NBA Playoffs: New York Knicks vs. Boston Celtics—Will Amar'e Stoudemire Play?
Less than 48 hours away from the return of NBA playoff basketball to the World's Most Famous Arena, Madison Square Garden, both Knicks fans and Celtics fans wonder the same thing: Will Amar'e Stoudemire be able to play in Game 3?
Without Stoudemire on the floor in the second half of Game 2, the Celtics were able to focus all of their defensive attention on Carmelo Anthony, albeit with little effectiveness until late in the fourth quarter.
Without Stoudemire on the floor, Jared Jeffries was thrust into a situation he's simply not capable of succeeding in—having the ball in his hands with less then 10 seconds on the clock in the biggest game his team has played in the past decade.
Amar'e said that he injured his back attempting a dunk during warmups, and that his back stiffened and burst into spasms as the game wore on, leading to his untimely absence. During the postgame press conference, Stoudemire sounded unsure of his status for Game 3.
"I should be ready for Game 3," he said. "We'll see how it goes...but I'm pretty sure—I'm hoping—I'll be ready Friday."
Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni sounded more optimistic then his all-star power forward/center, saying, "He should be OK Friday...He just felt a little twinge."
STAT (as Amar'e is commonly referred to: Standing Tall and Talented) does stand tall—his 6'10", 240 pound frame's mere presence on the floor demands respect and attention from Boston's big men—the seemingly rejuvenated Jermaine O'Neal, Glen "Big Baby" Davis and Kevin Garnett. Aside from his offensive prowess, Stoudemire's ability to alter and block shots on the defensive end may be just as important to this Knicks team.
The biggest thing Amar'e brings to the table is that he makes it more difficult for the Celtics to effectively double team 'Melo, as having Garnett or Davis come out of the paint to help Paul Pierce defend Anthony leaves the other in a one-on-one situation against Stoudemire—which, much like Jared Jeffries, is a situation that neither one is capable of succeeding in at this point in their careers.
Fans of the New York Knicks are an emotional, intelligent group. They wear their heart on their sleeves, and they bleed orange and blue. Their Knicks are coming home for their first playoff game in a decade, coming off of two heartbreaking losses to the defending Eastern Conference champions and a detested rival.
"The Mecca" will be rocking on Friday night, and this is what Stat signed up for. He came to the Knicks for this very reason, for this moment. Amar'e will have his "statement" game as a Knick, leading his team to victory over the Celtics.
