Amare a no-show at Suns Sunday practice

[dirt_dobber]

Amare a no-show at Suns Sunday practice
http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/story/106019
by: Jerry Brown : Tribune

The Suns told Raja Bell to stay home from Sunday’s practice as he continues to suffer from the flu. But Amare Stoudemire stayed home on his own Sunday, calling trainer Aaron Nelson to say he wouldn’t be showing up due to what Suns coach Mike D’Antoni would only say were “personal reasons.”

Sunday afternoon, Suns general manager Steve Kerr said from San Diego that he plans to return to the Valley Monday morning to speak with Stoudemire about the circumstances surrounding his absence. He would not comment on whether disciplinary action in the form of a fine or suspension was under consideration

”Amare didn’t come to practice. He did have an excuse. From there, the matter will be handled internally,” Kerr said.

For the second time since Christmas, Stoudemire – who was named one of the team captains before the season began — followed a Phoenix loss by showing his frustration in postgame interview after Saturday’s 118-113 loss to New Orleans.

Stoudemire, who had averaged 30.8 points and almost 18 shots a game during Phoenix’s four-game winning streak, took only 11 shots Saturday and produced 17 points – his fewest since taking 11 in a Christmas Day loss to the Lakers, where he called out his teammates in a postgame rant.

Saturday, Stoudemire didn’t attempt a field goal in the third quarter against the Hornets (two free throws) and had only two shots in the final six minutes of the fourth quarter – including a meaningless 3-pointer with three seconds left. Stoudemire’s comments were more reserved this time, but addressed the same issues – that in his mind, the Suns strayed from their winning formula and it cost them a win.

“We have to get it together. We’re a veteran team,” he said. “We should know our strategies; we should know what we’re doing and do it. Sometimes you mess up, but overall we should execute the majority of the time. If we do that and play hard, we can win almost every game.

“But if we don’t get smart about the game of basketball, then we can’t win.”

After Sunday’s workout, guard Steve Nash said he didn’t know the reason for Stoudemire’s absence or what to say about it. But on the generic subject of team chemistry, Nash said that inner squabbles can take down a team. “I don’t know if guys are pointing fingers, maybe sometimes I’m oblivious to that to some of that stuff to a fault,” he said. “But if that stuff is going on it needs to be stopped or else we can kiss it goodbye.

“You can’t win at this level if you don’t have great chemistry and you don’t pull for each other and if you’re worried about your shots or worried about yourself or making excuses or pointing fingers at other players. That’s for losers. We’ve been a winning ballclub here and if we want to take that next step that has to be a big part of our character.”

[MavsX]

black jesus has spoken!

[MavsX]

[dirt_dobber]

problems in paradise.

Maybe they can pick up Doug Christie to ballance out the locker room.

Standing Tall and Talented my ass.

[Flacolaco]

What a bunch of crap. They're going to win 60+ games. They're going to be the #1 or #2 seed. I don't buy any of this problem bs.

[dude1394]

Amare is a very interesting "superstar". Almost entirely made by little stevie it appears.

What kind of player would he be in a more traditional offense? He's not much of a defender it doesn't appear and his best move is catch and dunk.

When stevie got there his fg% went from 47 to 56%, a tremendous increase.

Seems like NJ with Kidd would be a good place.

[DirkFTW]

So maybe Amare is pulling a Jason Kidd with a fake excuse in order to subtly signal to the Nets that he wants to go there?

[Dtownsfinest]

Originally Posted by Flacolaco

What a bunch of crap. They're going to win 60+ games. They're going to be the #1 or #2 seed. I don't buy any of this problem bs.

Same thing i'm thinking. Must've been a slow day for journalism.

[LonghornDub]

Of course they're gonna win 60. Marion's been a malcontent for 2-3 seasons and they still win most of their games.

When you have players as good as them, those kinds of problems won't prevent you from doing quite well in the regular season. The reason you have teams like the Knicks imploding due to poor chemistry is because their players and their coaching are well inferior to that of the Suns.

[MavsX]

did any of you see the suns/nuggets game? the suns scored 46 in the 1st quarter!!!

[phxsuns]

I usually come in peace but a few comments in this thread annoy me.

First:

Amare does not call himself "Black Jesus". He calls himself STAT, others have other nicknames for him such as hellboy, manchild, etc.

Amare has a few lines of the lyrics to the song "Black Jesus" tatood on his arm and chest. Why? Because thats a song he use to listen to a lot when he was going from foster care to foster care growing up and the lyrics mean something to him. Tupac was his favorite artist, its a homage to him. It has nothing to do with him thinking he is Jesus. I wish ppl in the media would stop saying that stupid nonsense and get the story straight. Its like people make up reasons not to like Amare, probrably because he's killed their team one time or another.

Second:

The Suns over their mini winning streak have made a effort to get Amare the most shots- the way its always suppose to be. He's shooting the best he ever has in his career. When he gets the ball, the team is going to get points and other bigs are going to get in foul trouble. When they tune him out of the offense and start jacking up threes all game long, we struggle. They went away from damn near all the second half of the Hornets game and the Hornets hung around and won it. Thats why Amare was pissed, yet he didn't go into specifics such as demanding the ball more. The team had decided to make him their number 1 option, and was winning. Then they did the complete opposite in the Hornets game and they lost. Barbosa, Nash, or anyone else on the team should not be getting more shots than the 4th most efficient player in the entire NBA, and the most efficent center in the NBA. It does not make any sense to under underutilize such a weapon.

His points are valid, I don't expect fans of other teams to see this though. Any Suns fan who follows the team knows what Amare was hinting at in his postgame quotes. Where he made his mistake is in not showing up to practice the next day, as that just flames the fire. Not showing up to practice was wrong, he knows that, and I'm sure he'll be fined heavily for it by Kerr.

Third:

The year before Nash arrived, Marbury got traded at the trading deadline for cap relief. Amare proceeded to average 26 and 9 for the second half of that season. Why? Because his shot attempts went up and he took a leadership role.

Nash arrived the next season, and Amare continued his steller play by averaging- 26 and 9. The same thing he did before Nash. Nash makes the game easier for all the players (hence their FG% rising when you play in PHX), but he does not "make" ANY player on the Suns. Marion was an all-star before Nash, and Amare was a top 10 big before Nash, Nash does not make Barbosa, and as you can see on Atlanta Joe Johnson definately wasn't made by Nash. Do some research and check out Amare's stats when Nash has been injured in PHX. All have went up, last season I believe he averaged 29 and 12 when Nash was out for 6 games.

[thereaper]

He's a slightly more talented version of Kenyon Martin. The Suns would be smart to trade him while he still has value and get someone with a brain and a heart for Nash to play with while he's still got some game left. The clock is ticking.

[DirkFTW]

I think the confusion is not from the lyrics on his arm and/or back, but rather from the words "Black Jesus" tattooed on the back of his neck.

After all, it was Stoudemire, his steely demeanor and his prophetic tattoo, Black Jesus, that was supposed to get us out of this mess.

http://www.azcentral.com/sports/colu...eimpact12.html

The tattoo on Amaré Stoudemire's neck says, Black Jesus. It is a very ambitious statement for someone paid to put a ball in a basket.

http://www.azcentral.com/sports/colu...ckley0211.html

[phxsuns]

Originally Posted by thereaper

He's a slightly more talented version of Kenyon Martin. The Suns would be smart to trade him while he still has value and get someone with a brain and a heart for Nash to play with while he's still got some game left. The clock is ticking.

Yet Kenyon Martin doesn't destroy the Mavs when he plays them as often, and as thorough as Amare does. Martin being compared to Amare is asinine. Only thing they have in common are that they are black, are males, and have had microfracture surgery.

[mary]

Yeah, anyone who tatoos "Black Jesus" on their neck doesn't have any reason to complain (and I don't know that he does) that fans/media adopt it as a nickname - it has nothing to do with whether or not he calls himself that.

Lets think about this.

If I get a big tatoo on my arm that says "Pasty White Woman", there just miiggghhhtt be a chance that people will start calling me that, especially if I'm a person in the public eye.

[Underdog]

Gotta agree with Pasty White Woman on this one...

[MavsX]

Originally Posted by phxsuns

I usually come in peace but a few comments in this thread annoy me.

First:

Amare does not call himself "Black Jesus". He calls himself STAT, others have other nicknames for him such as hellboy, manchild, etc.

Amare has a few lines of the lyrics to the song "Black Jesus" tatood on his arm and chest. Why? Because thats a song he use to listen to a lot when he was going from foster care to foster care growing up and the lyrics mean something to him. Tupac was his favorite artist, its a homage to him. It has nothing to do with him thinking he is Jesus. I wish ppl in the media would stop saying that stupid nonsense and get the story straight. Its like people make up reasons not to like Amare, probrably because he's killed their team one time or another.

Second:

The Suns over their mini winning streak have made a effort to get Amare the most shots- the way its always suppose to be. He's shooting the best he ever has in his career. When he gets the ball, the team is going to get points and other bigs are going to get in foul trouble. When they tune him out of the offense and start jacking up threes all game long, we struggle. They went away from damn near all the second half of the Hornets game and the Hornets hung around and won it. Thats why Amare was pissed, yet he didn't go into specifics such as demanding the ball more. The team had decided to make him their number 1 option, and was winning. Then they did the complete opposite in the Hornets game and they lost. Barbosa, Nash, or anyone else on the team should not be getting more shots than the 4th most efficient player in the entire NBA, and the most efficent center in the NBA. It does not make any sense to under underutilize such a weapon.

His points are valid, I don't expect fans of other teams to see this though. Any Suns fan who follows the team knows what Amare was hinting at in his postgame quotes. Where he made his mistake is in not showing up to practice the next day, as that just flames the fire. Not showing up to practice was wrong, he knows that, and I'm sure he'll be fined heavily for it by Kerr.

Third:

The year before Nash arrived, Marbury got traded at the trading deadline for cap relief. Amare proceeded to average 26 and 9 for the second half of that season. Why? Because his shot attempts went up and he took a leadership role.

Nash arrived the next season, and Amare continued his steller play by averaging- 26 and 9. The same thing he did before Nash. Nash makes the game easier for all the players (hence their FG% rising when you play in PHX), but he does not "make" ANY player on the Suns. Marion was an all-star before Nash, and Amare was a top 10 big before Nash, Nash does not make Barbosa, and as you can see on Atlanta Joe Johnson definately wasn't made by Nash. Do some research and check out Amare's stats when Nash has been injured in PHX. All have went up, last season I believe he averaged 29 and 12 when Nash was out for 6 games.

No one cares what you think, or what annoys you. Just because i call him black jesus, doesn't mean i don't like him. Actually, i do like him. And speaking of stupid/g@y nicknames. In my opinion STAT is a g@yer nickname than black jesus. So take your "annoyances" and stick them up your A$$. Hows that negative rep. taste?

oh and also, i hate you.

[Flacolaco]

So he's saying that Nash didn't deserve to be MVP bc Amare was awesome before?

[dude1394]

Originally Posted by phxsuns

Yet Kenyon Martin doesn't destroy the Mavs when he plays them as often, and as thorough as Amare does. Martin being compared to Amare is asinine. Only thing they have in common are that they are black, are males, and have had microfracture surgery.

come see me when he destroys ANYONE without the nash pick and roll. Then we can talk.

[thereaper]

Originally Posted by phxsuns

Yet Kenyon Martin doesn't destroy the Mavs when he plays them as often, and as thorough as Amare does. Martin being compared to Amare is asinine. Only thing they have in common are that they are black, are males, and have had microfracture surgery.

Actually, KMart used to have very big games against Dallas - back when he had Jason Kidd to gift wrap the ball for him...

Plus they both have Tourettes Syndrome (it's the only way I can explain Amare talkin' shit about not being the man...).

[Just211]

So I guess it's assumed Jesus isn't black? and do you think he has a tat that says White Amare? or Steve Nash of Nazareth? just curious

[mary]

Originally Posted by Just211

So I guess it's assumed Jesus isn't black? and do you think he has a tat that says White Amare? or Steve Nash of Nazareth? just curious

I'm not sure who you are asking, but I don't see that assumption anywhere in this thread.

I reckon if someone had the phrase "White Jesus"tatooed on their neck, it would be just as conspicuous.

[Just211]

assumed by Amare.

[mary]

Originally Posted by Just211

assumed by Amare.

ahhh. I see what you're gettin at.

[chumdawg]

One easy answer could be that Jesus used to be black, but now he's white.

[dude1394]

Or that he started out white but didn't use sunblock.

[fluid.forty.one]

Originally Posted by chumdawg

One easy answer could be that Jesus used to be black, but now he's white.

Michael Jackson is our savior?

[dirno2000]

Originally Posted by dude1394

come see me when he destroys ANYONE without the nash pick and roll. Then we can talk.

If I remember correctly he averaged about 35 a game last year during the stretch when Nash was out.

That relationship works both ways. He helps Nash just as much as helps him. Steve went from putting up pretty good assist number here to putting up Stockton like numbers in Phx and Amare's a big reason why.

[chumdawg]

Originally Posted by dirno2000

If I remember correctly he averaged about 35 a game last year during the stretch when Nash was out.

That relationship works both ways. He helps Nash just as much as helps him. Steve went from putting up pretty good assist number here to putting up Stockton like numbers in Phx and Amare's a big reason why.

Yeah, well, let's see him when Jason Terry is delivering the entry pass.

[dirno2000]

What's the difference between Jason Terry and Leandro Barbosa?

If you feed him he'll give you 30.

[chumdawg]

Originally Posted by dirno2000

What's the difference between Jason Terry and Leandro Barbosa?

Oh, I don't know...the same as the difference between Tony Romo and Todd Collins?

[dirno2000]

Whose Romo? On second thought don't even bother answering that. The point is, Amare is as much a Nash creation as T.O. is a Romo creation. Both are symbiotic relationships.

[rabbitproof]

Psh, Romo is a TO creation more than TO is Romo creation. However, you are right, it is a codependent relationship if nothing else.

There's a reason why Brian Skinner doesn't make Amare expendable.

[MavsX]

i would take black jesus on my team any day.

[chumdawg]

Point is, Amare gets a lot of his action off of catch-and-dunks. Can you imagine Amare on the Mavs, posting at the elbow and doing something from there?

[dirno2000]

I don't think there's a PF in the league who can guard Amare on the elbow. He's too quick. and now he has a 16 foot jump shot to compliment that quickness.

I'm not saying he doesn't benefit from the alley oops's but by the same token it doesn't hurt a PG to have a big who catches everything around the rim and can finish.

[chumdawg]

It's not just alley oops, and you know that. If you think that Amare could play point-center from the elbow and still do what he does, then you and I just aren't seeing things on common terms.

[dirno2000]

Well why don't we see an appreciable drop in his game when Nash is out? Like I said, when Nash was out Amare's scoring average actually went up.

I don't know about point center but he'd be a prolific scorer without Nash. If you're implying that he can't create for himself then we are watching different games.

[ty]

Originally Posted by dirno2000

I don't think there's a PF in the league who can guard Amare on the elbow. He's too quick. and now he has a 16 foot jump shot to compliment that quickness.

I'm not saying he doesn't benefit from the alley oops's but by the same token it doesn't hurt a PG to have a big who catches everything around the rim and can finish.

KG?

[phxsuns]

So he's saying that Nash didn't deserve to be MVP bc Amare was awesome before?

No, I'm saying that Nash is great, but that he doesn't make any of our players. They developed their own skills before Nash got here and should be given credit for being the good players they are. Likewise, none of them made Nash the player that he is.

I love Nash, but Nash gets far too much credit in the national media. Quite frankly its an insult to any player on our team to say stupid things like 'he's nothing without Nash'. And I would imagine that a lot of our players get ticked off reading and hearing things like that.

Players can play, no matter who the PG is. If you're good, you're good.

come see me when he destroys ANYONE without the nash pick and roll. Then we can talk.

I'd say only about 4-6 of Amare's points come off the pick and roll. It use to be much higher. But other teams are packing the paint now and forcing Nash to run around a little more and pass it to our wingman. Plus, our coach wants the offense to be spread out more amongst our players for some silly reason. Thus he doesn't call for the pick and roll as much anymore.

Amare is not just a pick and roll player. The Amare Dallas remembers was an Amare who ran that pick and roll to death, then killed anyone who tried to stop him when he got within 5 feet of the rim. That Amare was an athletic phenom who was more physical than mental, but depite his rawness was just so overpowering physically that it didn't matter. He saught to not just score on you, but humiliate and intimidate you. He'd laugh at you when he clowned you, he'd give you long stares to embarass you. In a lot of ways, clowing you was more important than scoring on you. So he'd always go for the spectacular play first, instead of the most effective play.

Amare today is a world class, polished, all Nba basketball player. Possessing a kiler jumper extending to the 3 point line, post moves such as the jump hook/ up and under/spin, not just a player who can only dunk on you.. but now he has combined his dunking ability with the best finese game of any center in the NBA. He no longer cares about embarassing you, he just wants to score on you anyway he can. He no longer gives immature stares after he clowns someone, he just turns and goes the other way. Piss him off though and he'll start clowning you.

He's averaging a career high in FG percentage, blocks, 3 pt percentage, and FT%. Is averaging a career low in turnovers, and is the 3rd most efficient player in the entire NBA. I said player, not just center.

This is a guy that just came off a scope a 2 months ago. Kobe got a scope before training camp last season and it took him a full 2 months before he started beasting like usual. So that means that all of Amare's numbers are set to rise from here on out.

Insult Amare all you want, but this is the same player who not only can tear apart the league in the regular season, but he has another gear for the playoffs. Amare's playoff numbers puts KG or any other big you can think of in this generation's NBA to shame. I would venture to say that only Shaq's career playoff numbers are better.