[WizardofOzParticipant]

Knicks forward Amar’e Stoudemire says that he was never taught defense.

Stoudemire says defense is more a priority now for him than ever before in his career.

"When trying to win ball games, defense is what does it," Stoudemire said. "Getting stops, getting rebounds … it’s imperative for me to bring that defensive intensity."

Stoudemire doesn’t argue that his reputation as a poor defensive player was well deserved in Phoenix and seemed to suggest that former Suns and current Knicks coach Mike D’Antoni was indirectly responsible.

"It was fair," Stoudemire said. "I was never taught defense. I just never was taught it in high school and also in the NBA."

http://www.realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/70285/20101127/amare_claims_he_was_never_taught_defense/
 

[CodySLCParticipant]

 I believe it. Buts he’s on the Knicks so it shouldnt be to big of a problem.

[CodySLCParticipant]

 I believe it. Buts he’s on the Knicks so it shouldnt be to big of a problem.

[CodySLCParticipant]

 I believe it. Buts he’s on the Knicks so it shouldnt be to big of a problem.

[ThaMatrixParticipant]

Word ^

[ThaMatrixParticipant]

Word ^

[ThaMatrixParticipant]

Word ^

[delfamParticipant]

D’Antoni shouldn’t be responsible, shouldn’t it be his middle school and high school coaches fault, you learn defense and work ethic at a young age, you can’t blame D’Antoni.

[delfamParticipant]

D’Antoni shouldn’t be responsible, shouldn’t it be his middle school and high school coaches fault, you learn defense and work ethic at a young age, you can’t blame D’Antoni.

[delfamParticipant]

D’Antoni shouldn’t be responsible, shouldn’t it be his middle school and high school coaches fault, you learn defense and work ethic at a young age, you can’t blame D’Antoni.

[Mr. 19134Participant]

It’s weird he would so that cuz it’s almost a slap in the face to his current coach.  If D’Antoni didn’t teach him defense in Phoenix what makes him think he is going to teach him defense now.

And I think what he meant was a poor excuse.  I think STAT meant he was never taught the intangibles to defense, like how somebody would work with you on post moves and your shooting he was never taught defensive footwork and timing.  That is just crazy.  I played basketball all throughout my collegiate years and was taught a ton of defensives techniques and footwork and started to pride myself on being able to move my feet and stay in front of ball handlers better then anybody.  Somebody like Stoudemire who was always a blue chip prospect and a 5 star recruit I have to believe would of went to even better camps then I went too.

[Mr. 19134Participant]

It’s weird he would so that cuz it’s almost a slap in the face to his current coach.  If D’Antoni didn’t teach him defense in Phoenix what makes him think he is going to teach him defense now.

And I think what he meant was a poor excuse.  I think STAT meant he was never taught the intangibles to defense, like how somebody would work with you on post moves and your shooting he was never taught defensive footwork and timing.  That is just crazy.  I played basketball all throughout my collegiate years and was taught a ton of defensives techniques and footwork and started to pride myself on being able to move my feet and stay in front of ball handlers better then anybody.  Somebody like Stoudemire who was always a blue chip prospect and a 5 star recruit I have to believe would of went to even better camps then I went too.

[Mr. 19134Participant]

It’s weird he would so that cuz it’s almost a slap in the face to his current coach.  If D’Antoni didn’t teach him defense in Phoenix what makes him think he is going to teach him defense now.

And I think what he meant was a poor excuse.  I think STAT meant he was never taught the intangibles to defense, like how somebody would work with you on post moves and your shooting he was never taught defensive footwork and timing.  That is just crazy.  I played basketball all throughout my collegiate years and was taught a ton of defensives techniques and footwork and started to pride myself on being able to move my feet and stay in front of ball handlers better then anybody.  Somebody like Stoudemire who was always a blue chip prospect and a 5 star recruit I have to believe would of went to even better camps then I went too.

[hiphopismylifeParticipant]

He also tried to blame a loss on having Thanksgiving off when everyone else did as well lol. We need to stp listening to this dude

[hiphopismylifeParticipant]

He also tried to blame a loss on having Thanksgiving off when everyone else did as well lol. We need to stp listening to this dude

[hiphopismylifeParticipant]

He also tried to blame a loss on having Thanksgiving off when everyone else did as well lol. We need to stp listening to this dude

[HitsterParticipant]

A lot of players who are drafted highly come to the NBA without having a solid grounding in the games intangibles and how may players who are seen as great athletes then cannot compete against top all round players in the NBA?

Relatively few big men in particular are anywhere near the finished item when they are drafted especially if they had been pre 2007 players drafted out of High School or are one and done guys. A lot of work I always assume is done during their early NBA years so the likes of Favours, Cousins, Monroe etc are being given minutes but are still completing their basketball education. Some like JaVale McGee and Brook Lopez have had to learn on the job literally.

STAT has managed to forge a hugely successful NBA career mainly through his huge offensive game and having played the majority of his career under Coach D’Antoni it has not affected his overall success but I do wonder if an improved defensive game on STAT’s part may have taken Phoenix that bit closer to an NBA title during his time there.

 

[HitsterParticipant]

A lot of players who are drafted highly come to the NBA without having a solid grounding in the games intangibles and how may players who are seen as great athletes then cannot compete against top all round players in the NBA?

Relatively few big men in particular are anywhere near the finished item when they are drafted especially if they had been pre 2007 players drafted out of High School or are one and done guys. A lot of work I always assume is done during their early NBA years so the likes of Favours, Cousins, Monroe etc are being given minutes but are still completing their basketball education. Some like JaVale McGee and Brook Lopez have had to learn on the job literally.

STAT has managed to forge a hugely successful NBA career mainly through his huge offensive game and having played the majority of his career under Coach D’Antoni it has not affected his overall success but I do wonder if an improved defensive game on STAT’s part may have taken Phoenix that bit closer to an NBA title during his time there.

 

[HitsterParticipant]

A lot of players who are drafted highly come to the NBA without having a solid grounding in the games intangibles and how may players who are seen as great athletes then cannot compete against top all round players in the NBA?

Relatively few big men in particular are anywhere near the finished item when they are drafted especially if they had been pre 2007 players drafted out of High School or are one and done guys. A lot of work I always assume is done during their early NBA years so the likes of Favours, Cousins, Monroe etc are being given minutes but are still completing their basketball education. Some like JaVale McGee and Brook Lopez have had to learn on the job literally.

STAT has managed to forge a hugely successful NBA career mainly through his huge offensive game and having played the majority of his career under Coach D’Antoni it has not affected his overall success but I do wonder if an improved defensive game on STAT’s part may have taken Phoenix that bit closer to an NBA title during his time there.

 

[mj23mj23besteverParticipant]

sounds like an excuse too me cause he cant play it at all imo its very hard to believe that at sum level he was never taught basic d fundamentals

[mj23mj23besteverParticipant]

sounds like an excuse too me cause he cant play it at all imo its very hard to believe that at sum level he was never taught basic d fundamentals

[mj23mj23besteverParticipant]

sounds like an excuse too me cause he cant play it at all imo its very hard to believe that at sum level he was never taught basic d fundamentals

[Toronto16Participant]

@mj23mj23bestever

Took the words right out of my keyboard.

[Toronto16Participant]

@mj23mj23bestever

Took the words right out of my keyboard.

[Toronto16Participant]

@mj23mj23bestever

Took the words right out of my keyboard.

[SteroidParticipant]

Didn’t he start playing basketball relatively late when he was young? That could probably be some of it. Generally speaking, I think most NBA players could have gotten away with playing mock defense because they are so athletic compared to others when they were young. Amar’e probably was one of those guys. Regardless, you can’t teach intangibles. Intangibles are just natural instincts like knowing when to go for a steal, etc., or it could just be intensity on D, but you can teach a person fundamentals of D.

[SteroidParticipant]

Didn’t he start playing basketball relatively late when he was young? That could probably be some of it. Generally speaking, I think most NBA players could have gotten away with playing mock defense because they are so athletic compared to others when they were young. Amar’e probably was one of those guys. Regardless, you can’t teach intangibles. Intangibles are just natural instincts like knowing when to go for a steal, etc., or it could just be intensity on D, but you can teach a person fundamentals of D.

[SteroidParticipant]

Didn’t he start playing basketball relatively late when he was young? That could probably be some of it. Generally speaking, I think most NBA players could have gotten away with playing mock defense because they are so athletic compared to others when they were young. Amar’e probably was one of those guys. Regardless, you can’t teach intangibles. Intangibles are just natural instincts like knowing when to go for a steal, etc., or it could just be intensity on D, but you can teach a person fundamentals of D.

[hiphopismylifeParticipant]

The funny thing is I remember him being drafted and getting compared to Ben Wallace. They actually raved about his defense more than anything else and he said how he takes pride in it. I found the video from the 02 draft:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0fDuhC7FTsU

[hiphopismylifeParticipant]

The funny thing is I remember him being drafted and getting compared to Ben Wallace. They actually raved about his defense more than anything else and he said how he takes pride in it. I found the video from the 02 draft:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0fDuhC7FTsU

[hiphopismylifeParticipant]

The funny thing is I remember him being drafted and getting compared to Ben Wallace. They actually raved about his defense more than anything else and he said how he takes pride in it. I found the video from the 02 draft:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0fDuhC7FTsU

[ItsVictorOladipoParticipant]

I believe it.

To use a comparison. Back when I played football in highschool our best player was a linebacker with a shredded 230 lb build and 4.6 speed. He would just tee off on opposing ball carriers and destroy them. Got a scholarship to a div 1 school where he was exposed for terrible tackling technique and ability to shed blockers and really never saw the field. The guy didn’t know how to wrap up or read an offensive play because he got by on pure size, strength and athleticism until then.

I can honestly see NBA coaches in Phoenix placing such an emphasis on offense that they failed to adequately address Amare’s defensive shortcomings.

[ItsVictorOladipoParticipant]

I believe it.

To use a comparison. Back when I played football in highschool our best player was a linebacker with a shredded 230 lb build and 4.6 speed. He would just tee off on opposing ball carriers and destroy them. Got a scholarship to a div 1 school where he was exposed for terrible tackling technique and ability to shed blockers and really never saw the field. The guy didn’t know how to wrap up or read an offensive play because he got by on pure size, strength and athleticism until then.

I can honestly see NBA coaches in Phoenix placing such an emphasis on offense that they failed to adequately address Amare’s defensive shortcomings.

[ItsVictorOladipoParticipant]

I believe it.

To use a comparison. Back when I played football in highschool our best player was a linebacker with a shredded 230 lb build and 4.6 speed. He would just tee off on opposing ball carriers and destroy them. Got a scholarship to a div 1 school where he was exposed for terrible tackling technique and ability to shed blockers and really never saw the field. The guy didn’t know how to wrap up or read an offensive play because he got by on pure size, strength and athleticism until then.

I can honestly see NBA coaches in Phoenix placing such an emphasis on offense that they failed to adequately address Amare’s defensive shortcomings.

[Author]

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