27 Dec 10 How Amare Played His Way out of Phoenix Wednesday

Harry How/Getty ImagesAs one Phoenix journalist posted on Twitter during Game Two of the Western Conference Finals, "I think Amare opted out of his contract at halftime."The one thing that all Suns fans knew they were getting with Amare Stoudemire was all offense and no defense. After his pathetic performance on guarding Pau Gasol, I think it is safe to say that Suns fans have had enough of his lackadaisical performance on the end that doesn't improve his stats.Nothing against Gasolhe is a great playerbut he is not Shaq or Hakeem Olajuwon. Reebok Green Bay Packers #12 Aaron Rodgers Realtree camo Jersey
A player of Stoudemire's caliber should at least be able to stop him every once in awhile. He can't even do that.Play after play the offense ran through Gasol because of one reason, Stoudemire's inability to defend. He is constantly out of position and is afraid to make plays on the defensive end for fear of getting in foul trouble.By all accounts unless the Suns are willing to give him a new max deal for five years (Suns will only extend him by three years) he is as good as gone.The sad thing is despite all of his abilities on the court, I am all for him leaving.It took a midseason benching and not being traded to motivate him into becoming the dominating force that he was in the second half of the season.Despite playing seven seasons in the NBA, he still gets by on athleticism and hasn't bothered to learn how to play defense. The only part of the game that he has improved is his mid-range jumper.When Amare opts out of his contract this summer, he will likely land somewhere outside of the Valley of the Sun.This would give the Suns Reebok Green Bay Packers #52 Clay Matthews Realtree camo Jersey
around $44 million committed to eight players next season (let's say it safe to think that Grant Hill will pick up his option). Assuming they commit between $6-$7 million to re-signing Lou Amundson and Channing Frye (whose price tag has gone down since this series started) the Suns will have about $14 million in cap space to play around with.They could sign two solid role players to add to the chemistry that this team has been able to develop so well. Or they could make a splash in the free agent market.I'm not talking a LeBron type play but going for someone like Chris Bosh could be just the move the Suns are looking for. A power forward who would actually want to be in town and reap the benefits from everything that is Steve Nash.Stoudemire has no post moves and is not willing to box out or is often out of place on rebounds. Bosh's numbers have improved every year since he has been in the league while Amare's has been up and down, plus there are the numerous injuries that he has racked up over the years (knee, eye).Now is Reebok Indianapolis Colts 18 Peyton Manning Realtree camo Jersey
this likely to happen? No, I'm also a Suns fan (which means I'm pessimistic) and the only time we got a superstar was when Charles Barkley came to town.The first two games of this series has only proved that the Suns need someone with a better all around game, in order to win a title. While Stoudemire can provide a name, he can't provide any D and that will not get the Suns a title while he is their power for