Carmelo was received to boos throughout Madison Square Garden when he was introduced Sunday afternoon versus the Philadelphia 76ers. And contrary to his $65 million contract extension he signed upon coming to New York, he earned it. The Knicks are 13-20 this season when 'Melo suits up. They are 26-34 since he has been a Knickerbocker overall. When the Knicks struck lightening in a bottle with Jeremy Lin, they proceeded to go 7-1 with Carmelo out of the lineup (including a victory over the Utah Jazz in which 'Melo played six minutes before exiting for the rest of the game). They are 3-8 since he has been back, including their second six game losing streak of the season, both of which occurred with Carmelo Anthony in the lineup.
If you are unsure as of whether or not Anthony is a "team player", you have to look no further than last season, when he forced his way out of Denver and to New York. He got praise for letting Denver know he wasn't going to re-sign with them, I, however, could see right through that. Even if he was not going to re-sign with the Denver Nuggets, and in the offseason sign with the Knicks, which was always where he was headed, why would you force your way there? If you know you're headed there, and they have the money to sign you in the offseason (they did), why would you force the team you want to play for to give up four starters and multiple picks to acquire you? Why not stay in Denver, and sign with New York in the offseason, and go to a much better team? Why make them deplete their roster to acquire you, when you're going to sign with them either way? Want to know why? One word—Money.
After Carmelo's rookie contract expired, he, his agent, and the Nuggets agreed to a four year deal, allowing Anthony's contract to expire the same year as the Collective Bargaining Agreement. That's about as smart as putting tin foil in the microwave. You're never going to believe this, but 'Melo has a different agent now. This is why Anthony was not apart of the 2010 free agency class (Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and LeBron James' agents all agreed to just three year deals because of the expiring CBA). Long story short, Carmelo knew that if he had to sign with New York after the lockout, he would have to have signed his extension for about $20 million less and as we all know, Lala couldn't have survived on only $45 million. So for 'Melo and his agents stupidity, the Knicks are paying. For the record I'm still of the opinion that the Knicks never should have traded for him. He was always coming to you anyway, but that's another story for another time. What followed, is everything you've read above.
If that isn't enough to prove to you Carmelo's selfishness, here's some more ammo. Many people close with the Knicks have cited that Carmelo has been repeatedly breaking plays. Meaning, a play is run, but when the ball hits Carmelo's hands, he basically isolates with the ball and clears everyone out. He has openly admitted to being uncomfortable when the team doesn't run the offense through him, as teams have done his entire career; high school, college and pro. Late in Monday's game at Chicago, Carmelo called for the ball in the post. When Landry Fields went elsewhere with the ball, Anthony slapped his hands together in disgust. He quit the rest of that play—he's like a five year old who doesn't get what he wants. A source close to Carmelo said he wants 20 shots a game. The Knicks are 2-11 when he takes 20+ shots a game. He's shooting a career worst 41% from the field. He wants 20 shots a game and the Knicks team he rejoined 11 games ago doesn't have a need for a 20-plus shot player. It's like adding another A-lister to the cast of The Departed. Not necessary. Hold that thought.
Mike D'Antoni runs a certain system. His system requires a competent point guard. This Knicks team, and particularly D'Antoni, was hoping to land Chris Paul to run his offense. The Knicks did not have the cap space to even attempt to acquire Chris Paul. You're never going to guess as to why. Carmelo Anthony. With Anthony's $65 million extension, the Knicks are left with zero cap space to acquire such a player. If 'Melo signs with New York after the lockout, New York then would have the pieces they used to acquire him, to acquire Chris Paul. I know, it's rocket science. For anyone who doesn't believe Mike D is a good coach, consider this. He took over the Phoenix Suns during the 2003-04 season. Frank Johnson was 8-13 before he was fired. D'Antoni finished that year 21-40. The next offseason he traded for what he knew he needed to run his system—a competent point guard. He acquired Steve Nash from the Dallas Mavericks. Mike D's first full season with the Suns the team went 62-20 and finished with the best record in the NBA. The following year the team went 54-28. Each of those two seasons the Phoenix Suns made it to the Western Conference Finals. His final two seasons in Phoenix he compiled 61-21 and 55-27 records, respectively. The first Suns season without D'Antoni—the team finished 46-36 and used two different coaches. Steve Nash was still there. D'Antoni was the variable, the X-factor if you will.
A month ago D'Antoni found his point guard in New York in Jeremy Lin. Lin, much like Nash did in Mike D's system, introduced us to players we had never heard of. He made them household names for diehards. With Nash it was Boris Diaw. With Lin it has been Steve Novak. We didn't know who Steve Novak was six weeks ago. That's what Mike D'Antoni's system does when given a point guard capable of running it. Will that system ever win a championship? We'll never know. But it's awfully fun to watch and, at least in the regular season, it gives you a chance to win every game. After all, the idea in basketball is to outscore your opponent. Will it ever win a championship? That remains to be seen.
Release that thought you held earlier. With Jeremy Lin on the floor, the Knicks simply do not need Carmelo to attempt 20 shots a game. They have scorers everywhere now that they have someone to get them the ball. They have Lin, himself, Tyson Chandler, Amare Stoudemire, Steve Novak, Landry Fields, JR Smith and if necessary, even Baron Davis. That is a stout roster. If the Sixers would have seen the Knicks during Linsanity, I would certainly have sweated it. As of Sunday afternoon, I wasn't worried about the game at all. They are simply a different team with Carmelo on the court, they are a worse team. I don't care that the Knicks blew out the Portland Trailblazers on Wednesday night. We see teams lash out after a major move like that all the time. Mike D'Antoni resigned early Wednesday when the teams woes were not his fault. Amare Stoudemire said it best after Sunday's game against Philly. He told the media they need every player to buy into Mike D'Antoni's system for it to work. When not everyone does, they have outcomes like that of the one against Philadelphia.
This isn't about whether or not
Mike D'Antoni's system fits Carmelo Anthony, but about whether or not
Carmelo can, and is willing to, subjugate his game for the greater good
of the team. So far he's been unable to prove he can. Carmelo wanted to
come to New York City. He wanted to be a star. He wanted to shine. Well,
the stage is his, and now he has no one else of whom to place the
blame.