MSG3 wrote:I don't get excited about the 'ol working hard bit anymore. He worked hard to gain 20 lbs and grow an inch last year and had one of his worst pro seasons. I believe in his ability to have a great bounce back year, but it better include boxing out, playing D and getting his J to fall again.

That's just it, he didn't have a normal off season of work due to his Back injury limiting him for most of the off season. This time around he's been able to actually work and I believe he's gonna come back in the best shape he's been in for a while now. STAT has typically bounced back from injury in his 2nd year after the injury and I fully expect that he'll do the same thing. It takes time for a spinal injury to not only heal, but for an athlete to also regain flexibility and core strength. I'm glad that he's able to actually work on those things and i'm glad he's gonna try to add post moves to his game.

If he's fully healed then he should be less stiff as he clearly was last year. That would be a huge plus for this team if we get STAT with his jumper back, some post moves and his lively body back. DON'T HATE! APPRECIATE!!!

nixluva wrote:

MSG3 wrote:I don't get excited about the 'ol working hard bit anymore. He worked hard to gain 20 lbs and grow an inch last year and had one of his worst pro seasons. I believe in his ability to have a great bounce back year, but it better include boxing out, playing D and getting his J to fall again.

That's just it, he didn't have a normal off season of work due to his Back injury limiting him for most of the off season. This time around he's been able to actually work and I believe he's gonna come back in the best shape he's been in for a while now. STAT has typically bounced back from injury in his 2nd year after the injury and I fully expect that he'll do the same thing. It takes time for a spinal injury to not only heal, but for an athlete to also regain flexibility and core strength. I'm glad that he's able to actually work on those things and i'm glad he's gonna try to add post moves to his game.

If he's fully healed then he should be less stiff as he clearly was last year. That would be a huge plus for this team if we get STAT with his jumper back, some post moves and his lively body back. DON'T HATE! APPRECIATE!!!

I dont hate at all. I've said several times he's the key cog next year. Im a big STAT fan. If he has a good year sky's the limit for this team. I'm just sick of the talk. I think we'll be good but have visions of a 10-15 start and everyone reverting to the "time to gel" routine. We need a good start and to stay healthy and strong all year. Focus and effort. That needs to be the mantra of the year.

CashMoney wrote:

holfresh wrote:I use to pay attention to offseason workout articles hoping guys in the roster are doing all they can to improve ..Over the years I have been disappointed with what many have said they were doing in the offseason ...Tell u what. STAT is a big boy, let's see how he looks come Oct./Nov..

Not all about looks, he's going to be working with Hakeem on post moves as well.

Given the fact that Amare hardly has any back to the basket or classic moves in the post, it will be easy for us to see if he really had developed some new moves.

The proof is in the pudding, as the saying goes. Lets see what shape he is in and the moves he has learned when we see him play.

Same goes for Anthony and his weight/body fat improvement, and Chandler's new offensive look.

PPl..you paid amre that kind of money to lure other players, not to say amare was a player who is worth it, but as an investment..If we didn't get amare, no melo, no Tyson just a bunch of young players who need 6 yrs to learn how to win..

I don't care how much $ you over pay a player in this league, he's always tradable..(see joe johnson, see arenas, see EISELY see anybody you could name)

Why do ppl drive cars they can't afford, it's to up hold a image so you can attract ppl with money, chicks with money..

If we had wade on this team, guy's would be saying...oooh, wades injury prone, he can't play 82 games, we should trade him for paul or deron...

We didn't have the luxury of letting AMARE walk because of an extra 10 mill, we were a laughing stock..AMARE SIGN and claim the knicks are BACK, and he took us to the PLAYOFFS and made this team attactive..some of you live a pipe dream....like we had a bunch of options and players were lining up..

knicks1248 wrote:you guys are so hard on amare..man, it's ridiculous, is anybody on the roster flawless, is anybody in the nba flawless..I believe if we had kobe and labron we would still be critisizing his every flaw

He was clearly out of shape last season so he deserves a little bashing. I knew we were in trouble when every time I saw or heard about him it was anything except basketball. It seems for a lot of players they just didnt put work in because of the lock out then were caught off guard with no pre season. Knicks were set up to fail last year its no wonder we started off so poorly.

CashMoney wrote:I watched Amare's interview during the SL game yesterday. He said that coming off the back injury and not being able to speak to anyone on the Knicks medical staff due to the lockout he did what he thought would be best for his back so he was working out like a mad man. He didn't want to push it since he didn't know how his back would react so he stayed away from playing. When the season started he didn't feel like himself and felt like he was playing catchup all year.

He's at 245 right now and looks like he's in tremendous shape. Said he's 100% ready for the season and feels great. He also said that he's been working on his post game and we'll be seeing a different player this year. Hope his talk is legit becuase if he goes back to Amare in beast mode it's on.

Hey, it was a good interview and Amare said all the right things.

But, this:

"not being able to speak to anyone on the Knicks medical staff due to the lockout he did what he thought would be best"

Could have been the dumbest statement I have ever heard from an NBA player - and I've heard DUMB!

The guy signed a 100 million dollar contract, the NBA is in lockout mode, he can't speak to the Knicks medical staff, so he does "what he thought was best?" Are you kidding me?

PERHAPS THERE ARE OTHER TOP BACK SPECIALISTS IN THE CITY THAT TAKE HIS INSURANCE, OR, THAT HE CAN SPLURGE AND PAY A COUPLE OF HUNDRED BUCKS ON AN OFFICE VISIT?

Comical!

I was arguing with somebody yesterday who stated that amare was a low IQ defender and its not his fault - I did not buy it, but, perhaps I was very wrong.

He was 6'11 and 260 lbs entering last season, not a stretch by any means.

P.S. - I know he weighs 245 lbs now, just want see if my homeboy FM is on Amare patrol.