NEW YORK -- Anyone not a Phoenix fan (exempting Marlow's crew, of course) has to be at least a little unnerved by the menacing news on the "Wire" concerning Amare Stoudemire's surgically-scarred knees.

After throbbing and swollenness forced the Suns' Rehab Center into a brief work stoppage during his team's two-week Italian holiday, he has enjoyed three straight friction-free practices.

It's an on-and-off schedule that doesn't figure to go away soon. Fighting through such soreness can be a long and demanding highway of hurt.

The adjustment is often more mentally draining than physically challenging. The pain is normal, doctors claim, sometimes even cruel and inhuman, but not unsafe.

Stoudemire understands the progression of suffering he must endure.

What I like is that he's man enough to admit (to the Arizona Republic) his threshold has its boundaries.

"I'm not a huge fan of pain that's unbearable."

I feel him and feel for him.

At the same time, a compulsory slowdown is the perfect opportunity for Stoudemire to expand his sphere of influence, Steve Nash underlines.

While the Suns' missing link to lawful championship aspirations is recovering his lateral liquidity and recapturing his explosive first and last steps, the two-time MVP would love to see Stoudemire "learn to think the game more and play with his head."

So, that's why I never made it big. I was one surgically-repaired knee away from learning the game.

The only surprise about the Pacers' latest wholesome episode is David Stern hasn't suspended Ron Artest . . . Indiana's new battle cry: A team that slays together plays together . . . Give Isiah Thomas credit for being ahead of the curve, so to speak. His alleged clandestine game plan to have visiting players escorted to strip clubs when they're in New York was sheer genius . . . Guess it shouldn't come as a surprise.

Bonzi Wells doesn't understand why the media is so tough on him.

The Rockets' recent pickup says he's never been a bad guy off the court, "I was just in Portland."

Guilt by association, in other words.

Guess Mike Fratello expelling him from the Grizzlies during the playoffs was pure fantasy. And Bonzi's conduct had nothing to do with Hubie Brown's retirement, either.

Meanwhile, the Mavericks are infatuated with Mo Ager, who's being compared to Wells of all people, in a good way.

The Michigan State product has Bonzi's body, only is a better outside shooter.

With Jerry Stackhouse and Josh Howard rising free agents (the latter restricted), Avery Johnson is liable to allow Ager to play through mistakes and misses more than most rookies.

In light of Tony Parker's overwhelming success on and off the court, Boris Diaw's emergence into a nightly triple-double threat, and Michael Pietrius already being declared the Warriors' starting small forward by Don Nelson, maybe the Knicks ought to take a long close look at their favorite Frenchman, Frederic Weis.

"If you're lucky and your career lasts long enough, you might find one coach you like," a wise man once confided.

Meaning, Ben Wallace is running out of time . . . as evidenced by his run-ins and put-downs of Flip Saunders, Larry Brown, Rick Carlisle.

Yes, Brutal Ben even had some unkind words for Doc Rivers after leaving Orlando.

Wallace's defensive work ethic is beyond reproach and his rebounding is undulated Rodmanesque. Yet it's clear Wallace isn't the easiest guy to appease.

Allow me to be the first to send condolences to Scott Skiles.

Billy Cunningham recently tried to talk Harold Katz into re-purchasing the 76ers and they would both run it.

Naturally, Cunningham wanted Katz to supply the scratch . . . Unknowns Ivan McFarlin (76ers) and P.J. Tucker (Raptors) are being applauded for their hustle.

It's that time of year when effort gets noticed. In a couple more weeks all that will count is who's guaranteed and for how much.

Dwight Howard seriously schooled Darko Milicic, 7 kg heavier this season, in Saturday's intrasquad scrimmage, as well he should.

Still, nobody's discounting Darko's performance at the World Championship (16.2 points, 9.3 rebounds), or underestimating his progress since joining the Magic late last season.

Put it this way, if you're a Pistons fan, who would you have rather the team invested $30 million during the offseason, Nazr Mohammed or Darko?

Case closed!