Wade, James, Stoudemire make up for Athens

By Tim Legler
ESPN Insider

Webster's dictionary defines amnesia as "partial or total loss of memory, usually resulting from shock, psychological disturbance, brain injury or illness". Fortunately, for LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Amare Stoudemire, such a phenomenon exists.

Shock and psychological disturbance don't begin to describe the potential effects of Team USA's bronze medal winning performance in Athens. Being a part of the first U.S. Olympic team sending professional players to NOT win the gold medal could have had a lasting impact on the young NBA stars who participated. Instead, James, Wade, and Stoudamire have used the Athens debacle as motivation to transform their games into pure gold.

As an 18-year old rookie last season, James showed the world that, in fact, you could believe the hype. Never in the history of the NBA has a player begun his career with greater expectations placed upon his shoulders. Short of leading the Cleveland Cavaliers to the playoffs, James did everything humanly possible to fulfill his limitless potential last season. After averaging over 20 points, almost 6 assists, and over 5 rebounds per game, the Association was wondering what King James would do for an encore.

It is safe to say we should wonder no longer. It's not that often the encore is better than the concert, but in Lebron's case the contrast is as stark as watching John Tesh open for The Rolling Stones. It is hard to believe, but the newest sensation wearing number 23 has improved his shooting, ball handling, defensive intensity, and decision-making.

Most importantly, he has completely changed his mindset. Early in his rookie year James looked tentative at times. He deferred to the Cavaliers' veterans such as Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Ricky Davis. He struggled, along with head coach Paul Silas, to determine how his skills could be utilized in order to maximize his impact on the floor.

This season, there is no hesitation or uncertainty. The Cleveland Cavaliers are James' team. By placing the majority of ball handling responsibilities upon the shoulders of point guard Jeff McInnis, Silas has allowed James to conserve energy so that he can be a dominant scorer and playmaker. The biggest improvement in his game has been increased shooting range.

In fact, his outside shooting has improved to the point that he is a credible threat from the three-point line. Along with his post up ability and explosive first step, he is now a triple-threat scoring machine. If James can maintain his averages of 25 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists per game, he will be the first player to do so since Michael Jordan back in 1988-89. Even Mick Jagger wouldn't have a problem getting satisfaction with those numbers.

Meanwhile down in South Beach, someone was supposed to tell Dwayne Wade he would need to take a back seat to center Shaquille O'Neal as the Miami Heat attempt to re-live the glory days of the mid-90's under Pat Riley. Wade must not have gotten that memo.

Instead, he has emerged in his second year as the most explosive point guard in the entire NBA. Despite struggling with his outside shooting during the Olympics, Wade has shown no ill effects of the meltdown in Athens. Averaging 25.4 points and 7.4 assists, he has become the Heat's leading offensive option while O'Neal works his way back from a preseason hamstring injury. The "Diesel" has been dominant at times and efficient at others. Wade, on the other hand, has been sensational virtually every night.

In his sophomore season Wade has not only been a human highlight reel with his soaring dunks, no look passes and stellar defense, he has made more meaningful shots at critical junctures of his team's first 13 games (in which the Heat are 9-4) than any other player in the league. His unparalleled athleticism and strength at the point guard position allow Wade to penetrate at will against even the most determined defenders. And, even more importantly, he displays a change of pace that constantly keeps opponents off balance and lets him utilize his potent pull up jumper.

Despite all of these accolades, however, Dwayne Wade's most impressive characteristic is his maturity and selflessness. He just seems to get it and there's no better compliment to give a young player. To watch him balance that fine line between taking over games at will and allowing his teammates to shine is like watching a maestro conduct an orchestra.

He plays basketball the right way and he plays to win in an unselfish manner. Obtaining Shaq in the offseason certainly thrusts Miami into the NBA's upper echelon, but it may be a second year point guard that allows them to "wade" through the waters of the Eastern Conference and into the promised land of the NBA Finals.

Remember Amare Stoudamire? He was that high school phenom that entered the NBA in 2002 and outdueled Yao Ming for Rookie of the Year. Then, last season, injuries limited him to late season mop up duty on a bad Phoenix Suns team that was out of playoff contention by the All-Star break. Well, what a difference a year makes.

Through the first three weeks of the season, Stoudamire has been one of the most dominant frontcourt player in the NBA. He isn't quite on par with Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett, but he's emerged as the best player on a very good, very athletic, and very exciting Phoenix Suns team that will contend for the Pacific division title.

The reason for his reemergence is a combination of his supporting cast, style of play, and improvements in his overall offensive package. The addition of point guard Steve Nash from the Dallas Mavericks has given Stoudamire the perfect open court decision maker to take advantage of his athleticism and ability to run the floor. Big men love to be rewarded when they bust their tails down the court after grabbing a defensive rebound. Nash, the league leader in assists as we approach the holiday season, has definitely been in the giving mood.

Joining Nash and Stoudamire in the starting lineup is fellow Olympian Shawn Marion, guard Joe Johnson, and newly acquired forward Quentin Richardson. This high-octane quintet has head coach coach Mike D'Antoni's Suns atop the NBA in scoring and atop the standings in the Western Conference. By always having an abundance of scoring on the floor, Stoudamire has found himself with significantly more one-on-one coverage around the basket. When that situation occurs, few big men in the entire league are quick enough or athletic enough to keep him from getting to the rim off the dribble or as an offensive rebounder.

Furthermore, Stoudamire has worked diligently to improve his mid range jump shot and now regularly converts jump shots out to 18 feet. It just doesn't seem fair, does it?

So, you see, not everything coming home from Athens was negative. Despite the catastrophic collapse of Team USA, some of the team's younger stars have managed to shred any lingering criticism and baggage on their way to early season success. If they can keep it up, perhaps one of them will be holding something much bigger than a gold medal over their head next June.

Tim Legler, an NBA analyst for ESPN and former NBA three-point champion, is a regular contributor to Insider.