When Amar’e Stoudemire went to the New York Knicks to assist Carmelo Anthony, I like everyone else said ‘if Amar’e is healthy, they’ll be a threat’. But that partnership never really worked out.
Now most people would point at Amar’e because he struggled to stay on the court, but Stoudemire is pointing the finger in a different direction. The Knicks coaches.
“I don’t think we had enough opportunities to play together,’’ Stoudemire said in the Heat locker room Monday. “I moved to the bench and [became the] sixth, seventh man. When I was in the game, Melo, he was out of the game and vice versa. When we did play together, we showed some flashes of what we could do on the pick-and-roll.
“I don’t think that pick-and-roll offense between Melo and I was ever taken advantage of, which we could have. The way he shoots the ball, handles the ball from the outside and the way I attack the rim, it could’ve been a pretty good combination. I don’t think the coaching staff at the time really bought into that.’’
I agree and disagree. I agree because that was the reason why Stoudemire went there, to boss the court with Melo beside him. And regardless of health they should’ve found a way to get Amar’e off the bench with Melo still on there. But I disagree simply because Amar’e did not stay healthy, that’s all it comes back to.
When you’re constantly coming back from injuries, what do you expect the coaches to do? Pop you in the starting rotation just like that? Of course not!
