These are the following reasons why Carmelo Anthony will not take the New York Knicks to a championship. This can also be taken as what Carmelo must do to reverse this trend. As things stand now, The Knicks will not make it past the first round of the playoffs.
Number #1- SELFISH
Carmelo’s lack of patience forced the Knicks to gut the team to attain his services. Now he is the focal point of the offense. Yet his desire to have the ball whenever and however he wants has affected the offense as they have gotten away from the passing game that contributed to their 20-6 start. He also was responsible for the departure of Jeremy Lin as Carmelo refusal to share the spotlight with “Linsanity.”
Number #2- SHORT TERM MEMORY
Carmelo’s Olympic experience where he shared a court with LeBron James and Dwayne Wade should have been a great learning experience on how top athletes prepare to win not just games but championships. Carmelo has forgotten and gone back to trying to win games by himself.
Number #3- THE LA- LA EFFECT
The Kevin Garnett –Carmelo situation was the bright light that went off in all Carmelo’s opponents who realized that they could get him to react with a certain kind of physical and verbal game.
Number #4-BASKETBALL SMARTS
Scoring is instinctive, but thinking is imperative. The ability to get the ball out when double teamed to an open teammate, passing and setting up others, and not driving one on three when the defenders see you coming the whole way. Anthony did these things earlier but they have been in short supply since.
Number #5- REBOUNDING-HUSTLE
This area of the game is something that depends on will. Anthony was relentless on the boards especially the defensive end. It was the most improved aspect of his game. It helped his team tremendously that he could provide skills that did not always include scoring. Now you hardly see him rip defensive rebounds from the bigger guys.
Number #6- DEFENSE
This not only includes one on one but also anticipation. The increased amount of allyoop dunks and missed assignments due to lack of hustle and smarts is more obvious when Carmelo sits and the bench leads rallies with their defense.
Number #7- POSITION CONFUSION
Anthony is a small forward playing the power forward position to allow Carmelo to use his quickness to take advantage of those matchups. The point well taken until Carmelo insists on running up the court as a point forward to run the offense, which usually ends with the ball going to the post to him anyway. This is why you have guards to run the point. It has also aggravated that knee which is in bad shape currently.
Number #8- COMMUNICATION
Looking at the example that Tyson Chandler and Rasheed Wallace provided to younger teammates through constant communication by pointing out strengths and weaknesses was lost when Wallace went down to injury. Now you have Carmelo barking at teammates to get him the ball and undressing them when they don’t.
Number #9- COACH
Carmelo has been covered by Coach Woodson through hall his controversies this year. He has yet to return the favor.
Number #10- QUITTER
Carmelo Anthony has now left two games in two weeks with an apparent knee injury. Is it a coincidence that he walked off the court when the team was down by over twenty? Frustration not only looks bad on your leader but it spreads. When injured he walked off the court, past his bench and straight to the locker. No one congratulated or acknowledged him. Anthony quits when things don’t go his way and now the mental toughness which was improved earlier this year along with the improved conditioning has gone for naught.
Well those are the reasons. If the New York Knicks still dream that they are title contenders, it will because Carmelo returned to those points listed above that he is lacking in currently. If he does not, you won’t have to guess who will not be raising a championship trophy for the 41st consecutive year.
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