Amare Stoudemire

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The key to the season. There’s no question that Amare’s offensive skill set is out of this world. Last season he was nailing down that 15-17 footer with a great deal of consistency. The question with Amare remains his head. I read about his visit to Sierra Leone, how he’s working their to build water wells. Let me get this clear before anything else (because if you’ve read me before, I obviously have a negative bias against this kid), I’m not questioning Amare’s heart. He sounds like a great kid, does the right thing off the court. Has worked hard to make himself into a devastating offense force. Worked hard to get back to that level after his microfracture surgery. So, I’m not questioning his heart in any way. What I can’t stand about Amare is his head. He cost the Suns the series two yeas ago by jumping off the bench. He complained and complained and convinced himself he couldn’t play the 5, prompting Kerr to bring in Shaq. The worst part about the whole thing is that Amare is starting to act like Shaq. That’s a horrible notion if you recall how hard O’Neal has worked each offseason. Another example of Amare’s Shaqness, this offseason, Amare, much like Shaq has done to every former coach he’s ever had, couldn’t help but take a jab at his former coach, by insinuating that, in four years under D’Antoni, the team never practiced any defense. As if that was the reason why Amare can’t play a lick of D. Even if that statement is true, which it very well may be, the fact that Amare is the best offensive big in the league would have to be credited to D’Antoni as well. But in Amare’s head, his lack of defensive ability is someone else’s fault. What Amare needs to do this season sounds simple enough. He needs to continue his high level of offensive play, but he’s got to be a basket-protector. He’s terrible at defending the rim. He’s even worse at playing man up D. That’s why, a summer with the U.S. Olympic team, being hounded by Kobe and Lebron, being guided by a team that was focused on defense, could have done wonders for the 26-year-old. Maybe he’s learned defense on his own, or maybe Porter has constructed the perfect team defensive scheme. If Amare can make that jump, if he can become as devastatingly effective on defense as he is on offense, this team could definitely make it to the finals. Could definitely win the whole thing. But that’s a huge if.  

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Amare Stoudemire

Why he’s the MVP: Have you watched him over the past month?  Since Shaq got to Phoenix this man has become the most feared big man on the offensive end.  He gets to the hoop when he wants, dunks on anyone who tries to guard him, steps back and hits an 18-footer if he’s left open and even has learned how to pass in the paint.  He also tries on the defensive end of the floor now, which is more then we could say before Shaq arrived.

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