I’m glad tomorrow is the trade deadline too.

but I have to point out some things.

1. I like Amare, but he’s apparently asking for too much money.

2. Which is the reason I’m responding, yes, Amare has handled this “trade mania” very well. I’m impressed, many others would’ve turned into little cry babies (marion). But I don’t think Amare understands some things….he’s logic is conflicted…seriously

On one hand he’s approaching this situation and his contract like the nba is a business, and he’s simply trying to get as big a payday as he can (understandable)
But on the other hand, his comments about how he’s done nothing wrong and been a good person off the court (etc) show that his feelings are hurt that the Suns would even think about the idea of trading him…(with this in mind…he’s assigning the approach of the team as "the family that’s possibly betraying him)…when in reality, the team is simply approaching this in the exact same way he’s approaching his paycheck pursuit, “as a business”…are there other parts to this…of course. But the simple fact that the economy has taken a serious downward turn has to eventually be recognized by the nba players.

With that out of the way….your statement above..the tail end of it
“I’m sure that he will continue to play at the same level and will do his best to make this team better and that alone makes me glad that he stayed.”
Is disagree. If Amare played at the same level he wouldn’t have games where he plays so poorly. Amare lacks consistent motivation. How many other rebounders go 3-4 rebounds one game then 15-20 in another? The answer (without looking at any stats…silly pun) none of the great rebounders.

If Amare played consistently in the range of some of his top games, he’d be 1 of the top 5 in the league in my view. But for whatever reason, he doesn’t and in my view barely breaks the top 30. Simply for the sake of Amare, I am pulling for him to go to a team that has a different focus on defense and accountability. I’d be curious to see him as a spur for 2-3 years, especially with the same coach and duncan there. Why, forgetting that I’m a Suns fan for a minute, I’d be curious to see if he could develop into that top 4-5 player in the league with the right people / strategy around him. I’m not sure he could, but I think it’s possible. I give him great credit for coming back from his injuries.

I’m not an Amare hater…I like Amare…I just simply understand the Suns not wanting to spend 17-20 million a year for 3-4 years on him. Kerr is correct when he says there are 2-3 players in the league worth that. Plus, Amare doesn’t strike me as a guy with a great desire to compete. Grant Hill Strikes me as a that guy, so does steve nash.

It’s a shame the Suns team has too rebuild when if d’antoni hadn’t been so focused on his team of 7 players, he could’ve been developing some great picks. That’s the biggest shame in all of this. That the Suns if run differently, could’ve been in a much better position as a team.

As a Suns fan, even though we haven’t won a title, I can definitely say I’ve been spoiled for years with a very fun team to watch.

:-(

Sorry for the different directions this post went, I’m simply sad because for 2-3 years the Suns were a team I thought had a fair shot at not only getting into the playoffs, but getting to the finals and winning. Now, I think they’re barely a playoff team and lucky to get past the first round. I’d love to be wrong. Side note…I have been very excited about Lopez, Dragic, Lou, Dudley, Hill (effort if not results), and nash.

While I am a Mavs fan, please note that I served my LDS mission in both Tucson and El Paso so I made friends with both Suns and Mavs fans. My friends in Texas (who all loved the Mavs) were a little kinder than my friends in Arizona so I favor the Mavs over the Suns but I like Phoenix as well. Stoudemire is outstanding and if the Suns can hang onto him, Mr. Sarver should be happy. Excellent game, but what else can be expected from Mavs and Suns?

In a game filled with spikes, the Suns lost after playing hard (at least it seems so). As far as i am concerned, we can’t defend (almost at all). The second quarter showed a lot of midrange shots bu the Mavs and though most times there were Suns players in front of the shooters, they still got the shot in (mostly with the defender still bending). Like i’ve said in several posts, there are days when offense will not work and shots wont fall, that is why you need to make stops.
Dirk was all over the place making shots, though JRich did his best guarding him, he is just too small to hold Dirk (7 inch differential). Even Lou couldn’t have done much as Dirk is a 7 footer who can shoot the ball real good, against the regular Cs and PFs, he might have had a chance but not against Dirk (of course, Amar’e can’t defend, but he did well enough scoring and rebounding to compensate). I thought Lopez was supposed to be a defensive guy, it seems to me that he can’t guard anyone, neither can he rebound (he blocks well though). Watching the game, i saw him lose rebounds that he had the edge over the opponent and still lost the ball. It was like he greased his palms hence the ball kept falling of, he did good offensively though.
My pick, it not too late to make one last try at getting Iggy as in the game, h would have limited their 1-2-3 leaving their big men for our big men. Philly says they want talent for Iggy right? Then we give them LB and JRich for Iggy and Dal (if needed, we add Clark) with that and the way Amar’e played last night, i think the FO might even give Amar’e a better contact as the team tends to contest this season and continue to build a future.

Players of the Game (Suns)
Amar’e: for his great offense and rebounding
JRich: played well on both ends
Dragic and Dudley : great play of the bench

Extra
Is it just me or is Dragic tending more toward SG than PG?

credit he is playing well and keeps his head on straight. I have been a huge supporter of his, but he really has played well. He actually has me hoping he stays a Sun.
 Fyre struggle tonight, and I wish Lou would of stayed on the floor instead of Hill last night.
 I too can’t wait until 3:00pm, the craziness is out of control. People want Kerr to get Bird, Magic, Barkley and MJ or he should be fired. Trade Machine is the worst thing to happen to this site.

The little 11-0 run started with two UGLY calls which set the tone for that run, possibly the game. But I vote with my dollar, and if the League is going to allow refs to decide the game, then I stop watching it.

1. J-rich hit hard, slammed to the ground, ball ripped form him under the basket and NO CALL
2. From that no-call, the Mavs run down the court, , run over a sun, lay the ball in, and go to the line.

At this point, I cannot watch any more kn.owning the the FIX is in.

Just another crappy-unjust-decided-the-game-ref-chit from the league office – spelled S-T-E-R-N.

Remember The Princess Bride? Wesley explains that every night the Dread Pirate Roberts told him, “I may kill you tomorrow.”

Can the Suns just continually tell Amare he’s about to be traded?

I think there was hard feelings on either side of the Amare trades.

This stuff happens all the time in the NBA. And when your contract gets near the end it happens more and louder. Both sides, wanted and needed to explore the trade waters. In June those waters will be churning BIG TIME.p

And Amare will once again be near the top of those trade waters.

It is an entertainment business.