season in review 14

Charlie Widdoes

After two injury-plagued campaigns, Amar’e Stoudemire was a bright spot for the Knicks this season. STAT demonstrated his team-first attitude all year, doing whatever was asked of him to try and get the Knicks back on track.

Alas, the Knicks did not qualify for the postseason, but Stoudemire impressed with his ability to stay on the court and contribute to the team's success in the second half. Below, we count down his top five games of the year.

With the Knicks in the midst of what would end up being a seven-game losing streak, things were beginning to look bleak. The chances of a playoff push looked slim, but no one told Stoudemire that.

The big man took his game to another level down the stretch run, and it started against the Bulls; Stoudemire went for 14 points against the Bulls before fouling out in 23 minutes. It was a loss for the Knicks by the score of 109-90, but it was an important game for Stoudemire, who joined the starting lineup for the remainder of the season along with J.R. Smith.

It started a 20-game streak in which he scored in double-figures that would last until the second-to-last game of the year. This was the game that turned the season around for Stoudemire.

The Knicks were in the middle of their longest winning streak of the season. Stoudemire was on a roll. In the 107-97 victory over the Cavaliers, he put together arguably his best statistical game of the season: he finished with 17 points, 12 rebounds, four assists and three blocks in 28 minutes.

The four assists were a season high for Stoudemire, as were the three blocks. This was one of the many strong games that Stoudemire put together from March through the end of the season; it also coincides with when he was inserted into the starting lineup.

With Carmelo Anthony missing his third straight game, the Knicks were desperate for someone to step up and carry the scoring load. That person was Stoudemire, who turned back the clock and looked like the MVP candidate Knicks fans had seen in previous years.

On the second night of a back-to-back, the coaches weren't even sure Stoudemire would be able to play in this game, but he suited up knowing the team needed him. In 30 minutes, he delivered a spirited effort, scoring 23 points, grabbing nine rebounds, blocking three shots and handing out an assist. 

In the midst of a rough west coast trip, the Knicks were a team desperate for a win at Oracle Arena, one of the league's most challenging places to win.

With every game a virtual must win for the Knicks, they put together an outstanding team effort to take down the Warriors. Rght in the thick of things once again was Stoudemire. Going against an undersized Warriors team that was without David Lee and Andrew Bogut, Stoudemire dominated the paint, grabbing a season-high 13 rebounds. Six of those rebounds were of the offensive variety, as he helped keep possessions alive and give the Knicks the ability to control the tempo.

He also added 15 points in what was a surprisingly low-scoring game, as the Knicks slowed down the tempo and held the Warriors' offense to 52 points the final three quarters en route to a 89-84 victory.

The Knicks were fighting for their playoff lives and it was all hands on deck against the division-leading Raptors.

In the most important game of the season, Stoudemire put together a monster game, scoring a season-high 24 points on 10-of-14 from the field and 4-of-6 from the foul line. He also added 11 rebounds and one block, as the Raptors just had no answer for him on the interior. Perhaps most impressively, Stoudemire logged 40 minutes in the win.

With Anthony’s ailing shoulder affecting the All-Star, Stoudemire gave the Knicks an outstanding effort to get them a much needed victory to keep their slim playoff hopes alive. The 40 minutes were by far a season high for Stoudemire, a number he hadn’t reached since January 21st, 2012 in a double-overtime loss to the Denver Nuggets. 

2013-14-top-5-games-amare-stoudemire

2013-14 Top 5 Games: Amar'e Stoudemire

Statistically Speaking: Played in 74 games (58 starts), averaging 6.7 points and 4.2 rebounds per game.

Year in Review: After going through his first full training camp as a pro, Iman Shumpert entered his third season poised to break out. His athleticism and positional versatility would give Mike Woodson options, the thinking went, but as the year began to unfold, the team struggled to find a groove and Shump found himself searching for his role in a crowded wing rotation. 

He found ways to contribute -- notably on the boards, where he tied for third among shooting guards in rebound rate (9.2) -- but wasn't quite able to become the scorer that some had hoped in his third NBA season. He did, however, establish a connection with the young bench unit once Woodson settled on a starting J.R. Smith alongside Carmelo Anthony on the wing. Many of the Knicks' most successful three-man units involved Shumpert with some combination of Toure' Murry and Tim Hardaway Jr.; the three injected energy into the team by playing the passing lanes and generating transition opportunities.

Season Highlight: As the calendar turned to 2014, Shumpert emphatically snapped out of a slump with eye-opening performances in consecutive nights. Against San Antonio and Houston on January 2nd and 3rd, he exploded for 53 points on 19-for-27 shooting, including 12-of-14 from 3-point range. Almost singlehandedly, he managed to turn a daunting three-game road trip through Texas into a momentum-building turning point for the Knicks.

Looking Ahead: Young players rarely follow a straight line in their development. For most, especially those with Shumpert's potential, there are ups and downs. In his third season, Shumpert once again demonstrated what he can provide -- notably defensive intensity, athleticism in the open court and shooting -- but going forward, he'll continue to work on harnessing his tremendous talents and becoming more consistent. 

A quick glance at his shot chart from this season gives an indication of how he can become a more efficient offensive player:

As he's shown for the better part of three seasons, Shumpert can be a deadly shooter in the right circumstances. He's best in catch-and-shoot situations, as opposed to off-the-dribble, and particularly from the corners -- even as his overall 3-point shooting numbers suffered this year, he maintained a 38.6 percent mark from the corners.

He'll continue to work on his playmaking skills, but he's already a dangerous weapon when he plays to his strengths. Awareness will be key as he enters his fourth NBA season; he'll have a new coaching staff and presumably be asked to master different philosophies on both ends of the floor, but his talents would fit into any system.

season-in-review-iman-shumpert

Season in Review: Iman Shumpert

Statistically Speaking: 46 games played (two starts), 10 points and 14.1 rebounds per 36 minutes.

Contributions: The job of a young NBA backup is never easy. Playing behind decorated veterans only adds another challenge as you are expected to develop while playing sparingly in both pratice and games. But Aldrich, a former lottery pick himself (11th overall in 2010-11), proved to be a perfect fit for the role in his first season in New York.

"The biggest thing is staying ready," he told reporters after setting a career high with 16 rebounds and matching his season high of 13 points in the Knicks' season finale. "You never know when your name's going to be called."

Aldrich epitomized what the Knicks were looking for from a reserve big man. With his length and nose for the ball, coach Mike Woodson developed confidence that the 25-year-old would be able to protect the rim and battle on the boards when his number was called. Cole rewarded his coach's faith by blocking three or more shots five times, despite playing more than 15 minutes in only four games.

Season Highlight: Aldrich saved the best for last, delivering eye-opening performances when given extended minutes after the team had been eliminated from the playoffs.

After pulling down 10 rebounds in a game just once all year, Aldrich dominated the glass in consecutive nights to close out the year with 29 combined boards. Against the Toronto Raptors (and powerful big man Jonas Valanciunas), Cole exploded for 13 points and career highs in rebounds (16) and blocked shots (5), while tying a career best with two steals.

Looking Ahead: After his furious finish to the year, Aldrich will look to carry the momentum forward. With potential free agency looming, his offseason plans are what you'd expect from a player with his consistent approach to the game: "Continue to work," he said. "The summer time is where you get better, so it's going to be a big summer for me again."

Asked to summarize Aldrich's season, his coach praised the young big man for his hard work with the coaching staff. "He's earned the right to be on somebody's ball club," said Woodson.

For more news and notes on the team follow the New York Knicks and Charlie on Twitter.

season in review 14

2013-14 Top 5 Games: Amar'e Stoudemire

Season in Review: Iman Shumpert

Season in Review: Cole Aldrich