PHOENIX — It was over precisely the moment when Amar’e Stoudemire, who plays “D” with as much interest as LeBron James has in the Timberwolves, took a gritty fourth-quarter charge.
Stoudemire was a running joke in Games 1 and 2 of this Western Conference finals (and on Twitter, where Lakers fans became a litany of Lenos). But here in Phoenix on Sunday, Stoudemire found fire. The Suns won 118-109, and saved the season (and the series, for now).
Things looked so bleak that the NBA sent out a contingency schedule for the Lakers-Celtics NBA Finals, just in case. But the Suns’ Game 3 victory was due to the efforts of their fascinating big man, who can change the landscape of a series just by locating his heart beneath his puffy chest.
“In this offense, we always say — the ball will find energy,” Suns coach Alvin Gentry said. “I knew Amar’e would respond. He’s a competitor.”
Stoudemire scored a game-high 42 points — 42! — with 11 rebounds and, really, was just fun to watch for a change. The guy, who had made his most noise with silly statements to the media, made quite a ruckus with his statement game, continually bulldozing his way to the basket against the posts-of-lore in the purple and gold. He played unafraid.
“Mental toughness is always a key,” Stoudemire said. “Every game is a different story, so you’ve got to approach it as such. Some games you’re going to have a great defensive night, some games you’re not. Some games you’ll have a great shooting night, some games you’re not.”
And Stoudemire complemented his drives — and drive — with three soft jumpers, which only helped his chances at creating space to attack. He shot 14-for-22 from the field.
More important, he got to the free-throw line. In Game 1, he was 7-for-10 and in Game 2 he was just 4-for-7 (he’s a low-post player!), but in Game 3, he was 14-for-18. By comparison, the Lakers were 16-for-20.
By the third quarter Sunday, Stoudemire had already tied his 2010 postseason high with 29 points.
Yes, there were some moments in the game when Stoudemire was a drifter. There were a few rebounds that were essentially hand-delivered to him, but he didn’t get a hand up to grab them. And surely, Lakers zen master Phil Jackson will come up with a rattling game plan for Game 4. But for a night, Stoudemire was back in March-and-April form, when he carried Phoenix to the postseason.
Hopefully for Suns fans, his Game 3 wasn’t “lucky,” as Stoudemire called Lamar Odom’s performance in Game 1.
