Hornets down Suns 104 - 91 - Bright Side Of The Sun

Hornets down Suns 104 - 91

by Phoenix Stan on Dec 4, 2008 9:00 AM MST Comment 12 comments

Amare brought the suck.

Good night.

[Note by Phoenix Stan, 12/04/08 8:10 AM PST ]

Morning After Thoughts on Amare

For Amare rebounding is usally an indicator of effort. Not always. Sometimes the ball just doesn't come your way but last night and recently the level of effort just isn't there
Amare has shown this season that he can play defense. When he chooses. He needs to choose to do so more.
Offensively Amare was aggressive early. Every touch he turned, faced up West and destroyed him off the dribble. Once the Hornets started collapsing more from the weakside and Amare wasn't getting the calls he should have got he seemed to give up. The ball came to him and he wanted no part of it until the end of the game when he tried to go Kobe and single-handedly win the game. That rarely works even for Kobe.
Hopefully, this game can be used to show Amare how he's not performing w/o having Shaq around to blame. Otherwise, I am all in favor of benching him to get that message across. But I guess you don't bench fragile young stars in the NBA...
This all feels so familiar. For the past two years we've been having this same conversation about Amare early in the season. Last year he started well for the first week or so and then trailed off and then after the loss to the Lakers on Christmas day said something about "stepping up" and his numbers increased. That increase btw started well before Shaq came (see chart below). I am not ready to call for a trade but I am frustrated and feed up with this act.

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I hope Amare makes a collage about "rebounding" tonight.

Steve Nash, the league's MVP, is a longhaired Canadian who spoke out against the war in Iraq and reads The Communist Manifesto. Quentin Richardson declared after a game-winning shot that it "was like Hamlet. It was a suspense thriller, and I killed them at the end." Amare Stoudemire, when asked to comment on a 22-point third quarter against the Kings, said, "I've got a tendency to jump over some guys' heads and throw it down."

by rsavaj on Dec 3, 2008 9:24 PM MST reply actions 1 recs

Amare

I cant understand how Amare can keep on talking about being the “man” and trying to be of equal status with Dwight Howard, LEbron, etc. Doesnt he take a look at the box scores??!! On a night that Shaq is out – he grabs exactly the same rebounds as 6-3 Barbosa! 4 rebounds!

The guy is a softy – The Dwight Howards and Cris Boshes would be ashamed to be mentioned in one sentence with Amare. He would still be a good team centerpiece to have as a scorer besides a rugged big man or as one of 2 or 3 volume scorers like the Wizards Jamison besides Butler and Arenas (oops the smallish Antawn J. is averaging almost 10 rebs a game!). BUT no should he be considered the MAN at power forward – he’s a joke as a power player. Trade him! or at least get a real power forward so Amare can play the 3 spot or get off the bench as a sixth man scorer (yeah i know that would be a pretty expensive 6th man) .

by toto_l2003 on Dec 3, 2008 11:14 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

Black Jesus? He rebounds like the Black Tom Chambers.

Window Closed? Shit, just break it then.

by ZonaFlash on Dec 4, 2008 12:20 AM MST reply actions 0 recs

sudden change..

Amare greatnes on the paint is just base on set of play ( running game), as he was quick in 1 dribble and jump or dunk on offense.

Defensively – he’s liability on his size. mostly if opposing PF is big and quick (Howard-KG)
Post Up Play- Thats a nightmare to him. as it seems that he dont know how to beat his guard through post up.

Being a man on team? Cant be. Sorry….
Let him seat like Shaq is seating every other night, and check Shaq how he will do the Paint Job despite of his age.

by spoiled on Dec 4, 2008 12:28 AM MST reply actions 0 recs

To be fair, can't put too much on Amare facing Chandler AND West

Rebounding is team sport and Amare didn’t get much help.

Lopez = 0 in 20 min? I hope that was because he was tipping the ball to Grant and Matt for their combined 13 rebounds.

Window Closed? Shit, just break it then.

by ZonaFlash on Dec 4, 2008 12:34 AM MST reply actions 0 recs

Amare doesn't need to run

He needs Steve and the pick n’ roll. I’m hoping Porter saying more time with the ball in Steve’s hand’s means more Steve/Amare Pn’R. He needs to play alongside a big that can rebound (so far, not Lopez) and a point that can run the pick n’ roll with him.

Amare can take anybody in the league 1 on 1, but when all of his touches come when he’s the only threat on the floor he doesn’t get any good looks at the basket. I’d like to see more touches for Amare when Steve and Shaq are on the floor, some Pick n’ Roll with the second unit (Hill and Diaw both have the range, can drive, and pass, why don’t they ever run it with Amare. Seriously, what PF/C combo could watch Amare and Boris at the top of the key?), and a bigger focus on Diaw’s post game.

by hcblankscreen on Dec 4, 2008 12:53 AM MST reply actions 0 recs

If there ever was a team that needed a trade

it is this Suns team. I do no claim to have the answer on who gets moved, but I would put Amare out there. Makes some calls, get on the blower Kerr, see what you can shake up.
Problem is I don’t trust Kerr to make any moves. And the other problem is I truly believe Kerr and Sarver feel this team can make a run in the playoffs. Well, they are fooling themselves. As consituted now, this is an 8th seed team, staring at the Lakers in the first round.
To many mis-matched parts on this team, 1/4th of the season in and they don’t look like they have a clue, with or without Nash on the floor.

"Have You heard of the Boom on Mizar 5?"

by Grockcubs on Dec 4, 2008 6:33 AM MST reply actions 0 recs

We just need some W's

Everyone is in Panic mode right now. Did we really think they had a chance without Shaq and Nash?.

Sure, I would have loved to see Amare play better, get some freakin rebounds and show everyone why he wants to be considered “The Man” but it didn’t happen, lets try to get over it and look forward to today’s game.

Porter has finally agreed with the fact that Nash needs to run the offense, Shaq doesn’t have a problem with it and I feel this team will figure it out.

We are just going through a tough stretch… I’m just sayin’

"Basketball doesn't build character. It reveals it"

by PanamaSun on Dec 4, 2008 6:51 AM MST reply actions 0 recs

yup

Yup youre right i have the feeling the suns are gonna win this one vs dallas and amare is gonna have a big game… the difference of course is he’s gonna have a big game when shaq and nash are in the game. how the hell is he gonna be the man when the only time he has big games is when the other “men” are in the game! when lebron or dwight howard lose they take the blame coz irregardless of how the whole team sucks coz they are the MAN. Amare? he’s only super when all the the whole team is lousy and he gets his points at garbage time. oh dont get me wrong i think he’s still a valuable scorer but Lets at least get a power forward with real balls and guts who will rebound and defend like a the “MAN” so that we can celebrate amare as an MVP scorer at the small forward or sixth man spot. He can then score 30 a night, grab 4-5 rebounds, be the MAN and the suns get a win.

by toto_l2003 on Dec 4, 2008 7:30 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs

I agree he needs to step up, BUT

If we get another starter for PF, there is no way Amare can play SF. Can you imagine him trying to guard LeBron, Paul Pierce, Kevin Durant, Tayshaun Prince, Ron Artest, or Josh Howard?

And asking him to come off the bench as 6th man? I don’t think so.

by brian13 on Dec 4, 2008 1:20 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Definitely..

The 3 things that need to happen so that this team does finally figure it out..

1. Porter’s change of the offense to run through Nash. This needs to be done and not just talked about.

2. Amare needs to start trying. Every game. He says he wants to be MVP, he says he wants to win a title, and he plays like he does sometimes. But until he starts playing like it all the time, neither of those will happen.

3. The team/coach/management needs to not go into Panic Mode. Fans and media can panic all they want, but as long as the team doesn’t, I think they’ll make the changes needed to contend this year.

by brian13 on Dec 4, 2008 1:05 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs