27 Dec 10 Amare Stoudemire, Phoenix Suns, Need to Show Effort Against Lakers

Harry How/Getty ImagesThe Suns could use a lucky game from Amare Stoudemire.Instead, Stoudemire has proved that players who bark through the press before a game usually don't have much bite to begin with.Especially on defense.After calling Lamar Odom's 19-point, 19-rebound game "lucky" (lightening must have struck twice, because Odom had 17 and 11 in Game Two) and referring to Gasol's unsuccessful sojourn in Memphis, Stoudemire predictably didn't back it up when it mattered.Instead, his two verbal victims made Reebok Dallas Cowboys #82 Jason Witten Realtree camo Jersey
a real victim out of Stoudemire.It's confounding. For a couple months, Stoudemire was playing adequate defense. He rotated, held his ground, moved his feet, acted like he cared. In the first two games of this series, he looks like a guy who's confident he's already earned his max contract.Pau Gasol is a skilled big man with great footwork, but it's not like he can out-muscle Amare. Not that he has to. Amare isn't even bothering to give Gasol a customary bump when the Spaniard rolls to the basket.It's like a one-on-one version of the World vs. Team USA circa 2004. Unmotivated talent versus passionate skill. No mystery as to which wins out.In a way, maybe Odom is lucky. He and L.A. have to feel fortunate with Stoudemire, and most of his teammates, not giving give a crap in the effort areas the shorter Suns need mostdefense and rebounding.Stoudemire's interest of the game is there only when the opportunity to score precedes it. It wasn't like that before the Lakers' series, and I can't help but wonder if this unexpected trip to the conference finals has made Amare complacent with his future.I don't buy the garbage Lakers fans have said about the Suns not being able to play defense in general. In the second and third quarters, Phoenix showed they couldwhen Reebok Dallas Cowboys #9 Tony Romo Realtree camo Jersey
they care.For two quarters out of eight, they (the bench, anyway) have cared. For two quarters out of eight, they've run out to Laker shooters with urgency instead of apathy. For two quarters out of eight, they've given a s***.And in those two quarters, Phoenix outscored the Lakers by 11 points combined.There comes a point when a period of good play comes to an end. During that feel-good time frame, it's easy to do the little things, because everyone has a blast winning.When the reality check comes, and the bubble is burst, championship teams (and franchise players) grit their teeth and do the ugly things to get to the team's next peak.The Suns, except for a couple quarters and a couple players in Game Two, aren't doing that.Amare Stoudemire, he who wants the max, is the biggest culpritalthough Channing Frye is running a close second.There was a play in the last two minutes that told the whole story. The game was 98 percent sewn up, but Steve Nash pulled up for a three. The telling scene was just after the threeNash tried to Reebok Denver Broncos #15 Tim Tebow Realtree camo Jersey
follow his shot and jumped as high as a white Canadian could for the rebound. Obviously he didn't get it.Stoudemire? He was lounging 20 feet away from the basket after exerting zero interest in his potential team-leading seventh rebound.'Nuff said.