Amar'e Stoudemire: Can He Maintain an MVP Run?

In the New York Knicks' loss to the Boston Celtics last night, Amar’e Stoudemire showed that he is a legitimate contender for the MVP award at this point in the season.

The question remains: can he maintain this pace?

Stoudemire is averaging more than 26 points and nine rebounds per game and is perhaps the biggest reason for the Knicks’ early season success and leap back into NBA relevance.

Stoudemire’s first chance at showing the world just what he means to his new team came last night, and he did not disappoint. The 6-foot-10, 240-pound power forward exploded for 39 points, 10 rebounds, two assists and two blocks. He nearly hit the game-winning three-pointer as time expired, but it was waived off and ruled to have left his hands after time ran out.

Any way you analyze it, though, Stoudemire’s performance last night against the Celtics was spectacular. It was one that will be looked at as perhaps a crowning achievement if his success continues and he becomes the league’s Most Valuable Player.

But how likely is that?

Stoudemire is undoubtedly one of the toughest assignments for any NBA defender. With size, speed and agility, he can get to anywhere he needs to go and bury a shot. Still, he’s never had a season in which he has averaged a double-double, and he has only two years with more than 25 points per game.

While there’s no denying that his per-game statistics are impressive and have contributed towards a handful of successful seasons for his previous team, the Phoenix Suns, he has never been the main man. While in Phoenix, he shared the ball with Steve Nash. And that had to have limited his production.

This year in New York, Stoudemire is clearly the go-to guy for the Knicks from the first quarter through the final buzzer, as evidenced by the play designed for him with four tenths of a second left on the clock last night.

At this point, it looks like, pending injuries, Stoudemire does have what it takes to continue his run at a potential MVP award. If the Knicks do pull off a trade for Carmelo Anthony, whether it be now or in Februrary, expect Stoudemire’s chances at the elusive award to slim.