To quote that great philosopher Heidi Klum, "One minute you're in, the next minute you're out."
It's the fans prerogative to be fickle and no one's play induces more pickling than our own Amare Stoudemire. He goes 4 games with 5 rebounds each followed by a 1 rebound, 4th quarter benching performance and he can't be gone fast enough.
Now we learn that despite his history of powering through rumors and his assurances that he would stay focused on the game, this time the chatter is in his head, "I feel like the confidence in me is not quite there with them for them to want to shop me around so much."
What better way to get out of your own head than to get out of you own town. Amare goes on the road and puts up big numbers in America's Armpit and the Big Easy. Suddenly, Amare's out of the pickle jar and we can't stand the thought of losing him.
Is there anything more bi-polar in the NBA right now than the Should He' Stay or Should He' Go? question
No, there is not (and no offense to all my bi-polar brothers out there).
Daily Linkage
Game 48: Hive Live - At The Hive
Overall, we played this team close and closed the deficit to 3 in the closing minute. We just couldn't quite pull it off. Sure, CP probably could have helped close that gap and ice the game, but let me ask you a question: if we're headed to the lottery, is it so bad to let our rookies work out their big stage jitters a bit?*
Hornets' Late Surge Not Enough Against Phoenix - Hornets247.com
As a shooting guard, Marcus did everything expected of him and then some. On defense he was able to completely contain Jason Richardson (1-6, 3 points in 36 minutes), and although only credited for one steal, was a crucial factor in two more.
Suns 109, Hornets 100 -- Three in a row (finally)| Valley of the Suns
The Phoenix Suns won their third consecutive game by defeating the New Orleans Hornets, 109-100.
Suns hold on to beat Hornets
"In all three games, we showed grit," said Suns guard Steve Nash, who played with abdomen and back pain again but is on a three-game run of 39 assists with three turnovers. "That's what we talked a lot about early in the season - the grittiness and depth we needed to win games. It's plain to see in the three games we won. More than anything, it's tiring. It proves you have to go earn it every night."
Basketbawful
Amar''''''e Stoudemire, quote machine: "We did a phenomenal job defensively. It all goes down to our defensive effort. In the past three games we've done a great job with that. We wanted to come out and set the tone early." Reality check: For the season, New Orleans averages 99.9 points on 45 percent shooting. Against Phoenix, the Hornets scored 100 points on 45 percent shooting. I'm not sure "holding a team without its best player to its averages" really qualifies as a "phenomenal job defensively." Oh, wait, we're talking about the Suns. It might actually be phenomenal defense for them.
Suns' Channing Frye selected for 3-point shootout
Frye was chosen to participate in the All-Star Game weekend's 3-point shootout on Feb. 13, a league source confirmed. Frye could be the first center to win the championship. He already is the first center to participate in the 3-point shootout since Seattle's Sam Perkins, a forward-center, did in 1997.
Still time to enter and win!!!
Amare Stoudemire Trade Contest - Bright Side Of The Sun
Put your fingers where your keystrokes are and win a signed Amare jersey by predicting his trade
Please note:
ESPN ADDS SUNS' FEB. 3 GAME AT DENVER
Will no longer air Suns-Clippers on Feb. 26, game time changed
PHOENIX - The Phoenix Suns' Feb. 3 road contest against the Denver Nuggets at Pepsi Center has been added by ESPN to the network's national television slate. As a result, the game's start time has been changed to 8:30 p.m. Phoenix time (10:30 p.m. Eastern). The matchup will still be televised locally by My45.
Additionally, ESPN will no longer air the Suns' Feb. 26 home game against the LA Clippers. As a result, the game will now start at 7 p.m. at US Airways Center rather than 8:30 p.m. The game will still be televised locally by FOX Sports Arizona.