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This is the fourth installment in a series of posts breaking
down the match-ups between the Knicks and Heat position by position. The fourth match-up we will take a look at
another big time match-up at the power forward position.
Match-up: Amar’e Stoudemire vs. Chris Bosh
Yet another high profile match-up in this series between the
Knicks and Heat. This will be an
interesting confrontation because Stoudemire and Bosh have become second or
third options at times, yet have the ability to win games by themselves if need
be.
For Stoudemire to excel in the series, the best opportunity
will come in the pick-and-roll situations, if they are even available. For much of the season, Stoudemire has not
been the main screener. Instead, the
Knicks have had Tyson Chandler fill that role.
But against the Heat, Stoudemire is the more dangerous screener because
of his ability to knock down a perimeter jump shot.
If Mike Woodson can draw up some plays for Stoudemire being
the main screener it would go a long way for the Knicks. Woodson has been able to adapt to situations
so far since he has become head coach, but doing it in the playoffs is a whole
different story. If Stoudemire is given
the opportunities and makes the most of his chances it gives the Knicks an
advantage not too many teams have in a jump shooting big man.
Another positive with Stoudemire is that he seems to have
been regaining some of his explosiveness and pop towards the end of the
season. He really looked good before the
back injury derailed him for about a month, but even in the last four games of
the regular season you could see some of his athleticism returning. A good example of this was the monstrous dunk
he threw down over Tyrus Thomas in the season finale against the Bobcats for an
and-one and a lot of ooh’s and aah’s from the crowd.
The place Stoudemire can be exploited is the same place he
has been exploited all season, which is on the defensive end. It should be acknowledged that of the 48 shot
attempts that Bosh has taken in the half-court against the Knicks, Stoudemire
has guarded him for only one of those attempts.
Chandler has assumed
responsibility of guarding Bosh for most of the game, but that has a real
possibility of changing. Bosh plays more
around the elbow extended, so having Chandler
guard Bosh for extended periods of time could bring the Knicks big man too far
away from the basket.
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This may cause Woodson to commit Stoudemire to guarding
Bosh. The numbers suggest that this will
be a match-up that Bosh will take advantage of.
Bosh has averaged 21 points per 36 minutes that Stoudemire is on the
court over the past two seasons. It
should be noted though that the numbers do not go into specifics about how much
Stoudemire is actually guarding Bosh.
It Stoudemire is matched up against Bosh another thing he
will have to worry about is keeping Bosh off the glass. That has not been a strength for Stoudemire
much of this season, but hopefully with it being playoff time his commitment
and attitude will change like the rest of the roster has under Mike
Woodson. Woodson has preached more of a
team effort and less selfishness and it is about time Stoudemire bought in more
such as Carmelo Anthony and J.R. Smith has.
Another match-up and yet another advantage for the Heat. Stoudemire has been so inconsistent this
season that it seems hard for the Knicks to count on him. His short comings on defense and rebounding
this season are causes for concern against Bosh and the Heat. If Stoudemire can find his old form it would be
greatly beneficial for the Knicks, but until then the advantage leans in the
Heat favor.
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