Melo is shooting 60.2% at the rim this season. This number might seem a bit low, but it's close to the league average for SFs (62.9% according to hoopdata.com). It is also right around what Melo has done at the rim for his whole career. Since 2007, his at-rim FG% has been 63, 66, 57, 59.6, 55.6 (2011 with Denver), 66.2 (2011 with NYK), 60.2 (this season). So while we might expect him to be a tad more efficient, it's not really out of line with what he has done historically. One noticeable difference is that since 2007, he got about 8 attempts at the rim per 40 min, compared to only 6 per 40 min so far with the Knicks, but this is probably due to differences in the coaching style and personnel of the Knicks compared to his old Nuggets teams as much as anything else.

Looking at the hoopdata.com breakdown, what jumps out far more than Anthony's performance at the rim is his jump shooting. For his career he is consistently a 40+% from 16-23 feet, but this season way down to 31%. His three point shooting is also down compared to previous performances, though still comparable with some of his worst seasons in recent play. So the mid-to-long range jumper, his bread and butter play, has not really been there for him this season. He did get off to a great start this season, which appeared to have been derailed by that bout of injuries. Since then he hasn't been the same. Maybe he's still hurting, or maybe he just lost his rhythm due to the injuries and hasn't been able to find it yet.

The wrist injury was his left wrist. I'm thinking the groin injury is probably cleared up, because it's not the sort of thing you can play with if it's still hurt. So that leaves the right thumb and right ankle injuries as possible culprits. Though as of this report from late January, he is quoted as saying the thumb injury was improving but the ankle injury was still a problem. He then had further rest from the groin injury to help heal the ankle. Could be that he's just banged up in general which is detracting from his form.

firefly wrote:Lou Williams is an awful chucker. I would hate him on this team.

You are nuts

4th Qtr 5:53
PHI 63 NYK 69