CrushAlot wrote:“I think it’s great,” D’Antoni said Thursday after the Los Angeles Lakers’ practice. “I think it’s great that he’s listening. He might have forgotten that Mike Woodson was also running the defense the last year I was there, so I don’t know if he just didn’t pick that year to listen. But Amar’e’s great. Sometimes you say things, but hopefully, that’s another step he can take forward and help his game. That would be great.”
Not sure why dantoni always responds. It makes him seem defensive.

Man you are F'n unbelievable!!! Why shouldn't MDA comment on such a lame statement that clearly has some negative aspects to it, whether it's intended or not. Not to mention that almost every single media outlet made the immediate connection that STAT was talking about MDA specifically. The thing is MDA in fact completely agreed with me regarding Amar'e statement which was an indictment of every coach he's had:

Added D'Antoni on Friday: "I mean, come on. He just threw Frank Johnson, myself, Alvin Gentry and actually Mike Woodson [under the bus]. Was [Woodson] saving the good stuff? Because he coached him eight months and he was the defensive coach. So it was like, 'You know, I won't tell him that, I'll save that until I really coach him.' It doesn't make any sense.

"Anyway, a lot of times players will say things just to say things. I have a good relationship with him. He's a good guy and I hope him the best. You know, if he's learning, great. He needs it. That would be super."

"It just boggles the mind," D'Antoni said, shaking his head. "It just boggles the mind."

Once again this is what MDA was referring to and it's an impossible thing to disregard. You're looking at games played when in fact most of the real training on defensive principles take place in training camp when there is ample time to work with the team on those schemes and techniques. It is altogether IMPOSSIBLE to practice BB and not go over defense at all, given that when they go over the fine details they will have to address what they intend to do on the defensive end as a team.

2002-03 camp was with Frank Johnson
2003-04 camp was with Frank Johnson
2004-05 camp was with D'Antoni's with Marc Ivaroni defensive assistant
2005-06 Amar'e had his surgery and missed most of the season
2006-07 camp was with MDA and Dan D'Antoni
2007-08 camp was with MDA and Dan
2008-09 camp was with Terry Porter
2009-10 camp was with Alvin Gentry
2010-11 camp was with MDA and Dan
2011-12 camp was with MDA and Woody
2012-13 camp was with Woody

That's not only throwing his coaches under the bus, but just goes to show that he's never cared a lick about defense. That's on him, not the coaches. The coaches weren't teaching him how to play defense? (Which is a lie) but well, then, Amar'e himself should have went out of his way to learn the defensive side of the ball. Which he never did. Just goes to show that he's not a team player, but instead, a me first offensive player. No heart what so ever in regards to playing tough defense.

The bottom line is this... He's an awful defender and has never cared a lick about becoming a good defensive player. All he's ever cared about is offense. Lost lots of respect for Amar'e after throwing his coaches under the bus, because when in reality, it's Amar'e himself who's been a bust of a defender. Never even tries on defense, and when he does, it seems like fake hustle. Just enough to keep the coaches off his back.

I've always been a big time Stoudemire supporter, but unless he starts to play his ass off on both defense and the boards (rebounding) I'll continue to consider him an overrated player who doesn't fit on our current Knicks team. Hopefully he proves me wrong but his remarks about his coaches and defense really got under my skin.

CrushAlot wrote:

nixluva wrote:

CrushAlot wrote:“I think it’s great,” D’Antoni said Thursday after the Los Angeles Lakers’ practice. “I think it’s great that he’s listening. He might have forgotten that Mike Woodson was also running the defense the last year I was there, so I don’t know if he just didn’t pick that year to listen. But Amar’e’s great. Sometimes you say things, but hopefully, that’s another step he can take forward and help his game. That would be great.”
Not sure why dantoni always responds. It makes him seem defensive.

Man you are F'n unbelievable!!! Why shouldn't MDA comment on such a lame statement that clearly has some negative aspects to it, whether it's intended or not. Not to mention that almost every single media outlet made the immediate connection that STAT was talking about MDA specifically. The thing is MDA in fact completely agreed with me regarding Amar'e statement which was an indictment of every coach he's had:

Added D'Antoni on Friday: "I mean, come on. He just threw Frank Johnson, myself, Alvin Gentry and actually Mike Woodson [under the bus]. Was [Woodson] saving the good stuff? Because he coached him eight months and he was the defensive coach. So it was like, 'You know, I won't tell him that, I'll save that until I really coach him.' It doesn't make any sense.

"Anyway, a lot of times players will say things just to say things. I have a good relationship with him. He's a good guy and I hope him the best. You know, if he's learning, great. He needs it. That would be super."

"It just boggles the mind," D'Antoni said, shaking his head. "It just boggles the mind."

Once again this is what MDA was referring to and it's an impossible thing to disregard. You're looking at games played when in fact most of the real training on defensive principles take place in training camp when there is ample time to work with the team on those schemes and techniques. It is altogether IMPOSSIBLE to practice BB and not go over defense at all, given that when they go over the fine details they will have to address what they intend to do on the defensive end as a team.

2002-03 camp was with Frank Johnson
2003-04 camp was with Frank Johnson
2004-05 camp was with D'Antoni's with Marc Ivaroni defensive assistant
2005-06 Amar'e had his surgery and missed most of the season
2006-07 camp was with MDA and Dan D'Antoni
2007-08 camp was with MDA and Dan
2008-09 camp was with Terry Porter
2009-10 camp was with Alvin Gentry
2010-11 camp was with MDA and Dan
2011-12 camp was with MDA and Woody
2012-13 camp was with Woody

Its on Amare but obviously D'Antoni is very defensive about this. Is this new quote from a different interview? It sounds like a prepared crack back. The funny thing about your listing assistants is D'Ant became an assistant for the Suns Amare's rookie year. He also was an assistant the following season up until Johnson was fired. The two have been together for a large part of their careers.

MDA's comments were part of the press interview. The thing is that just cuz Amar'e had MDA as his coach for many years, that doesn't mean he is absolved of blame for his lack of effort on D. It's not really so much about who the coach is alone. IMO it's more about pride. As a player you have to have some pride in your game and if you are the center or PF on a team that needs you to be the anchor on D, then you should make it your job to know what you should be doing.

Clearly MDA and STAT were arguing over something he was supposed to be doing and wasn't when they were in PHX.

Stoudemire and D'Antoni have had their differences, both privately and publicly. Stoudemire was the lone Suns player to show no disappointment about D'Antoni's departure from Phoenix in 2008; he had bristled at D'Antoni's criticism of his defensive deficiencies, mainly on help defense, which led to troublesome breakdowns. Stoudemire often deflected the blame back on D'Antoni for not putting enough time into coaching defense, which touches a nerve for D'Antoni.

So if you're Amar'e and you think you need more work or more instruction on how to defend your position then i'm pretty sure that Frank Johnson, Mike D'Antoni, Terry Porter, Alvin Gentry and Mike Woodson would be glad to help him to figure out what he should do, but why is it that not a single other big has had such a hard time getting instruction? Why did Woody make sure that part of the work Hakeem did with STAT was to work on DEFENSE? Terry Porter and Alvin Gentry were vocal in stating they wanted more defense from STAT. So did they just mention that and not give him any idea of exactly what he was supposed to do? How many coaches work that way?

IronWillGiroud wrote:The only thing Amar'e was never taught is how to shut his mouth,

Now, I don't really blame Amar'e, he's not 100% with it I don't think, and the media probably pushed and prodded him into this statement,

That said, D'Antoni is the only reason Amar'e has a max deal right now, Amar'e is a Rashard Lewis type of bad contract at this point,

So if Amar'e did have D'Antoni in mind when said this, he should maybe remember that D'Antoni is the reason he is cashing the fat checks instead of some middle level deal,

IronWill - either Amar'e should shut his mouth or the press goaded him into the statement. Which is it? He either cooperates with questions or he is labelled as a malcontent. Super athletes have microphones and cameras following their every move, eager to catch the juicy sound bit. Well, now they have it. Let's see how long they run with it.

Any controversy can fan the flames of resentment... oh, and don't forget to mention his ridiculous contract.

D'Antoni is not the reason Amar'e is getting paid. Stoudemire is getting paid because he worked to get to an elite level. His value was the result of hard work and sacrifice. The time he could have been in English lit, he was shooting jumpers. The time he could have been studying the nuance of rhetoric, he was shooting jumpers. That time investment was the difference. So if the words do not deliver with precision, is Amar'e a bad guy or just caught trying to say something he felt about individual attention?

If all D'Antoni needed was to wave his magic wand then howcum Tim Thomas did not get the same max deal?

Nikoloz Tskitishvili anyone?

Nah, let's turn on Amar'e instead. That is what he deserves for trying to be honest.

What's next, JR Smith claiming he should be an All Star?

sheesh.

IronWillGiroud wrote:add jeremy lin to that too

Imagine if Priggi Smalls ran with D'Antoni, he would be a billionaire by now.

Amar'e Stoudemire is doing the best he can under his fragile circumstances.

Just box out and rebound.

I think LeBron said it well there comes a time when a man needs to look himself in the mirror.

gunsnewing wrote:Maybe Amare didn't like the comment Dantoni made about how he should have stayed in Phoenix with Nash and never mentioned Amare's name?

To be fair, Nash was the catalyst.of the suns.success,

We remember that. Suns won something like close to 60 games and went deep in playoffs the season that amare was injured and played just two games