Bonn1997 wrote:

holfresh wrote:

Bonn1997 wrote:

holfresh wrote:CP3 is the smartest basketball player today...

He's a perfect example of a guy who is a very talented offensive player but still takes good, high percentage shots.

Jordan was a good example of a guy who didn't take high percentage shots but whose basketball acumen was off the charts...I wish basketball was as easy as only taking high percentage shots...

Jordan took shots that he made at a high percentage. So for him, the shots were high percentage. Just like all the 3s Novak takes are high percentage but they'd be very low percentage shots for Tyson Chandler. You can define a shot as high or low percentage only by looking at how often that player makes them.

Kobe does not shoot a high pct and takes awful shots - thats how you get to the HOF on first ballot. If he could only be Novak.

Edit: Paul Pierce

holfresh wrote:

misterearl wrote:"(The Olympics) gives guys who have struggled a chance to get it back. And they have." - Doc Rivers

...if Anthony can play in Orange and Blue with anywhere near the efficiency he showed in Red, White and Blue, the Knicks should be in good shape.
- Iam Begley, ESPN

Winning is a habit.

People keep making statements that Melo need to do this or that so the Knicks can finally be that team..Yet for the last two years he has literally been the only one ready to compete in the playoffs...I think the rest of the team needs to show up just once before anyone can predict what kind of shape the Knicks can be in...

The big question is can the rest of the team catch up to level Anthony is playing to be a competitive threat to the rest of the league?...

Wow! I thought the pressure was only on Melo and nobody else even needed to show up

There are may freakin dudes on this team that have much to prove.

crzymdups wrote:http://nymag.com/daily/sports/2012/08/was-yesterday-carmelos-last-moment-of-triumph.html

pretty realistic write-up by Will Leitch, who misterearl crowned the best Knicks beat writer last season. I guess now he's just a hater writing fluff pieces.

Was Yesterday Carmelo’s Last Moment of Triumph?

By Will Leitch

All the NBA stars who won gold medals yesterday looked ecstatic — and they really did; there was something oddly touching about these multimillionaires acting like giddy children — but to our eyes, nobody seemed quite as happy as Carmelo Anthony. You gotta love the guy who went directly for the Champagne in the team photo. (Carmelo's Instagram account was hopping all day, from the flag wristband to the poor teeth maintenance to the Stars and Stripes burlesque show.) Carmelo was a champion, even if he wasn't the best player on the court — or even one of the top five. Sometimes we worry that this is just encouraging him.

After all, this is the year that Carmelo's NBA legacy is on the line. The Knicks have surrounded him with supporting talent (if not Jeremy Lin, and, no, we're not letting that go) and this season is when he needs to have his best overall year: The sad thing is, as far behind the Heat (and the Lakers and the Thunder and the Spurs and the ...) as the Knicks seem to be, this probably is Carmelo's best chance to win a title. (We know, we know.) Carmelo is fully aware of it too.

“It’s the one thing that’s missing is the NBA championship,’’ Anthony said. “I had a chance to win in high school, college, now two gold medals. My next goal is try to win a championship.’’

We love the idea that Carmelo doesn't think his career will be complete until he has a title. We just aren't sold that it bothers him all that much. As much as Carmelo might seem himself in that LeBron "just need a title to be the superstar everyone knows I am" light, no one else does, including anyone who watched the gold medal game yesterday. Carmelo looked like a terrific complementary player, as long as the players he is complementing happen to be the best players on the planet. The Knicks need him to be more than that; they need him to be LeBron. He didn't look like no LeBron to us. Actually, now that we think about it, we get a sense that Carmelo's best chance at that title is gonna be signing up to play with the Heat for less money when his contract is up with the Knicks, Clyde Drexler–style. Which doesn't do anybody any good right now, though.

Still, glad you had fun yesterday, Carmelo. Heal that ankle. Your "championship run" awaits.

Melo wasn't even a top 5 talent on the squad??

Really?

He shouldn't celebrate winning an Olympic Gold medal because he doesn't have a ring??

Really??

Will Leitch, by his own standards, should probably never be allowed to leave his desk until he wins a Pulitzer.

Yesterday wasn't Melo's best game shooting wise. However, after watching ALL of the games leading up to yesterday he was spectacular and the argument could be made that he was actually underutilized. If you look at how Kobe in the last 3 games, he played far far FAR worse than Melo did at any point during this tournament. K Love was lost until the last three games and Tyson never found a way to remain on the court.

Of course I want him to win a championship for the Knicks too, however, why must people criticize him every chance they get? He was a key contributor on this team and he deserves it as much as any of the other guys on the roster. Not only that but he played with pride for our country...something another NBA champion felt entitled enough to say he deserved compensation for (Dwayne Wade anyone?).
Melo just won a second championship. He should celebrate and enjoy it. Hopefully it makes him hungrier for a ring. And even if he does eventually win one, for some people it won't be enough will it?

For what it's worth, it was great to see Melo and Tyson represent the USA and bring home the gold. Well done.

MinsHeartsReezy wrote:

crzymdups wrote:http://nymag.com/daily/sports/2012/08/was-yesterday-carmelos-last-moment-of-triumph.html

pretty realistic write-up by Will Leitch, who misterearl crowned the best Knicks beat writer last season. I guess now he's just a hater writing fluff pieces.

Was Yesterday Carmelo’s Last Moment of Triumph?

By Will Leitch

All the NBA stars who won gold medals yesterday looked ecstatic — and they really did; there was something oddly touching about these multimillionaires acting like giddy children — but to our eyes, nobody seemed quite as happy as Carmelo Anthony. You gotta love the guy who went directly for the Champagne in the team photo. (Carmelo's Instagram account was hopping all day, from the flag wristband to the poor teeth maintenance to the Stars and Stripes burlesque show.) Carmelo was a champion, even if he wasn't the best player on the court — or even one of the top five. Sometimes we worry that this is just encouraging him.

After all, this is the year that Carmelo's NBA legacy is on the line. The Knicks have surrounded him with supporting talent (if not Jeremy Lin, and, no, we're not letting that go) and this season is when he needs to have his best overall year: The sad thing is, as far behind the Heat (and the Lakers and the Thunder and the Spurs and the ...) as the Knicks seem to be, this probably is Carmelo's best chance to win a title. (We know, we know.) Carmelo is fully aware of it too.

“It’s the one thing that’s missing is the NBA championship,’’ Anthony said. “I had a chance to win in high school, college, now two gold medals. My next goal is try to win a championship.’’

We love the idea that Carmelo doesn't think his career will be complete until he has a title. We just aren't sold that it bothers him all that much. As much as Carmelo might seem himself in that LeBron "just need a title to be the superstar everyone knows I am" light, no one else does, including anyone who watched the gold medal game yesterday. Carmelo looked like a terrific complementary player, as long as the players he is complementing happen to be the best players on the planet. The Knicks need him to be more than that; they need him to be LeBron. He didn't look like no LeBron to us. Actually, now that we think about it, we get a sense that Carmelo's best chance at that title is gonna be signing up to play with the Heat for less money when his contract is up with the Knicks, Clyde Drexler–style. Which doesn't do anybody any good right now, though.

Still, glad you had fun yesterday, Carmelo. Heal that ankle. Your "championship run" awaits.

Melo wasn't even a top 5 talent on the squad??

Really?

He shouldn't celebrate winning an Olympic Gold medal because he doesn't have a ring??

Really??

Will Leitch, by his own standards, should probably never be allowed to leave his desk until he wins a Pulitzer.

Yesterday wasn't Melo's best game shooting wise. However, after watching ALL of the games leading up to yesterday he was spectacular and the argument could be made that he was actually underutilized. If you look at how Kobe in the last 3 games, he played far far FAR worse than Melo did at any point during this tournament. K Love was lost until the last three games and Tyson never found a way to remain on the court.

Of course I want him to win a championship for the Knicks too, however, why must people criticize him every chance they get? He was a key contributor on this team and he deserves it as much as any of the other guys on the roster. Not only that but he played with pride for our country...something another NBA champion felt entitled enough to say he deserved compensation for (Dwayne Wade anyone?).
Melo just won a second championship. He should celebrate and enjoy it. Hopefully it makes him hungrier for a ring. And even if he does eventually win one, for some people it won't be enough will it?

For what it's worth, it was great to see Melo and Tyson represent the USA and bring home the gold. Well done.

+1000000

http://theknicksblog.com/uncategorized/sorry-knicks-fans-melo-wasnt-efficient-enough-for-the-media-in-the-olympics/

Sorry Knicks Fans, Melo Wasnt Efficient Enough for the Media in the Olympics
August 13th, 2012 1:46 pm
Via NY Magazine

One of the biggest question marks exiting the London games: Will Carmelo Anthony be able to lead New York next season? Before the quarterfinals, Anthonys plus-minus rating ranked third lowest on the team. The Knicks star certainly tried to leave a positive offensive mark on the games; his two- and three-point field goal attempts were second highest on the roster. But while Melo had his offensive outbursts (the Tunisia match, for instance), his efficiency was underwhelming. He did connect on 57 percent of his twos and 50 percent of his threes, but only registered ten assists during the eight games, a shockingly low figure for someone who played nearly 150 minutes during the tournament.

Tommy Dee, theKnicksBlog.com

This is what bothers me most about advanced stats. And I mean REALLY bothers me.
Melo is not Lebron James and this is not breaking news. Before Lebron won a title, he wasnt Carmelo Anthony in closing games.

Had you watched the Olympic games you would have realized that Melo was playing the 4 and sometimes 5 position in a spread offense. While Melos assist numbers were admittedly low, they didnt run any offense through him, instead putting him in perimeter positions to catch and shoot. And how on earth can you nit pick efficiency when he shot 57% from the field and 50% from 3? Thats incredibly efficient in terms of shooting the ball. And moreover hes not a drive and kick player off the dribble in a spread offense. He can do it, but its not his game.

Experts whined and complained that USA shot too many threes and most all of those came off of pick and roll and drive and kick. Not off post entry, forcing double and kicking skip passes. Melo did have a very clutch assist to Kevin Durant in the gold medal game, a dagger that put the game out of reach.

Yes, the questions are there and the anti-Melo media will continue to point to advanced stats as the reason why hes not a superstar. Melo played tremendous basketball on both sides in my opinion, selflessly defending the post despite giving up a huge size advantage. He struggled knocking down big shots at the end of yesterdays game and obviously isnt a penetrate, draw and kick type of player. He never has been. That job was left up to Lebron, Paul, Williams, and Westbrook. Melo, Love, Iggy and of course Kobe and Durant were instructed to read penetration and find spots.

This one is particularly weak to those who studied the actual games, not the numbers after. And speaking of which forget Melos key baskets in the second and third quarters, did anyone notice what Team USA did when the were on the ropes and needed critical baskets?

Iso Kobe in the post.

Melo isnt Lebron and its unfair to treat him that way. But the media isnt built to be fair. Melo is in for it this year, I just hope people can recognize great play when it happens.

crzymdups wrote:http://nymag.com/daily/sports/2012/08/was-yesterday-carmelos-last-moment-of-triumph.html

pretty realistic write-up by Will Leitch, who misterearl crowned the best Knicks beat writer last season. I guess now he's just a hater writing fluff pieces.

Was Yesterday Carmelo’s Last Moment of Triumph?

By Will Leitch

All the NBA stars who won gold medals yesterday looked ecstatic — and they really did; there was something oddly touching about these multimillionaires acting like giddy children — but to our eyes, nobody seemed quite as happy as Carmelo Anthony. You gotta love the guy who went directly for the Champagne in the team photo. (Carmelo's Instagram account was hopping all day, from the flag wristband to the poor teeth maintenance to the Stars and Stripes burlesque show.) Carmelo was a champion, even if he wasn't the best player on the court — or even one of the top five. Sometimes we worry that this is just encouraging him.

After all, this is the year that Carmelo's NBA legacy is on the line. The Knicks have surrounded him with supporting talent (if not Jeremy Lin, and, no, we're not letting that go) and this season is when he needs to have his best overall year: The sad thing is, as far behind the Heat (and the Lakers and the Thunder and the Spurs and the ...) as the Knicks seem to be, this probably is Carmelo's best chance to win a title. (We know, we know.) Carmelo is fully aware of it too.

“It’s the one thing that’s missing is the NBA championship,’’ Anthony said. “I had a chance to win in high school, college, now two gold medals. My next goal is try to win a championship.’’

We love the idea that Carmelo doesn't think his career will be complete until he has a title. We just aren't sold that it bothers him all that much. As much as Carmelo might seem himself in that LeBron "just need a title to be the superstar everyone knows I am" light, no one else does, including anyone who watched the gold medal game yesterday. Carmelo looked like a terrific complementary player, as long as the players he is complementing happen to be the best players on the planet. The Knicks need him to be more than that; they need him to be LeBron. He didn't look like no LeBron to us. Actually, now that we think about it, we get a sense that Carmelo's best chance at that title is gonna be signing up to play with the Heat for less money when his contract is up with the Knicks, Clyde Drexler–style. Which doesn't do anybody any good right now, though.

Still, glad you had fun yesterday, Carmelo. Heal that ankle. Your "championship run" awaits.

I am now convinced that I and most of the posters here do a more intelligent analysis on basketball than most people who gets paid to do so...Wow, Melo wasn't top five on the Olympic team???, no he was top three..Did he see any of the Olympic basketball games???...Melo's NBA legacy is on the line this year???..How many times did we hear this about Dirk??? Writers stopped expecting him to win anything until he did, now his legacy is forever re-written...Who are these guys writing for and what audience???...I'm shocked just the see the last 4 articles featuring Melo where writers are taking their predictable shots, seems to be writing just a passer by, no clue as to the ebb and flow of the games or the sport...Who reads NY Mag for sports anyway I guess may be the editor's view, if he or she has a clue...I'm just stunned people are being paid for this...

Its a bit over the top but Leitch is usually pretty good.

This is where many NBA players get themselves set up for "Hate":

“It’s the one thing that’s missing is the NBA championship,’’ Anthony said. “I had a chance to win in high school, college, now two gold medals. My next goal is try to win a championship.’’

We can break it down so many ways. IT could be just another NBA player telling the fans what they want to hear. I could be just his natural high after winning a gold metal.

Or.......

"I had a chance"........"I"

"MY Next goal is to win a championship"........

He mentions Lebron, but not the Heat. Me says "MY" but not "KNicks win a championship"......."I" won in high school and College.

Am I just splitting hairs here and being an ass about it? Haters will say that. Im trying to understand why Melo and other players when they talk about these things why they are setting themselves up for hate when all they want to do is win.

The emphasis is what "his" goals are. Melo has been criticized for being a "Me first" type player so he invites his crtics. Does his "Goals" conflict with his marketability and stats that help fuel his celebrity? Is he willing to sacrifice some of his game for the greater good?

He has yet to demonstrate this, so the tendancy is to think he won't.......ANd perhaps that is why he gets hate!

ChuckBuck wrote:

Nalod wrote:
I read this piece and somehow knew it would not go over well in these parts.

Its a bit over the top but Leitch is usually pretty good.

This is where many NBA players get themselves set up for "Hate":

“It’s the one thing that’s missing is the NBA championship,’’ Anthony said. “I had a chance to win in high school, college, now two gold medals. My next goal is try to win a championship.’’

We can break it down so many ways. IT could be just another NBA player telling the fans what they want to hear. I could be just his natural high after winning a gold metal.

Or.......

"I had a chance"........"I"

"MY Next goal is to win a championship"........

He mentions Lebron, but not the Heat. Me says "MY" but not "KNicks win a championship"......."I" won in high school and College.

Am I just splitting hairs here and being an ass about it? Haters will say that. Im trying to understand why Melo and other players when they talk about these things why they are setting themselves up for hate when all they want to do is win.

The emphasis is what "his" goals are. Melo has been criticized for being a "Me first" type player so he invites his crtics. Does his "Goals" conflict with his marketability and stats that help fuel his celebrity? Is he willing to sacrifice some of his game for the greater good?

He has yet to demonstrate this, so the tendancy is to think he won't.......ANd perhaps that is why he gets hate!

Yup, splitting hairs.

Yes, haters will say that things like Melo doesn't care about the team, and will spend time highlighting personal pronouns. Haters of hate will say you're being an ass about it.

Congratulations though, no mention of the N**s!

Almost every star NBA player speaks in the first person plural. They're all small corporations, it's part of the cult of personality now. Thankfully there's a lockout now every decade or so to remind them they are important individuals, but "I" is not the game.

Nalod wrote:
I read this piece and somehow knew it would not go over well in these parts.

Its a bit over the top but Leitch is usually pretty good.

This is where many NBA players get themselves set up for "Hate":

“It’s the one thing that’s missing is the NBA championship,’’ Anthony said. “I had a chance to win in high school, college, now two gold medals. My next goal is try to win a championship.’’

We can break it down so many ways. IT could be just another NBA player telling the fans what they want to hear. I could be just his natural high after winning a gold metal.

Or.......

"I had a chance"........"I"

"MY Next goal is to win a championship"........

He mentions Lebron, but not the Heat. Me says "MY" but not "KNicks win a championship"......."I" won in high school and College.

Am I just splitting hairs here and being an ass about it? Haters will say that. Im trying to understand why Melo and other players when they talk about these things why they are setting themselves up for hate when all they want to do is win.

The emphasis is what "his" goals are. Melo has been criticized for being a "Me first" type player so he invites his crtics. Does his "Goals" conflict with his marketability and stats that help fuel his celebrity? Is he willing to sacrifice some of his game for the greater good?

He has yet to demonstrate this, so the tendancy is to think he won't.......ANd perhaps that is why he gets hate!

You pose some good questions about Melo's celebrity which I agree with..I'm not sure myself whether or not winning a Championship doesn't figure into his whole celebrity picture or whether just winning is the goal...Who really knows if the drive to win is for the essence of winning or not some personal egotistical satisfaction from guys like Magic, LeBron or Jordan and should I care??...People do seem to care either way with Melo tho...But I do think its interesting that most who we call "haters" thinks he is in it for his celebrity which bothers them...If the Knicks win it all, would we care????..I won't...

Nalod wrote:Its not that the players need to change their stance but they need to watch every nook and cranny in the phraseology as not to invite the critic to bash them.

Simple: "I look forward to the challange of adding to my resume a championship with the Knicks". That just comes accross different in my opinion.

Yeah, Im splitting hairs. But I am not the one inviting the hateful articles nor the one writing them.

Yes, so all you need now to succeed and make friends is a script writer for every hack interview you do with the big city media. Maybe Melo, Inc. is hiring.

He's a pro basketball player. He's not secretary of state. Or running for Governor. You don't like self-centeredness, go watch synchonized swimming. Or curling.

Like every hyper-gifted athlete, he's been told (and treated) like he's the center of the solar system since "he" won championships in high school.

Nalod wrote:Melo had a nice tournament and nobody got too hurt.

Be careful! Don't get hurt! That insurance ****'s expensive!
Sometimes, because of posts like yours, I miss the lockout. Wish it wouldn't take 15 days to find that thread...dammed intern...