This week's matchup pits a pair of players who don't exactly fit the traditional definition of pure athletes but whose athleticism nonetheless shapes their style of play. Despite being two of the most natural scorers in the game, Kevin Durant and Carmelo Anthony use entirely different physical skill sets to put up huge numbers. Their bodies are completely different, and as a result so are the ways they are defended.Based on my rating of 1-10 (10 being the best) let's see which one of these sweet-shooting forwards is the best athlete.
Leaping ability
Neither Durant nor Anthony is perceived as a tremendous leaper, but each player's hops are an integral part of his game. Durant actually needs to jump very high. With a standing reach of 9-foot-6, his fingertips are just inches from the rim without ever having to leave the ground, allowing him to power home dunks with minimal effort. For Durant, it's not as much about elevation as the ability to glide over a long distance. Combined with mile-long arms and great ball control, he can use that leaping ability to swoop around a defender in the air.
Durant's most useful trait is his ability to explode quickly off the ground. His body is so gangly it's often tough to tell when he's primed for a leap. Flying in from the wing on the break and driving down the right side of the lane to finish for a one-handed jam is often when he uses his rise to the fullest. See his Western Conference finals Game 2 finish over Brendan Haywood as evidence.
Despite an excellent vertical that measures at about 33 inches, the 6-8 Anthony is highly susceptible to getting his shot blocked. When he plants with two feet, his mechanics can be a little slow and telegraphed. He also is not the quickest leaper. He led all small forwards in getting his shot rejected last season. But Melo is at his most effective with a running start from outside the lane -- as opposed to a traditional drop step -- and can power down highlight-worthy dunks in traffic after baiting a defender to think he's going to lay it up.
Durant 8.5, Anthony 8
Strength
While he doesn't have a physical build that makes GMs salivate -- he's closer to Paul Pierce than LeBron James -- Anthony is regarded as among the strongest small forwards in the game, perhaps second to James. His brawn is fueled by powerful legs, which make powering to the rim after a pump fake a cinch. He effectively uses his rump to clear space when he's on the block. Anthony's upper-body strength is just as effective, absorbing contact to get off close-range shots and get to the line. Anthony was seventh overall with 7.9 free throw attempts last season. He can box out most power forwards on a consistent basis by getting low and using his upper- and lower-body strength in concert.
Bulking up and adding strength is something that Durant has been trying to do since high school with little success. His lack of strength is his biggest physical deficiency. For the most part, it hasn't hurt the NBA scoring leader, but he can be bullied by defenders such as Metta World Peace, whose goal is to push Durant off the ball as far from the basket as possible.
His weakness has compromised his ability to be a world-class defender. Durant does a great job moving his feet and is beginning to grasp the fundamentals and rotation assignments of help defense, but he has a difficult time bodying up small forwards in the post and on penetration. He lacks lower-body strength to hold position under the boards, which decreases his effectiveness as a rebounder despite being 6-11 with long arms.
Durant has consistently hit the weights this summer and though there is no discernible difference in his appearance, he should be a bit stronger this season. But he's still no match for Melo.
Durant 7, Anthony 9.5
Quickness
Anthony's lightning quick first step is the key to his entire game and the reason he's labeled a "slasher" at 6-8, 240 pounds. When he pushes off toward the rim, his man will more often than not require help. Anthony tends to use his quickness inside of 20 feet from the basket and generally likes to put himself in position where he only needs two dribbles to get to the rim. The elbow is his favorite spot to operate. His pet move is tossing a pump fake then using his snappy burst to skirt down the baseline. Anthony's quickness does what it's supposed to: create open shots. His ability to push off either foot laterally lets him create space after pounding two hard dribbles to set up his pull-up.
Carmelo Anthony
Despite his size and speed, Carmelo Anthony still has his shot blocked often.
But it's not just Anthony's feet that are quick -- it's his every movement. His pump fake, jab step and spin move are crisp. But on the block his feet move with purpose and precision allowing him to pull off a near indefensible spin move on a post defender.
Durant has worked tirelessly to improve his quickness. There is no quicker 6-11 player in the game than Durant. The difference between the two is that Durant more often applies his quickness to beat his man from much further out -- often times 30 feet from the basket. This leads to a critical breakdown in the defense. In theory, this makes his quickness a bigger weapon than Melo's since it impacts the whole floor. Though Anthony is quicker is smaller spaces, Durant gets the nod.
Durant 9.5, Anthony 9
Speed
Durant's stride is so long he can make it from one foul line to the other in about six steps when moving at full speed. Good thing, Durant's speed is a must if he wants to keep up with Russell Westbrook, who often darts up the floor after grabbing his own rebound. Because of his excellent ballhandling ability, he can utilize that speed by igniting the break himself and beating the defense down the floor to create mismatch fastbreak opportunities and easy shots. But it's equally helpful when sprinting to an open spot for 3-pointers on the break.
What's also unique is how efficiently Durant can come down from speed. At the end of a dead sprint he slows down his momentum by taking controlled baby steps while keeping his body in a position to receive the ball. This ensures that he's able to spot up, catch and shoot in a moment's notice. All of it set up by his speedy stride down the floor.
Anthony has great straightaway speed but rarely does he break into anything more than a casual trot when running the break or getting back on defense, so it's difficult not to give this category to Durant. If he has the tools but doesn't use them to his advantage, it lessens his overall impact on the game.
Durant 9, Anthony 7.5
Agility
For such a gangly frame Durant has remarkable motor skills and coordination. Nowhere is this more evident than when he begins his dribble moves far from the basket. Durant has long mimicked the way smaller guards break down defenders on the perimeter -- herky-jerky shoulder fakes, quick crossovers, step-backs -- and is able to add those moves to his game, thanks to his coordination and dexterity, which he routinely hones in practice.
Durant has developed a version of the Eurostep, in which he can nearly sidestep across the entire lane while moving toward the rim to avoid shot-blockers after picking up his dribble. Due to his lack of strength, Durant can easily be knocked around by stronger defenders as he enters the lane, but his uncommon balance allows him to quickly readjust and get off floaters or finger rolls at the rim.
Anthony is just as impressive when changing direction and moving around the basket. He can quickly move side to side with a lateral dribble and finish with an eloquent, double pump reverse along the baseline. He doesn't spend a whole lot of time in the air, twisting and turning (neither does Durant), but has a variety of elusive moves around the hoop that require premium agility. It's a pretty sight when Anthony throws a back-to-the-basket shoulder fake then pivots in the opposite direction, pump fakes and steps past the defender without using his dribble.
Durant 9.5, Anthony 9
Final Score: Durant 43.5, Anthony 43
This matchup is a one of conflicting styles and almost awkward in comparison because Durant and Anthony's skill sets are so incongruous. But that's what makes it interesting. And very close.
Durant gets the win because what he does, he does really well. And unlike Anthony you can see the tangible effect that Durant's athletic ability has on the entire floor each play he has the ball. While a terrific athlete, Anthony's best qualities are often used in isolation situations that benefit only him.
Durant uses his quickness to break down the floor, causing defenses to be in a constant mode of recovery. His speed -- and the intention behind it -- on the break forces the defense to sprint back. Further, Durant's high basketball IQ gives him a terrific understanding of how to exploit his athletic gifts. Even though he rated higher, that reason alone makes Durant a better, more useful athlete.
11/14/2011 8:26 PM