[Tongue-Out-Like-23Participant]

And the 9th pick of the 2002 NBA Draft, the Phoenix Suns select…

 

This 6’9" 235, 19 year old athletic speciment came into the league with high hopes, the #1 player in the country coming straight out of Cypress Creek H.S.

Now, a chiseled 6’10, 240, 8 year veteran, Amar’e Stoudemire has been subject to criticism.  A stylish dresser off the court, and a stylish offensive player on the court. This guy has swag, he’ll jab step, pump fake, dribble, spin, and dunk on your head.  That’s the best way to make yourself part of a dreaming teenager’s wall, by being in Amar’e’s poster.

 

I’ve had my doubts about him though.  I watch him play, and he obviously doesn’t give it 100%.  He isn’t much of a winner and doesn’t have a good motor.  Offensively, nobody can stop him, even at half speed.  I sit and think, how good would Amar’e be if he had Blake Griffin’s and Dwight Howard’s motor?  He’s a better athlete that both, a more polished scorer than both, and a better player overall than both.  He can easily be a 28-12 guy.  He can easily win DPOY, year after year after year.  He can have the crown as the best PF in the L and if he chose to play center, he would be the best center in the Association. He can lead the league in rebounds, blocks, and free throws attempted.  He can be mentioned with players like Howard, Paul, Durant, Melo, Wade, LeBron, and Kobe.  Hell, he can be mentioned with players like Wade, LeBron, and Kobe.  This guy could have been or could be one of the greatest players of the decade.  An intimidating body inside and an unstoppable force on O.  I see Blake Griffin, and I think one thing.. This is what Amar’e Stoudemire could have been.. Better yet, this is what Amar’e Stoudemire, could be.

[bennydabullParticipant]

I heard he just found out what defense was 2 weeks ago

[SubZeroParticipant]

He isn’t as good an athlete as Blake Griffin…it’s close with Dwight Howard but I think Dwight’s a better athlete by a little

[goneParticipant]

Sorry Howard is a better athlete….

[Meditated StatesParticipant]

Never has and never would be. I see what your saying if he attacked all fazes of the game like Blake he would be a beast he does have more offensive moves than blake and a better jumper. Blake is even more of a freak athletically though. Never understood why he did not block more shots,and rebound even more. Has been playing well this year.

[JJeff6Participant]

Dead on.  After watching him in Phoenix for so many years, I loved what he was doing offensivley, electrifying the building with huge dunks and getting to the line 10+ times a night, not to mention developing a mid range game.  He could score at will.

Then, there was the infuriating part of  Amare Stoudemire. 

Not hustling back on defense, not going for blocks, not trying to get rebounds that he should have gotten resulting in second chance points for the other team, not using his quickness and athleticism to his advantage on D.  All of this and his terrible attitude at times, which often resulted in numerous technical fouls. 

Ur exactly right, if he used his talents to his full ability, he could be a 28-30 point scorer a night with 11+ rebounds and 2-3 blocks a game. 

But to be 100% honest, those are things we will never see, he doesnt have the concentration or the drive to be the superstar he really is deep inside night in and night out.

[Tongue-Out-Like-23Participant]

I don’t know, I think Amar’e is a better athlete, when he actually tries, he’s quicker, stronger, faster, and can jump higher than both.  Not only that, he has a very strong body.

[SubZeroParticipant]

Lol I doubt Amare could do this

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2VLEGtRuz4

[JJeff6Participant]

Sub Zero, Amare could actually probably do that.  Ive seen him do things almost as good as that before (see: posterizing Anthony Tolliver last year)

[Tongue-Out-Like-23Participant]

SubZero

1. He didn’t even dunk it, he threw the ball in.

2. Mozgov didn’t even jump.

3. Have you seen Amar’e dunk on Tolliver?

[JJeff6Participant]

Thank you tongue my point exactly

[SubZeroParticipant]

Well to me Blake’s are more impressive. It’s just my opinion, it might just be cuz I don’t really see Amar’e going all out so I can’t really see what he’s capable of sometimes. Point is, all 3 of them are freaks of nature athletically

[STATnMeloParticipant]

Blake is more skilled IMO but as far as athleticsm goes Amar’e is just so damn athletic they are very similiar but I’ll give the edge to Amar’e as of right now especially since he has a good PG but let Blake get a solid PG not a shoot first lazy one like Baron Davis or an inexperienced one like Bledsoe. Blake will have the better career because of his work ethic and feel for the game but Amar’e just needs to play hard all the time and play some D to become a legit All Time PF and lets not forget Amar’e never played with a Center he’s been out of position most of his career with guys like Wilson Chandler and Shawn Marion as his Front Court partner

[NYCrealdealParticipant]

the thing about amre this year is that he is becoming one of the best leaders on and of the court this year

[JJeff6Participant]

He did play with a legit center in Shaq for like 55 games in 08-09 before his eye got injured.

[sheltwon3Participant]

Amare pre operation was more athletic than both and that is not taking a shot at Blake or Dwight who are very athletic

[BKKnicksfanParticipant]

As a Knicks fan, I will say this

He’s playing hard. Stoudemire is a 7-10 rebound guy at best. He provides very well with space. I do feel NY needs to protect him with a dirty guy next to him who can grab rebounds, play defense and doesn’t command too many shots. Oddly, Darko would have been perfect.

I think he’s a top 12 guy in the NBA right now. He’s a borderline 5 star for me.

[bennydabullParticipant]

Darko Milicic and perfect should never be in the same sentence

[JJeff6Participant]

KidKyrie,

Last year when they inserted Lopez into the starting rotation, Amare took off, averaging about 26 for the rest of the year. So yes, in this situation Darko would be PERFECT.  yup i said perfect in the same sentence as Darko

[BKKnicksfanParticipant]

Benny, wake up man. He’s playing well in Minnesota.

For 20 mil? Nah, but he would have been a nice piece to keep. D’Antoni just never gave him a chance.

[JJeff6Participant]

Benny just jumped on the "hate darko because he never lived up to what the stupid pistons thought he would be" bandwagon. Most people have, its a common thing.

[Im Your FatherParticipant]

That’s right bennybull "perfect" just doesn’t do him justice. I prefer to use words such as "otherworldly" and phrases such as "Greatest of all time" to describe Darko.

[HaleParticipant]

Before the injuries Amare was a better athlete then Howard easily, but I don’t think he was quite on BG’s level.

[knicks27Participant]

Hes beasting for New York now, averaging like 26 and 9 after a small adjustment period. He also gets close to 2 blocks a game, the guy is a straight up leader. I don’t know how he was in Phoenix but hes definitely matured.

[jaysmith1987Participant]

I dont think people have been paying attention to what Amare has been doing in New York. This guy has a team that with out him is definately near the bottom in the league in wins.  Just say he never comes to New York and David Lee stays there New York isn’t above 500. Amare is not as athletic as Blake and Howard remember this guy has knee surgery hes close to being there but because of the loss of athleticism that made him develop the other parts of his game.  He has stepped up his defense and rebounding since coming to the Knicks and its funny how people said he couldn’t play without Nash but his team looks better than the Suns are looking.  I understand Mike D’Antoni scheme puts up numbers but Amare brings the wins I mean without him they have a second rounder starting at shooting guard a decent starting point guard and Danillo Gallinari showing flashes of greatness but never delivering consistenly.  Amare is who the Heat really wanted and right now he is the best power forward in the League with the decline of Duncan, Bosh , and Kg.  So please dont try and tell me Blake is better because he is putting up huge numbers on a loosing team he’s not.  Matter fact if you were going to compare Blake to a power forward in the league it would be Amare just less skilled more hustle with the rebounds and all.

[bennydabullParticipant]

I’m just kidding yall. Darko has been playing well when confident and given the time.

Ballin’ til I get a milli-check, DARKO

[JJeff6Participant]

Jaysmiths right, except with the comparison, Blake does have close to amares athleticism, but he has yet to develop a mid range jumper and a consistant shot from the line.  I cant stress enough the importance of amares jumper in his career from lastyear-retirement.  It makes players have to close out on him, and when they do that, he can just use his quickness to get by them or power then to the hoop.  if they slack off of him a little he drains a 15-18 foot jumper, somtimes deeper, right in front of them. 

[Malik-UniversalParticipant]

amare is my favortie player in the league and he can easily be more dominant imo… well at least in phx…

[Author]

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