I'm not trolling, I just don't know what other way to explain how a player goes from being one of the strongest and fiercest finishers in the game to a guy with no power or explosion in just 10 months. Amare also used to be ripped, and I don't see the same muscle tone anymore. Age and injuries are not a sufficient explanation because he has no significant injuries that we've heard of right now and nobody ages 10 years in 10 months.

It's been this way all season; he doesn't take the ball to the rim like a beast anymore; he has no burst off his first step. This isn't about being lazy or about having 100 million in the bank; this guy physically can't do the things he was able to do 10 months ago and it reminds me only of the rapid decline that certain baseball players experienced when their muscle tone disappeared amid stronger steroid testing. With Amare my guess would be that he's done plenty of HGH (NBA hasn't tested for it) rehabbing from injuries when he was with Phoenix..and without any major injuries since he's been in NY it appears to me as though he's clean now.

Before you bash me to hell, let me say two things:

1) is it really that far fetched to think that Amare used to do some ped's and is now completely off the stuff?
2) If it's true, I'm all for him getting right back on the stuff. If the Knicks gave a 100 million dollar contract to Roided Amare, they deserve to get Roided Amare until his deal is done.

TheGame wrote:Not impossible, but I doubt it. Unlike football and baseball players, NBA players are not known for using PEDs. STAT has been a freak ever since high school, so unless he has been using PEDs since he was 17, it is doubtful that is the issue. I think the dude is still trying to adjust to Melo, he is getting older, and he is having an off-year probably due to the lock-out. I don't think he is done though. I think he still has 2-3 good years left in him.

you make a good point about his athleticism being freakish from high school. But I'm not saying that Amare did roids to get bigger and stronger. I'm saying he did stuff like HGH to come back from injuries and to prolong the time he kept his athleticism going. I think without ped's this is what you get - A talented guy whose body isn't able to do the things it was prior to all of the severe injuries. There was a lot of funny stuff going on with that Suns team in regards to players making dramatic and quick recoveries. Basically I'm saying Amare was on borrowed time with HGH, and that now his body is shot.

I don't think you need to posit crazy stuff like he's used drugs. I don't want to be naive, or sound it - but I haven't heard or read anything about Basketball players using them.

I don't know if they even test for it.

Jordan bulked up, his head got bigger, and he got meaner as he got older. Part of it natural I am sure.

But basketball is not sport condusive to roid use. Hockey either. We don't read of problems there.

Nalod wrote:II think there is a history of guys bulking up and over coming injury.

I don't know if they even test for it.

Jordan bulked up, his head got bigger, and he got meaner as he got older. Part of it natural I am sure.

But basketball is not sport condusive to roid use. Hockey either. We don't read of problems there.

Its not just about bulk. Its about recovery (huge) and speed as well. Perhaps they are not strict with it or just look the other way.

Boy, I would love if MJ was found to be on the juice when he played - I hate that guy!

mrKnickShot wrote:

VDesai wrote:Dude injured his back.
There's a 50% chance he becomes LJ and a 50% he can get back to where he was. Unfortunately history says he probably becomes like LJ...

That would be great! LJ figured out how to still be a solid contributor.

Lj didmt take max cash!

"If Amar'e wants to keep his self proclaimed nickname he's got to start trying to get 10 rebounds per with the same ferocity Deron had trying to make his point on Lin. That's his domain. Tyson and A'mare should make a game out of it. Whoever gets the most rebounds gets a cookie, or wherever motivates a millionare basketball player. Bottom line he's got to get the job done. Can't win games without the ball."

MarburyAnd1Crossover wrote:

mrKnickShot wrote:

VDesai wrote:Dude injured his back.
There's a 50% chance he becomes LJ and a 50% he can get back to where he was. Unfortunately history says he probably becomes like LJ...

That would be great! LJ figured out how to still be a solid contributor.

Lj didmt take max cash!

Your wrong. LJ had a max contract with Charlotte and its the reason we got him. He was damaged goods with a bad contract.

LJ did adapt his game. He went from athletic wing to a low post monstser.

If Amare is losing some hops he has to adapt his game from being of quickness to one of power.

See Karl Malone and LJ for the blue print.

We have a ton allocated to Amare and it wouldn't be good if he was a shell of what he was.

I don't doubt that he'd be good enough to be a contributer, but a 15-18 ppg guy from here on in at his contract wouldn't be good.