This is the moment all New York Knicks fans have been waiting for, but not in a good away.
According to the New York Post‘s Marc Berman, Amar’e Stoudemire won’t be returning to Hakeem Olajuwon’s camp to work on his post moves this summer, as the team believes his surgically-repaired knees need rest:
Stoudemire will not return to the Olajuwon camp in Houston to work on his post moves again this month as had been planned, The Post has learned.
Stoudemire had planned to return to Texas to refine the post moves he learned last summer. That Olajuwon is about to be named to the Rockets staff as instructor for Dwight Howard and Omar Asik is not a factor in Stoudemire not attending.
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Knicks doctors are treating their $100 million investment with heavy caution after two knee debridement surgeries last season marred his 2012-13 campaign, reducing him to 29 regular-season games.
Before we go sounding the alarm, just know this is probably a smart move. STAT spent all of last summer working his ass off, and it landed him on the sidelines for all but 29 games during the 2012-13 campaign. Perhaps a little rest will go a long away.
It’s not as if The Dream would be teaching Stoudemire much of what he doesn’t know already either. Amar’e worked with him last summer as well, and boasted a vast array of post moves upon his return. He doesn’t need any more.
What STAT really needs to do is work with Dell Curry—Stephen Curry’s father—on shooting threes. Becoming more of a stretch forward who chucks up deep balls all day long fits New York’s current schematic and has to be easier on his knees than bruising down low with opposing bigs would be.
There will always be a need for his interior scoring, since Carmelo Anthony is the only other legitimate post threat, but the Knicks live and die by the three; part of Amar’e should too. And we know he can shoot them. He did so during his first season in New York. It’s just a matter of channeling his inner Mike D’Antoni.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lcjWR8x17A
Which isn’t to say we want Stoudemire tossing up five or more treys a night. But in the interest of him being able to play with ‘Melo (and even Tyson Chandler) becoming more dextrous from the perimeter isn’t a bad idea. Once again, it also entails less contact, ergo it could be easier on his knees.
I’m no doctor, though, so perhaps I’m wrong. Really, I’m just going off what the Knicks need from him more than anything.
What they need even more than him becoming a more deft shooter, is for him to remain healthy. Stoudemire figures to be a big part of whatever it is the Knicks are trying to do because 1) they have no choice for at least the next year and 2) he can still score at an All-Star level. They need him. ‘Melo needs him. Plain and simple.
To prevent him from going down again to the best of their abilities, suggesting he take some time off is the right play. Hell, telling him to take ALL the time off until the season begins isn’t discouraged. Anything to ensure he’s healthy come opening day.
Anything at all, even if that requires he travel on a motor scooter adorned in ice packs and caution tape.
Dan Favale is a firm believer in the three-pointer as well as the notion that defense doesn’t always win championships. His musings can be found at Bleacherreport.com in addition to TheHoopDoctors.com. Follow @danfavale on Twitter for his latest posts and all things NBA.
