Miami Heat Vs New York Knicks: Amar'e Stoudemire's Not Afraid Of the Big Three

Who's afraid of the Big Three?

(Or two).

Apparently not Amar'e Stoudemire, who stated earlier this week, "Nobody's afraid of the Miami Heat."

Brash words from a player whose team is 0-2 against Miami and just recovered from its second six-game skid of the season.

Perhaps the Miami Heat isn't afraid of nobodies.

Maybe talking through the media is a bug going around New York lately.

It seemed to work for Jets head coach Rex Ryan for a game or two.

The fact is that the Knicks, after being the talk of the league the last time Miami visited the Garden on Dec. 17, is a team just two games over .500.

I can appreciate Stoudemire trying to rally himself and his team around his words; perhaps he's issuing himself a personal challenge.

But no one wants Miami in the playoffs. So if not fear, then respect.

LeBron James has been waiting for a reason to let off cruise control and Wade hasn't tasted victory on the court since Jan. 9.

If anything has been evident this season for Miami, it's that LeBron gets up for big (i.e. nationally televised) games.

Cleveland, New York and Los Angeles come to mind.

And historically, Dwyane Wade has killed the Knicks and even has a game-winning buzzer-beater at MSG from March 2005.

Wade, who was kept out of Saturday's game with a migraine attack, was planning on sporting tinted eye wear during tonight's game, effectively bringing Hollywood to Broadway.

However, the league deemed the level of tinting would give him a competitive advantage and has banned the glasses. He may still try a different style of shades, albeit with less shading.

It's not the first time Wade has made a fashion statement due to injury.

In February 2009, he suffered a cut on his face from current teammate Juwan Howard, then of the Bobcats, requiring a bandage.

This ritual eventually evolved into personalized bandages the league later banned. 

So while Wade could answer Amar'e's eye wear, LeBron will try to stop Stoudemire on defense as the two could potentially go head-to-head tonight with LeBron playing some power forward.

Look for James and Wade to answer Stoudemire's challenge early and often.