Amare Stoudemire is big time, having led the Suns in scoring for 11 straight games, one short of Charlie Scott’s record set in 1974-75.

Alas, the Suns are small time. They have lost eight of these 11 games, 10 of the 13 since Stoudemire returned from foot problems.

How come Stoudemire’s return — he has averaged 24.3 points and 9.2 rebounds over these 13 games — hasn’t led to more wins?

"It’s not a one-man show," Suns coach Mike D’Antoni said. He pointed to point guard Leandro Barbosa as a key, saying, "When he plays well, we win."

D’Antoni prefers to think of the past five games, of which the Suns have won three.

"I think that will continue," he says.

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D’Antoni reiterated his disappointment in his team’s lack of enthusiasm, saying such listlessness can be tolerated once every 20 games or so, but that, "This can’t be a habit.

"They have to learn to bring ‘juice’ to every game. . . . no matter what the distractions."

In addition to a disappointing lack of energy. the Suns got little from their center and point guard spots vs. the Spurs.

"Maybe we could have overcome one or the other," D’Antoni said.

Barbosa (1-for-6 shooting, just one assist) once again was a key.

CHANGES

The fact that rookie Maciej Lampe played in the past two games while veteran Antonio McDyess, a key factor in recent Suns wins over the New York Knicks and Seattle SuperSonics, rode the pine seems to indicate the Suns are in a playerdevelopment mode more than trying to win games.

"We are in a development mode," D’Antoni said.

At the same time, he said, "Dice is going to play. I’m not going to forget about Dice."

McDyess probably should have played vs. the Spurs, D’Antoni said.

TIME MANAGEMENT

Along these same lines, the Suns have been divvying up minutes between various big men lately. Some play sparingly, or not at all.

The bottom line is that D’Antoni has 96 minutes to divide at the center and power forward spots. And Stoudemire is going to get about 40, leaving 56 minutes for centers Jake Voskuhl and Jahidi White, big forwards Lampe and McDyess plus Zarko Cabarkapa, who can play either forward spot.

"It’s not fun for them all the time," D’Antoni said. All in all, they’ve handled it well, he said.

Then again, they don’t have much choice, he noted. If somebody has a problem with it, "I’m fine playing the other guy."

The big picture is that, "We have a lot of big guys. And they all can play."

The choice can come down to playing two players five or 10 minutes each, or going with one player for 15 minutes or so.

Said the Suns’ coach, "You almost have to choose one guy, or you won’t get anything out of anybody."

One exception might be Lampe, who figures to get spot minutes here and there.

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