Rumor has it he's 80-20 for tomorrow, and that the coaches have set a cap on his playing time at 15-20 mpg.
Of course, we Suns fans are ecstatic. But a hobbled Amare is probably not enough to get the Suns past your team; IMHO, it would take an Amare at 80% in addition to a KT at the same level.
http://www.azcentral.com/sports/suns.../0322suns.html
Stoudemire set to return
All-Star says it's 80-20 that he'll play Thursday night
Doug Haller
The Arizona Republic
March 22, 2006
Suns forward Amare Stoudemire could be back in action as quickly as Thursday night.
The All-Star big man, out since left knee surgery in October, said the chances were “80-20” that he’d play Thursday night when the Suns host the Portland Trail Blazers at U.S. Airways Center.
Stoudemire said today was the best he’d felt since the microfracture surgery and that, barring any swelling in his recently troublesome right knee on Thursday morning, he was hopeful that he’d be on the court vs. the Trail Blazers.
Coach Mike D’Antoni said Stoudemire would play when he’s ready to play, deflecting questions on the specifics of Thursday night.
Stoudemire set to return
Says he's 80 percent sure he'll play Thursday
Doug Haller
The Arizona Republic
March 22, 2006
Suns forward Amaré Stoudemire could be back in action as quickly as Thursday night.
The All-Star big man, out since left knee surgery in October, said the chances were “80-20” that he’d play Thursday night when the Suns host the Portland Trail Blazers at U.S. Airways Center.
Stoudemire said today was the best he’d felt since the microfracture surgery and that, barring any swelling in his recently troublesome right knee on Thursday morning, he was hopeful that he’d be on the court vs. the Trail Blazers.
“If I wake up feeling good tomorrow, then it’s possible I’ll play,’’ Stoudemire said. “I tell you what, it’s been a long process, it’s been a long time coming. I just can’t wait to step foot back on that Phoenix logo.”
Coach Mike D’Antoni said Stoudemire would play when he’s ready to play, deflecting questions on the specifics of Thursday night.
Wow. That's quick.
Good luck to him.
I ain't sayin' nothin'.
i hope that doesn't end badly for him... sounds way too quick
Good luck to Amare. I'd hate to see a player of his potential continue to have problems. The question here is does Phoenix have enough time to properly integrate him into the system? The introduction of a dominant player of his type at this late stage of the game has the possibility to cause chemistry issues at a time when they should be concentrating on jelling for the playoffs.
I'm assuming because of this, it became a now or next season situation. Hopefully they aren't bringing him back too quickly to his detriment but I think Amare has his head on straight and knows that he has lots of basketball in front of him. I don't think he'd take a huge risk but I'm sure the anxiousness of the upcoming playoffs and the desire to get on the court may cause him to take some risks.
Good luck to him.
I haven't kept up with his situation, but I have a bad feeling about this, for his sake. I'll throw in a prayer for him tonight.
I say keep him out untill you meet Dallas... then rest him again....
they are definitely playing with fire.
I wonder if the loss to Utah was added motivation... During the game yesterday it sounded like the chances had actually gotten worse.
Amare has had 3 straight days of good 5-on-5 practice...
BTW, i called it
http://www.arizonasportsfans.com/vb/...ad.php?t=69031
http://www.azcentral.com/phorum/read.php?36,456326
Good luck Amare. I would've held him out until next season but if he's comfortable to start playing, then so be it.
Good luck to him.
I'm sure he takes no risk by playing now.
I can't see Suns gamble on Stoudamire's future 6 month after giving him a $75M contract.
Amare IS the system. The Suns style will get a huge boost from his ability to score in the key. Remember, the Suns have the least amount of FT attempts of any team in the NBA. Having Amare will help making players like Raja Bell, James Jones, Barbosa, Eddie House and Tim Thomas more open from the 3pt/perimeter. The biggest blessing this injury has been to Amare's game is his shooting. He was already working to be a better jump shooter last season. Being that all he could do was shoot the last couple months it's going to be special seeing him hit for more accuracy (one of the asst. coaches are scared Amare thinks he's a 3pt specialist now).
I say the next week and a half will be more exploritory as he tries to feel comfortable again. It will be important before the playoffs where he can hopefully get up to 90%. Then we can watch one of the greatest Conference Finals match-ups in the history of the game between Phoenix and Dallas--just kidding.
Team chemistry is important, but I think the reason the Suns have been able to succeed without Amare this year is irrelevent. They will NOT succeed in the post-season past the 1st round without a true paint presence. Marion isn't it and Kurt Thomas is a defender, not a scorer. D'Antoni said last month that Amare already had the quickest feet on the team back then when he first started working out.
And the problem with Amare recently was unofficially being labled as "in his head." It wasn't until Jerry Colangelo talked with him that a new sense of purpose seemed to exude from him. He's ready.
Whether you're a Spurs fan or a Suns fan, Amare's return is only good for basketball.
Amare returning to quickly will turn him into the modern day Shawn Kemp, minus all the kids.
Not if he isn't ready yet.Whether you're a Spurs fan or a Suns fan, Amare's return is only good for basketball.
We should use Rasho just to kick Amare in the knee if we face the Suns in the playoffs.
the talk with colangelo is what worries me. i thought amare was being smart by being tentative. no harm can come to him if he sits out this season and takes it slow. then he talks to colangelo and he all of a sudden feels fine and can play this week? sounds wack, if i were the suns i would make him sit - you don't want to potentially ruin his career. then again, i'm not the suns...
He's been playing 5-on-5 for three straight days with no complaints of pain. I had scope surgery on my knee once and it took me months after I was cleared for normal activity to feel comfortable. It was in my head.
And nothing is a better indicator to judge whether you're ready or not than actually doing it. What's the worst that could happen? He'd ruin his career? Duncan does that every day with his ankle, but nobody's complaining.
If the boy is ready to run, I say let 'im run!
Bad luck to him.
duncan has pf, it can't be made worse by playing on it. the ankle sprains were so 2005...
There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote
