Paul Coro
The Arizona Republic
Aug. 3, 2006 12:00 AM
LAS VEGAS - Amaré Stoudemire was accustomed to flying when
he put on the NBA's most dynamic aerial displays before
two knee surgeries.
He was the show's most fearless pilot but he probably won't
make the next major flight. Stoudemire likely will not be
among the 12 players of this week's 15 USA Basketball campers
to get tickets to the World Championship.
Tonight's exhibition game against Puerto Rico, to be shown live
on ESPN2 at 8, appears to be Stoudemire's final major test in
his summer comeback program. It kicked into gear with his first
five-on-five game five weeks ago and continued with lukewarm
reviews at the Vegas Summer League and USA Basketball camp.
"Chances are, when we leave at the end of the week, that would
probably be the end of it and that we wouldn't take him on the
trip because he's just not physically far enough long," said
USA Basketball senior men's team managing director Jerry
Colangelo, who is also the Suns' chief executive officer and
chairman. "But this was good for him. He did play up."
Stoudemire may have missed USA Basketball's exhibition tour in
Korea and China and World Championship competition in Japan
anyway. His first son (second child) is due in about a week.
Family considerations aside, Stoudemire did not progress enough
to help a team going for gold.
The Suns All-Star even sat out Wednesday's practice with a sore
hip, which was unrelated to his knee troubles.
Stoudemire's lag continues to have more to do with a lack of
his trademark explosiveness on the court. Healthwise, he has no
swelling or pain in his surgically repaired knees.
"It is frustrating," Stoudemire said. "It's tough to take a
back seat when you're used to being in the front seat. It's a
matter of willpower. It's more of a mental thing when you know
you're the head of your class and a knee surgery sets you back.
I will be back to the head of the class."
Stoudemire had one standout day, the final intrasquad scrimmage
of the camp's first week here, but is usually tentative to let
go on the court. That is why he is playing this summer. The
Suns would have a perplexing situation if he were going through
these awkward stages, which he puts at 70 percent, during
training camp in Europe.
"People have delusions if they think he's going to be 100
percent in October," Colangelo said. "In all likelihood, it's
going to take him longer than that but as long as he's
progressing and moving forward, it just takes time. It's not
for lack of effort.
"He was given clearance. Now, it's a mental thing in my
opinion."
For example, Stoudemire tried windmill dunks in practice to see
how high he can get as he jumps from outside the paint.
"But as far as in traffic, I'm not comfortable yet," he said.
With Shawn Marion out of the mix due to knee pain and
Stoudemire likely heading home for good, the Suns' ties to the
team will lie with Colangelo, assistant coach Mike D'Antoni and
the ties to guard Joe Johnson, who has played like a superstar
in Las Vegas.
Now, Stoudemire will leave knowing what he needs to play like a
star again.
"He's still got a lot of work to do in the weight room,"
D'Antoni said. "To get his pop back, he's got a ways to go.
This has been great for him just to show him where he's at and
the work he's got to do."
The Arizona Republic
Aug. 3, 2006 12:00 AM
LAS VEGAS - Amaré Stoudemire was accustomed to flying when
he put on the NBA's most dynamic aerial displays before
two knee surgeries.
He was the show's most fearless pilot but he probably won't
make the next major flight. Stoudemire likely will not be
among the 12 players of this week's 15 USA Basketball campers
to get tickets to the World Championship.
Tonight's exhibition game against Puerto Rico, to be shown live
on ESPN2 at 8, appears to be Stoudemire's final major test in
his summer comeback program. It kicked into gear with his first
five-on-five game five weeks ago and continued with lukewarm
reviews at the Vegas Summer League and USA Basketball camp.
"Chances are, when we leave at the end of the week, that would
probably be the end of it and that we wouldn't take him on the
trip because he's just not physically far enough long," said
USA Basketball senior men's team managing director Jerry
Colangelo, who is also the Suns' chief executive officer and
chairman. "But this was good for him. He did play up."
Stoudemire may have missed USA Basketball's exhibition tour in
Korea and China and World Championship competition in Japan
anyway. His first son (second child) is due in about a week.
Family considerations aside, Stoudemire did not progress enough
to help a team going for gold.
The Suns All-Star even sat out Wednesday's practice with a sore
hip, which was unrelated to his knee troubles.
Stoudemire's lag continues to have more to do with a lack of
his trademark explosiveness on the court. Healthwise, he has no
swelling or pain in his surgically repaired knees.
"It is frustrating," Stoudemire said. "It's tough to take a
back seat when you're used to being in the front seat. It's a
matter of willpower. It's more of a mental thing when you know
you're the head of your class and a knee surgery sets you back.
I will be back to the head of the class."
Stoudemire had one standout day, the final intrasquad scrimmage
of the camp's first week here, but is usually tentative to let
go on the court. That is why he is playing this summer. The
Suns would have a perplexing situation if he were going through
these awkward stages, which he puts at 70 percent, during
training camp in Europe.
"People have delusions if they think he's going to be 100
percent in October," Colangelo said. "In all likelihood, it's
going to take him longer than that but as long as he's
progressing and moving forward, it just takes time. It's not
for lack of effort.
"He was given clearance. Now, it's a mental thing in my
opinion."
For example, Stoudemire tried windmill dunks in practice to see
how high he can get as he jumps from outside the paint.
"But as far as in traffic, I'm not comfortable yet," he said.
With Shawn Marion out of the mix due to knee pain and
Stoudemire likely heading home for good, the Suns' ties to the
team will lie with Colangelo, assistant coach Mike D'Antoni and
the ties to guard Joe Johnson, who has played like a superstar
in Las Vegas.
Now, Stoudemire will leave knowing what he needs to play like a
star again.
"He's still got a lot of work to do in the weight room,"
D'Antoni said. "To get his pop back, he's got a ways to go.
This has been great for him just to show him where he's at and
the work he's got to do."
