I'd be wearing shades if I just got pummeled by Andrew Bynum and friends too. (Getty Images)

There were only two games on Thursday night, with one line that really jumped out at me…

Amare Stoudemire

With 8 pts and 5 reb on 2-15 shooting, Stoudemire easily had his worst game of the season on Thursday, the third of three very mediocre games in a row (although two of them were blowouts where he didn’t top 26 min).  I actually had a chance to see the game at Staples last night (thanks for the tix, Frank), and honestly, it was one of those games that didn’t look as bad (for Amare) in person as it did on paper.  (Although the missed dunk was slightly embarrassing.)

That being said, I think he is at his absolute lowest BUY LOW point of the season right now, for a few reasons:

The Tough Schedule

As Bright Side of the Sun pointed out, the Suns were finishing a back-to-back, which also happened to be the 4th game in 5 nights, which also happened to be the 7th game in 10 nights (with 6 of those 7 games on the road).  And even though an eye injury doesn’t seem as serious as, say, a knee injury, Amare still had to sit out several months this year.  So you can imagine how winded he was trying to guard Andrew Bynum and Lamar Odom last night (which, by the way, just might be the best combo of size, speed, and strength to contain someone like Stoudemire).

The Robin Lopez factor?

Stoudemire is only averaging a mediocre 7.9 rpg and sub-1 bpg, not to mention an uncharacteristic 71% on FT.  For the latter, he’s shot over 80% over the last four years, so I’m not worried about that.  As for REB, Stoudemire has never been an elite rebounder, so I wouldn’t be surprised if that hovers between 8-9 per game.

The blocks is the most worrisome stat to me, but I still think he’ll clear 1.5 bpg.  Stoudemire averaged 1.8 bpg over the first four games, but only has 2 blocks during the last 6-game stretch, in which he’s gone up against Dwight Howard, Bynum, and the Celtics.  Can’t blame it all on tired legs, but I think it has played a role.

Also, when Robin Lopez comes back, I think it will actually have a positive impact on Stoudemire’s blocks.  Most of Amare’s blocks come on help defense (as with most players), but when Channing Frye is the starting center on your team, it’s more like panic defense than help defense.  Frye’s about as soft as they come, and somehow Bynum made him look even softer last night.  With Lopez staying between guys and the rim, I like Stoudemire to sneak in some extra blocks.

Here’s a fun fact (take it for what it’s worth): Of Stoudemire’s 9 blocks this season, 4 have come with him playing alongside Frye.  5 have come with him playing alongside better defenders in Louis Amundson, Jarron Collins, and Earl Clark, even though Stoudemire has played alongside Frye 76% of the time so far.  10 games is a small sample, but again, I like Stoudemire to increase his blocks with Lopez stealing some minutes from Frye, thus lowering that “76%”.

The Goggles

It appears Amare is still getting used to those (chemistry lab) goggles.  During free throws, Stoudemire flipped them up, which doesn’t seem like a big deal, but it also indicates that he’s still not totally comfortable with them.  (Remember, he already ditched them once… which is why he has to wear them the rest of his career now.)  Then again, there’s a 96% chance I’m reading into this too much and Stoudemire is in fact just paying homage to Horace Grant. Either way, as his conditioning and goggle-tolerance improves, expect better stats.

The “What have you done for me lately?” factor

Doesn’t it seem like more than a week ago when Stoudemire posterized Kevin Garnett?  Well, a 2-15 shooting game kind of makes you forget the good times.  If the guy who owns Stoudemire in your league is more focused on his last three games than the three preceding ones, you might have a chance to buy him on the cheap.

So what?

I’m considering offering Brook Lopez for Stoudemire in one league (where I’m already stacked in blocks), but you might be able to get him for much less if you play your cards right.  Carlos Boozer, Al Horford, Marcus Camby?  I’d rather have Amare than anyone aside from Chris Bosh, Dwight Howard (in H2H leagues), and maybe Andrew Bynum.

After three tough games, this seems like ages ago.  (It was a week ago.)