Thursday, August 16th, 2012 at 11:25 am  |  61 responses

Olajuwon: Amar’e Stoudemire’s Post-Game Transformation is ‘Night and Day’


Knicks forward Amar’e Stoudemire has spent time in Houston training with Hall-of-Fame center Hakeem “The Dream” Olajuwon, and has claimed he’s made exponential progress this summer. And now, Olajuwon himself has corroborated those reports, saying Stoudemire’s post-game is now on another level. More details, via the New York Times: “’You won’t believe it,’ Olajuwon said in a telephone interview from his ranch outside Houston. The apprenticeship began on Aug. 6, with daily three-hour sessions on Olajuwon’s private court. Stoudemire has proved a quick study, assimilating moves and countermoves as fast as Olajuwon can demonstrate them. ‘It’s night and day,’ Olajuwon said. ‘What’s so nice is he wants it; he likes the post. He’s always wanted to play there, but he doesn’t have the moves that would give him that option.’ Since retiring in 2002, Olajuwon has become the N.B.A.’s go-to source for players hoping to develop their post skills. LeBron James, Dwight Howard and Kobe Bryant have visited the Olajuwon ranch. So have Marcin Gortat and the Lopez twins, Brook and Robin. This month, it’s Stoudemire and Denver’s JaVale McGee.”

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  • Joakimnoahshair

    Teedy the bear got a mouth full of seed…

  • http://www.nba.com/knicks danpowers

    @Mike: its impossible to predict how their lineup(s) will work out. any positive scenario (melo n stat showin at least effort on d, chandler playin the defensive anchor, brewer shuttin down perimeter players, offense gels, felton reports to camp in shape, camby provides defense off the bench, kidd, smith n novak produce points and so on) and also every negative scenario (injury problems, offense stays clumsy, stat n melo playin matador defense, felton out of shape, camby n kidd being non factors coz of their age, etc) could happen. thats unpredictable. i think the possibility that either the positive or the negative case happens is like 50% each. dont think that we will see something in between like that last rollercoaster season.

  • http://slam FLIGHT 9

    AMARE U FORGET Melo is your teammate!!!???????? You will avg. 8 shots per game trust me unless they trade him!!

  • http://slamonline.com Allenp

    Seed
    If you’ve ever paid attention to my comments you would know I criticize Iverson for all of those things yet still appreciate what he does well.
    I can admit faults and still appreciate strengths. And I have expressed remorse and anger that Iverson squandered talent. It’s well documented.
    You have never, EVER done that with Kobe. Until you do, your opinion is not an opinion but a prime example of hero worship.

  • http://slamonline.com Allenp

    I think Kobe was up 3-1.
    If Tracy McGrady has been killed his entire career for failing to close out Detroit when up 3-1 in Orlando, why shouldn’t Kobe be criticized?
    That is stupid.
    Only Kobe fans discount the advantage of being up 3-1.

  • http://slamonline.com Allenp

    Seriously though. The team was so horrible, but the Lakers were up 3-1 without Kobe having a single “monster” game. Nobody sees a problem with the narrative that his team was just too horrible for him to win?
    I really can’t understand this.

  • Drig

    @AllenP…….Kobe wasn’t having monster stat lines BUT he was having the usual Kobe stat lines with great EFFICIENCY. He had a monster game in Game 6 squandered by Kwame butter fingers brown, he had a great game in game 5 only for it to go down the drain and he in your opinion quit in game 7….He did what he was supposed to do for atleast 2 games to close the suns out. The problem was LAL players were too scared to defend their own shadow and the fact that they didn’t take care of the ball well. Anyways, I thought we went through this already. Amare and Hakeem are not happy at the way Kobe’s again hijacking another thread lol

  • http://slamonline.com Allenp

    Listen to what you’re saying. Kobe had balanced efficient games early (which I agree with) and the Lakers had success. Kobe had “monster” games late, and the team squandered a 3-1 lead.
    I think Kobe was uncharacteristically efficient and played a team game, then switched to hero mode when he decided to close things out. And he failed and got pissy at his teammates.
    But clearly other folks disagree. I’m ready to move on to be honest. I just don’t like the fact that everyone says “Oh, Kobe’s team sucked” but McGrady just lost and is a failure.

  • http://slamonline.com nbk

    The Lakers clearly benefitted from Kobe playing the right way through the first 4 games, and fell apart when he went into Kobe Mode in games 5-7. Idk how you can make an argument that clearly highlights this fact, and act like it proves your point. LOOOOOOOOOOOL

  • LA Huey

    I felt like Phoenix just played up to their capabilities in that series. Kobe gave up in Game 7 but I doubt the W would have changed hands even if he tried.

  • Drig

    @Allenp……..I haven’t even commented yet on a T-Mac thread and I don’t fault him for not closing it out. Kobe had a balanced efficient game in game 5 and LAL lost by what 15 points?? Game 6 was a game LAL could’ve won. Should’ve won and closed them out. If not for a slip up at the end. And Phx was lights out in game 7 while the Lakers’ supporting cast fell back to earth with a thud in game 7. I’d doubt even a Kobe who “didn’t quit” could’ve saved that game. We lost by what? 30 points?! I’d say Phx started playing to their potential from game 3. LAL was just as efficient as Phx but Phx could put up more shots, could take care of the ball better and for what it’s worth, could defend much better. If you look at it again, you’ll see that any game LAL outshot Phx wrt FGA, LAL won. Once Phx started putting up around 10-12 more FGA per game like in games 7,5 and 3/2 ( don’t remember which ), LAL was more or less screwed. I already mentioned why we lost Game 6 earlier so that sums it up. Kobe couldn’t have controlled that and the team’s D right?? And nbk…….seriously?!?! The LOOOOOOOOOOL at the end makes me doubt if you’re the real nbk. Hope it’s not the real nbk anyways…..

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