The joy is back for Amar'e Stoudemire. And no, it's not because he's been sampling his red wine baths.
Rather, Stoudemire feels healthy and with that health comes a feeling that maybe, just maybe, there can be some form of dominance up front alongside Carmelo Anthony for the Knicks this season.
"My joy is there. My love of the game is there," said Stoudemire, 32 next month. "I feel like I'm 19 again as far as how much I love to play the game of basketball. I feel youthful. To have that type of feeling again as I had my rookie year, to want to play and just want to be out there and get better as a player is pretty encouraging."
Stoudemire got his first start of the preseason Monday in the Knicks' 120-107 defenseless defeat against the Bucks at the Garden.
Stoudemire had 14 points (5-of-7 shooting) and six rebounds in 23:34. And while Stoudemire always has been suspect defensively, everybody was at fault this time.
"It went well, but our main focus right now has to be locking down on defense," Stoudemire said, seconding Anthony's assertion that they can be a double-barrel post assault, that when one doesn't have it going the Knicks can look to the other.
"Yeah, we can tag-team them to death, like the old Bushwhackers," Stoudemire said, using his best wrestling reference.
But just being out there and feeling good is a reason for Stoudemire's joy. Multiple surgeries on both knees, with the injuries dating back to the 2005-06 season, will wipe out anyone's joy.
"Injuries sometimes take that joy away. You're not able to play, you're not able to become that leader that you know you are, you can't speak on things that you see on the basketball court because you're not out there within the battlefield with the guys," Stoudemire said.
Coach Derek Fisher had used the same lineup for three straight games before inserting Stoudemire for Samuel Dalembert (who had started all four games).
"I thought Amar'e was active, he did some good things. He was a good presence four us," said Fisher, who had claimed Stoudemire at center was "something we've been thinking about" because of "his versatility at that position."
Center or power forward makes no difference to Stoudemire who became an internet sensation last week when he posted pictures of himself taking "rejuvenating" red wine baths. He is used to new challenges. With Mike D'Antoni it was pick and roll and up-tempo.
Under Mike Woodson, he was mainly back to the basket. Now it's "elbow, face up, post ups."
So four or five? No biggie.
"It doesn't really make a difference what position I start in this offense," said Stoudemire who knows his defense will be a major concern. "My goal this year is to become a better defensive player and be known as a defensive player. It's a challenge I've got to accept."
And no matter how hard it is, he can always soak in the wine.
"I had a couple calls. A close friend of mine sending me cases of wine," Stoudemire said. "My teammates are still heckling about it. So it's been fun."
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