http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/knicks/am...Yes it's a bit maddening that a max contract 'superstar' PF has to wait till a random coach in year TEN of his career suggest he develop some post moves to do so...
but it's a step. Unless Jerry Sloan comes knocking, this points to another reason to keep Woody.
I don't expect players with 8 to 10 years of experience to change other than to slightly regress each year. I'd make the same statement if I were Woody but as a fan wouldn't expect any significant improvement. I wouldn't recommend starphucking but if you are going to do it, you need to grab the player when he's 24 not 29.
More important come back playing defense and at least rebound like someone who is 6'10. Making Amare a low post player will make Melo a jump shooter which we do not want. It wouldnt hurt if Amare did develop a post game tho so he is not turning the ball over every time he makes a move to the basket. What would be even better is if he gets his 15ft jumper back.
I'd also like him to work on his posture some more and come in at 7'1". Adding 18 pounds of "muscle" would help too.
Amare is what? 25ppg? 55% for his career? Yes.. lets focus on his offense.
So Woody wants Stat to score in the post and Melo to get in shape. Oh yea... this is going well.
Amare is all star with great career and there has been little reason to change his game.
This is the same noise year in and year out of post season nonsense for media to produce.
Amare has a bad back, the post is bitch.
At the same time I'd encourage him to use his quickness in the post for easier baskets.
Amare needs to work on his handle and outside shot.
Sounds like he needs to be more fundamentally sound as his quickness leaves him. Logical progression for all star players.
Can he ask Chandler and STAT to order a season supply of stickum.
When you have to publicly challenge a sportsman who is getting paid so much money like Stat, you know your team has a serious problem.
I'm glad to hear it- one of the reasons I'm glad D'Antoni is gone is that from now on players can be developed properly, rather than just become 3 point shooters who don't play defense. Might be too late for STAT, might not. There's still a chance with Jorts- he would have just become a 3 point shooter under D'Antoni.
Just out of curiosity- how can you make a player a better defender? Is it done in the offseason? Can you practice it outside of proper game situations? Or is it just about committment once the season has begun? What players have significantly improved their defence? I can think of LJ (done during the season), and maybe Houston- he was never a good defender but he became less-worse, but that was over the course of years of defensive enphasis by the coach.
With his athleticism at risk, Amar'e really needs to either improve his shooting, or develop some crafty post moves. I'm glad LJ is on the staff now to help him out.
Another great aspect of Dantoni being gone is guys will actually come into camp in shape and we might actually bust out of the gate instead for the first time in 5yrs. No more 8-16 records to start the year.
Who hasn't Woody addressed? He called Melo out and now STAT plus he said Lin might not be the starter. You have to earn it young man, keep that chip on your shoulder. I like it. Also, I know Chandler works on post moves and shooting in practice but he needs someone that will give him the green light.
And he refuses to call shump by his name. He still calls him Rook
I wonder if he will publicly address Landry? I wouldn't. I think he needs a face to face talk and give him the number to the best shooting coach or Dani Santino from "Necessary Rougness"
blackisblack wrote:When you have to publicly challenge a sportsman who is getting paid so much money like Stat, you know your team has a serious problem.
I'm not with challenging players through media but I'm definitely with challenging players to improve. Challenging players and holding them accountable is a breath of fresh as opposed to our previous coach who was too passive to challenge anyone. If Phil doesn't want it, would be glad to see Woodson get extended....
“It’s actually great because I’ve never had a coach that asked me to work on my low-post game,” Stoudemire said. “I’ve been a pick-and-roll player my whole career. Being able to shoot the ball from the outside and also have quick first steps and being able to move off the dribble is an advantage for me. And now to apply some low-post moves will even be that much better.”
Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/knicks/amar_eyes_improving_on_inside_FI5hGWURBay3Q4NbJJ70rI#ixzz1uW92ttCW
INteresting quote from Stat. MDA was his coach for most of his career.
I love this idea as I think STAT still has some hop. We all remember LJ at the end. He could not jump over a piece of paper but he could still score in the low post and rebound. I would love to see LJ, a new Knick employee, tutoring Stat this summer. Teach him a few moves in the post and the 4 point play!
GoNyGoNyGo wrote:“It’s actually great because I’ve never had a coach that asked me to work on my low-post game,” Stoudemire said. “I’ve been a pick-and-roll player my whole career. Being able to shoot the ball from the outside and also have quick first steps and being able to move off the dribble is an advantage for me. And now to apply some low-post moves will even be that much better.”Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/knicks/amar_eyes_improving_on_inside_FI5hGWURBay3Q4NbJJ70rI#ixzz1uW92ttCW
INteresting quote from Stat. MDA was his coach for most of his career.
I love this idea as I think STAT still has some hop. We all remember LJ at the end. He could not jump over a piece of paper but he could still score in the low post and rebound. I would love to see LJ, a new Knick employee, tutoring Stat this summer. Teach him a few moves in the post and the 4 point play!
Great point- LJ and STAT seem to have a good relationship too - this could actually happen -
As long as we're not going away from Amare's strength (playing the PnR), then I'm fine with Woodson encouraging Amare to develop some low-post moves to enhance his offensive game...
If the intent is to limit Amare's PnR action (like we did this season) and to make him play significantly more in the low post....then I think it's pretty retarded to go away from a player's main strength.
Developing post moves was never part of the Dantoni coaching staff's system. Most 6'10 bigs can play in the post and are thought to rebound and box out unless they are undersized which Amare certainly is not
Do we really believe STAT though. I guess if we believe STAT about the quotes Nixluva brought up we have to believe this. Or do we. Bottom line is I think STAT just says what he thinks people want to here and really just deflects everything. Also, how about learning to set some real picks and not slipping every attempted PnR i guess we can call it a Slip n Roll. Melo is bad at it too but so was D Lee when he was in NY. Anyway, how about setting a real screen and getting a switch to make it easier sometimes.
