Can You Finally Admit it...Melo is Overrated!
Sometimes a player's greatest challenge is coming to grips with his role on the team. -Scottie Pippen
I really hate that I am doing this. However, it has to be done because something has been boiling under my skin for the longest now. Carmelo Anthony is one of the most overrated athletes in sports today. What makes me shake my head is how virtually none of the experts touch on this and fall into the same trap as most followers of basketball. I have to be a hater here by announcing that Carmelo Anthony is overrated!
As a fan of basketball, sure, I like Melo. I'd have a hard time trying to argue against him being the best pure scorer on the planet. The game of basketball is about scoring more points than the opposing team, but the game's evolution has made it much more complex than just trying to outscore the other team. One of the chief ingredients of winning in basketball is teamwork. Individuals must provide for the team rather than shining on their own. Jordan started winning when he started trusting his teammates more. Magic won instantly because he was a team player all his life. Kobe started winning again once he got reliable running mates and got over his trust issues. Russell won because he knew what his team needed for them to be successful and stuck to that role. The same can be said about Tim Duncan.
There is the otherside to the list of winners just mentioned. Allen Iverson knew how to score, but what did it lead to? Glen Robinson knew how to score like crazy, but what did it lead to? Glen Rice could score like crazy, but what did it lead to? George Gervin is an all-time great scorer, but what did it lead to? Stephen Maubury is one of the most talented basketball players to touch a basketball, but what did it lead to? Same for Steve Francis, but what did it lead to? Wilt either was the most dominant player of all-time or second most dominant (it is either he or Shaq), but he was outdone by Russell and the Celtics.
Have you detected a theme yet? Elite winning in basketball is so much more than expressing your pure talent as a scorer. Yes, it will land shoe deals and media attention, but it does not translate into winning, at least winning big in the playoffs. The aforementioned crew of talent without much winning reminds me of certain kind of physically beautiful people. Whether male or female, we all get wowwed by that woman or man that is physically out of this world. However, when you actually get to meet these beautiful people, you find that some of them do not have much to offer beyond their physical beauty. That is what I believe Melo to be, a player that can wow us with his raw scoring ability, but does not bring much else to the table that actually wins games.
Many in the media, and obviously most fans, have failed to detect this overrating of Melo. They all got caught up in the hype during the dragged out trade forcing by Melo. They said New York should give up everything to get Melo. I was one of the very few that cringed because I knew that Melo himself is not going to equal championships. He is a guy that can only be a factor when he shoots a million times during a game. There is very little else. Thus, when he does not get the ball, he's a non-factor and pouter (there are reports of him abandoning a team huddle and hiding on the team bus avoiding the media after a recent loss...if true, just Melo being Melo). How is that going to lead to big time winning in New York? I am asking that after their 7-10 start, losing 6 of their last 7.
Meanwhile in Denver, Colorado, the Melo-less Nuggets are 11-4 since the trade, and 3 of their 4 losses were by 1 at Portland (a legit Western playoff team that is going to a tough first round out for L.A. or Dallas), 3 at Orlando (a 3 to 4 seed in the East), and 5 in Miami (a quasi championship contender). Denver actually got better without Melo, and have a better team atmosphere. This is backed up by coach George Karl admitting this is the most fun he's ever had coaching with his currently group of guys. I've seen them play, and they get after it. They don't have the glamour, but they are a better team than the Knicks right now. Melo says the Knicks need a long time to gel when the Nuggets have already done it. Hmmmm.
As a guy, yes I get wowwed by the super fine woman. However, if I were to ever get to know her and find that she does not have much else to offer, I tend to get over her in a hurry. I like Melo and do marvel at his scoring ability, but he will never be a champion unless he finally gets it someday. There is hope for him being just going on 27 years old on May 29, but this is his 8th year, making him a bona fide vet. Like Doc Rivers said after their comeback defeat of the Knicks, it's going to take sacrifice to win at the highest level. If Melo does not get what Doc is saying, he will continue being a new and improved Glen Robinson 2.0 and my most overrated player in all of sports.
As a fan of basketball, sure, I like Melo. I'd have a hard time trying to argue against him being the best pure scorer on the planet. The game of basketball is about scoring more points than the opposing team, but the game's evolution has made it much more complex than just trying to outscore the other team. One of the chief ingredients of winning in basketball is teamwork. Individuals must provide for the team rather than shining on their own. Jordan started winning when he started trusting his teammates more. Magic won instantly because he was a team player all his life. Kobe started winning again once he got reliable running mates and got over his trust issues. Russell won because he knew what his team needed for them to be successful and stuck to that role. The same can be said about Tim Duncan.
There is the otherside to the list of winners just mentioned. Allen Iverson knew how to score, but what did it lead to? Glen Robinson knew how to score like crazy, but what did it lead to? Glen Rice could score like crazy, but what did it lead to? George Gervin is an all-time great scorer, but what did it lead to? Stephen Maubury is one of the most talented basketball players to touch a basketball, but what did it lead to? Same for Steve Francis, but what did it lead to? Wilt either was the most dominant player of all-time or second most dominant (it is either he or Shaq), but he was outdone by Russell and the Celtics.
Have you detected a theme yet? Elite winning in basketball is so much more than expressing your pure talent as a scorer. Yes, it will land shoe deals and media attention, but it does not translate into winning, at least winning big in the playoffs. The aforementioned crew of talent without much winning reminds me of certain kind of physically beautiful people. Whether male or female, we all get wowwed by that woman or man that is physically out of this world. However, when you actually get to meet these beautiful people, you find that some of them do not have much to offer beyond their physical beauty. That is what I believe Melo to be, a player that can wow us with his raw scoring ability, but does not bring much else to the table that actually wins games.
Many in the media, and obviously most fans, have failed to detect this overrating of Melo. They all got caught up in the hype during the dragged out trade forcing by Melo. They said New York should give up everything to get Melo. I was one of the very few that cringed because I knew that Melo himself is not going to equal championships. He is a guy that can only be a factor when he shoots a million times during a game. There is very little else. Thus, when he does not get the ball, he's a non-factor and pouter (there are reports of him abandoning a team huddle and hiding on the team bus avoiding the media after a recent loss...if true, just Melo being Melo). How is that going to lead to big time winning in New York? I am asking that after their 7-10 start, losing 6 of their last 7.
Meanwhile in Denver, Colorado, the Melo-less Nuggets are 11-4 since the trade, and 3 of their 4 losses were by 1 at Portland (a legit Western playoff team that is going to a tough first round out for L.A. or Dallas), 3 at Orlando (a 3 to 4 seed in the East), and 5 in Miami (a quasi championship contender). Denver actually got better without Melo, and have a better team atmosphere. This is backed up by coach George Karl admitting this is the most fun he's ever had coaching with his currently group of guys. I've seen them play, and they get after it. They don't have the glamour, but they are a better team than the Knicks right now. Melo says the Knicks need a long time to gel when the Nuggets have already done it. Hmmmm.
As a guy, yes I get wowwed by the super fine woman. However, if I were to ever get to know her and find that she does not have much else to offer, I tend to get over her in a hurry. I like Melo and do marvel at his scoring ability, but he will never be a champion unless he finally gets it someday. There is hope for him being just going on 27 years old on May 29, but this is his 8th year, making him a bona fide vet. Like Doc Rivers said after their comeback defeat of the Knicks, it's going to take sacrifice to win at the highest level. If Melo does not get what Doc is saying, he will continue being a new and improved Glen Robinson 2.0 and my most overrated player in all of sports.
I shared this on facebook, twitter wouldn't allow it to post. Very well written and it made me actually go read up on his stats.
ReplyDeleteThat was deep Chris. I can see every point that you're making. Good job bro
ReplyDeleteNo problem cousin...spread the knowledge! lol...or at least the opinion
ReplyDeletehit da switch? i couldnt figure who this is lol...but thanks...its finally off my chest lol