NBA Basketball: Knicks Need Not Take a Chance on "Melo
It is no big secret that the New York Knicks have been evaluating the wisdom of putting together a trade for Carmelo Anthony for quite some time.
After all, if you are playing a system that is based on outscoring the other team more than it is about out-defending them, the temptation to bring aboard one of the top scorers in the NBA is going to be there.
But one has to wonder why the Knicks would break up their current team, and mortgage their future besides, on a deal for the Denver star.
We say this even as the Knicks look like they have gone into a bit of a tailspin; indeed, a six-game losing streak (through Sunday's games) might be enough to bring about a little panic in most teams.
But on an overall basis, it certainly appears as though coach Mike D'Antoni has gotten things going in the right direction, to the extent where it is very likely that the Knickerbockers will be a playoff team.
D'Antoni runs the "speedball" offense with the Knicks, which means, of course, that they are running much of the time, but at the same time, it is orchestrated and team-oriented in its approach.
Even someone like Amare Stoudamire, who has taken on the lion's share of scoring responsibility, fits in nicely because of his penchant for beating his opposing big man down the court.
An unselfish premise might seem a bit antithetical to what 'Melo represents.
The whole idea of his making his dissatisfaction with Denver public, accompanied by his desire to be traded, seems terribly self-involved in and of itself.
Anthony is a tremendous scorer.
But I say this without trying to be facetious - a lot of guys are capable of putting up 20 points a game if you run the offense through them.
The things that win titles include playing defense and having the willingness to pass the ball.
Does Carmelo Anthony do those things enough? If he is so dominant, how far has he gotten his team (Denver) in the NBA playoffs? The NBA has a lot of great talents who are more about the numbers than anything else.
Despite lip service to the contrary, I fear that 'Melo is one of them.
It's about getting the shoe contract.
It's about creating the "buzz.
" It's about looking good on All-Star Weekend.
It's about drawing attention to oneself, in this case in a subtler way than LeBron James did with his ridiculous, self-centered "Decision.
" After the Knicks are gutted, does Carmelo Anthony bring a net benefit to the table? That's a real good question.
After all, if you are playing a system that is based on outscoring the other team more than it is about out-defending them, the temptation to bring aboard one of the top scorers in the NBA is going to be there.
But one has to wonder why the Knicks would break up their current team, and mortgage their future besides, on a deal for the Denver star.
We say this even as the Knicks look like they have gone into a bit of a tailspin; indeed, a six-game losing streak (through Sunday's games) might be enough to bring about a little panic in most teams.
But on an overall basis, it certainly appears as though coach Mike D'Antoni has gotten things going in the right direction, to the extent where it is very likely that the Knickerbockers will be a playoff team.
D'Antoni runs the "speedball" offense with the Knicks, which means, of course, that they are running much of the time, but at the same time, it is orchestrated and team-oriented in its approach.
Even someone like Amare Stoudamire, who has taken on the lion's share of scoring responsibility, fits in nicely because of his penchant for beating his opposing big man down the court.
An unselfish premise might seem a bit antithetical to what 'Melo represents.
The whole idea of his making his dissatisfaction with Denver public, accompanied by his desire to be traded, seems terribly self-involved in and of itself.
Anthony is a tremendous scorer.
But I say this without trying to be facetious - a lot of guys are capable of putting up 20 points a game if you run the offense through them.
The things that win titles include playing defense and having the willingness to pass the ball.
Does Carmelo Anthony do those things enough? If he is so dominant, how far has he gotten his team (Denver) in the NBA playoffs? The NBA has a lot of great talents who are more about the numbers than anything else.
Despite lip service to the contrary, I fear that 'Melo is one of them.
It's about getting the shoe contract.
It's about creating the "buzz.
" It's about looking good on All-Star Weekend.
It's about drawing attention to oneself, in this case in a subtler way than LeBron James did with his ridiculous, self-centered "Decision.
" After the Knicks are gutted, does Carmelo Anthony bring a net benefit to the table? That's a real good question.
Source...