TripleThreat wrote:Gsus wrote:I don't know wtf some of these people smoke man, to think that we would still suck because "Amare has no bbiq". He was a ****ing beast in his prime, so much so that he made that fat **** Felton look like a legitimate point guard for half a season.
Amare Stoudamire relied completely on his athleticism in his prime. To his credit, he had, even for NBA standards, superior athleticism for his size. I won't deny a young STAT could jump out of the gym and run all day long. He was devastating with Steve Nash with SSOL with the pick and roll and that aggressive down your throat offense. But he was always a face up to the basket player.
A player with high basketball IQ knows how to adjust with age to compensate for a lack of athleticism. Some guys work on their low post game, some guys work harder on their jumper, some guys work on their off hand or refine their footwork. STAT has shown nothing, no type of adjustments as age and injury have sapped him of his legs and power.
IMHO, a good indicator of BB IQ, esp in a big man, is how they operate as help defenders. Lots of bigs were never as athletic as STAT, but lots of players are able to watch film, see tendencies, read scouting reports, learn from game experience and understand the fundamentals of reading a play and breaking down an offensive set and knowing where to be and how to take advantage of an offensive players tendencies and weaknesses.
Tyson Chandler was a great help defender. That's why he pushed Dallas over the top and won DPOY with the Knicks and was a main cog in why Linsanity was such a good run for the Knicks. Chandler could read the play, know how much he could give and still recover as a help defender. Being a good help defender isn't just knowing your opponents limitations, but also your team mates and your own. Good players, smart players, who are bigs, can anticipate things, to help declining athleticism, and usually it reflects in above average timing in defending the rim. Not everyone is blessed ( or cursed) like Roy Hibbert to be a giant 7'2 320 wall of muscle in the paint. Defending the rim is about timing, footwork, knowing how to use your length, effort, understanding your defensive scheme and anticipation.
STAT is the worst combination. Part lazy ( he simply refuses to accept that he's not a face up to the basket type hybrid slasher anymore ) and part ignorant ( He is just clueless about how to integrate within a team's defensive scheme, how to break down an offensive set and when and where to take risks or use his body/length.)
I won't deny his offensive ability in his prime. But you have to be dumb and lazy to simply not expand your skill set as you age in the NBA. Over time, he could have built up a low post game. Over time, he could have worked on his defense. At some level, defense is also about raw effort.
When you are a big in the NBA, offense is a bonus. Great to have if you can give it. But the bread and butter is still defense and rim protection.
Here's the most insulting part. You might not be the brightest bulb in the room. You might be sapped by injuries. But the lack of effort is disgusting. You know who I miss? Jarred Jeffries. Not an All Star. Limited in a lot of ways. But during his 2nd run with the Knicks, gave his body up, every single night. Fought hard, every single night. Added toughness and grit and even if all he could do is hammer someone and give the team six hard fouls, he gave it all in blood and did it gladly. Wouldn't it be nice to see STAT set a vicious pick sometime? Just go bang it out down low in the post, elbows flailing and grinding other bigs down? Take a charge instead of letting guys just waltz pass him for an easy layup?
STAT's lack of grit and toughness is pathetic. The next time Charles Oakley sees him, he should spit in Amare's face.
Though I agree with most of what you said, I must say that he did try to improve in the off season. He worked on his low post game with Hakeem (while the douche Tyson stayed home). He works hard on his conditioning in the offseason too, he just does not work on team oriented skills such as passing and defense.
