Injuries, and Carmelo. If you watch NY's offense, it's iso this and iso that. Amare is a good iso player, but he's at his best off the pick and roll. To start, the year, they had Melo and Douglas running the point -> and both are below average at running the pick and roll offense. And the offense is catered more to Melo now. As a result, Amare has been stuck with creating his own shots off the dribble, something he's decent at, but not great. I think he'll pick it up once Bdiddy returns from his annual hibernation.
No, he is not a stud, and I am not so sure he ever was, depending on how you define "stud". He was never a franchise player. He never defended or rebounded well. The last time I would call him a "stud" was prior to the surgery, and when he took it HARD. I think the injuries, not having Nash and wear and tear have taken a toll. His knee is not going to get any better.
The Knicks have to be gravely concerned about his dropoff in production and efficiency this year. We'll find out how much Baron Davis can help or if Amare's decline is permanent. The Knicks probably have a case of buyers remorse with Amare (and maybe Chandler too). The Melo trade set them back. They should have listened to Donnie Walsh and signed him over the summer.
Hell no..only way he produces 20/10's is if he plays center...And that's only because of quickness and he's a matchup problem for most centers.... He's not an elite player anymore...It's his fault he hasn't adjusted or at least become a good all-around PF.... Which would you prefer??...A) He play center racking up 25/10's , while playing absolutely no defense....But is a matchup problem which may get you in the playoffs but absolutely no chance of advancing past 1st round because of his defensive liabilites while playing center/enforcer.... Of course Stout's happy to get the All-Star recognition and highlight reel plays.... B)He play PF getting 18/8 , while playing absolutely no defense but at least can match up defensively , allowing Chandler to lead league in blocks due to Stoud's matador ability... And at least you have a traditional frontline come playoff time... I would choose B, and tell him to get over it
He's a stud who needs a stud 1 and a studly focus on him. Oh, and he's a stud untradeable with huge stud's contract and no insurance on his unstudly knees. Otherwise he'd be a Rock today for Scola/Dragic.
Good post. He was never a stud. Even in his prime he actually, literally used his mouth publicly to form words to the effect of "I don't like to rebound." WTF? Even when he goes of for 30 i'm not impressed. Chandler had games like that with CP3 on the lob and no one ever mistook him for a great offensive player. Stoudemire is the real pyrite.
You're confusing "star" & "stud" subtle differences.Not having a legit pg like Billups running the show doesn't benefit either. Therefore the Knicks are relying on Melo' to run point forward with Shupert developing & we all know Melo' has a scorers first mentality. Although he does have an above average ability to pass.
Didn't he add the 3pt shot to his offensive arsenal before the major injury years ago? IIRC he was all post and dunk player and then one summer he worked on his shot and he started making a few of those. Then he got injured. I think Dwight is what Amare was hoping to be when he was younger. At any rate, good for him. I hope he continues his journey into oblivion and ends his career with no recognition. I remember him saying watching Yao fall on a Marbury cross over was better than him getting the ROY awards. **** him.
This, it's sad that Amare's offensive efficiency is directly tied into the team's defensive inefficiency. Basically, you can never win a championship with Amare playing center but if he doesn't play center he's just a decent player. However, I think the OP is looking for Melo as the answer. Melo and Amare can't successfully be on the same team, they do the same things and have the same flaws. They've both been to the conference finals on separate teams but are struggling to get to the playoffs together. The best bet for the Knicks would be to offer up Amare+Chandler to the Magic for Dwight+bad contracts, or make some similar trade. Melo can at least be paired with other good players that compliment him and have a chance at a championship. Amare, and his contract, basically doom a team to inferior post defense.
