http://twitter.com/KBerg_CBS/status/40144359567396864 http://twitter.com/KBerg_CBS/status/40143009001504768
You're hoisting yourself by you're own petard here because you're trying to have it both ways. Amar'e is one of the most effective scorers in teh game, bar none, and is particularly so in crunch time, being behind only Dirk & Kobe in that category. If his strength is scoring - which it is - especially in curnch time - then the right decision, the high basketball IQ decision is to try to score the ball rather than to try to attempt a behind the back, no-look kickout to Wilson Chandler, et al. You appear to be picking nits about his role on the team and equating that with "low IQ" - that's the reason why I think it's a stupid measure, people take any little thing and chalk it up to a player being dumb, when in reality he's doing anything but that. He's doing what a dominant scoring player does - dominate by scoring. By your measure, Moses Malone, Elvin Hayes, and Julius Erving were dumb "low IQ" players too since they were better as finishers - that's just inherently ridiculous and doesn't pass the laugh test. Because he's a stereotypical "smart" basketball player, who plays to his strengths (jumper, scoop shot) and avoids his weaknesses (above the rim, contesting shots etc). Guess who else does that, at least on offense? Hint, his name rhymes with "The Par-Tay Mod & Tire" But anyway, re-read my post, Stoudemire isn't just inrcredibly productive compared to Scola, he's incredibly productive compared to the entire league, both in crunch time and out of it. That's why he's posting elite numbers.
In the last decade, the Knicks have been to the playoffs once and lost in the 1st round. The Rockets have been to 5 playoffs in that same span and made it to the 2nd round once. It's nothing great, but it's been more successful than the Knicks. And you can't crown them yet. They're probably not even 1st rd favorites.
Terrible Trade for NY. They could have just waited and gotten Carmelo. They gave up way too much for Anthony. They held all the cards and could have just let Denver sweat. Still plenty of time before the trade deadline. They got fleeced. Party in Denver tonight!
Role-players are easy to find, just look at out entire roster........ I'm sure the Rockets offered up the entire roster almost for Melo. Just to bad he didn't want to play here. You can't win without stars in this league. We are a prime example of that. Get your stars first then build strategically around them. Thats the way of building a team in the NBA now.
that's also true. however, it will be tough to see melo and amare meshing enough to take that team to the next level b/c they aren't 2-way players (and melo is not an all-around players). both are elite offensive players though. but offense wasn't their primary concern. so now they will really need well-rounded role players, not one-dimensional role players like the heat need b/c their stars are so well-rounded. it will be harder for them to round out that team to compete with the heat/bulls for a championship in the next 3-4 years
