Amar'e lowers expectations after Knicks preseason
Amar'e Stoudemire said in July after his $100 million signing: "The Knicks are back."
The way he has been talking this week, it sounds like he meant back to 35 wins.
With the preseason ending in Montreal after Friday night's 108-103 loss to the Raptors, Stoudemire, in recent days, has noticeably lacked braggadocio and lowered expectations.
In the Canadiens' visiting dressing room Friday night, Stoudemire tried out a little French, then spoke some English words downright alarming to Knick fans praying for a return to the playoffs.
"The Knicks haven't made the playoffs in nine, 10 years," said Stoudemire, his history a bit off. "Anything better than we did last year is a success."
The Knicks are coming off a 29-53 nightmare, nine straight losing seasons and an NBA-high six years out of the playoffs.
Three days ago at Montreal's McGill University, he said: "Last year wasn't that good. Anything better than that would be a step in the right direction. But playoffs is something we're looking forward to and we're trying to get to that point. We're not the biggest physical team. Some nights we will be outrebounded, but we have to stay together."
Though Stoudemire looked brilliant in preseason, averaging a league-high 25.7 points in 27 minutes, he perhaps realizes the supporting cast isn't as promising as on paper.
Stoudemire's recent statements could be a call for help to team president Donnie Walsh that the team needs Carmelo Anthony sooner than later.
With opening night Wednesday in Toronto, Stoudemire's sentiments have a different ring than when training camp opened a month ago. When asked if the Knicks were ready for the opener, Stoudemire said underwhelmingly: "We have no choice."
Often, the Knicks looked like a one-man gang, with Stoudemire powering to the basket for layups or drawing fouls. He was sensational getting to the free throw line (52 of 63, 82.5 percent) and his field goal percentage spiked at 56.2 percent.
In his boldest statement of the week, Stoudemire said: "This year is going to be the starting point of my prime."
Indeed, the five-time All-Star dominated October and acted easily in the spotlight.
But with a green starting center in Timofey Mozgov, a debate at shooting guard with out-of-position Wilson Chandler, a nothing-special preseason for point guard Raymond Felton and low-motor camps from Danilo Gallinari and Anthony Randolph, who was an atrocity, the Knicks could fall into an early hole after 10 games.
"If we're one-man gang, it's a pretty good one-man gang," D'Antoni said.
Stoudemire wasn't the Knicks' most coveted player entering free agency, but the most available -- the Suns and others scared to invest on his uninsurable knee.
D'Antoni said he is genuinely enthused at the leap Stoudemire has made since last coaching him three years ago.
"He's a lot better than when I left, athletic, his leadership. His desire and focus is off the charts," D'Antoni said. "With us [in Phoenix] he was First-Team NBA. He's even better now. I can't say enough about his leadership."
The Knicks haven't had any leadership during this nine-year horror and it still is new for Stoudemire.
"I was ready for this role even in Phoenix," Stoudemire said. "It wasn't presented to me in that manner. Now in New York I'm faced with a greater challenge. It'll be a challenge. I'm willing to accept it."
