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Since returning to the New York Knicks after missing a good portion of the first half of the 2012-13 NBA season, Amar’e Stoudemire has silenced all doubters and performed at a very high level.
Stoudemire was coming off the bench, which was the right move at the time due to the Knicks’ hot start and flowing chemistry, but now a change needs to be made. Stoudemire needs to start.
The prevailing notion that Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony can’t play together is nonsense. If they want to win big, they have to make it work, and this season they have shown that they can do just that in the short time they have been on the court together.
With Jason Kidd struggling as of late, Stoudemire should be inserted into the starting lineup alongside Anthony, Raymond Felton, Iman Shumpert, and Tyson Chandler. That will increase New York’s size up front, which has been an issue, and will also help Anthony carry the offensive load.
Stoudemire has given the Knicks 13.3 points a night since returning from the knee injury that kept him sidelined, and he has done it in just 22.9 minutes per game. His offensive production goes along nicely with five rebounds per game, and if given a shot at more minutes, Stoudemire’s numbers will rise.
The Knicks have been struggling lately, as they are losers of their last four games. The four-game skid has been the worst stretch of the season, and Mike Woodson needs to insert Stoudemire into the starting five for New York to have a chance to make a run late in the season.
Follow Thomas Duffy on Twitter @TD_Knicks for articles, news, and all things NBA.
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