I try to imagine the team we had last year but with a healthy Shump to start, a motivated Bargnani, a talented SG like THJ rather than White or Brewer, 2 capable forwards like MWP and KMart, a better option than Kidd in Beno and another year of continuity with the bulk of the roster.

It seems entirely jaded for anyone to look at this team and not see that we at least have a team that should compete at a high level. Woody gets bashed and i'm one of the bashers, but also have to say that this team came out of camp playing good BB and the offense wasn't stagnant. Now we have MUCH better options and versatility to augment what we already have. The media and some fans don't want to acknowledge it but this team is much better than the one we had last year in terms of overall capability.

jrodmc wrote:

tkf wrote:

Bonn1997 wrote:

jrodmc wrote:

Bonn1997 wrote:That would be relevant if Melo was the #2 on this team like he was on Denver that year. (Billups was top 5 MVP voting.)
Anyway, if what you're offering me is 1 trip to the conference finals every 10 years, I'd say no thanks, let's start over.

You've grown so accustomed to going once every 5 years? You'd rather buy seats for barely making playoffs for a decade or so?

We're 3 whole years into the Melo era. That's a pretty small sample size, isn't it?

It's funny how your logic works. PP isn't responsible for the Celts playoff drought because basketball's a 12 man game. But Melo getting to the WCF has nothing to do with Melo because he's only #2 out of 12 Nuggets.

Do you ever stop and think about how your Melo hate colors your view?

No, in both cases I realize the player is only a small part of the puzzle. I wouldn't have even mentioned the playoff performance in Denver if you hadn't brought up the conference finals. Then I was just mocking your response by pointing out that (even if we do want to evaluate Melo by looking at his team's success) making the conference finals is a once a decade thing with Melo and occured only when he was the #2. In neither case should we confound player effectiveness with team outcome, though; I was just going along with your discussion for the moment.

good point bonn, and this also goes back to the " carmelo dragged his team to the playoffs every year he has been in the league" argument... but when they lose in the first round it was because "he didn't have any help"..... go figure..

what carmelo has done in his 3 years in NY is pretty consistent with his whole career in which there is more than enough data..... and that is, he helps his team to a decent/good regular season record and then burn out in the playoffs..... pretty underwhelming...

Seriously tkf, you'd be underwhelmed if we won a chip with Melo. Admit it.

The Boppsey twins of misdirection. How sweet.

You mock Melo, but defend PP for an even worse playoff record.
Then you both talk in glowing Melo hate circles around each other.
Melo gets to the playoffs. Fact. PP did not. Fact.
PP's a HOF candidate that makes you hang banners and posters. Efficient. Makes those around him better. MVP!
Melo sucks because he burns out in the playoffs by himself.
PP's great because he never got to the playoffs by himself.

Charming. Let's watch the games fellas!
Get all ready to tell me how getting to the ECF this season will truly suck! Oh wait, nevermind, you're already doing that!

Papabear Says

LOL I couldn't have said it better my self. If Melo won it all they would still be haten. LOL

Bonn1997 wrote:

jrodmc wrote:

Bonn1997 wrote:That would be relevant if Melo was the #2 on this team like he was on Denver that year. (Billups was top 5 MVP voting.)
Anyway, if what you're offering me is 1 trip to the conference finals every 10 years, I'd say no thanks, let's start over.

You've grown so accustomed to going once every 5 years? You'd rather buy seats for barely making playoffs for a decade or so?

We're 3 whole years into the Melo era. That's a pretty small sample size, isn't it?

It's funny how your logic works. PP isn't responsible for the Celts playoff drought because basketball's a 12 man game. But Melo getting to the WCF has nothing to do with Melo because he's only #2 out of 12 Nuggets.

Do you ever stop and think about how your Melo hate colors your view?

No, in both cases I realize the player is only a small part of the puzzle. I wouldn't have even mentioned the playoff performance in Denver if you hadn't brought up the conference finals. Then I was just mocking your response by pointing out that (even if we do want to evaluate Melo by looking at his team's success) making the conference finals is a once a decade thing with Melo and occured only when he was the #2. In neither case should we confound player effectiveness with team outcome, though; I was just going along with your discussion for the moment.

Melo was not the number 2. Everybody knows that was Melo's team.