When Amare Stoudemire signed with the Heat this offseason many people viewed it as a great move for them because he would provide a nice lift off the bench. But through the first couple months of the season, it seemed as though Stoudemire wouldn't have much of a role with the team because he was out of the rotation. Recently Stoudemire has been thrust into the rotation because of injuries, and he has played well enough that he is expected to stay in the rotation even when the team gets healthy, according to Tim Reynolds of NBA.com.
Hassan Whiteside missed six consecutive games with a hip injury, and in that time span Stoudemire was seeing a lot of minutes and producing some very nice numbers. Whiteside came back on Wednesday night, and Stoudemire was still in the rotation. Whiteside only played 17 minutes in his first game back, but even when his minutes get ramped back up Stoudemire will likely have a role.
"Amare can be who he was in his 20s in short bursts if we're all smart about it and control the minutes," said head coach Erik Spoelstra. "That's the hardest thing for me to do. When we manage and bottle them up those minutes, he's fresh. He spends a great deal of time, so much time training, working on his strength, doing corrective exercises, treatment, just to get himself ready to play. He just gives you a highly decorated talent."
Due to all of the injuries, the 33-year-old forward has dealt with in his career he is not going to be capable of playing big minutes, but like Spoelstra said, when he is on the floor he brings a lot to the table. In his last five games Stoudemire is averaging 9.8 points, 8.4 rebounds and 1.4 blocks in 21.6 minutes per game. That is big-time production in limited minutes, but that is what Stoudemire brings to the table at this point in his career, and it is extremely helpful.
This season has definitely tested Stoudemire's patience as he played in just three of the Heat's first 28 games but he has had the right mind set all along. There was a point where people were asking if Stoudemire would ask for a trade from the Heat so he can have a role elsewhere but he knew all along his time would come and it certainly has. At this point in his career Stoudemire just wants to win and he has a great chance to do so with the Heat. Lately he has been a big reason why the Heat have looked as good as they have, winning five of their last six games, so his patience is certainly being rewarded right now.
