Slumping Stoudemire held to season-low 13
Is it an aberration or the beginning of a disturbing trend?
Amar'e Stoudemire's fourth-quarter disappearing act against the Celtics on Monday night made for some interesting headlines. He finished with 16 points, but none in the last 12 minutes.
His sluggish play continued late into Wednesday night's's 111-99 loss to the Magic at Madison Square Garden. Stoudemire didn't get his first field goal until midway through the second quarter and ended up with a season-low 13 points, shooting only 6-for-20.
Stoudemire stopped short of calling it a trend and instead attributed his recent play to tired legs.
"I'm starting to get a little tired in the first quarter, actually," he said. "But I've been trying to push through it and push through it and battle, because it's a very important game."
The 6-10 forward struggled through a nightmarish game, scoring only four points on 2-for-11 shooting through the first three-plus quarters. He perked up a bit in the fourth, however, and converted on his final four field-goal attempts.
But it was too little, too late for the Knicks as Orlando's Dwight Howard had his way in the paint, with 33 points (11-for-15 shooting) and 11 rebounds.
"I think he kind of rushed a little bit tonight to get his shot off," Howard said of Stoudemire. "He wasn't as patient. That happens, and right now I understand that the Knicks are under a lot of pressure."
It was their third consecutive loss and the seventh in their last eight games.
"I think with all of us it's the fatigue factor setting in somewhat," Stoudemire said. "It's been a crazy month for us so far. A lot of games."
Stoudemire's recent fourth-quarter flameouts couldn't be coming at a worse time for the Knicks, who are in a fight with the 76ers for the sixth playoff spot. The Knicks (35-36) trail Philadelphia (37-34) by two games with 11 to go.
The tough schedule continues for the Knicks, who host the Bucks tomorrow night in the first of back-to-back games. They visit the Bobcats Saturday night.
Stoudemire is convinced the Knicks will pull it together in time for the playoffs next month.
"Right now we know we are better than we have shown so far," he said. "It takes time to get to that point. With us being great friends off the court, it really allows us to keep that camaraderie going. We will be all right."
