The Suns quietly assembled for practice at Staples Center at 10 a.m., but then Amare Stoudemire began to talk. And talk.
He told reporters that Lamar Odom had a "lucky game" in the opener of the Western Conference finals, an obvious shot at the sixth man who broke through a monthlong playoff slump with 19 points and 19 rebounds in the Lakers' 128-107 victory Monday night.
"I'm not giving him no hype," Stoudemire testily said. "He had a lucky game."
It continued an interesting 24-hour period for the Suns' All-Star center-forward, who said before Monday's game that he remembered having his way with Pau Gasol in the first round of the 2005 playoffs, when Gasol was with the Memphis Grizzlies.
"It was total domination," Stoudemire said. "But now he has a little brother with him so now he's a little more confident now because he's got someone to help him in the post.
"The "little brother" would be Andrew Bynum, the player whom Odom effectively replaced for much of Game 1.
Reaction to Stoudemire's comments Tuesday varied from a shrug by Odom and, in a mild surprise, anger from Stoudemire's own coach.
"That's a ridiculous statement," Alvin Gentry told reporters. "It's not a lucky game, OK? [Odom] played great. The guy is capable of playing great. We have to do a better job on him.
"Odom's reaction to it all?
Typical nonchalance."Hopefully I can have another lucky one," he said Tuesday. Hats off to Odom. This was a class act
"If [Stoudemire] wants to call Lamar 'lucky,' " Lakers guard Derek Fisher said, "I'll take 19 and 19 as luck any day of the week."
Can't you just see these comments posted in the Laker's lockeroom? Like they needed any help.
Way to go Stat !
1 comment:
Love the post Bill. As you know, I'm no fan of Amare and that statement was a perfect example of why. Instead of calling it a lucky game, perhaps Amare should focus on getting more than 3rebs in game 2. Amare played 34minutes and only managed 3rebs, while Bynum played only 19minutes and grabbed 4rebs... and he's playing with a torn meniscus!! Amare is a clown and the best thing the Suns can do this summer is NOT resign him. Let someone else pay him 18million a year to not rebound, not play defense, and make excuses.
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