Knicks interim head coach Mike Woodson wants Amar’e Stoudemire and the basket to have a closer relationship.
As the Knicks enter the offseason, Woodson said he wants Stoudemire to become more of a low-post threat. It’s a desire that will require Stoudemire to adapt his game and learn post-up skills he hasn’t often shown in his career.
“This summer he’ll be used to develop more low-post moves,” Woodson said. “Because the game is played inside-out, I think. [Stoudemire and Tyson Chandler] are 7-foot guys that have great athletic ability, great bodies on them and I think you’ve got to utilize them more down low.
“It might be asking Amar’e to do something a little bit different than he’s been accustomed to doing in his career, but it’s not too late.”
Stoudemire is coming off a disappointing season in which his scoring dropped to 17.5 ppg, plummeting almost eight points from last year. The 6-foot-11, 260-pounder operates in the low post infrequently and hasn’t exhibited many moves.
Stoudemire, a player on a $100 million contract who has been an established All-Star, is not only fine with Woodson’s suggestion, but says he relishes it.
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“It’s actually great because I’ve never had a coach that asked me to work on my low-post game,” Stoudemire said. “I’ve been a pick-and-roll player my whole career. Being able to shoot the ball from the outside and also have quick first steps and being able to move off the dribble is an advantage for me. And now to apply some low-post moves will even be that much better.”
To learn them, Stoudemire said he will likely work with a tutor. It’ll be interesting to see how quickly Stoudemire can develop post moves, how many he can ultimately command and how effective they’ll be by next season. It could be a work in progress.
Stoudemire insisted his back feels fine, said he doesn’t need surgery and swore he’s not even slightly worried about it. He also was asked about former Suns teammate Steve Nash, the All-Star point guard who will be a free agent.
Stoudemire called Nash “a great friend of mine,” but was diplomatic about the Knicks pursuing him, saying any squad would love Nash but praising current teammate Jeremy Lin.
“What team wouldn’t want a two-time MVP? An assist leader. A veteran point guard,” Stoudemire said of Nash. “But we do have Jeremy Lin here and we have confidence in him and what he can do for us.”
i hope smitty comes to the hawks
