Those of you blowing this off need to take another look at Amare. I was a skeptic but he's changed my opinion this year. He has developed a much more rounded offensive game and is playing at a very high level. I no longer give Nash most of the credit for Amare's success. Then again, some people just dislike Amare so much that nothing can change their opinion. I don't like him at all but can still appreciate his skills on offense. On defense, Amare still has a long way to go. The blocks he picks up from helping out don't mask how bad he is.
Wait, is this the same Shaq who said Kobe was the best player, Phil was the best coach in LA. And then said Wade was the best/ Riley the best when he was in Miami?
Stoudamire has been good from day 1, before Nash came in. If Marbury was still the Suns point guard Stoudamire was still going to be a great player. Its not Nash its Mike D'Antoni that gets credit for Stoudamire's improved numbers. I love Yao but I'm not going to put down other players deserving of credit, for his sake.
If you can't get more than 3 rebounds in a game where a total of 78 shots were missed, you are automatically disqualified from ever having the words "Best Big" and your name mentioned in close proximity to each other. Edit: Amare got a whopping 3.8% of all available rebounds that game.
More quotes from Shaq as the season progresses: Nash is the most athletic PG in the league. Barbosa is the strongest guard in the game. Amare is the most humble guy in the league. D' Antoni is the best defensive coach he has played for.
I agree with you here Durvasa. Dwight or Yao in the pick and roll with Nash would not be nearly as effective as with Amare. Dwight can drive and dunk but can't shoot worth a damn. We all know Yao is the complete opposite , being able to shoot but not take it to strong to the hole.
Shaq has excellent PR skills you are correct about that! We also know that he has created his own reality for his personal amusement and we love him for that I guess. the hipocracy of Amare as the best big guy in the NBA is almost too much for me to stomach because I have seen him play so much in the years past and now to see that he is so extremely flawed and overrated that I would go as far to say that he is Top 10 big guy, not even Top 5. And to all those fantasy games. PLEASE STOP CALLING HIM A CENTER, HIS OWN TEAM WILL NOT EVEN CONTINUE WITH THAT BOGUS LIE 1. Tim Duncan 2. Kevin Garnett 3. Dwight Howard 4. Yao Ming 5. Carlos Boozer 6. Amare Stoudemire 7. Chris Bosh 8. Rasheed Wallace 9. Marcus Camby 10. Kris Kaman ... ... ... 49. Chuck Hayes 50. Shaquille O'Neil
Truck Hayes with decreased time is down to 49, from his previous ranking above Jermaine O'Neal... Stoudamire of all the top 10 scorers in the league (he's at #6) plays the LEAST minutes of them all, by far. And the least of almost all the top 50 scorers. Per 48 minutes Stoudamire is #3 in scoring behind Lebron and Kobe. Stats can deceive but thats very very elite company he's in
Shaq always loves to stir up the pot with borderline crazy comments like this. Like when he said that Wade is the best player he's ever played with or the comments demeaning Phil Jackson. He has a history of doing this. If he really thinks Amare is the best big man in the NBA then his 16 years of experience have taught him absolutely nothing about the fundamental concept of "defense". Amare might be one of the top five worst defensive players in the league which is sad considering Amare's youth and athleticism.
The Suns pretty much admitted that Amare alone on the front line was not good enough when they traded for Shaq.
Best big finisher, yes. Best big period? Delusional. I dont think Amare has any right holding the title of "Best Big in NBA" when looked at his defense. The amount of layups and offensive rebounds this guy concedes to as an athletic big man is downright atrocious. I cant really blame Shaq for his comment though considering he himself never really cared much for playing defense.
The only power forwards better than Amare are KG and Duncun 1. KG 2. Duncun 3. Amare these guys aren't really centers so comparing them to Yao or Dwight isn't fair.
On the contrary, this will help the Rockets because Yao's biggest weakness is being forced to guard someone that has range on their jumpshot and a speed advantage, like Boozer, Dirk, Josh Howard, Amare, or Diaw. Allowing Yao to guard Shaq (who represents no threat outside of about 8 feet) plays right to Yao's strengths, and a quicker defender like Hayes can check Amare.
