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| USA Today Sports |
*This is part of an article compilation being featured on Knickswag.com about Amar'e Stoudemire can give the Knicks this upcoming season; this section is the part that Kenneth contributed. Follow the link and check out the rest of the article and contributors takes on what Stoudemire can provide the Knicks with for the 2013-2014 season. A link to the whole article will be featured once the whole article is up and ready.
Another Knicks season is upon us and
there is some new optimism surrounding the team. Sadly, there are some repeat
events to start the season, namely Amar’e Stoudemire being injured once again.
Stoudemire had a surgery on his knee in July to clean things up but is still
not even running or doing basketball activities even though training camp has
started this week. For Knicks fans this
has become too commonplace as Stoudemire has missed more and more time with
each passing season he wore a Knicks uniform. So the question remains, what
will Stoudemire bring the Knicks this season?
The answer is a lot of frustration and
disappointment. It is sad to see where Stoudemire’s career has gone but there
is no one to blame for his injuries as they are out of the control of any
person. Some people will place the blame on Mike Woodson overusing him once he
returned from injury last season but this is something everyone, the Knicks included,
knew would happen as Stoudemire could not even get his contract insured before
signing with the Knicks. Also remember the Phoenix Suns renowned training staff
said Stoudemire would break down in year three after his free agency; last
season was year three.
Now there is some hope, albeit small,
that Stoudemire will be in uniform to start the season for the Knicks. Stoudemire
has the heart and determination very few people can match and works as hard as
any person in the NBA. If he is in uniform and able to play at the start of the
season or at any point throughout the 82 games he will deliver what he always
has; a lot of offense, good help defense but poor one-on-one defense.
Stoudemire has worked hard on his game but has been held back because of his
injuries. Last season he showed an improved post game after working with Hall
of Fame center Hakeem Olajuwon. He averaged 14.2 points per game on 57.7
percent shooting in only 23.5 minutes per game off the bench, showing he was
capable of carrying the Knicks offense when he was on the court. All in all,
Stoudemire will provide what he always has in scoring punch if he is cleared to
play because you know he will be ready to go. But it will be for very small
doses and far from the $100 million man the Knicks signed in the summer of
2010. Anything Stoudemire gives this team should be considered a bonus as the
Knicks just wait out the remainder of his albatross contract until it comes off
the books after next season.
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