What kind of power forward that makes the money he makes, with the resume he has, ends up with 4 rebounds in any game when they aren't in foul trouble? It makes you wish that you had David Lee out there again. At this point, I'd rather have Jared Jeffries out there. It pains me to say it but if you watch games you believe it too. A'mare is absolutely useless to the knicks unless he's getting the ball on the move. He doesn't compete for rebounds and he's a non factor on defense. He is a liability out there. There were two plays where he ignited the crowd and his teammates. One where he made that flip shot while falling underneath the basket, and that dunk he caught on Humphries off a Carmelo Anthony lead pass. Other than that he was invisible. Humphries beat him to every rebound last night and that cost us the game.
Is that pointing fingers at one player and accusing them if letting the team down. Yes. A'mare is the one that proclaims who he is. He made up his own nickname "Stat" and said he was a beast before the year started. His focus has to change because he is not going to get a zillion pick and roll touches like in the past. He's got to reinvent himself and make things happen off of rebounding and defense. Right now Jared is out playing him. Poor Jared was not blessed with coordination and power. One thing he does know how to do is play this game of basketball. He rebounds, draws charges like crazy and blocks shots off his help defense. If Jared had A'mare's gifts he'd be the best power forward today.
In this league if stars, guys are more concerned with stats. Deron made a point last night to prove he was better than Lin. He over played Lin on defense and was looking to score every time he had it. The coach even ran plays where Deron tried to camp out in the pain waiting for a pass for chippy baskets. Lin, unflappable, never lost focus and continued play the team game and finished with his regular linsanityesque stats. Deron scoring 38 pts was not the reason the knicks lost. The game was lost inside the paint. Tyson Chandler was fighting for his life inside. He was battling Humphries inside, and banging with Sheldon Williams. A'mare was content with just being out there. Close games are win on the boards. You can't complete the comeback without the ball.
If A'mare wants to keep his self proclaimed nickname he's got to start trying to get 10 rebounds per with the same ferocity Deron had trying to make his point on Lin. That's his domain. Tyson and A'mare should make a game out of it. Whoever gets the most rebounds gets a cookie, or wherever motivates a millionare basketball player. Bottom line he's got to get the job done. Can't win games without the ball.
Start spreading the News...Amare has a back problem. Im a Physical Therapist in Los Angeles and a Knick fan for over 40 years..Ive worked as Sports Clinics and Spine Centers treating Pro Athletes in the Eighties. I told everyone after game two of the Celtic series when he was lying on his stomach that this was going to be a long term problem. I've treated spine problems every day for the last 30 years. This guy had to take 3 months off of training. My guess is he has at least a Bulging Disc, maybe a Herniated one. Ever seriously injure your Back?. Try getting out of bed vs chasing Dirk Nowinski around 94 feet of wood. He has no lift and avoids contact at all costs. His jump shot, which was money last season is clanking with regularity. Just watch some tapes from last season, up to Game one of the Celtic series where he was blowing by Garnett at will. Not the same person. He has no first step and has gotten more shots blocked than any time in his career. He was a terrible defensive player before, now, forget about lateral movement. Think about it. Its all he thinks about. One wrong move and its the disabled list. The Knicks, notoriously secretive will never admit as such, because it kills any miniscule possibility that he can get traded. This, my friend is a disaster. Ive seen it with Scottie Pippen, Vlade Divac, Tracy McGrady, but you may remember Larry Johnson pre and post Back injury. Different player, but Smarter. It will become a major story before the end of the season. God Bless him for not using it as an excuse.
ReplyDeleteWow. Amare is definitely not the same player. I would trade him in a heartbeat for say a Josh Smith. I do believe his back is the issue. You make perfect sense. IMO he has been the biggest reason for the Knicks current under .500 record. He's taken way too many threes and refuses to drive to the hole. He's also given the weakest screens for Lin or Melo on pick and rolls.. Lin had 7 boards last night, the same amount as Melo and Amare combined. Even Fields had 11..
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