It's clear that Amare Stoudemire was just a little too impatient to play after watching his team from the bench for more than three-fourths of the season.
And maybe the Suns jumped the gun on allowing him to return.
Now after re-aggravating the same knee he had off-season surgery on, the All-Star forward's return to the lineup this season is questionable.
Stoudemire wanted to get back on the court and work off the cobwebs from sitting for 66 games, and Phoenix was eager to let him. But after struggling through limited minutes in his last two outings, it was apparent something wasn't right.
With 12 games left in the regular season, the Suns lead the Pacific Division by six games and there isn't much room to improve its current playoff position or lose ground. Phoenix is comfortably ahead of Denver for the second seed and it is unlikely it can steal home court advantage from Dallas should the two teams meet.
There is no need to bring Stoudemire back before the playoffs; it's too risky. Let him rest and rehabilitate; hopefully he is able to contribute when it counts.
