Nightmare on Griffiths St.

It is apparent that Pheonix Suns forward/centre/freak/manchild Amare Stoudamire will be in the building this Friday evening when the Suns bring their revamped high flying offense into Canada. Question is, will Stoudamire be in the lineup when his Suns take on the Sonics in the first game played at GM Place since the Grizzlies traded in their Canadian flags for buckets of KFC. But if it were up to him, he’d be good to go. The fifth year standout, underwent successful arthroscopic surgery on his right knee three weeks ago to repair ligament damage, the second knee surgery Stoudamire has had on both knees in as many years.

“It’s exciting to be back on the floor feeling this way again. It’s been two years, but it seems even longer,” Stoudemire told NBA.com in a rescent interview.

“Last year, there were times I got in foul trouble because I tried to do too much — things I wasn’t capable of yet and it wasn’t smart…So the goal is to raise the bar, physically and mentally, and bring out all the capabilities.”

Despite having a successful comeback year last season with the Suns, Stoudamire is eager to return to the form he was in in the 2005 playoffs. Do you remember or shall I jog your memories. Stoudamire averaged an incomperable 37.7 points a game in the Western finals, while making Tim Duncan look more like Tait Frier during our days at Westwind. The Suns did end up losing the series in five games, however Stoudamire’s popularity was catupulted to superstar status thanks to his unstoppable performance throught the series.

If in fact Stoudamire does remain healthy this season, along with the veteran presence of newcomer Grant Hill and if captain Steve Nash and company can keep streaky forward Shawn Marion quiet, and prove that he’s better off sharing the limelight with a contender rather than hogging it on a losing team, The Suns may finally shine some light on an NBA championship this season. Only time will tell. In the meantime, dont be suprised if the Sonics are sleeping with the light on tonight, because if Amare is in the lineup tommorrow in Vancouver, you can bet a nightmares a comin’.

Questioning Authority.

On the eve of my final four pick, the second ranked Wisconsin Badgers bowing
out of the Madness at the hands of a UNLV Rebels team who literally ran them out of the tournament, one of the 50 greatest players of all time, not found on the profound list, made a little history. Again.

Kobe Bryant became only the third player in Laker history to drop 50 plus in consecutive games after he torched the Portland Trail Blazers for 65 on Friday, then 50 at the hands of Kevin Garnett and the lonely Minnesota Timberwolves (or the lonely Kevin Garnett and the T-Wolves).

Kobe shares the honour with former Lakers legends Elgin Baylor and Wilt Chamberlin, who happens to be the only other player in NBA history to have back-to-back 60 then 50 point performances.

I know what you’re thinking. This guys another bandwagon groupie who only jumped on the Kobe train after the kid dropped 81 back in ‘05, but you’re wrong.

I’ve had Kobe’s back since the high-schooler skipped out on knowledge to announce he would forgo college and leap into the fire that is the NBA at the age of 17. The youngest player ever to make the jump into the L.

I’ve been with the kid since a.d.i.d.a.s. took a stab an 18-year-old, son of a mediocre journeyman, with more hype than Ritalin, and signed him to a massive shoe deal before ever suiting up for a pro team.

I’ve been with KB8…err 24 since he became the first 18-year-old to start in an NBA all-star game, despite coming off the bench with his own team.

And in 2003, when he was accused of sexual assault in Colorado after a woman came forward claiming he forced her to have sex her, and when endorsements like McDonalds, Spalding and Coca Cola didn’t, I had Kobe’s back.

Now in his 11th season in the league, all with the Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant has re-invented himself. He’s got a new number, 24, a new nickname, Black Mamba, and a new team around him.

His highly publicized break up with Shaquille O’neal who fled to Miami in 2004 after winning three championships in the city of angels, has allowed him to officially call the Lakers his team.

And now with a nucleus of role players and young talent at his disposal, Kobe has a green light in L.A. to do what he wants. And what he wants is to dominate the league like no other player has done since the Jordan era.

I don’t have to sit here and fire off all the mind-blowing accomplishments Kobe’s accumulated this last year, but what I will tell you is he’s not done.

Bryant’s out for blood. Out to prove doubters wrong and out to prove that he can win a championship without Shaq. And with the return of former coach and mentor Phil Jackson, Bryant has the support to do so.

Currently the Lakers sit sixth in the Western Conference standings and had a six game losing skid snapped thanks to Bryant’s eruption this past weekend. Help is on the way with both Vladimir Radmanovic and Luke Walton ready to return to the line-up any day now. If the Mamba keeps scoring the way he has of late, first round opponents beware. This poisonous snake could be deadly.