A long round of applause is deserved for all the sunshine Carmelo Anthony singlehandedly generated over the past few weeks. From vocal demands for social justice and equality to various unforgettable Snapchat contributions. We’re now midway through The Summer of Melo, and it’s a glorious time to be alive.

On the court, with the Olympics now in full swing, USA Basketball’s veteran leader is where he’s most comfortable, able to unleash his complete offensive repertoire as, more or less, a full-time stretch four. Anthony is magical in that role, a volcano behind the three-point line whose first step is still plenty quick enough to blow by just about any defender in the world taller than he is.

The only obstruction so far as this strength translating to the New York Knicks on a more permanent basis can mostly be blamed on imbalanced roster construction and an antique playing style. According to Nylon Calculus, Anthony logged fewer than 200 minutes at the four last season (only 7.8 percent of the time), but his effective field goal percentage was 6.3 percent higher playing up a position.

The nine-time All-Star just turned 32 and last made an All-NBA team in 2013, which, coincidence or not, was the same season Anthony predominantly functioned as a stretch four. The Knicks won 54 games that year, launched a ridiculous number of threes and featured one of the most efficient offenses in basketball.

Then Phil Jackson came along. Heading into last season, Anthony thought he’d see more time at power forward, but New York’s personnel made that impossible. Robin Lopez, Kyle O’Quinn and Kristaps Porzingis expected to see meaningful minutes while Derrick Williams and Lance Thomas were both more productive at power forward than any other position. New York’s frontcourt was a crowd—technically, Kevin Seraphin and Lou Amundson were also on the team—and there was very little opportunity for Anthony to be where he should.

Unwilling (or unable) to rebuild around Porzingis by trading Anthony this offseason, the Knicks doubled down by completing a backpage-friendly trade with the Chicago Bulls and then giving Joakim Noah way too much guaranteed money over the next four years. At best it makes them interesting. At worst it was irresponsible. The path to building a mega-successful Knicks team three or four years down the road was obvious and realistic (meaning tank!). Instead, they surveyed the landscape of the Eastern Conference, convinced themselves that a 47-win season is possible, and decided to build on top of a shaky foundation.

For the second summer in a row, the Knicks were content fictionalizing a facade of ambition. But what’s done is done. Moving forward, at least their roster is more talented, athletic and versatile than before. They also have Jeff Hornacek as their new head coach, and should be able to use Anthony as a stretch four once again.

Despite adding Noah, Derrick Rose, Courtney Lee, Brandon Jennings and Marshall Plumlee, New York is not a “super team.” But who knows what can happen if everybody stays healthy, a majority of Hornacek’s lineup combinations perform like a whole that’s greater than the sum of its parts, and they somehow are unshackled from chains that were locked by Jackson’s obsession with the Triangle. If winning a playoff series is the goal then next season just may be a success.

But just making the playoffs will be a struggle if Anthony doesn’t log a majority of his time at power forward. Not only will it boost his efficiency and make defense less burdensome, but Anthony at the four also allows others to thrive.

The prime benefactor is Rose, a score-first point guard who can handle the ball, create his own shot and consistently make plays for others. A fading Allen Iverson was the closest Anthony’s ever come to existing beside this particular skill-set, and squeezing as much talent as possible out of the former MVP should be a priority.

After last year’s All-Star break, Rose averaged 17.4 points per game while shooting 46.8 percent from the floor and 37.5 percent behind the three-point line. Gone was his ability to make jackhammering through three layers of defense look easier than peeling a banana.

He had tunnel vision and failed to rekindle the spell-binding athleticism that earned him that very contract Chicago was so desperate to shed. But Rose proved that he can still be effective when surrounded by the right players—i.e. he needs shooters to create mismatches and space.

Example: Doug McDermott was Chicago’s best three-point shooter last season. In the 672 minutes he shared the floor with Rose, the Bulls point guard was 10.3 percent more accurate in the restricted area than when McDermott wasn’t on the court. Several factors lead us to that number—such as the fact that Rose likely squared off against bench-heavy units whenever McDermott played—but beyond widening driving lanes just a tiny bit, having legitimate outside shooters on the floor allows Rose to use pick-and-roll action to create and exploit specific mismatches.

There’s absolutely nothing wrong with Portland’s defense on this play. They switch Gerald Henderson onto Rose and eventually force a difficult step-back jumper. But imagine Anthony as the screener, Courtney Lee and Lance Thomas in each corner and Porzingis set to pounce from the dunker’s spot.

It’d be devastating to defend, and provide Rose with everything he now needs to find success inside a half-court offense.

(Defenders can always duck under the screen to give Rose a wide open jump shot, but he was lethal after the All-Star break when left alone on long twos. The sample size is fewer than 100 shots, but is also extracted from a period of sustained health and reinstalled confidence. The weaknesses in Rose’s game are pronounced, but there’s a reality where open pull-up jumpers aren’t one of them.)

The other end of the floor may be an unfortunate adventure, but Noah, Lee and Thomas are all solid man-to-man defenders who don’t make many mistakes. Porzingis will be better on that end, Rose isn’t terrible, and Justin Holiday has enough length to guard multiple positions.

At this stage in his career, Anthony probably can’t be the primary option on a championship contender. But he’s still plenty gifted on and off the ball, and playing him at the four can begin to solve so many of the problems New York’s offense ran into last season.

TAGS: CARMELO ANTHONY, NEW YORK KNICKS

ShareTweetDiscussFeedback

garbage article with a douchebag point of view. lets hope the knicks never come close to this scenario. just horrible analysis.

next.

nixluva wrote:

dk7th wrote:yeah.... no. so this moron says lets build the team around rose and melo. ha ha.

garbage article with a douchebag point of view. lets hope the knicks never come close to this scenario. just horrible analysis.

next.

I would've thought the writer would make a bigger point of KP but to be fair Rose and Melo have done a lot more in their careers than KP has as a rookie going into his sophomore season. Nothing he wrote really addresses KP but we all know that KP is going to be a big part of what this team does, but he's not a go to player just yet. Maybe he develops fast this season but as of right now it's not logical to try and play tru KP in the same way you would Rose and Melo. So NO, YOU'RE WRONG about the writer's points.

I don't even understand what you're particular point would be in opposition to the notion that Rose and Melo are gonna be driving forces for this team. That's pretty much what kind of players they are. KP should develop into a lead player but you can't say that based off what he showed last season. He didn't have go to moves perfected. I hope KP comes into this season on another level offensively cuz that would push this team even higher up the standings. The thing is there's no need to rush the kid. He can just take his time and develop at his natural pace. The vets will take on the responsibility of taking the lead.

kp6 has "IT" the other two do not. he just ran out of gas. you can't stifle greatness and it would be a huge mistake to do so. the suggested scenario is MORONIC.

dk7th wrote:

nixluva wrote:

dk7th wrote:yeah.... no. so this moron says lets build the team around rose and melo. ha ha.

garbage article with a douchebag point of view. lets hope the knicks never come close to this scenario. just horrible analysis.

next.

I would've thought the writer would make a bigger point of KP but to be fair Rose and Melo have done a lot more in their careers than KP has as a rookie going into his sophomore season. Nothing he wrote really addresses KP but we all know that KP is going to be a big part of what this team does, but he's not a go to player just yet. Maybe he develops fast this season but as of right now it's not logical to try and play tru KP in the same way you would Rose and Melo. So NO, YOU'RE WRONG about the writer's points.

I don't even understand what you're particular point would be in opposition to the notion that Rose and Melo are gonna be driving forces for this team. That's pretty much what kind of players they are. KP should develop into a lead player but you can't say that based off what he showed last season. He didn't have go to moves perfected. I hope KP comes into this season on another level offensively cuz that would push this team even higher up the standings. The thing is there's no need to rush the kid. He can just take his time and develop at his natural pace. The vets will take on the responsibility of taking the lead.

kp6 has "IT" the other two do not. he just ran out of gas. you can't stifle greatness and it would be a huge mistake to do so. the suggested scenario is MORONIC.

You're talking like there's someone else on the roster that would be part of the big 3 on this team. It's Rose, Melo and KP, full stop!!! So how is he gonna be stifled?

dk7th wrote:

nixluva wrote:

dk7th wrote:

nixluva wrote:

dk7th wrote:yeah.... no. so this moron says lets build the team around rose and melo. ha ha.

garbage article with a douchebag point of view. lets hope the knicks never come close to this scenario. just horrible analysis.

next.

I would've thought the writer would make a bigger point of KP but to be fair Rose and Melo have done a lot more in their careers than KP has as a rookie going into his sophomore season. Nothing he wrote really addresses KP but we all know that KP is going to be a big part of what this team does, but he's not a go to player just yet. Maybe he develops fast this season but as of right now it's not logical to try and play tru KP in the same way you would Rose and Melo. So NO, YOU'RE WRONG about the writer's points.

I don't even understand what you're particular point would be in opposition to the notion that Rose and Melo are gonna be driving forces for this team. That's pretty much what kind of players they are. KP should develop into a lead player but you can't say that based off what he showed last season. He didn't have go to moves perfected. I hope KP comes into this season on another level offensively cuz that would push this team even higher up the standings. The thing is there's no need to rush the kid. He can just take his time and develop at his natural pace. The vets will take on the responsibility of taking the lead.

kp6 has "IT" the other two do not. he just ran out of gas. you can't stifle greatness and it would be a huge mistake to do so. the suggested scenario is MORONIC.

No one is saying that they're gonna stifle KP's development. He's gonna be able to do whatever he wants next year. Hornacek knows how much talent KP has and he's no doubt working on all kinds of ways to get him going next season. That doesn't mean that there won't be a reliance on Rose and Melo as the more proven players, so that it can take the pressure off of KP. It's the smart play. Why heap unnecessary pressure on the kid early when he can be just as impactful without that pressure? There's no need to force it with KP.

You're talking like there's someone else on the roster that would be part of the big 3 on this team. It's Rose, Melo and KP, full stop!!! So how is he gonna be stifled?

"big 3" with rickety-ass rose?!? no. kp6 isn't some aau/ncaa conveyor belt "product." he played in the second best league in the world, and has been guided and mentored by his brother, among others. he is more prepared than any player the knicks have drafted in eons-- and he has already stated and demonstrated he wants the pressure and responsibility. that is not the bravado and imprudence of an immature young man. he is already close to all-star calibre. he is the future and the future is now.

your former mvp (undeserved) is on a one-year contract. big 3 yeah right.

Rose finished the 2015-16 season at No. 14 in drives per game and No. 9 in points via drives per game. He shots 51.0 percent on said attempts, which shines a light on the rare combination of volume and efficiency.

Drives to the hoop was a HUGE weakness for this team as was pushing the ball. To have a top penetrator in the league handling the ball for this team is a huge deal for everyone else on the team. Especially when you factor in how Hornacek wants this team to play. It's a very good thing to have Rose, Melo and KP as the Big 3 for this team.

SupremeCommander wrote:While I agree that Melo is at his best as a stretch 4, and he might get some time there, this writer is a moron. Noah didn't get that contract to get splinters. I hate RealGM...

Noah may end up only averaging 27-30 mpg and he's gonna be given rest days. That will leave enough minutes for the team to play small and Melo to slide to the 4 spot for a significant amount of time.

CrushAlot wrote:

nixluva wrote:

dk7th wrote:

nixluva wrote:

dk7th wrote:

nixluva wrote:

dk7th wrote:yeah.... no. so this moron says lets build the team around rose and melo. ha ha.

garbage article with a douchebag point of view. lets hope the knicks never come close to this scenario. just horrible analysis.

next.

I would've thought the writer would make a bigger point of KP but to be fair Rose and Melo have done a lot more in their careers than KP has as a rookie going into his sophomore season. Nothing he wrote really addresses KP but we all know that KP is going to be a big part of what this team does, but he's not a go to player just yet. Maybe he develops fast this season but as of right now it's not logical to try and play tru KP in the same way you would Rose and Melo. So NO, YOU'RE WRONG about the writer's points.

I don't even understand what you're particular point would be in opposition to the notion that Rose and Melo are gonna be driving forces for this team. That's pretty much what kind of players they are. KP should develop into a lead player but you can't say that based off what he showed last season. He didn't have go to moves perfected. I hope KP comes into this season on another level offensively cuz that would push this team even higher up the standings. The thing is there's no need to rush the kid. He can just take his time and develop at his natural pace. The vets will take on the responsibility of taking the lead.

kp6 has "IT" the other two do not. he just ran out of gas. you can't stifle greatness and it would be a huge mistake to do so. the suggested scenario is MORONIC.

No one is saying that they're gonna stifle KP's development. He's gonna be able to do whatever he wants next year. Hornacek knows how much talent KP has and he's no doubt working on all kinds of ways to get him going next season. That doesn't mean that there won't be a reliance on Rose and Melo as the more proven players, so that it can take the pressure off of KP. It's the smart play. Why heap unnecessary pressure on the kid early when he can be just as impactful without that pressure? There's no need to force it with KP.

You're talking like there's someone else on the roster that would be part of the big 3 on this team. It's Rose, Melo and KP, full stop!!! So how is he gonna be stifled?

"big 3" with rickety-ass rose?!? no. kp6 isn't some aau/ncaa conveyor belt "product." he played in the second best league in the world, and has been guided and mentored by his brother, among others. he is more prepared than any player the knicks have drafted in eons-- and he has already stated and demonstrated he wants the pressure and responsibility. that is not the bravado and imprudence of an immature young man. he is already close to all-star calibre. he is the future and the future is now.

your former mvp (undeserved) is on a one-year contract. big 3 yeah right.

Your attitudes towards Rose are something else. Rose, Melo and KP will without a doubt be the Big 3 of this Knicks team. I think you're severely underestimating the role and impact that Rose is gonna have for this team.

Rose finished the 2015-16 season at No. 14 in drives per game and No. 9 in points via drives per game. He shots 51.0 percent on said attempts, which shines a light on the rare combination of volume and efficiency.

http://dailyknicks.com/2016/08/08/new-york-knicks-every-starters-most-underrated-skill/2/

Drives to the hoop was a HUGE weakness for this team as was pushing the ball. To have a top penetrator in the league handling the ball for this team is a huge deal for everyone else on the team. Especially when you factor in how Hornacek wants this team to play. It's a very good thing to have Rose, Melo and KP as the Big 3 for this team.

Is there a team that contains a driving, dynamic point guard and a lethal shooting combo forward that isn't good? Al Horford will be a great pair with Isaiah Thomas in Boston, but he doesn't have Anthony's range. Goran Dragic and Chris Bosh help combine for 48 Miami Heat wins. Heck, Felton and Deron Williams, paired with Dirk Nowitzski, managed 42 wins in the brutal Western Conference. Rose, paired with Anthony and Kristaps Porzingis, should prove to be a lethal trio, with Rose's penetration causing the proper defensive reactions to create open looks.

https://www.sny.tv/knicks/news/rose-can-match-irvings-impact-on-melo/194949940

EXACTLY!!! What's so hard to comprehend about this? The more threats you have in different aspects of the game the better. We've had a huge HOLE in regards to Penetration and pushing the ball and so that is a key reason why it matters that Rose is in the mix with Melo and KP and having a catch and shoot SG like Lee, who can also drive, is a major plus as well.

dk7th wrote:yeah.... no. so this moron says lets build the team around rose and melo. ha ha.

garbage article with a douchebag point of view. lets hope the knicks never come close to this scenario. just horrible analysis.

next.

Totally agree with this.

Bunk ass article. In no universe should Rose nor Melo be the primary option with a God in your presence...

nixluva wrote:

ChuckBuck wrote:

dk7th wrote:yeah.... no. so this moron says lets build the team around rose and melo. ha ha.

garbage article with a douchebag point of view. lets hope the knicks never come close to this scenario. just horrible analysis.

next.

Totally agree with this.

Bunk ass article. In no universe should Rose nor Melo be the primary option with a God in your presence...

You guys realize that it's only logical to talk about Rose and Melo as the lead of the offensive attack? This isn't to suggest that KP won't be a primary target as well. That's why they call it a Big 3. All 3 players will be the likely leaders of this team's offense.

I simply can't fathom why KNICKS FANS would be so annoyed at such a logical point made in this article. It's absurd not to recognize that Rose and Melo will be expected to carry a large portion of the load and that they would look to make things easier on KP and let him build up his game naturally rather than forcing it. The more KP shows he can handle the more he'll get to do. As the 3rd option KP will not be place at any disadvantage. If his game develops faster and he can handle more then fine.

you are under the illusion that rose is a facilitator. news flash: he isn't.

so far as melo is concerned, i loved how he played for 25 games last season but it remains to be seen how hornacek's coaching will affect melo's surprising and delightful playmaking abilities, especially where it concern's kp6.

meanwhile, i repeat: kp6 has "it." he should be groomed by hornacek to be central playmaker for others-- not the other way around, as you would have it be.

dk7th wrote:

nixluva wrote:

ChuckBuck wrote:

dk7th wrote:yeah.... no. so this moron says lets build the team around rose and melo. ha ha.

garbage article with a douchebag point of view. lets hope the knicks never come close to this scenario. just horrible analysis.

next.

Totally agree with this.

Bunk ass article. In no universe should Rose nor Melo be the primary option with a God in your presence...

You guys realize that it's only logical to talk about Rose and Melo as the lead of the offensive attack? This isn't to suggest that KP won't be a primary target as well. That's why they call it a Big 3. All 3 players will be the likely leaders of this team's offense.

I simply can't fathom why KNICKS FANS would be so annoyed at such a logical point made in this article. It's absurd not to recognize that Rose and Melo will be expected to carry a large portion of the load and that they would look to make things easier on KP and let him build up his game naturally rather than forcing it. The more KP shows he can handle the more he'll get to do. As the 3rd option KP will not be place at any disadvantage. If his game develops faster and he can handle more then fine.

you are under the illusion that rose is a facilitator. news flash: he isn't.

so far as melo is concerned, i loved how he played for 25 games last season but it remains to be seen how hornacek's coaching will affect melo's surprising and delightful playmaking abilities, especially where it concern's kp6.

meanwhile, i repeat: kp6 has "it." he should be groomed by hornacek to be central playmaker for others-- not the other way around, as you would have it be.

When Hornacek had a decent roster he had them playing at the #8 offense in the league. His concepts for how to use his entire roster are great. He impressed Kerr so much that Kerr admitted he stole plays from Hornacek!!!

Part of what built Kerr's confidence and model for the job was watching Jeff Hornacek, his former 1988-89 Suns teammate, take over Phoenix last season and guide the Suns to a 48-34 season.

"Jeff and I are pretty similar personalities," Kerr said. "There's a lot of fire inside, but pretty calm and laid-back at the same time. I think players appreciate that. You don't want a huge emotional ride every single day, but you've got to have some direction and some fire. So I looked at Jeff and the job he did last year and the success he had, and I drew inspiration from that. I still watch him and watch his team with a lot of respect. They do a lot of really innovative things offensively, and they play hard."

If he doesn’t get a head coaching gig in the NBA next season, Jeff Hornacek fortunately still has a job waiting for him. He’ll still collect pretty nice paychecks and be involved in the game of basketball. Hornacek will also be working for a coaching staff that encourages everyone to come up with ideas and chime in. The Golden State Warriors are a terrific opportunity, and it might be the best assistant job in the National Basketball Association.

Steve Kerr and Jeff Hornacek are close. The two of them were teammates on the Phoenix Suns roster back in 1988. That team made it all the way to the Western Conference. Kerr has publicly stated that he modeled much of his coaching style by observing Hornacek. Neither guy likes to scream and yell all the time, believing that players do better when they are in a more enjoyable environment.

Hornacek's approach:

Fast-break efficiency is a bit higher, so the trigger that isn't being pulled seems to be in the players' overall approach.

"We weren't getting into our offense quick enough," Hornacek said when asked about the pace of his team's first five games. "We're only hitting our first option and then the second option we were breaking it off because the shot clock was at five.

"Even if we call a half-court set, we need to run down the court and get to our spots quicker and start the play at 20 (seconds on the shot clock). If we can start the play at 19 or 20, we have time to run the different options. It's gotta be that mindset. Sometimes when the other team makes it, makes a shot, we're thinking 'ah, we let the guy score.' You gotta forget about it and always be on the attack. If we can keep that in our heads, we'll try to do a better job of continuing that, waving and saying, 'let's go, let's go.'

"We've got to take it out and go and kind of see if we can get the other teams to play in our pace sometimes."