on most of the counts above.

If you guys say Amare has bad footwork, then Dirk has two left feet. Dirk is an atrocious defender. Avery Johnson did a very good job of hiding Dirk on defense. He does everything worse than Amare. At least Amare can block a shot. Have you ever seen Dirk play defense? Laughable at best. He's a good fouler though

Definitely overrated. His man defense is atrocious at best and is now only dominating the paint because of all the attention shaq is drawing. Most of his scoring still comes from dunks. He's undersized as well. There are a lot of other big men that I'd pick over Amare if I were starting a franchise.

So what if he dunks, isn't that still scoring? But...

Amare averages 2.64 dunks per game and he makes 9 FGs a game and 7 FTs a game so "most of his scoring comes from dunks" is a lie. Nice try though. Watch Amare play.

Amare is AT LEAST better than Dirk and their aren't many big men better than Dirk.

[Throwback24]

Amare is not better than Dirk and I'd rather have Dirk playing defense.

[Don Draper]

Amare is not better than Dirk and I'd rather have Dirk playing defense.

Wow. Have you ever seen Dirk play defense?

What does he do better on defense than Amare. I would love to see what you guys make up.

[dockingsched]

So D'Antoni told him not to play defense because he will foul, yet he was 3rd in in fouls per game in the entire league. He fouls because he is a terrible defender.

i was going to make the same point. how uninformed do u have to be to argue that d'antoni told him to relax and not foul when amare is one of the most foul prone players in the league.

[Throwback24]

Amare is not better than Dirk and I'd rather have Dirk playing defense.

Wow. Have you ever seen Dirk play defense?

What does he do better on defense than Amare. I would love to see what you guys make up.

Put his hand up and keep his head up. Amare slouches. That's all, that's it.

[Don Draper]

So D'Antoni told him not to play defense because he will foul, yet he was 3rd in in fouls per game in the entire league. He fouls because he is a terrible defender.

i was going to make the same point. how uninformed do u have to be to argue that d'antoni told him to relax and not foul when amare is one of the most foul prone players in the league.

He is very foul prone, and that why I believe that. The point most of the time it looks as if Amare is not even trying on defense. And IMO that is coaching. Plus it isn't just Amare. THEIR WHOLE TEAM DOESN'T DEFEND.

It also doesn't help that Amare has been playing out of position for so long.
Who said being foul prone automatically means you are a bad defender?

You guys should really go back and rewatch some Suns games...

[Duiz]

Dirk actually has impressed me with his defense, specially over this last year.

But Amare, I mean, you could have KG run the point if we ask him to, he can shoot a 3 pointer if we ask him to, he could guard a PG if needed. If you need a good screen, and good last isolation man-to-man defense, you can go to KG.

But Amare, he shoots free throws and shoots the ball and shoots it well. I don't know his rate of AND 1s, but I am sure he is up there with Kobe and LeBron. But he isn't any versatile. Yes, he goes for blocks, but that doesn't constitute for good defense.

The guy is like Carmelo, should never be or have been on 1st or 2nd All-NBA Teams..

[Don Draper]

Dirk actually has impressed me with his defense, specially over this last year.

But Amare, I mean, you could have KG run the point if we ask him to, he can shoot a 3 pointer if we ask him to, he could guard a PG if needed. If you need a good screen, and good last isolation man-to-man defense, you can go to KG.

But Amare, he shoots free throws and shoots the ball and shoots it well. I don't know his rate of AND 1s, but I am sure he is up there with Kobe and LeBron. But he isn't any versatile. Yes, he goes for blocks, but that doesn't constitute for good defense.

The guy is like Carmelo, should never be or have been on 1st or 2nd All-NBA Teams..

Aren't you the same guy who said Amare pads his stats because of the pace Phoenix runs?
Sorry sir. That myth has already been debunked.

Of course he is not as good as KG. KG is in a class of his own.

What do you mean by versatile? If you mean offensively, then I will have to disagree. I already outline all the things he can do on offense in an earlier post.

If you mean versatile in comparison to Garnett, then I will agree. But then again how many people have the complete skill set of KG (offensively and defensively)? You'll be hard pressed to find players who fit this mold.

I ASK AGAIN, WHAT CAN DIRK DO ON DEFENSE THAT AMARE CANNOT/DOESN'T?

[nashill]

most of his critics are correct actually. but what is good about it is that, its all up to amare. most players that are being criticized are actually limited to what they can do but in amare's case, its all up to his self. meaning he is capable of improving his overall game.

all of the things that are mentioned by the thread starter are facts and most of the criticism are true also. that means amare can be a top 5 player but he has a lot of work to be done.

[Basti]

2. He has horrible perimeter defenders in front of him (Steve Nash, Barbosa, etc.)

that doesn't change the fact that many big men score career highs vs Amare.

6. Who would you rather have on defense Dirk or Amare?

Dirk. at least he's trying to.