By David Ramil
The Miami Heat have had a free-agency pattern for many years, specifically to build a team with star players and then fill the roster with aging veterans and cast-offs. It’s worked in the past, namely because there were superstars like Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and, of course, LeBron James to lead the way.
Some of that top-level talent still remains and so the pattern continues with this year’s addition of Amar’e Stoudemire.
Last season, Stoudemire played in 23 games as a Maverick. Averaging 16.5 minutes per game during that stint, Stoudemire was indeed productive as a backup center (although he did start one game). His 10.5 points per game was his second-lowest average but, per 36 minutes, there’s a significant jump to 23.5 PPG. Surprisingly, that would be the third-highest average over the course of his 13 seasons.
Stoudemire shot an impressive 58.1 percent while in Dallas, punctuated by shooting a ridiculous 68.1 percent at the rim (on 94 attempts). The percentage drops to 65.7 percent just away from the basket and, finally 34.7 percent on 49 shots outside the painted area.
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