By Ian Begley

NBA Hall of Famer Hakeem Olajuwon taught Amar'e Stoudemire some of his post moves in the summer 2012. Now, he'd like to see the Knicks give Stoudemire a chance to use them.

Olajuwon thinks the team's minutes limit on Stoudemire makes it difficult for him to get into a rhythm on the court.

"In five, ten minutes, it's tough," Olajuwon told ESPN New York by phone. "You're worried about making a mistake, trying to do too much."

As long as Stoudemire's knees are healthy, he should be playing more minutes than 10-15 per night, Olajuwon said.

"It has to be tough for him. If he's feeling good, why not let him play?" he said.

Stoudemire feels the same way.

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Last week, he talked about how tough it was to succeed while playing 10-15 minutes per game.

"It's making me look like my game is gone or that I don't have game anymore because when you play five minutes, it's just tough to really get in a rhythm," said Stoudemire, who spent two weeks learning post moves from Olajuwon at his camp in Houston two summers ago.

Of course, the Knicks are trying to ensure that Stoudemire remains healthy. That's why they have him on a minutes limit. After all, the 31-year-old has had three knee procedures in a ten-month span.

But the minutes limit has taken a toll on Stoudemire.

He's shooting just 39 percent from the field and is scoring just 3.8 points per game in seven games.

And that leads us to our question: Should the Knicks listen to Hakeem and scrap Stoudemire's minutes limit?

Hakeem's Dream: Olajuwon is working with the NBA and Exxon Mobil initiative to contribute to Nigeria through sports. He says he's using basketball as a conduit to teach Nigerian children life and leadership skills.

"You can learn so much from the game," he said. "I just wanted to give back."

Up now: Carmelo Anthony isn't getting "superstar" calls -- and Mike Woodson isn't happy about it. Woodson also said he's not worried about his job status, despite the Knicks' slow start.

Also, Woodson said referees made the right call when they whistled Iman Shumpert for a costly foul late in regulation against Indiana on Wednesday.

Lastly, we ask readers whether they would trade Shumpert or if they see him as a valuable piece for the Knicks.

What's next: The Knicks will practice on Friday to prepare for Saturday's road game against the Wizards.

Question: Should the Knicks listen to Hakeem and scrap Stoudemire's minutes limit?

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Doesn't have to be the way I suggested, but I agree with Woodson that you can't treat Stat like he doesn't have seriously f'ed up knees. If Stat is going to play more minutes than he should, I'd rather it was during the second half of the season.

Clean wrote:I think the Knicks are in a tough spot. They can't increase STATs minutes too much. He will then be on the floor the same time as Bargs. Having 2 of the worst rotational defenders of all time on the floor at the same time is a big problem. I personally would make STAT the 15th player. His defense is too bad to actually play him. He will always give up more points than he will score. At least Bargs can give you Man defense.

His reduction in minutes are not due to just health, it's a cover up due to limited minutes for a non defensive PF. There's no room on this team for minutes at PF, with Bargs, Martin, Melo, Chandler, Tyler, even that new dude from summer league. Put Amari at center, and our defense is even worst. Amari at center only works in a face pace offense like .... In Woody's offense, there are limited minutes for Amari. If he can play defense like Kenyon Martin, then he can take his minutes. But Martin brings more defensive presence near the paint, with better lateral quickness.

Bonn1997 wrote:Why would we give more minutes to our worst player?

We got a lot of worst players. So I don't see the difference but to get some value out of Amare until his contract ends. Besides I think he is still capable of playing at a higher level but he needs PT.

Bonn1997 wrote:

Vmart wrote:

Bonn1997 wrote:Why would we give more minutes to our worst player?

We got a lot of worst players. So I don't see the difference but to get some value out of Amare until his contract ends. Besides I think he is still capable of playing at a higher level but he needs PT.

He has the worst +/- (almost -30 per 48 min). He's scoring roughly 73 and giving up 109 points per 100 possessions. I could list more #s but the picture won't get any prettier.

The guy plays less than 5-10 minutes a game. He hasn't even played a f'ing 100 possesions in the season. Your seening a player who is rusty and not getting a chance to get into playing shape. They are freezing him out once he is on the court too.

Vmart wrote:

Bonn1997 wrote:

Vmart wrote:

Bonn1997 wrote:Why would we give more minutes to our worst player?

We got a lot of worst players. So I don't see the difference but to get some value out of Amare until his contract ends. Besides I think he is still capable of playing at a higher level but he needs PT.

He has the worst +/- (almost -30 per 48 min). He's scoring roughly 73 and giving up 109 points per 100 possessions. I could list more #s but the picture won't get any prettier.

The guy plays less than 5-10 minutes a game. He hasn't even played a f'ing 100 possesions in the season. Your seening a player who is rusty and not getting a chance to get into playing shape. They are freezing him out once he is on the court too.

I think the point is it does not matter if he is rusty or not. His D is so bad he will ALWAYS give up more points than he scores. So if he becomes less rusty over time he will score 5 points for every 10 he gives up instead of 3 points for every 10 he gives up? I want nothing to do with a player who plays defense as bad as Amare.

I don't care how frustrated he gets in his post game interviews. Remember last year before the OKC game? He said that he was feeling "phenomenal" and that he wanted increased minutes. The very next day after those increased minutes he needed surgery. The only reason to play him any kind of normal minutes would be so he can get a knee injury and rid the team of his distractions.

Clean wrote:

Vmart wrote:

Bonn1997 wrote:

Vmart wrote:

Bonn1997 wrote:Why would we give more minutes to our worst player?

We got a lot of worst players. So I don't see the difference but to get some value out of Amare until his contract ends. Besides I think he is still capable of playing at a higher level but he needs PT.

He has the worst +/- (almost -30 per 48 min). He's scoring roughly 73 and giving up 109 points per 100 possessions. I could list more #s but the picture won't get any prettier.

The guy plays less than 5-10 minutes a game. He hasn't even played a f'ing 100 possesions in the season. Your seening a player who is rusty and not getting a chance to get into playing shape. They are freezing him out once he is on the court too.

I think the point is it does not matter if he is rusty or not. His D is so bad he will ALWAYS give up more points than he scores. So if he becomes less rusty over time he will score 5 points for every 10 he gives up instead of 3 points for every 10 he gives up? I want nothing to do with a player who plays defense as bad as Amare.

I don't care how frustrated he gets in his post game interviews. Remember last year before the OKC game? He said that he was feeling "phenomenal" and that he wanted increased minutes. The very next day after those increased minutes he needed surgery. The only reason to play him any kind of normal minutes would be so he can get a knee injury and rid the team of his distractions.

Amare might not be a great defensive player but I believe what you are seeing is more a result of lack of play. Let Amare play his minute it's not like the knicks are going to win any championships. What is the worst that can happen Amare plays well or he goes out at which point the team can move on. Free Amare he may be the only hope the Knicks have to salvage the season.

CrushAlot wrote:I really like the idea of moving Stat for Humphries and Crash. I think a Wallace/Metta rotation or playing them at the same time would be really hard on teams. Humphries minutes and numbers have been down but he is a big that gets rebounds and plays physical. It would add a lot to the roster. Also, a 2 for 1 deal would require that someone be waived.

Are you winning a championship with that?