New York Knicks: Is Amar’e Stoudemire The Key To Success?
The New York Knicks have been steadily improving over the past few seasons and since the addition of Carmelo Anthony in 2011, the team has been focused on becoming a championship contender. In 2012-13, the 54 wins the Knicks registered were the highest since the 1996-97 season and the next step for New York now will be measured in playoff success. While the starring play of Anthony and some solid additions to the team over the past two seasons have been the main focus, one man who has been there all along may be the key to the team’s success in 2013-14, former All-Star big man Amar’e Stoudemire.
The Knicks need a healthy Amar’e Stoudemire in 2013-14. (Flickr.com photo by Bryan Horowitz)
Stoudemire originally joined the team in 2010 on a five-year, near $100 million contract, becoming the face of the franchise after they missed out on signing LeBron James. Stoudemire went on to represent the Knicks at the 2011 All-Star Game, the sixth of his career and embraced the pressure and expectations of playing in New York City. Unfortunately for Amar’e and the Knicks, the injury curse has lingered on and significantly affected his ability to contribute at his usual level over the past two seasons, where he has played in just a total of 76 games.
Despite his significant injury history, Stoudemire has shown that he still has the skills to contribute at a high level for the Knicks and at 30 years old, should still have a number of years of productivity left if he can stay on the court. He is an essential piece to the Knicks’ offensive puzzle that heavily relies on the scoring prowess of Anthony, who led the league in scoring last season and J.R. Smith, the reigning Sixth Man of the Year, both of whom are isolation-heavy players. Stoudemire, when healthy, provides a different look for the team offensively. He is great in the pick-and-roll game, can finish inside and has good range on his jump shot, allowing him to compliment the higher volume shooters on the team.
In 2012-13, Stoudemire missed the first 30 games of the season with another troublesome knee injury and was unable to make his debut until Jan. 1. In the 29 games he played last season he averaged 14.2 points and five rebounds per game while playing under strict minute restrictions. He provided effective, efficient numbers off the bench for the Knicks as he shot .577 from the field and converted more than 80 percent of his free throws. He was once again shut down in March for knee surgery and was unable to return until a brief cameo in the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Indiana Pacers, where he played just eight minutes per game.
Coming into this season, Knicks coach Mike Woodson sounds as though he will be even more cautious with Stoudemire, limiting him to 20 minutes a night and not playing the big man in back-to-back games. A good ploy, as keeping Stoudemire healthy is the biggest factor in him being able to contribute to the team and the additional minutes will allow newcomers Metta World Peace and Andrea Bargnani to mesh with their new teammates.
The Knicks will look to take the next step towards a title in 2013-14. Photo Credit: Keith Allison, Flickr.com
The days of Amar’e Stoudemire busting out with huge statistical performances are likely behind us, but a player with that much talent and experience has to be on the court for your team in order for you to be at your best, especially when he is slated to earn more than $20 million in each of the next two seasons. The Knicks will use the regular season to build chemistry, incorporate their new additions and hope to keep Stoudemire healthy while also making sure his role on the team is clear. It is almost certain he will play off the bench, as he did for all 29 of his games last season, raising questions over who the fifth starter for the Knicks alongside Anthony, Tyson Chandler, Raymond Felton and Iman Shumpert will be. Whoever it is, they could only hope to have the impact that a healthy Amar’e Stoudemire has when he is on the court and he, along with J.R. Smith could form one of the most potent benches in the entire league.
The top of the East has suddenly become a star-studded, crowded battle for supremacy as the reigning champion Miami Heat will have greatly increased competition in 2013-14. Derrick Rose will return for the Bulls, Danny Granger will be back with the Pacers and the Nets have gone all-in by assembling what looks like an All-Star team on paper. But, the Knicks should not be overlooked if the existing confidence and chemistry the team built last season is bolstered by the addition of a championship veteran in World Peace, Bargnani’s shooting ability but most importantly a healthy, contributing Amar’e Stoudemire. Come playoff time, when defenses focus in on Anthony and Smith, Stoudemire could be a huge difference maker and the key to taking this Knicks team to the next level.
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