L’objectif d’Amar’e Stoudemire : rester en forme
Les deux dernières saisons d’Amar’e Stoudemire peuvent se résumer malheureusement par le mot blessure. L’intérieur des Knicks accumule les pépins et du coup son objectif pour la saison à venir est simple, rester en forme. Actuellement il travaille deux fois par jour tout en essayant de préserver ses genoux
Quelques fois vous devez essayer de passer l’obstacle et voir si vous pouvez être assez en forme pour jouer de nouveau. C’est mon but actuellement.
J’ai eu beaucoup de succès durant ma carrière. J’ai accompli beaucoup de choses, plus que ce que je ne pouvais imaginer. Ce n’est donc pas une question d’accepter le rôle de 6ème homme ou de titulaire, c’est plus de rester en forme, d’essayer de faire durer mon corps et ma carrière et être le meilleur possible pour les Knicks.
Et avec un Amar’e Stoudemire enfin en forme ce serait presque une nouvelle recrue de choix pour les Knicks.
Stoudemire, 30, had his left knee scoped in October and then his right knee in March. He returned to play in the Knicks’ last four playoff games, but was rusty and ineffective. He scored 15 points in 33 minutes against the Pacers.
Overall, Stoudemire, a six-time All-Star, appeared in 29 regular season games last season, averaging 14.2 points and 5.0 rebounds off the bench. He said he’s not concerned with starting or being a sixth man this season. Stoudemire, who had microfracture surgery on his left knee in 2005, just hopes to be injury-free.
« I’ve been very successful in my career, » Stoudemire said. « I’ve accomplished a lot, pretty much more than what I could imagine. It’s not more so about accepting the role of a sixth man or starting. It’s more so staying healthy and trying to prolong my body and my career and being the best that I can be for the Knicks. »
Stoudemire has two years and about $45 million remaining on his contract. If he can stay healthy, he could provide the Knicks with another scoring weapon behind Carmelo Anthony, which they especially missed in the playoff series with the Pacers.
One question that remains is whether Anthony and Stoudemire can coexist successfully. Stoudemire believes they have learned how to play together and pointed to the fact they have been to the playoffs all three seasons together.
« It takes a little adjustment for both players, » Stoudemire said. « We’ve both made that adjustment. On my end, I’m still battling injuries, trying to prolong my health. Other than that we seem to play well together. »
Knicks add center
The Knicks signed 6-11 center Cole Aldrich to a non-guaranteed deal Tuesday. Aldrich, the No. 11 pick out of Kansas in 2010, has averaged 2.0 points and 2.3 rebounds with the Thunder, Rockets and Kings.
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