Category: NBA (Page 573 of 595)

The trade that brought former #1 pick Kwame Brown to the Lakers wasn’t looking too good for most of the season. In the 42 games before the All-Star break, Brown averaged just 6.1 ppg and 6.0 rpg on 47.4% shooting in 26 minutes. Over the last four games – not coincidentally, all Laker wins – he averaged 16.3 ppg and 9.0 rpg on 72.2% shooting in 38 minutes per game. Sure, it’s only four games, but Laker fans will take any possible sign that the big kid is finally coming of age.

“He’s been doing the defensive part all year long,” Kobe Bryant said Wednesday night following one of the best efforts of Brown’s five-year NBA career. “Sometimes, the people want more. Tonight he gave them more.”

“Great game. We told him before the game, they don’t bother to guard him, that if he was active, he was going to find some things around there,” Lakers coach Phil Jackson said. “He really did. He found some opportunities tonight.

“He’s steadily been playing better and better as he’s gotten comfortable.”

“I have come in here and done what Coach has asked me to do,” Brown said. “He asked me to run, rebound and defend, but unfortunately playing defense is like being a lineman in football — you just don’t get much credit for it.

“With Chris (Mihm) being out, I did not want there to be a letdown for my teammates. I know my role has changed a little bit because I have to go in and score instead of coming off the bench to get Kobe open, run and rebound. I have to do a little more on the offensive end.”

At 6’11” and 270 lbs., Brown has all the physical tools to be a superstar, but he’s never been able to reach his potential. He has the type of game that makes most college basketball players cringe, especially those who never get the chance to play professionally.

The key to his recent play may be the extra minutes he’s getting with Mihm out. It seems like, with Phil Jackson as your coach, either the light goes on or the team gets rid of you. Maybe Kwame’s light is finally going on.

It looks like Amare Stoudemire might have returned to game action too quickly.

After an impressive season debut Thursday that was nearly six months after knee surgery, Stoudemire felt the condition of his knees regress in the next two games Saturday and Monday.

In Monday’s loss to New Jersey, Stoudemire did not have any lift in his step or jump and said he could not get his knees to feel loose Sunday or Monday. He went scoreless on six shots in 14 minutes, foul- ing more than he rebounded Monday.

“We’re not going to put him on the court when he is not fluid or doesn’t feel good or he’s laboring,” D’Antoni said of the decision to hold him out tonight against Milwaukee. “That doesn’t do anybody any good. He’s too important to the franchise to do that.”

The Suns are doing the right thing. Stoudemire’s long-term health is much more important than what he can bring to the Suns’ championship run this season. Phoenix has him locked in for several years so there’s no sense in pushing him. Besides, he’s obviously not that effective when his knees hurt.

Barring unforseen pain in his surgically repaired left knee, Amare Stoudemire will return to the Suns lineup in tonight’s game against Portland, 163 days after his microfracture surgery and 294 days since his last game action.

“I tell you what, man, it’s been a long process,” Stoudemire said. “It’s been a long time coming. I just can’t wait to set foot back on that Phoenix logo.”

Stoudemire initially joked with reporters about keeping his return in the dark. He said he might take the court in street clothes only to “rip out the Superman cape.”

But the plan is for Stoudemire to see 15-20 minutes and possibly start tonight’s game because it may be easier to run soon after getting warmed up.

“You throw a new element in the water and there’ll be ripples,” D’Antoni said. “There’s going to be issues. In the short term, we’re not going to be as good. I hope I can be fooled. As soon as Amaré gets his feet wet, he can help us a lot.”

If Stoudemire can round back into form over the next few weeks and play at 80% or 90% capacity, he will definitely help the Suns in the playoffs. For D’Antoni, the trick will be working him into a lineup that has gone 45-21 this season. The one silver lining to Stoudemire’s injury has been the play of Boris Diaw, who will likely slide to the power forward position, allowing Stoudemire to man the middle while he’s in the game.