what could've been, BUT YOU JUST COULDN'T HANDLE VINSANITY!!!

callmened wrote:i always thought of Melo as a McGrady 2.0...gifted scorer but nothing else...not a great leader of men...a solid #2 on a great team

Agreed about McGrady's leadership skills but he was much more than just a gifted scorer. He had a complete game when he was healthy and focused e.g. excellent passer, to the point where he ran PG for Houston for stretches; was noted for being a defensive player before heading to the Magic where he didn't have the energy to play both ends. I love Melo but McGrady was far and away the better player.

Bonn1997 wrote:

callmened wrote:i always thought of Melo as a McGrady 2.0...gifted scorer but nothing else...not a great leader of men...a solid #2 on a great team

Nothing else? McGrady's rebounding, blocks, steals, and assists were all pretty good.

exactly.. carmelo and T-mac are nothing alike.. T-mac was a complete player.. not a bad defender either.. bad Health pretty much robbed him of a lot of years, but he was as close to being an elite player as you can get.... actually when healthy, he was a beast.. he was elite when healthy....

NardDogNation wrote:

Knixkik wrote:

callmened wrote:i always thought of Melo as a McGrady 2.0...gifted scorer but nothing else...not a great leader of men...a solid #2 on a great team

I too view them in the same light, but have a slightly different take. Melo is Tmac with better luck with health. But both players are great number 1 options, but have lacked the right number 2 (or 1B option.) Tmac had Yao but not for long enough during his prime. When i consider Tmac and Melo #1 options, i am referring to being the top player on a winning team, as well as leading scorer. But a very specific second option is needed, such as Pippen, Westbrook, Wade, or one of the many other historical number 2 options on successful teams.

Not to deter from the conversation but I think the bottom is going to fall out from Melo sooner rather than later. He has gone without help for too long and plays too physical a game to stay healthy in the future. It is already starting to show; didn't he have knee surgery on both knees and on his elbow last offseason? This season it was only the shoulder fortunately but he is getting too injuried too frequently.

Injuries have not slowed him down once recovered. He was more dominant than ever last season when healthy. While he does play a physical game, its more important to note that he does not rely on athletic ability to play his game, similar to players such as wade, etc who are more apt to decline sooner once they hit 30 and the run/jump abilities take a hit. Players like Melo will typically age better. Strength and shooting don't decline as rapidly as players who dominate by being freak athletes. He will sustain injuries because of the hits, but as long as they aren't major they shouldn't affect him anytime soon.

Knixkik wrote:

NardDogNation wrote:

Knixkik wrote:

callmened wrote:i always thought of Melo as a McGrady 2.0...gifted scorer but nothing else...not a great leader of men...a solid #2 on a great team

I too view them in the same light, but have a slightly different take. Melo is Tmac with better luck with health. But both players are great number 1 options, but have lacked the right number 2 (or 1B option.) Tmac had Yao but not for long enough during his prime. When i consider Tmac and Melo #1 options, i am referring to being the top player on a winning team, as well as leading scorer. But a very specific second option is needed, such as Pippen, Westbrook, Wade, or one of the many other historical number 2 options on successful teams.

Not to deter from the conversation but I think the bottom is going to fall out from Melo sooner rather than later. He has gone without help for too long and plays too physical a game to stay healthy in the future. It is already starting to show; didn't he have knee surgery on both knees and on his elbow last offseason? This season it was only the shoulder fortunately but he is getting too injuried too frequently.

Injuries have not slowed him down once recovered. He was more dominant than ever last season when healthy. While he does play a physical game, its more important to note that he does not rely on athletic ability to play his game, similar to players such as wade, etc who are more apt to decline sooner once they hit 30 and the run/jump abilities take a hit. Players like Melo will typically age better. Strength and shooting don't decline as rapidly as players who dominate by being freak athletes. He will sustain injuries because of the hits, but as long as they aren't major they shouldn't affect him anytime soon.

Allan Houston was not an athletic freak either but injuries prevented him from even stepping onto the court. Houston did not have to deal with half the injuries/kniks that Melo has to. You know I love Melo's game but these issues make me skeptical of him being a long term player for us.

gunsnewing wrote:In Melos defense he has never missed the playoffs whereas McGrady in Orlando never sniffed the playoffs

TMac never got to play with all the help Melo has!