nixluva wrote:

mrKnickShot wrote:

nixluva wrote:There is no reason to doubt this guy when it comes to his work ethic. He may not always focus on the right things, like his defense

FIXED

Funniest comment I've seen in a while.

I think Amar'e is actually gonna have a HUGE season. He's got more talent than some of his detractors admit. When Amar'e is on his game he's a force and a top player in this league. It's a shame that he's had back issues recently. I HATE his defense but that's who he is as a player and even when he's really focused he's not a great defender, but I think if he's healthy he'll show improvement this year. He has to be our #2 scoring option this year.

How can Amare have a committed/great work ethic when he does not give 100 percent on defense? How about a committed rebounder? How often does he not even bother to box out? George Bush was the best president the US ever had though he was not very good at running our country.

I think Amare has freakish talent and thats what he relied on but he probably now realizes that talent is not enough, especially when you get older and experience a myriad of injuries. I give him a lot of credit for his work with Hakeem and believe that he wants to kill it this year.

IMHO, it will all come down to his jumper which was once deadly and has alarmingly vanished. If he can get that back, great. If not, we are screwed! We can look for him to lead the league in charges.

misterearl wrote:Thank Mike Woodson For Making The Phone Call

nixluva wrote:I'm really excited to see what happens if STAT and Tyson can actually absorb a good deal of what Hakeem is teaching. If Tyson in particular could add the jump hook he'd be pretty lethal at his size. I'm not expecting miracles, but just being able to have go to moves would really push this team to new levels. As it is I think the East is really gonna be tough and so we need every edge we can get.

If Tyson Chandler shows up in Houston, and learns one post move from Hakeem, it is just another sign the Knicks players have dedicated this off season to getting better.

"Whats My Motivation?"

A. Our head coach is a demanding mo'fo and we dig how he challenges the best players.

Imagine how the supporting cast will respond to the leaders all pushing themselves to the limit.

Yes, this will be a season to watch.

Maybe Stat can come to camp and give Tyson the drills. Would save Dolan some change.

RonRon wrote:Hakeem Olajuwon said that JaVale McGee should "dominate" the NBA after working with him this summer.

http://www.rotoworld.com/player/nba/1508/javale-mcgee

such high praise from Hakeem, I cannot help but agree, McGee physically is a freak already.
His insane combination of athleticism, length, size, agility, could put him right behind Dwight Howard.

I applaud the effort from Woodson and Amare but he just isn't in the same class of a "freak athlete".
I don't think Amare's training with Hakeem is anywhere close to how McGee could benefit vs McGee.

Simply by watching the 1st video with Amare vs McGee, you can easily see the huge difference physically between the two.
Amare's foot work, lack of speed/quickness, average size/wingspan/length, and mediocre athleticism ,with his decline with age/injuries, separates him from another class.

I think you are INCREDIBLY wrong about Amar'e. 1st of all post play isn't about athletic ability, as in being able to jump out of the gym. The only thing STAT needed was to learn the footwork. He has the shooting touch that Javale does not have. I think you're going to see that Amar'e will be able to use what he learns to a much greater impact than Javale. If you remember Hakeem's game those fadeaway jumpers aren't something just anyone can pull off. You have to be able to actually SHOOT to be able to finish that move off and Amar'e has touch for days compared to Javale. Don't let last year fool you about Amar'e shooting ability. Amar'e is still the man in my book (despite my anger at his defense).

Over a 16-month span that ended in May, Amar’e Stoudemire lost, in no particular order: his health, his brother, his head coach, his primacy in the Knicks’ universe, his scoring touch and, in the end, a little of his dignity.

By the time the Knicks were shoved out of the playoffs in Miami, Stoudemire appeared diminished on every level, his Q-rating and efficiency rating in simultaneous free fall.

“I’m still that player I was last year,” Stoudemire insisted then, vowing a return to full strength and “an incredible year” next season.

The mission began last week, on a quiet ranch in Katy, Tex., where Stoudemire took the first drop-step in a midcareer makeover. The pick-and-rolling, power-dunking star is now a student of the low post. His teacher is a soft-spoken Hall of Famer with a Nigerian accent and two championship rings.

Hakeem Olajuwon, a former Houston Rockets star and an oracle of the low post, is pleased with his pupil’s progress.

“You won’t believe it,” Olajuwon said in a telephone interview from his ranch outside Houston.

The apprenticeship began on Aug. 6, with daily three-hour sessions on Olajuwon’s private court. Stoudemire has proved a quick study, assimilating moves and countermoves as fast as Olajuwon can demonstrate them.

“It’s night and day,” Olajuwon said. “What’s so nice is he wants it; he likes the post. He’s always wanted to play there, but he doesn’t have the moves that would give him that option.”

Since retiring in 2002, Olajuwon has become the N.B.A.’s go-to source for players hoping to develop their post skills. LeBron James, Dwight Howard and Kobe Bryant have visited the Olajuwon ranch. So have Marcin Gortat and the Lopez twins, Brook and Robin. This month, it’s Stoudemire and Denver’s JaVale McGee.

Most players come for about four days, Olajuwon said. Stoudemire is staying for two weeks. His motivation is clear.

Stoudemire’s 17.5-point scoring average in 2011-12 was his worst in a full season since his rookie year. His .483 field-goal percentage was the lowest since his second season. He had his shot blocked 1.3 times per game, furthering speculation that his body was breaking down (although, in fact, that rate was close to his career average).

When the season began, Stoudemire was still dealing with the aftermath of an injured back muscle. In February, his older brother, Hazell, was killed in a car accident, which took a tremendous emotional toll. Stoudemire sustained another back injury (a bulging disk) in late March.

The final injury was self-inflicted and humiliating — a lacerated left hand sustained when Stoudemire smashed a glass fire-extinguisher cover in the Miami arena, after a Game 2 loss to the Heat.

Stoudemire returned to help lead the Knicks to a series-saving Game 4 victory, but the damage to his reputation was done. And although he is known for a high work ethic, Stoudemire had reason to work a little harder this summer.

“This is the most engaged I’ve seen him in years,” said Happy Walters, Stoudemire’s agent. He added, “I think fans will be happy.”

They will be happier still if Stoudemire’s new skills foster a better dynamic with Carmelo Anthony, his All-Star tag-team partner. Stoudemire was a dominant scorer when he joined the Knicks, but his role and production diminished once Anthony arrived in February 2011. The Knicks have a losing record with Anthony and Stoudemire in the lineup, and every advanced statistic shows they are worse when both stars are on the court.

Now Stoudemire has lost the coach (Mike D’Antoni) and the offensive system that made him a star in Phoenix and New York. Without a steady diet of pick-and-roll plays, he will need other ways to score. Enter Olajuwon.

Mike Woodson, the new coach, was Olajuwon’s teammate for two years, and the two remain friends. It was Woodson’s idea to send Stoudemire to Houston.

“The coach, he has a good vision,” Olajuwon said cheerfully.

Even at 29, Stoudemire has the strength, quickness and agility to be an effective post scorer once he masters the footwork and timing.

“His spin is becoming so sharp and crisp,” Olajuwon said. “He could spin all day. He loves it.”

Until now, Stoudemire hardly needed a post game. In his first season in the league he was a high-flying 20-year-old — the Blake Griffin of his generation — before developing a sharp midrange jumper that made him nearly unguardable. He has averaged at least 20 points in seven of his N.B.A. seasons, with a career shooting percentage of .533.

Stoudemire has also played most of his career for D’Antoni, whose offense is predicated on spacing and movement, not dump-it-in-the-post sets. When Stoudemire was averaging 37 points against Tim Duncan in the Western Conference finals, no one saw much need for a low-post game.

“We had so much success with him, averaging almost 60 wins a year in Phoenix with the system the way it was,” said Phil Weber, who was on D’Antoni’s staff in both Phoenix and New York. “He could have posted up, but he was so successful.”

But circumstances have changed. D’Antoni is gone. Woodson is installing a more traditional offense. Anthony is dominating the ball on the wing. Stoudemire has little choice but to evolve.

“To now develop a post game is going to be remarkable for me,” Stoudemire told Fox 26 in Houston. “It’s going to catch a lot of my opponents off guard, and it’s going to be a great year for me.”

Olajuwon sounds just as eager to see Stoudemire unleash his new moves in the fall — and to see Woodson’s reaction. Woodson attended the first workout last week and was “very happy,” Olajuwon said.

“But if he sees now, if he sees him today,” Olajuwon continued, chuckling, “he would not believe. I’m excited.”

CrushAlot wrote:

nixluva wrote:

RonRon wrote:Hakeem Olajuwon said that JaVale McGee should "dominate" the NBA after working with him this summer.

http://www.rotoworld.com/player/nba/1508/javale-mcgee

such high praise from Hakeem, I cannot help but agree, McGee physically is a freak already.
His insane combination of athleticism, length, size, agility, could put him right behind Dwight Howard.

I applaud the effort from Woodson and Amare but he just isn't in the same class of a "freak athlete".
I don't think Amare's training with Hakeem is anywhere close to how McGee could benefit vs McGee.

Simply by watching the 1st video with Amare vs McGee, you can easily see the huge difference physically between the two.
Amare's foot work, lack of speed/quickness, average size/wingspan/length, and mediocre athleticism ,with his decline with age/injuries, separates him from another class.

I think you are INCREDIBLY wrong about Amar'e. 1st of all post play isn't about athletic ability, as in being able to jump out of the gym. The only thing STAT needed was to learn the footwork. He has the shooting touch that Javale does not have. I think you're going to see that Amar'e will be able to use what he learns to a much greater impact than Javale. If you remember Hakeem's game those fadeaway jumpers aren't something just anyone can pull off. You have to be able to actually SHOOT to be able to finish that move off and Amar'e has touch for days compared to Javale. Don't let last year fool you about Amar'e shooting ability. Amar'e is still the man in my book (despite my anger at his defense).

Over a 16-month span that ended in May, Amar’e Stoudemire lost, in no particular order: his health, his brother, his head coach, his primacy in the Knicks’ universe, his scoring touch and, in the end, a little of his dignity.

By the time the Knicks were shoved out of the playoffs in Miami, Stoudemire appeared diminished on every level, his Q-rating and efficiency rating in simultaneous free fall.

“I’m still that player I was last year,” Stoudemire insisted then, vowing a return to full strength and “an incredible year” next season.

The mission began last week, on a quiet ranch in Katy, Tex., where Stoudemire took the first drop-step in a midcareer makeover. The pick-and-rolling, power-dunking star is now a student of the low post. His teacher is a soft-spoken Hall of Famer with a Nigerian accent and two championship rings.

Hakeem Olajuwon, a former Houston Rockets star and an oracle of the low post, is pleased with his pupil’s progress.

“You won’t believe it,” Olajuwon said in a telephone interview from his ranch outside Houston.

The apprenticeship began on Aug. 6, with daily three-hour sessions on Olajuwon’s private court. Stoudemire has proved a quick study, assimilating moves and countermoves as fast as Olajuwon can demonstrate them.

“It’s night and day,” Olajuwon said. “What’s so nice is he wants it; he likes the post. He’s always wanted to play there, but he doesn’t have the moves that would give him that option.”

Since retiring in 2002, Olajuwon has become the N.B.A.’s go-to source for players hoping to develop their post skills. LeBron James, Dwight Howard and Kobe Bryant have visited the Olajuwon ranch. So have Marcin Gortat and the Lopez twins, Brook and Robin. This month, it’s Stoudemire and Denver’s JaVale McGee.

Most players come for about four days, Olajuwon said. Stoudemire is staying for two weeks. His motivation is clear.

Stoudemire’s 17.5-point scoring average in 2011-12 was his worst in a full season since his rookie year. His .483 field-goal percentage was the lowest since his second season. He had his shot blocked 1.3 times per game, furthering speculation that his body was breaking down (although, in fact, that rate was close to his career average).

When the season began, Stoudemire was still dealing with the aftermath of an injured back muscle. In February, his older brother, Hazell, was killed in a car accident, which took a tremendous emotional toll. Stoudemire sustained another back injury (a bulging disk) in late March.

The final injury was self-inflicted and humiliating — a lacerated left hand sustained when Stoudemire smashed a glass fire-extinguisher cover in the Miami arena, after a Game 2 loss to the Heat.

Stoudemire returned to help lead the Knicks to a series-saving Game 4 victory, but the damage to his reputation was done. And although he is known for a high work ethic, Stoudemire had reason to work a little harder this summer.

“This is the most engaged I’ve seen him in years,” said Happy Walters, Stoudemire’s agent. He added, “I think fans will be happy.”

They will be happier still if Stoudemire’s new skills foster a better dynamic with Carmelo Anthony, his All-Star tag-team partner. Stoudemire was a dominant scorer when he joined the Knicks, but his role and production diminished once Anthony arrived in February 2011. The Knicks have a losing record with Anthony and Stoudemire in the lineup, and every advanced statistic shows they are worse when both stars are on the court.

Now Stoudemire has lost the coach (Mike D’Antoni) and the offensive system that made him a star in Phoenix and New York. Without a steady diet of pick-and-roll plays, he will need other ways to score. Enter Olajuwon.

Mike Woodson, the new coach, was Olajuwon’s teammate for two years, and the two remain friends. It was Woodson’s idea to send Stoudemire to Houston.

“The coach, he has a good vision,” Olajuwon said cheerfully.

Even at 29, Stoudemire has the strength, quickness and agility to be an effective post scorer once he masters the footwork and timing.

“His spin is becoming so sharp and crisp,” Olajuwon said. “He could spin all day. He loves it.”

Until now, Stoudemire hardly needed a post game. In his first season in the league he was a high-flying 20-year-old — the Blake Griffin of his generation — before developing a sharp midrange jumper that made him nearly unguardable. He has averaged at least 20 points in seven of his N.B.A. seasons, with a career shooting percentage of .533.

Stoudemire has also played most of his career for D’Antoni, whose offense is predicated on spacing and movement, not dump-it-in-the-post sets. When Stoudemire was averaging 37 points against Tim Duncan in the Western Conference finals, no one saw much need for a low-post game.

“We had so much success with him, averaging almost 60 wins a year in Phoenix with the system the way it was,” said Phil Weber, who was on D’Antoni’s staff in both Phoenix and New York. “He could have posted up, but he was so successful.”

But circumstances have changed. D’Antoni is gone. Woodson is installing a more traditional offense. Anthony is dominating the ball on the wing. Stoudemire has little choice but to evolve.

“To now develop a post game is going to be remarkable for me,” Stoudemire told Fox 26 in Houston. “It’s going to catch a lot of my opponents off guard, and it’s going to be a great year for me.”

Olajuwon sounds just as eager to see Stoudemire unleash his new moves in the fall — and to see Woodson’s reaction. Woodson attended the first workout last week and was “very happy,” Olajuwon said.

“But if he sees now, if he sees him today,” Olajuwon continued, chuckling, “he would not believe. I’m excited.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/16/sports/basketball/knicks-amare-stoudemire-works-with-hakeem-olajuwon.html?_r=2&partner=rss&emc=rss

+1. Loved Beck's article and that amare worked for 2 weeks with Dream and not the typical 4 days. Also, getting praise from Hakeem can't hurt. Amare is zoned in on having a great year. I think he will be a huge part of the Knicks success this season.

I was kind of skeptical about the Hakeem thing but after reading this article I'm excited.

knicks1248 wrote:

CrushAlot wrote:

nixluva wrote:

RonRon wrote:Hakeem Olajuwon said that JaVale McGee should "dominate" the NBA after working with him this summer.

http://www.rotoworld.com/player/nba/1508/javale-mcgee

such high praise from Hakeem, I cannot help but agree, McGee physically is a freak already.
His insane combination of athleticism, length, size, agility, could put him right behind Dwight Howard.

I applaud the effort from Woodson and Amare but he just isn't in the same class of a "freak athlete".
I don't think Amare's training with Hakeem is anywhere close to how McGee could benefit vs McGee.

Simply by watching the 1st video with Amare vs McGee, you can easily see the huge difference physically between the two.
Amare's foot work, lack of speed/quickness, average size/wingspan/length, and mediocre athleticism ,with his decline with age/injuries, separates him from another class.

I think you are INCREDIBLY wrong about Amar'e. 1st of all post play isn't about athletic ability, as in being able to jump out of the gym. The only thing STAT needed was to learn the footwork. He has the shooting touch that Javale does not have. I think you're going to see that Amar'e will be able to use what he learns to a much greater impact than Javale. If you remember Hakeem's game those fadeaway jumpers aren't something just anyone can pull off. You have to be able to actually SHOOT to be able to finish that move off and Amar'e has touch for days compared to Javale. Don't let last year fool you about Amar'e shooting ability. Amar'e is still the man in my book (despite my anger at his defense).

Over a 16-month span that ended in May, Amar’e Stoudemire lost, in no particular order: his health, his brother, his head coach, his primacy in the Knicks’ universe, his scoring touch and, in the end, a little of his dignity.

By the time the Knicks were shoved out of the playoffs in Miami, Stoudemire appeared diminished on every level, his Q-rating and efficiency rating in simultaneous free fall.

“I’m still that player I was last year,” Stoudemire insisted then, vowing a return to full strength and “an incredible year” next season.

The mission began last week, on a quiet ranch in Katy, Tex., where Stoudemire took the first drop-step in a midcareer makeover. The pick-and-rolling, power-dunking star is now a student of the low post. His teacher is a soft-spoken Hall of Famer with a Nigerian accent and two championship rings.

Hakeem Olajuwon, a former Houston Rockets star and an oracle of the low post, is pleased with his pupil’s progress.

“You won’t believe it,” Olajuwon said in a telephone interview from his ranch outside Houston.

The apprenticeship began on Aug. 6, with daily three-hour sessions on Olajuwon’s private court. Stoudemire has proved a quick study, assimilating moves and countermoves as fast as Olajuwon can demonstrate them.

“It’s night and day,” Olajuwon said. “What’s so nice is he wants it; he likes the post. He’s always wanted to play there, but he doesn’t have the moves that would give him that option.”

Since retiring in 2002, Olajuwon has become the N.B.A.’s go-to source for players hoping to develop their post skills. LeBron James, Dwight Howard and Kobe Bryant have visited the Olajuwon ranch. So have Marcin Gortat and the Lopez twins, Brook and Robin. This month, it’s Stoudemire and Denver’s JaVale McGee.

Most players come for about four days, Olajuwon said. Stoudemire is staying for two weeks. His motivation is clear.

Stoudemire’s 17.5-point scoring average in 2011-12 was his worst in a full season since his rookie year. His .483 field-goal percentage was the lowest since his second season. He had his shot blocked 1.3 times per game, furthering speculation that his body was breaking down (although, in fact, that rate was close to his career average).

When the season began, Stoudemire was still dealing with the aftermath of an injured back muscle. In February, his older brother, Hazell, was killed in a car accident, which took a tremendous emotional toll. Stoudemire sustained another back injury (a bulging disk) in late March.

The final injury was self-inflicted and humiliating — a lacerated left hand sustained when Stoudemire smashed a glass fire-extinguisher cover in the Miami arena, after a Game 2 loss to the Heat.

Stoudemire returned to help lead the Knicks to a series-saving Game 4 victory, but the damage to his reputation was done. And although he is known for a high work ethic, Stoudemire had reason to work a little harder this summer.

“This is the most engaged I’ve seen him in years,” said Happy Walters, Stoudemire’s agent. He added, “I think fans will be happy.”

They will be happier still if Stoudemire’s new skills foster a better dynamic with Carmelo Anthony, his All-Star tag-team partner. Stoudemire was a dominant scorer when he joined the Knicks, but his role and production diminished once Anthony arrived in February 2011. The Knicks have a losing record with Anthony and Stoudemire in the lineup, and every advanced statistic shows they are worse when both stars are on the court.

Now Stoudemire has lost the coach (Mike D’Antoni) and the offensive system that made him a star in Phoenix and New York. Without a steady diet of pick-and-roll plays, he will need other ways to score. Enter Olajuwon.

Mike Woodson, the new coach, was Olajuwon’s teammate for two years, and the two remain friends. It was Woodson’s idea to send Stoudemire to Houston.

“The coach, he has a good vision,” Olajuwon said cheerfully.

Even at 29, Stoudemire has the strength, quickness and agility to be an effective post scorer once he masters the footwork and timing.

“His spin is becoming so sharp and crisp,” Olajuwon said. “He could spin all day. He loves it.”

Until now, Stoudemire hardly needed a post game. In his first season in the league he was a high-flying 20-year-old — the Blake Griffin of his generation — before developing a sharp midrange jumper that made him nearly unguardable. He has averaged at least 20 points in seven of his N.B.A. seasons, with a career shooting percentage of .533.

Stoudemire has also played most of his career for D’Antoni, whose offense is predicated on spacing and movement, not dump-it-in-the-post sets. When Stoudemire was averaging 37 points against Tim Duncan in the Western Conference finals, no one saw much need for a low-post game.

“We had so much success with him, averaging almost 60 wins a year in Phoenix with the system the way it was,” said Phil Weber, who was on D’Antoni’s staff in both Phoenix and New York. “He could have posted up, but he was so successful.”

But circumstances have changed. D’Antoni is gone. Woodson is installing a more traditional offense. Anthony is dominating the ball on the wing. Stoudemire has little choice but to evolve.

“To now develop a post game is going to be remarkable for me,” Stoudemire told Fox 26 in Houston. “It’s going to catch a lot of my opponents off guard, and it’s going to be a great year for me.”

Olajuwon sounds just as eager to see Stoudemire unleash his new moves in the fall — and to see Woodson’s reaction. Woodson attended the first workout last week and was “very happy,” Olajuwon said.

“But if he sees now, if he sees him today,” Olajuwon continued, chuckling, “he would not believe. I’m excited.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/16/sports/basketball/knicks-amare-stoudemire-works-with-hakeem-olajuwon.html?_r=2&partner=rss&emc=rss

+1. Loved Beck's article and that amare worked for 2 weeks with Dream and not the typical 4 days. Also, getting praise from Hakeem can't hurt. Amare is zoned in on having a great year. I think he will be a huge part of the Knicks success this season.

I'm taking names of all the posters who lost faith in amare..When he returns with a vengeance this season, watch melo take the back seat. It was really crazy to me how People thought this guy was done..Especially when he has a history of over coming adversity, a Ewing type work ethic..

Amare will retire a knick

So he works out with Hakeem and he has officially returned to form?

Work ethic like Ewing? Are you serious? Didn't Ewing bring rebound and defend every night? Doesn't Amare do neither? HORRIBLE COMPARISON!

I am happy that he has taken a couple of weeks to work with Hakeem and hope that he has a great season. I am actually more worried about his health than his scoring.

nixluva wrote:You can't compare STAT to Ewing. I mean come on. Ewing was a legit franchise player that was an anchor on both ends. If Ewing had a PG like Nash and SG like Joe Johnson, he'd be a world Champion. He's just a better player than STAT. I love STAT but it's not fair to compare him to Ewing.

I do believe STAT works hard and the guy has carried his teams in the past. He's just more of a finesse PF than a rugged rebounding beast. You can win with this guy tho. Remember his team won 60 games as his teams anchor playing the way he does now. When was the last time we won 60 games? I'd take a 60 win weak rebounding Amar'e season right now.

Nix,

I agree about Ewing, no caparison and he probably would have a ring if he had Nash or an equivalent.

Saying that he is a finesse PF and thats why he does not rebound is an excuse. Being finesse does not give you an excuse to not box out your guy.

And, winning 60 games had more to do with Nash that Stat, though Stat was a big contribution. We don't have a young Nash so 60 wins is a pipe dream. There is no such thing as a 60 win, weak rebounding Amare.

mrKnickShot wrote:

nixluva wrote:You can't compare STAT to Ewing. I mean come on. Ewing was a legit franchise player that was an anchor on both ends. If Ewing had a PG like Nash and SG like Joe Johnson, he'd be a world Champion. He's just a better player than STAT. I love STAT but it's not fair to compare him to Ewing.

I do believe STAT works hard and the guy has carried his teams in the past. He's just more of a finesse PF than a rugged rebounding beast. You can win with this guy tho. Remember his team won 60 games as his teams anchor playing the way he does now. When was the last time we won 60 games? I'd take a 60 win weak rebounding Amar'e season right now.

Nix,

I agree about Ewing, no caparison and he probably would have a ring if he had Nash or an equivalent.

Saying that he is a finesse PF and thats why he does not rebound is an excuse. Being finesse does not give you an excuse to not box out your guy.

And, winning 60 games had more to do with Nash that Stat, though Stat was a big contribution. We don't have a young Nash so 60 wins is a pipe dream. There is no such thing as a 60 win, weak rebounding Amare.

I tell you what man, you need to change the style of how you interpret other user's posts. Nix was not in any way making the statement of Amare being a finesse PF as an excuse for being a poor rebounder as you have implied. It's just a statement of fact: Amare is a finesse PF and poor rebounder, end of statement.

Stop putting words into other posts, it's not a good way to make an argument or reply.

Nalod wrote:

mrKnickShot wrote:

nixluva wrote:

mrKnickShot wrote:

nixluva wrote:You can't compare STAT to Ewing. I mean come on. Ewing was a legit franchise player that was an anchor on both ends. If Ewing had a PG like Nash and SG like Joe Johnson, he'd be a world Champion. He's just a better player than STAT. I love STAT but it's not fair to compare him to Ewing.

I do believe STAT works hard and the guy has carried his teams in the past. He's just more of a finesse PF than a rugged rebounding beast. You can win with this guy tho. Remember his team won 60 games as his teams anchor playing the way he does now. When was the last time we won 60 games? I'd take a 60 win weak rebounding Amar'e season right now.

Nix,

I agree about Ewing, no caparison and he probably would have a ring if he had Nash or an equivalent.

Saying that he is a finesse PF and thats why he does not rebound is an excuse. Being finesse does not give you an excuse to not box out your guy.

And, winning 60 games had more to do with Nash that Stat, though Stat was a big contribution. We don't have a young Nash so 60 wins is a pipe dream. There is no such thing as a 60 win, weak rebounding Amare.

The point is that STAT was a key member the primary scoring option, starting Center for the Suns and main PnR target of Steve Nash. So he has to get some of the credit for his team winning 60 games and getting to the WCF's. You can't just ignore someone with that much of a role on his team. We all know how important Nash was to those teams, but he wasn't the starting Center for those teams Amar'e was. Even tho STAT was less than optimal by about 2 rebounds a game he was a HUGE force for that team and gave them their swagger.

They won 54 games the year he was out. Take out Nash and put in Stat and they probably win 30 games.

He was an excellent player for them but lets not forget the main reason why that team won all those games. NASH.

Think the coach did a good job too?

Yes. I do.

But, I think Nash is by far the irreplaceable piece.