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Suns All-Star Stoudemire out four months
(AP)
Updated: 2005-10-12 09:35
In a news release, the Suns said Carter repaired a joint surface defect
roughly one centimeter in diameter on the inside of his left knee.
"The surgery went well and other than the defect that we treated today,
Amare's knee is remarkably and structurally healthy," Carter said in the
statement released by the team. "Given Amare's age and the nominal size of the
location of the defect, I am confident the microfracture procedure performed
will allow a healthy and normal return to action."
Considered the cornerstone of the franchise, Stoudemire has improved each
year and was a main component of a team that won a league-best 62 games last
season.
The 6-foot-10, 245-pound forward was fifth in the NBA in scoring at 26 points
per game last season, his third in the league. He averaged 30 points in the
playoffs, 37 in the Western Conference finals against Tim Duncan and the San
Antonio Spurs.
Stoudemire's loss will leave the Suns with a vastly different team through
most of the regular season. With the trade of Quentin Richardson and the
departure of Joe Johnson via free agency, the only starters from last season's
team will be the NBA's most valuable player, Steve Nash, and all-star Shawn
Marion.
"It's out of our control, so we've got to go out and make the most of what we
have and not worry about the piece we're missing," Nash said after Tuesday's
practice. "We'll try to build our team and hopefully be a better team when he
returns."
Coach Mike D'Antoni said the team probably would go small more often to
better utilize the personnel. Everyone will have to shoot more, he said,
including Nash and Marion.
"We don't have any inside post presence," Marion said. "However you want to
look at it, he's a beast in there, so we are going to miss that inside threat.
But with Kurt (Thomas) and Brian (Grant), we do have some inside bangers."
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