When we are healthy***

[Redz]

Also let me add to the OP the question: what is so great Amare Stoudemire?  Sure, he jumps high and puts up nice numbers, but if he was even 1/2 the player Kevin Garnett is now, wouldn't he have found a way to make the Suns even close to a contender by now?  

Sure, you can point to the fact that KG couldn't put it together until he came here; however, KG never had the surrounding cast Stoudemire has always had.  KG had Sam Cassell, Latrell Sprewell and some scrubs and made it to the ECF.  Stoudemire had 3-time MVP Steve Nash, Shaq, Grant Hill, and Jason Richardson and couldn't even make the playoffs last year.  

Sure, he might play better with this group in Boston, but he's been able to do very little with a fairly talented group in Phoenix.  And let's also not forget that he's had his share of leg woes and also had lots of miles on his legs at a young age since he was drafted straight out of high school.  

Doesn't diminish your point, but Nash is a 2 time MVP, not 3 time.

[KCattheStripe]

Also let me add to the OP the question: what is so great Amare Stoudemire?  Sure, he jumps high and puts up nice numbers, but if he was even 1/2 the player Kevin Garnett is now, wouldn't he have found a way to make the Suns even close to a contender by now?  

Sure, you can point to the fact that KG couldn't put it together until he came here; however, KG never had the surrounding cast Stoudemire has always had.  KG had Sam Cassell, Latrell Sprewell and some scrubs and made it to the ECF.  Stoudemire had 3-time MVP Steve Nash, Shaq, Grant Hill, and Jason Richardson and couldn't even make the playoffs last year.  

Sure, he might play better with this group in Boston, but he's been able to do very little with a fairly talented group in Phoenix.  And let's also not forget that he's had his share of leg woes and also had lots of miles on his legs at a young age since he was drafted straight out of high school.  

And KG went to the WCF not the ECF. Got to pick them nits.

Doesn't diminish your point, but Nash is a 2 time MVP, not 3 time.

[Celtics17]

When healthy we are the best team in the league, it's true. When we are like we are now we are far from it. The thing is, every team in the league this year will need to be more healthy then we are now to compete for a title. Sure the Lackers did win last year with Bynum not playing well but they wont this year. The Cavs won't win with an injured Oneal or Ilgauskas much less Lebron. And, we wont win without our starting 5, Rasheed and Baby all in good health. Sure KG is on the downside of his careeer and may never be the same but then again, he might really have just hyperextended the knee, come back and play well. Time will tell.

[MF Doom]

Stoudemire is a proven big who would be able to run with Rondo as well as knock down the midrange jumper in a half court offense. His defense is the biggest question of his game. And stoudemire couldnt win with shaq nash and jrich probaly because he didnt play the entire second half of the season with his eye injury if i am not mistaken. (correct me if I am wrong) Though I am hoping, I just cant rely on KG's knee to hold up for another few months and the playoffs, as well as the finals if we are fortunate enough to make it that far. We should start thinking short term and long term.

[ManUp]

This season when Healthy we've been the second best team in the league. If we are going to be the best team in the league KG is going to have to show more than he has so far. KG is still a great defender, but the offense needs to step up. He hasn't been the scorer/playmaker that I know him to be. We can't win if he's just another guy on offense.

[BballTim]

This season when Healthy we've been the second best team in the league. If we are going to be the best team in the league KG is going to have to show more than he has so far. KG is still a great defender, but the offense needs to step up. He hasn't been the scorer/playmaker that I know him to be. We can't win if he's just another guy on offense.

  Who was better?

[Steve Weinman]

Stoudemire is a proven big who would be able to run with Rondo as well as knock down the midrange jumper in a half court offense.

And defensively?

-sw

[PLamb]

Jumping in on the Amare thing, he, to me, is the epitome of the modern day basketball star

He can jump through the roof, hit is jumper, run and give his all......on the offensive end

On the defensive end he is indifferent, inconsistent and just lacking the killer instinct

While not a huge fan of LeBron or Kobe I respect they play and dedicate themselves to winning basketball by playing defense

There's way too many basketball "stars" that never just don't care about the defensive end



Which leads me to why when we are healthy we can win it all

When healthy it doesn't matter how young or athletic we are or are not

When healthy we have the best collection of basketball players that dedicate themselves to game winning and championship winning defense

As long as they get in the playoffs, that's all they need to win it all, health and their continued dedication to defense

[Jon]

Also let me add to the OP the question: what is so great Amare Stoudemire?  Sure, he jumps high and puts up nice numbers, but if he was even 1/2 the player Kevin Garnett is now, wouldn't he have found a way to make the Suns even close to a contender by now?  

Sure, you can point to the fact that KG couldn't put it together until he came here; however, KG never had the surrounding cast Stoudemire has always had.  KG had Sam Cassell, Latrell Sprewell and some scrubs and made it to the ECF.  Stoudemire had 3-time MVP Steve Nash, Shaq, Grant Hill, and Jason Richardson and couldn't even make the playoffs last year.  

Sure, he might play better with this group in Boston, but he's been able to do very little with a fairly talented group in Phoenix.  And let's also not forget that he's had his share of leg woes and also had lots of miles on his legs at a young age since he was drafted straight out of high school.  

And KG went to the WCF not the ECF. Got to pick them nits.

Doesn't diminish your point, but Nash is a 2 time MVP, not 3 time.

I stand corrected.  Got a little carried away.  The ECF was just a mistake, obviously.  Forgot that Nash only got it twice though.

Still, Stoudemire, as others have now echoes is dramatically overrated.  KG got a lot of slack pre-Celtics for underachieving in the playoffs, but he never had nearly as good of surrounding cast as Stoudemire has consistently had.

Furthermore, I wouldn't overlook the fact that Steve Nash probably makes him look better than he truly is.  Compound that with his poor defense and taking him on looks like a very bad move.  Might it prolong our success?  Sure.  But would it likely leave us just short of enough to win a title?  Absolutely.  So unless you want to be Malone's Jazz, it's just not worth it. 

[ManUp]

This season when Healthy we've been the second best team in the league. If we are going to be the best team in the league KG is going to have to show more than he has so far. KG is still a great defender, but the offense needs to step up. He hasn't been the scorer/playmaker that I know him to be. We can't win if he's just another guy on offense.

  Who was better?

The Lakers.

[GreenFaith1819]

This season when Healthy we've been the second best team in the league. If we are going to be the best team in the league KG is going to have to show more than he has so far. KG is still a great defender, but the offense needs to step up. He hasn't been the scorer/playmaker that I know him to be. We can't win if he's just another guy on offense.

  Who was better?

The Lakers.

LA's about to get a Rude Awakening on Jan 31.

Kobe better hope he doesn't butt that finger the wrong way, either. I really wish he'd get that thing fixed. Don't want any excuses.

[ManUp]

This season when Healthy we've been the second best team in the league. If we are going to be the best team in the league KG is going to have to show more than he has so far. KG is still a great defender, but the offense needs to step up. He hasn't been the scorer/playmaker that I know him to be. We can't win if he's just another guy on offense.

  Who was better?

The Lakers.

LA's about to get a Rude Awakening on Jan 31.

Kobe better hope he doesn't butt that finger the wrong way, either. I really wish he'd get that thing fixed. Don't want any excuses.

I hope your right, but so far this season they've been the better team. Last year they or Kobe seemed to have an epiphany on how to beat us down the stretch (pick and roll with Gasol).

[BballTim]

This season when Healthy we've been the second best team in the league. If we are going to be the best team in the league KG is going to have to show more than he has so far. KG is still a great defender, but the offense needs to step up. He hasn't been the scorer/playmaker that I know him to be. We can't win if he's just another guy on offense.

  Who was better?

The Lakers.

  The "18 home games and 4 road games" Lakers? That team has come and gone. It was all an illusion.