New York Knicks forward Amar'e Stoudemire not having fun with losing team
New York Knicks forward Amar'e Stoudemire is getting a taste of life on the bottom half of the NBA standings. Stoudemire, who was drafted ninth overall in the 2002
NBA Draft, has spent the past five seasons in a Phoenix Suns team that averaged 55 wins per season and won three berths to the Western Conference Finals.
Stoudemire, who signed a 5-year, $100 million contract during the off-season, has been vocal about his frustrations with his new team. The Knicks, which have lost
six straight games, have fallen to a 3-8 record.
'It hasn't been fun'
After a 120-118 loss against the Denver Nuggets, the five-time All-Star told NBA FanHouse, "It hasn't been fun.''
Last season saw the last time that Stoudemire took to the court with former NBA MVP Steve Nash. In the pair's last season together, they went deep into the play-offs,
being eliminated in Game 5 of the Western Conference finals. The team's season ended on a buzzer beater from Ron Artest that closed out the series.
In an interview with NBA Fanhouse, Nuggets forward Al Harrington said, "I think the biggest thing for him is that the last six years, he's been spoon-fed at the
rim.''
"Now, it's a little different. He's got to create more on his own. Of course, there's going to be an adjustment period for him. Playing with (Nash) makes it a lot
easier.''
"It's a little bit different combination than Nash, Stoudemire and stuff,'' New York coach Mike D'Antoni told NBA Fanhouse.
"Raymond will do it a different way. We're just trying to figure out how to move (Stoudemire) around and get him loose.''
"My game is pretty much spent a lot on the perimeter this season so far,'' said Stoudemire. "A lot of teams are pretty much stacking in and playing a box-and-one
pretty much. So it's tough for me to get to the basket as I normally do.''
So far this season, Stoudemire is averaging 21.1 points, 7.9 rebounds and 1.7 blocks. However, the only statistics that would matter would be the Knicks' number
of wins.
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