Amar’e Stoudemire said the lockout inactivity is the reason for his subpar first half of the season but declared that he’ll have a big second half and can regain his explosiveness.
“Stay tuned,” Stoudemire said after practice Tuesday. “Stay tuned.”
Stoudemire is averaging 17.5 points per game, his lowest in a full season since his rookie year. Last season he posted 25.3 points per night and shot 50 percent from the floor. This season he’s at 45 percent.
“It’s the lockout, man,” Stoudemire said. “The lockout really, it was to my favor to the point I had time to heal [my back]. But I didn’t have time to play basketball. I didn’t do any basketball at all. I played one game, that was in Miami, that charity game. That was the only time I played full-court basketball. The whole offseason was no up and down for me until I got here and played for training camp.”
Stoudemire insisted the problem was not fatigue or conditioning-related. “It’s rhythm,” he said. “Whenever you’re away from the game for six months or so, that’s the longest I’ve ever been away from the game of basketball, as far as going up and down and playing. It was definitely a rhythm thing. Now I feel great.”
Stoudemire added, “Every second half of the year, I’ve got a tendency to turn it up. Because you know how important it is after the All-Star break. Getting that momentum going into the postseason is always very, very key. You want to be playing at your best going into the postseason. It’s going to be an incredible second half of the year for me.”
Article: http://www.nypost.com/p/blogs/knicksblog...
he's a proud dude. i hope he has a re-emergence. would be another great story to go along with what has been a very entertaining season.
Good, good- hope it's true- it's tough watching a guy with a lot of pride struggle. Hope he turns things around.
For a deep playoff run, it rests on Stoudemire getting back to beast mode. Melo will be melo and if everyone else plays like they did first half, it still probably won't be enough to go far. We need STAT to come back
eViL wrote:he's a proud dude. i hope he has a re-emergence. would be another great story to go along with what has been a very entertaining season.
very proud. I remember before he was drafted his goal was to be in the NBA hall of fame. When people ripped him over that he said he wasnt being arrogant, simply stating his love and dedication to the game. The guy is no loafer. He will get it going. A refreshed Amare would be nasty. Fingers crossed
I was watching the 2010-2011 Amar'e highlight video someone posted here, and am just still amazed at how awesome he was last season. Definitely leaves you hopeful he can regain some of that form.
May not be the only reason, but I can buy that the lay off has played a big role in the decline. Either way, I'm rooting for him. Here's to a great 2nd half!
Sounds like typical NBA player rhetoric of telling us what we want to hear.
I was under the impression he was "in shape" coming into camp.
Bottom line is we usually have the All star game like after 50 games so his body clock might be wrong.
Hey, not hating on the guy, Im rooting for him to return to some form from last year.
He has been an amazing athlete and a good dude.
I hope he tears the league a new one.
With Chandler's wrist ailing, Amare might get the extra pick & roll reps with Lin he needs. If he gets 2 more opportunities/gm, he's a 20ppg scorer.
MaTT4281 wrote:I was watching the 2010-2011 Amar'e highlight video someone posted here, and am just still amazed at how awesome he was last season. Definitely leaves you hopeful he can regain some of that form.May not be the only reason, but I can buy that the lay off has played a big role in the decline. Either way, I'm rooting for him. Here's to a great 2nd half!
I agree- and the thing is, as good as he was for us last year, he was even better the season before, after the allstar game- I remember a lot of basketball pundits said he was looking like one of the best players in the league. His averages were crazy- about 27 points, 57% shooting, 9.8 rebounds, I seem to remember he put it down to having lost weight since cutting meat out of his diet.
Alahn Hahn tweeted that he looked like he was looking to lose weight today- I'm not sure how someone looks like they're looking to shed weight, but hopefully it's true- Amar'e is a finesse player, so being too bulked up makes no sense for him.
personally, I don't really care--just as long as he goes into beast mode in the playoffs
STAT and Melo were in shape, but there's a huge difference between being in good physical condition and being in game shape and with your skills at midseason form. The timing and feel you have is built up over the off season with basketball related work, but STAT and Melo didn't really have their normal work on their game. Just lifting and running isn't the same as drills and fine tuning your game with a basketball trainer.
I don't know if STAT will actually regain his form, but I don't really believe he's done as some seem to think. Losing some explosion isn't the end of an NBA players career if they've got skills. STAT needs his shot back more than anything.
I hope so, Amar'e.
WE SUPPORT YOU 150%, MAN!
I believe him 200%. Everyone sit back and watch.
You gotta love Amare - the guy is a warrior and I support him 110% - but the first half of the season was alarming. If he can pull this off (and we all want him to) then the Knicks will be tough to beat.
nixluva wrote:STAT and Melo were in shape, but there's a huge difference between being in good physical condition and being in game shape and with your skills at midseason form. The timing and feel you have is built up over the off season with basketball related work, but STAT and Melo didn't really have their normal work on their game. Just lifting and running isn't the same as drills and fine tuning your game with a basketball trainer. I don't know if STAT will actually regain his form, but I don't really believe he's done as some seem to think. Losing some explosion isn't the end of an NBA players career if they've got skills. STAT needs his shot back more than anything.
If the worst case is Larry Johnson Pt II, as some have suggested, I will take that as a worst case. But I also do not believe he's bottoming out
OasisBU wrote:You gotta love Amare - the guy is a warrior and I support him 110% - but the first half of the season was alarming. If he can pull this off (and we all want him to) then the Knicks will be tough to beat.
I love Amare but "Warriors" play defense.
Usually i dont like talk until i see it but im glad amare seems like he has something to prove. for most of this season he has seemed aloof and disinterested. its good to see that he realizes that he hasn't been great and he has somethign to prove. i tell you if we get the old amare back and melo stays healthy i dont care if we play the heat we are gonna be tough
I buy it. I think a lot of players weren't quite in shape because no one thought there'd even be a season. Amar'e really just has to do a better job on the PnR and make some jumpshots and he'll be right back to normal. He won't get back to 25 PPG because he won't get the attempts, but if he's efficient that will go a long way.
Effort Is Forever
mrKnickShot wrote:I love Amare but "Warriors" play defense.
Muchas gracias.
we can live witrh amares lack of defense just as long as he scores. Now i wish he was a great dender but as long as he gets back in the groove offensively it wont hurt us
I am happy to support him a 100% but I refuse to higher than that.
I am still going to watch him very very closely.
