Even Roger didn't know what brought about Stoudemire's change, because he really hadn't given Amar'e any pep talks or said anything motivational. Even when he saw Stoudemire hanging his head dispiritedly on the court, Roger didn't speak to him; he focused on winning the game first.
Ever since he became teammates with Stoudemire, Amar'e has never been lazy, so Roger didn't need to give him any motivational speeches.
After the press conference ended, Amar'e Stoudemire returned to the locker room and carefully preserved his Magic number 14 jersey.
He didn't care about the reporters' mockery, because he played terribly today and deserved to be laughed at.
But that doesn't mean he'll be dreadful for a lifetime.
He has no source of strength, only memories.
Or rather, any memory can potentially become a source of strength. Even if it's just a night where a superstar patiently signed an autograph for a helpless boy and told him that a terrible life can still go on.
