The Knicks commentators seem to be fond of saying “STAT’s back”. Not his back like the thing that is totally mangled, but his returning to the quality of play from his old days. And if you watch these highlights, it certainly seems true. He still has the power, finishing through contact with ease. He can still rise up and slam on people.
But it’s all a mirage. Even this game, which is his season-high, would be an off night when he first came to New York. And games like this are few and far between. We will never see the old Amar’e again. Content yourself with memories and YouTube clips, because that Amar’e is gone forever. The most we can hope for is faint glimmers of what he once was, like tonight.
Stop crying. It’s okay. We’ll make it through.