I'm willing to debate against any Melo critic out there who consideres Melo to be anything other than an A.) a winning player and B.) an elite basketball talent. If you'd like to step up to the challenge you can always do so with and/in reply to this post below. Quote my each and every remark and/or comment if you'd like. That's my challenge. Because I know I'll kick your ass with actual stats, knowledge of the game, knowledge of Melo's different types of situations and/or actual insight. Go ahead and make a damn fool out of your basketball knowledge if you want to, but at least do it with some insight.
Melo critics wouldn't be able to list off 10 NBA players in whom are considered to be more elite when compared to Melo himself. If so they're digging. Melo was our 6th man off the bench for our United States Olympic team. No coach in the right mind would ever play more than 5 or 6 players ahead of Melo. One of the greatest overall basketball players this Country currently has. Prove me wrong (with insight).
There are billions of people in our world, but yet Melo's considered to be and/or respected as one of the greatest basketball players in the entire world. But yet he's not an elite talent through the eyes of those naysaying critics in which only judge Melo from their living room chair. They'll state that he's not an "elite" NBA player, because well, they just 'say so'.
They'll attack and/or harp all over Melo due to his "playoff record" despite the fact that basketball has always (and will always) be an overall team sport. They've mentioned Melo's playoff record time and time again without including any type of actual insight. None whatsoever. No basketball insight involved. Instead, just one line fillers with what seems to be a lack of basketball knowledge. Just a record off a piece of paper in which they seen written down. How about they tell us something in which we don't already know in regards to Carmelo Anthony, the basketball player, not just a postseason record in regards to a team sport. Are Stockton, Malone and Ewing career failures because their team(s) could never win an NBA championship? Melo's career is far from over, could have another 8-10 years left; but let's talk Melo's postseason. Challenged.
Which teams did Melo's Nuggets lose to?
How stacked was that Western Conference during it's golden years?
How weak was the East during a time where LeBron James was landing trips to the Finals?
Care to list those oppnents/teams of both the East and Western conferences? What about the players of each team and conference? Who played in the melting pot when compared to the cake walk?
Which types of players did those teams have on their postseason rosters?
Were they Dynasty teams of the Western Conference?
How many years did it take Melo to lead his team to an above .500 record in a tough western conference when compared to LeBron leading his franchise to an above .500 season inside of a laughing stock joke of the East? I know the answer, just wondering if these guys do.
Before LeBron teamed up with Wade and Bosh, what was Melo's career record against LeBron during their Denver/Cleveland years? I know the answer once again. But do you?
When did LeBron win his first championship ring? Did it only happen... Last year? How many rings does Durant and Rose have? How many years did it take Dirk to win his?
Did Melo not win a championship for Syracuse university during only his freshman season? Was it by coincidence? Because the last time I checked that program competed in, and has seen 35 NCAA Tournament appearances. 34 of those times they failed. The one time they had Melo as a freshman kid he ended up leading that program to never before seen Syracuse greatness. But yet, he's not elite. Because some of you say so.
A.) Denver's franchise missed the playoffs during 7-8 consecutive seasons before the drafting of Melo.
B.) Denver's franchise then made the postseason during 7-8 consecutive seasons after the drafting of Melo.
C.) Another coincidence? Or did Melo change the culture of that franchise? Did Melo not carry that Nuggets franchise on his back? Was he not their franchise player in which turned them into a winning basketball team?
Melo's not an elite player? Fine. Then I guess it's safe to say that our Unites States of America's basketball team wasn't elite either. Because Melo was a stand out Unites States STAR. A scoring phenom. Can dominate (and has dominated) the entire world with his scoring ability.
"Anthony, along with LeBron James, also participated in the 2012 Summer Olympics held in London. It was his third straight Olympiad (2004, 2008, 2012), as he (Melo) joined James and David Robinson (1988, 1992, 1996) as the only American basketball players to play in three Olympiads".
But yet he's no elite.
"Anthony played in all 8 games, serving as Team USA's sixth man. He posted averages of 16.3 ppg (130 points), 4.8 rpg (38 rebounds), 1.3 apg (10 assists) and 0.5 spg (4 steals), built around 50% shooting from 3 PT range (23-46), 53% FG shooting (46-86) and 79% FT (15-19). In a 156-73 victory over Nigeria, Anthony connected on 10-12 3-point attempts, both records for made and attempted shots, on the way to 37 points, another Team USA record".
Set a team USA record, but yet he's not elite.
"Team USA won the gold medal as they defended their 2008 title against Spain, winning 107-100. Anthony's 16.3 ppg average was the second best for Team USA behind Kevin Durant's record-setting 156 points (19.5 ppg). Anthony's 23 made 3-point shots was second-best to Durant's record 34 as they both broke the previous Team USA record of 17 made 3-point shots".
But yet, Melo's "not an elite" NBA player.
For the Melo supporters? This one was for you.
11/20/2012 7:26 AM