Despite the fact that Carmelo Anthony was finally traded after what seemed to be months of speculation, Melo Drama is still a theme in this 2010-2011 season. With the speculation over and Carmelo finally where he desired to be, we all thought that the Melo-Drama would come to an end.
Thanks to the Knicks’ play though, the drama has only seemingly just began. The struggles of the new look Knicks have captured what seems to be hundreds of headlines, with much of the blame being pointed towards the Knicks’ new star.
With the Knicks teetering under .500 and Anthony’s former team excelling since the trade, many pundits are using this as evidence that Anthony is not a franchise player. The question is: Are the results of the trade a direct reflection of Anthony’s value?
Next: Addition by subtraction? Not Quite.
One of the main question marks in the value of Anthony since the trade has come with the success of his former team since he departed. Many felt that the Nuggets would fall out of the Western Conference playoff picture sans Melo but much to the credit of George Karl’s team, they have not.
The Nuggets are 13-4 since the trade in February, good enough to propel them into the West’s 5th seed. It’s not just their record that has been impressive, it’s the fact that the Nuggets have went from an isolation heavy offense to a fast and exciting brand of play.
Everyone from around the association has been raving about the Nuggets’ play, and deservedly so, but many are treating the Nuggets surprising play as an addition by the subtraction of Melo. Even Nuggets Coach George Karl has piled on Melo.
“[Anthony’s] Defensive focus, his demand of himself, is what frustrated us more than anything,” Karl said shortly after the trade.
Despite the popular belief the trade of Melo was anything but addition by subtraction for the Nuggets. Many fail to realize that the Nuggets received several key players of a Knicks team which was seemingly a lock to qualify for the playoffs. This list includes Raymond Felton, Dalino Gallinari and Wilson Chandler.
Yes, the post-Melo Nuggets have been one of the feel good stories of the NBA season but without a closer the Nuggets are likely to be an after-thought come playoff time. With Anthony the Nuggets were at least a threat.
As for the Nuggets coaches and fans piling on Anthony, it is unfortunate that they lost such a great player, but gives him credit for at least expressing to the team that he wanted out before it was too late to get anything in return. After all, don’t you think Cavs fans wish they could have gotten something in return for LeBron James?
Next: Troubles in the Big Apple due to their big acquisition?
Immediately after the trade, many were debating just how far this Knicks team could go when the real season begins in April. Unrealistic expectations for the Knickerbockers were heightened even more after a huge win in Miami, but as recent play shows these expectations may have been fool’s gold.
Since that big win in Miami the Knicks have gone through some growing pains, especially recently with a 6-game losing streak. With the Knicks struggling, many fingers have been pointed at Anthony but are these struggles really Melo’s fault?
Offensively, Melo has continued to play at a high level scoring 25 points along with 6.2 rebounds for the Knicks. Melo has also shot 45 percent from the field, which is just a couple of percentage points below what he was shooting in Denver.
While Melo’s scoring has been superb, critics say that he has slowed the Knicks run and gun offense down. The fact is that Melo is more of an isolation player, something that the Knicks’ front office should have known.
The Knicks offense hasn’t been slowed down only because of Anthony though, as the lack of a pass first point guard has hindered the Knicks offense. Many critics also point to the reduction in Amare Stoudamire’s role as further proof that Melo can’t elevate his teammates. This is also false as Stoudamire is getting nearly as many shots per game as he did with Anthony.
Despite criticism of Anthony’s game on offense, the Knicks’ don’t have a problem putting the ball in the hoop. Their problem comes on the other side of the ball, where once again Anthony has faced the brunt of the criticism.
Anthony has been labeled as lay on the defensive side of the ball by many, some even blaming him for the Knicks’ defensive struggles. To blame Anthony for the Knicks lack of defense is ridiculous as the finger should be pointed at Coach Mike D’Antoni, who is known for not only his offensive genius but also his lack of defensive preparation.
Perhaps most of all to blame for the Knicks struggles is their roster. The Knicks do have three very good players in Anthony, Stoudamire and Billups but there is not much beyond those three. Outside Landry Fields, Toney Douglas and Ronny Turiaf, the Knicks do not have the deep roster and key role players necessary to make a championship run.
Next: Patience is necessary for Knicks
The decision on who is the winner and the loser of the Carmelo trade will not be determined for years to come but don’t bet your mortgage on the Nuggets being the winner of the blockbuster trade.
A franchise player like Anthony is a rare breed in the NBA, players like him do not come every year. Along with Kobe Bryant and Kevin Durant, Anthony is one of the most lethal scorers in the game today with the ability to consistently score from anywhere on the court.
Anthony will also win the Knicks many playoff games due to his ability to come through in the clutch. Due to his offensive arsenal, Melo is the most dangerous closer in the league who doesn’t reside in Los Angeles.
The negatives of Carmelo’s game are also overblown. Anthony has proven to be a good defender in key moments in the past, take his stop on LeBron in the Knicks’ win over Miami for example. Anthony is also not the selfish player that many claim him to be, as he has actually been a willing passer.
Patience will be key for the Knicks and their fans though. We have seen the struggles the Heat are still enduring and that is with a training camp and almost a whole season together. The Knicks haven’t even had many practices together so expecting a playoff splash is too much to ask for. The Knicks will be a tough out in the playoffs but nothing more than a long first round series should be expected of them this year.
Next: Handling the pressure of The Big Apple
The reason the Knicks had to make this trade is that Anthony is the perfect superstar to bring the Knicks back to the promise land. Anthony is not afraid of the pressures that come with playing in New York and this was clear during the Knicks’ losing streak.
Leading up to Monday’s game against Orlando, the losses were piling up for the Knicks and pressure was mounting. This is when Anthony’s true colors as a leader were shown, Anthony called the game a must win before the game and stressed that effort would be needed to end their struggles.
Anthony not only talked the talk, he walked the walk by scoring 39 points along with 10 rebounds in a huge victory against MVP candidate Dwight Howard and his Orlando Magic. Anthony practically willed the Knicks to victory in a game which showed his skills on both sides of the floor.
Anthony followed up his big performance Monday with a monster game against the Nets on Wednesday. Anthony scored 39 points, grabbed 10 rebounds and dished 5 assists. More importantly possibly was the fact that Anthony came up big on defense once again down the stretch of the game.
These two games are a microcosm of what Anthony can bring to the Knicks. With a few role players to accompany Anthony and Stoudamire, sorry Knicks’ fans with a new CBA looming the chances of Chris Paul going to The Big Apple are slim to none, these two stars are poised to make the Knicks relevant again. This return to glory is something that the fans who fill Madison Square Garden should be excited but patiently wait to see.
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