The way the team is built now we need some kind of inside/out dynamic. Amar'e is one player who can do that along with Melo and when either player is out of the game we can use one of them as the focal point of the inside attack. That would really help a lot. Tons of high % close to the basket shot attempts is a good thing for playing a ball control, low turnover style of BB. That marries well with our defensive strengths. I'm excited to see what that looks like this season.

Not to mention that this could really extend STAT's career. Dunking takes up an enormous amount of energy and wear and tear. Staying on the ground and using great footwork and ball fakes and guile are much easier on the body. He can still sprint down court and try to get low post position and early offense. Smart move by Woody to have Amar'e go in this direction.

http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/knicks/post/_/id/23506/stoudemire-films-the-mindy-project

Phuck it, we're screwed!

ChuckBuck wrote:As long as he gets his mid-range jumper back, I could give 2 ****s about a dream shake. Having a jump hook or some head fakes will definitely help Amare near the basket instead of drawing charges though.

+1 He needs more Karl Malone in his game not Hakeem, his footwork won't ever be that good, Hakeem even said his footwork came from playing soccer for years

McGee understand the purpose of each move, precisely.
It does help that he has the physical abilities: size, strength, and athleticism to go with his ability to simply back you down with force.
But you can tell that McGee and Amare is just on a complete different level on their IQ and moves learned.
Simply said, Amare is dumb as a rock and I don't think Hakeem himself thinks he can elevate his game much.
Maybe it is because McGee actually has always had a post up game, where as Amare is trying to learn his first moves now at nearly the age of 30.

Am I being too harsh on STAT or am I being realistic?
Do UK members here agree that he just doesn't look like he understands the purpose/precision of each move, moving like a robot?

It doesn't help that STAT keeps opening his mouth about how great these lessons are and how he can't wait to use them, with the media here.
Especially with his STAT TV and how he compared himself with Hakeem as "quick, athletic big men in the league, not using strength to beat u but with assorted moves blah blah"
Unless he keeps working on these moves and there is DRAMATIC improvement, I think he is going to continue to get swatted and TO the ball, trying to use these "moves", judging on the videos posted.

Hakeem and Amare keeps saying, "credit, Coach, Woodson"
Does he really mean that or is it just another way of saying... I Never initiating the call, on Amare, I never said thought I could elevate Amare's game...

CrushAlot wrote:

RonRon wrote:

McGee understand the purpose of each move, precisely.
It does help that he has the physical abilities: size, strength, and athleticism to go with his ability to simply back you down with force.
But you can tell that McGee and Amare is just on a complete different level on their IQ and moves learned.
Simply said, Amare is dumb as a rock and I don't think Hakeem himself thinks he can elevate his game much.
Maybe it is because McGee actually has always had a post up game, where as Amare is trying to learn his first moves now at nearly the age of 30.

Am I being too harsh on STAT or am I being realistic?
Do UK members here agree that he just doesn't look like he understands the purpose/precision of each move, moving like a robot?

It doesn't help that STAT keeps opening his mouth about how great these lessons are and how he can't wait to use them, with the media here.
Especially with his STAT TV and how he compared himself with Hakeem as "quick, athletic big men in the league, not using strength to beat u but with assorted moves blah blah"
Unless he keeps working on these moves and there is DRAMATIC improvement, I think he is going to continue to get swatted and TO the ball, trying to use these "moves", judging on the videos posted.

Hakeem and Amare keeps saying, "credit, Coach, Woodson"
Does he really mean that or is it just another way of saying... I Never initiating the call, on Amare, I never said thought I could elevate Amare's game...

I think you are mistaken. I believe the quote you reference is before or just After Amare began training with Hakeem. This is the quote that I remembered.

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.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/16/sports/basketball/knicks-amare-stoudemire-works-with-hakeem-olajuwon.html?_r=1

http://www.slamonline.com/online/nba/2012/08/after-working-with-olajuwon-amare-stoudemire-cant-wait-for-nba-season/

KICKS 15: On Sale Now!Chicago Bulls Hire Brian Hagen as Assistant GM
Wednesday, August 15th, 2012 at 10:00 am | 43 Comments and 0 Reactions
Amar’e Stoudemire ‘Can’t Wait’ for NBA Season After Working with Olajuwon

All-Star forward Amar’e Stoudemire, who’s spent the better part of a week in Houston training with Hall-of-Fame center Hakeem “The Dream” Olajuwon, is ecstatic about all he’s learned. Knicks coach Mike Woodson, who played with Olajuwon when the two were with the Rockets, advised Stoudemire to work with Hakeem with hopes of adding some weapons to his offensive arsenal. If Stoudemire’s mindset is any indication, it seems like the mission has been accomplished. Via MyFoxHouston.com: “‘It’s always room to improve as a player,’ Stoudemire said in an interview with FOX 26 Sports. ‘To want to be the best is always a common denominator for most players. So working with Hakeem, one of the best players to ever play the game, is a great opportunity for me. We are both very quick and athletic for our positions. So to learn from him will be a great advantage for me.’ Stoudemire said it is fantastic to work with a guy who has accomplished so much in the NBA. Olajuwon won two NBA championships with the Rockets and is a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. ‘He helped me a lot,’ Stoudemire said. ‘A lot of moves that he has really, really translate to my game. To now develop a post game is going to be remarkable for me. It’s going to catch a lot of my opponents off guard and it’s going to be a great year for me. I have the IQ to implement this and learn fast, but it’s not easy. There’s a lot of detail that goes into it. He’s very, very swift with his footwork, and he’s very agile also, at (age) 50 still. It’s great to learn from him. This is a great opportunity because you never how long he’s going to be able to do this. So while I’m young and can still learn from one of the best, (I’m) very blessed to be a part of it.’”

I love the effort by Amare and Woodson, I just do not think that it would translate as well as we all want Amare would like to be.
I think his turn around jump shot looks the best among all the moves I have seen Amare using from the videos.
Other than that, I don't think Amare can execute the rest of the moves.

McGee on the other hand, could improve much more with Hakeem's training and I can see him evolving to a the top of the NBA's Center to the 2nd tier of Centers.

I would just like the opinion of the members here in UK...

b]Am I being too harsh on STAT or am I being realistic?
Do UK members here agree that he just doesn't look like he understands the purpose/precision of each move, very stiff, moving like a robot?[/b]

I think Melo has the footwork to utilize these lessons by Hakeem and playing the PF, would cause more mismatches, allowing Melo to do much more and allow The Knick's roster to play off each other.
He would get much more responsibility and would have the offense initiated through him with his abilities, with more shooters, and force double teams.
When Melo is playing the PF, he would be the teams 4th shooter to spread the floor for better spacing, be able to penetrate or post up vs the mismatch.
I also believe Melo would be able to penetrate off the dribble when playing the PF, while we do not have many players that have the ability to penetrate and finish off the dribble, other than Felton.
I do not want Melo to consistently heave 3point shots though, not like he made them vs the Bulls and game 4 vs the Heat.
Like Lebron/Wade and even Dirk, they all have made an effort NOT to rely on their ability to take the 3point shot, instead using that ability to penetrate/set up the team, and keep the opponents from guessing by taking a 3point shot just to keep the opponents honest.

Melo is the most talented player on the roster and he must be able to create high % shots for himself and THE TEAM, allowing them to play off each other, as well as Melo playing off their ability to spread the floor. He wanted the spot light with Lin gone, he has to be able to take the responsibility to create for the team, NOT just be a scorer like has for his career to make it to the next level.

RonRon wrote:

McGee understand the purpose of each move, precisely.
It does help that he has the physical abilities: size, strength, and athleticism to go with his ability to simply back you down with force.
But you can tell that McGee and Amare is just on a complete different level on their IQ and moves learned.
Simply said, Amare is dumb as a rock and I don't think Hakeem himself thinks he can elevate his game much.
Maybe it is because McGee actually has always had a post up game, where as Amare is trying to learn his first moves now at nearly the age of 30.

Am I being too harsh on STAT or am I being realistic?
Do UK members here agree that he just doesn't look like he understands the purpose/precision of each move, moving like a robot?

It doesn't help that STAT keeps opening his mouth about how great these lessons are and how he can't wait to use them, with the media here.
Especially with his STAT TV and how he compared himself with Hakeem as "quick, athletic big men in the league, not using strength to beat u but with assorted moves blah blah"
Unless he keeps working on these moves and there is DRAMATIC improvement, I think he is going to continue to get swatted and TO the ball, trying to use these "moves", judging on the videos posted.

Hakeem and Amare keeps saying, "credit, Coach, Woodson"
Does he really mean that or is it just another way of saying... I Never initiating the call, on Amare, I never said thought I could elevate Amare's game...

nixluva wrote:Can we get back to some semblance of reality here about Amar'e. DUDE IS AN ALL STAR!!! He's been a huge part of playoff teams that went deep in the playoffs and he's had some absolutely dominant performances in the playoffs.
Amar'e avg'd 25 points, 12 rebounds and two blocks against the Spurs in the 2007 playoffs

Amar'e has a complete set of skills and tho he hasn't featured post moves, he ALREADY had some before he even went to Hakeem. His work with Hakeem will sharpen and refine his moves and add to them. Amar'e mostly used instinct on moves in the post, but now he'll have a real game plan. With the fact that Amar'e already has a midrange game fully developed this will only make him MORE potent. McGee is a physically talented kid so he's gonna get over mostly on that alone. Still he's got LIGHTYEARS to go in terms of being the kind of player Amar'e is skill wise.

The key for Amar'e is being fully healthy and having had a full summer to really work on his game as opposed to last year when he wasn't healthy and couldn't work on his game over the summer.

The most important thing with Amare developing a post game would be him being able to pass out of the post IMO, but I don't know what to expect out of that area from him.

gunsnewing wrote:Dream is supposedly coming to NY to work with Amare, tyson melo and camby

Damn, guns staying on top of things.

http://espn.go.com/new-york/nba/story/_/id/8375671/hakeem-olajuwon-visit-new-york-knicks-train-amare-stoudemire-carmelo-anthony

I think I'm more excited to see this coming season than I was after the 2010 offseason.