European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 22, 2007, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Stars and stripes sunday apri 222007 s ports Houston biggies grand slam in ninth gives astros fifth straight Victory Page 42 or Stroud Best of seven Eastern conference Detroit is Orlando saturday april 21 Orlando at Detroit monday april 23 Orlando at Detroit thursday april 26 Detroit at Orlando saturday april Detroit at Orlando tuesday May 1 Orlando at thursday May 3 Detroit at saturday May 5 Orlando at Cleveland is Washington sri by april 22 Washington at Cleveland wednesday april 25 Washington at Cleve land saturday april 28 Cleveland at washing ton monday april 30 Cleveland at washing ton wednesday May 2 Washington at Friday May 4 Cleveland at sunday May pc Washington at Toronto is new Jersey saturday april 21 new Jersey at Toronto tuesday april 24 new Jersey at Toronto Friday Panl 27 Toronto at new Jersey sunday april 29 Toronto at new Jersey tuesday May 1 new Jersey at Friday May 4 Toronto at new sunday May 6 new Jersey at Miami is Chicago saturday april 21 Miami at Chicago tuesday april 24 Miami at Chicago Friday Panl 27 Chicago at Miami sunday april 29 Chicago at Miami tuesday May 1 Miami at thursday May 3 Chicago at saturday May 5 Miami at Western conference Dallas is Golden state sunday april 22 Golden state at Dallas wednesday april 25 Golden state at dal Las Friday april 27 Dallas at Golden state sunday april 29 Dallas at Golden state tuesday May 1 Golden state at thursday May 3 Dallas at Golden saturday May 5 Golden state at Phoenix is la lakers sunday april 22 la lakers at Phoenix tuesday april 24 la lakers at Phoenix thursday april 28 Phoenix at la lakers sunday april 29 Phoenix at la lakers wednesday May 2 la lakers at Friday May 4 Phoenix at la sunday May 6 la lakers at san Antonio is Denver sunday april 22 Denver at san Antonio wednesday april 25 Denver at san Anto Nio saturday april 28 san Antonio at Denver monday april 3th san Antonio at Denver wednesday May 2i Denver at san Friday May 4 san Antonio at sunday May 6 Denver at san Utah is Houston saturday april 21 Utah at Houston monday april 23 Utah at Houston thursday april 26 Houston at Utah saturday april 28 Houston at Utah monday april 30 Utah at thursday May 3 Houston at saturday May 5 Utah at necessary in Phoeni Stoudamire perseverance puts suns in Ion a Douglas c Phoenix suns Center Amare Stoudemire who missed All but three games in the 200506 sea son because of Micro fracture surgery on his left knee and arthroscopic surgery on his right knee was the Only member of the Phoenix suns to appear in All 82 games this season by Bob Bajjo the associated press Phoenix Mare Stoudemire has spent Many of his 24 years erasing doubts and defy ing Odds the key word is just Persever he said that pretty much what if s been my whole me just perseverance to get through the hard times now he has done it again after Micro fracture surgery on his left knee followed six months later by arthroscopic surgery of his right knee after missing All but three games in 200506 because of those injuries Stoudemire again is a dominant Aba player he earned a spot on the Allstar team and remarkably was the Only member of the Phoe Nix suns to appear in All 82 regular season games his inside presence is a major reason the suns believe they can win it All i never had doubts about me coming Back Stoudemire said in an interview with the associated press i had doubts about How Long it was going to take i stayed with it i pushed through it i played through the pain and i was Able to accomplish something that probably has never accomplished in no history there were Many doubts among the coach ing staff since Stoudemire had signed a five year million contract Days before undergoing the Micro fracture surgery on oct 112005 As he began rehabilitation there were suggestions he want working hard enough those concerns peaked when he chose to sit out a practice during the teams training Camp in Italy last year see Hope on Page 38 Rodriguez hits two More homers but red sox use five run eighth to rally past Page 42 nil playoffs sabres eliminate islanders Advance to Eastern conference semifinals Page 43 prep teams Back to business after Spring break 027664 Iii 520705