Tag: Carmello Anthony

What does Carmelo Anthony have to do to win a championship?

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CarmeloAnthony

As most sports watchers are well aware of, the upheaval of the New York Knicks and their troubled superstar, Carmelo Anthony.

Anthony has been a great offensive existence on his teams for years. Scoring 25 a night for his career, including 28+ a game in 4 seasons.

When Carmelo came out of Syracuse, I feel that many people felt he was a winner and a leader on the court, who could bring that winning factor to a team, and put them on his back. Now with talks of Phil Jackson returning to the NBA and interviewing with the NY Knicks who knows what to think.

But it is becoming sorely obvious, now, after 10 years in the NBA, he is not quite the leader that many had thought he was going to be. If anything, it seems his value could possibly be on the downside of things. Anthony has shown over time that he can largely be a one dimensional, selfish shooter. Including carrying no leadership to a team. He had a prosperous opportunity to take over the Knicks and demonstrate his leadership abilities when Jason Kidd left in 2012. Instead, the Knicks have been atrocious.

Carmelo has shown, he is not a player to build a team around. Although many people really thought Melo was going to lead the Knicks to the promised land of NBA titles, but as it appears to keep coming out, if Melo is the best player on the team you won’t win anything. Basketball is a team sport, and Anthony I don’t think fully gets that idea. He shoots the ball a lot. Where he has ranked in the top 5 in shots/game over the last several healthy years. He gets 22 shots a night now, which has him at 1st on the season.

How much does he genuinely want to win? That is going to be a huge question mark for him to face. The Knicks would have to make astounding moves to beef up the awful team they have on the court now. And it would have to be with a real leader, and Melo as a scorer. The one true asset the Knicks should try and keep is Tim Hardaway Jr. this kid has talent, and lots of it, and has leadership potential.

When in Denver, George Karl wanted team ball and it didn’t work the best for Melo, so he left. Mike D’Antoni sought ball movement and that didn’t suit his game either, so he had to go. Then the Knicks brought in Amare Stoudamire, but that evidently didn’t work out, they didn’t play well on the court together. It even seems like when Jeremy Lin was getting things going and Lin was becoming an essential piece to a Knicks team that was respectable, he had to go. And even again now, this year, Melo wants to play PF, and Bargnani didn’t fit in anymore either. Melo needs to look in the mirror and see what’s happening before his eyes.

So, in the summer, where would or could be the best spot for him to win? I find that if he is willing to work hard, listen to his coach he could fit nicely in a Bulls uniform. Put him as their scorer, and nothing more to be expected. Even though the offensive-minded Melo doesn’t typically fit the Tom Thibodeau model. In the chance that he does go there, and Melo joins the Bulls, he could potentially have all the shots he wants. The Bulls would still have a defense and rebounding for him, so he could play as their scorer, and put points up, which is what he can do. The Bulls obviously urgently need a scorer, and if Derrick Rose ever comes back, he can be the driving point for Chicago. Melo could benefit of defenses that cannot center on only him and live off of kick-and-shoot openings that Rose could create for him.

I think that Melo has limited market value. His ISO Ball has to get stopped, and he needs to come around and become a new player. He is not the “final piece” to win a championship.

Melo really got crushed this year for being a player that can’t take a team on his back and will them to victories. Anthony is at best a complimentary player on a team with other good players. Anthony knows he can’t win in New York, at this stage. With probably 6-7 more years to play ahead, 4-5 that are quality years, winning should be his number one priority now.

Written By TonyK of VegasTopDogs.com

Who are the NBA top contenders for the championship this season

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There have been a lot of terrific moments of this season; it has given us a number of teams that have played excellently, some surprise up and comers to watch for, teams that have, with pleasure, outplayed their forecast. There has been some impressive basketball.

The most intriguing storyline to me, of course is the Miami Heat making an attempt to repeat. Let’s see if LeBron can lead his team to an immense significant milestone. Especially with their awesome winning streak, where they looked utterly dominant. Without much competition, their big 3 commanding them along the way like warriors.

This is it, the best time of the year for the NBA. We know for a fact there will be some big explosive eruptions along the way, some will leave us mesmerized and cheering, and some could be from a guy who comes off the bench one night and plays his heart out on the court.

So after looking over numbers and putting a lot of deliberation into the teams, I have thought things over, and I have come up with my top 5 teams in the NBA, who have the maximum odds to win it all this season. The NBA is set up for typically the better teams win their series, and I expect the same again this year.

So let us commence now.

5- San Antonio Spurs (Record 58-24) PPG: 103.0 OPPG: 96.6 FG% 48.1 3PFG% 37.6. Reason why to watch them; The Spurs are the veteran team on the block, who always are underestimated, coming into the season, let alone the playoffs. They are a smart team that takes smart shoots. They also play a high level and are an excellent offensive team. But, with this, also come old legs, and the mounting injuries, which could be a setback.

4- Los Angeles Clippers (Record 56-26) PPG: 101.1 OPPG: 94.6 FG% 47.8 3PFG% 35.8. Reason why to watch them; they are a strong team that holds opponents to bad shots, making very tough defenders. Also an extremely versatile team with lots of scoring options, a stout inside game with a lot of athleticism. But they don’t seem to have that dominant scorer who can take over the game when needed. Blake Griffin is their main man, but still waiting for him to take his game to the next level.

3- New York Knicks (Record 54-28) PPG: 100.0, OPPG: 95.7 FG% 44.8 – 3PFG% 37.6. Reason why to watch them; Much depends on Carmelo Anthony, with this team. He is the heart and the soul to their success. He is absolutely capable of carrying them on his back; he has done it all season long. They have been playing great ball since the end of February on the season, making a commanding statement to anyone who thinks this team can’t make any noise. To me, the biggest concern for me is the lack of numerous good shooters.

2- Oklahoma City Thunder (Record 60-22) PPG: 105.7 OPPG: 96.5 FG% 48.1 3PFG% 37.7. Reason why to watch them; This is an explosive team that wins big, capable of blowouts in a hurry. They are a brilliant defensive team, defending inside the paint and outside. They have tremendous rebounding skill, behind Durant and Ibaka in particular. Biggest concern is Russell Westbrook needs to play PG, consent to Kevin Durant be their 1st scoring option. When Westbrook shoots more than 25 times, the Thunder are very beatable team, contradictory, they are 12-4 when he has 10+ assists in a game. Durant needs to keep control of his team.

1- Miami Heat (Record 66-16) PPG: 102.9 OPPG: 95.0 FG% 49.6 3PFG% 39.6. Reason why to watch them; simply put, they have the big 3. They are filled with out-and-out talent; it’s very hard to bet against them. They are loaded with more skill than anyone else; their 2nd unit team could possibly win 40 games. They are a great shooting team, able to knock it down from all over the court. Their biggest problem is their poor rebounding, which could be a problem vs big rebounding threats, which is why their shooting skill must remain tops.

So there you have it, my top 5 best rational teams to win it all in this year’s NBA playoffs. So take it in, agree or disagree, one of these teams will be the NBA champs.

Make your selection count.

Written by TonyK of VegasTopDogs.com

Expected breakout star in the NBA PLAYOFFS….Melo, CP3, or KD?

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While LeBron James had his expectations over the years, may perhaps in some ways risen, but they may have been declining a bit with him winning a title with his Heat last year. James, and the Heat are expected to make the Finals this NBA postseason.

But of the other NBA stars heading to the postseason, which of these guys is going to leave us sayin “wow.” Each player has their own skill set and each is very different players from one another. But here are the top 3 players I expect to bring their games to the next level and create some turmoil come playoff time.

Durant has been playing awesome. He has his team on the verge of 60 wins, and he is the reason why. Russell Westbrook needs to discover his role as a secondary scorer, KD needs to lead his team, and he is getting more aggressive as well. Can he help them to take the advantage in a strong Western conference?

At 6-foot-10, with extraordinary athletic skill, Durant is an absolute matchup nightmare for just about anybody. He can extend defenses, put it on the floor and finish strong to the rack. When he gets on a hot streak, I don’t see a lot of teams who have a counter for him.

Durant might be established as the best matchup concern potentially for the Spurs, with no one who can stop him 1 on 1. Durant has the ability to lead his OKC Thunder to the NBA finals yet again. KD does the little things so well which is impressive, when he gets 3+ steals/game, the Thunder are 13-5.

Durant also, with his defensive skills with his length and quick hands and he is a machine that can score ridiculously. KD can do it all from scoring to rebounding to feeding the rock to his teammates. He is also a great free throw shooter at 91% and will be a player that everybody will be watching even more than usual.

When you have a team that went on a burning streak of their own, and a player lighting up the scoreboards, Carmelo Anthony and the Knicks are a team that is scaring many opponents.

In case you thought Anthony’s already-remarkable season couldn’t get any better, just wait until the Knicks face Boston, because these 2 legendary teams battling in playoffs, means basketball. Although ‘Melo had been christened a “game slower”, in the past, dribble for 15 seconds, then make a play, and his playoff performances have been disappointing to say the least, this year means a load to ‘Melo and the Knicks team, and he will make those who mistrusted his superstar standing look stupid. He will use his drive to make it big in the playoffs. Melo and the Knicks are back in the spotlight looking for another chance to shine on a big stage. He is an all-around scoring machine who can attack the glass with tenacity and get the easy layup or dunk or knock down the big three-pointer.

The Clips are getting themselves together and ready for a deep playoff run. They won their division, and to me, there is 1 main reason as to why.

Chris Paul will be a force in this year’s playoffs. He may not be a “shooting-point guard”, like some other big name PGs are swaying towards, but he is a proper PG who can lead a team. And really, who is going to stop him? With matchups vs a beat up Denver and an injury riddled Spurs looking promising, there is simply not a better PG in the NBA.

A championship isn’t completely necessary to mend the floundering Clippers history, and even if CP3 fails to make the finals; he may have a playoff push that leaves us shaking our heads in amusement.

Written by Mike Anthony for VegasTopDogs.com