Keep Carmelo but make him work on his game

[Ewingfan]

carmelo should watch this year's playoff tapes of Paul Pierce. Notice how Paul Pierce is very deliberate with his shots unlike Anthony who rushes alotta shots. Also Carmelo needs to be a better finisher around the basket. Yes Anthony is a flat out scorer and he's going to score alot of points in the regular season but in the playoffs teams play you differently. Carmelo needs to know when to give up the ball sometimes and trust his other teammates. A.I is already set in his ways. I'm also tired of Carmelo mostly using the baselines to score. He'll catch then jab step,jab step then put up a jumper. He needs to use the middle of the floor more.Yes he's improved his jumpshot but his ball handling and ability to get to the basket and finish strongly is lacking. Carmelo does not have the foot speed and athleticism to be Kobe or Lebron but he needs to improve his overrall game. Denver would be stupid to give up on him. I bet Detroit wishes they drafted him instead of Darko Millicic.

[Nutty Nats Fan]

No one needs to make him work on his game.

Every year his usually does improve a part of his game. This year it was three point shooting and rebounding.

Although trading AI and firing Karl would have the biggest impact on his game next year. Especially if he has a coach who believes in little things like calling plays, player movement, ball movement. Then he'll further increase his FG% and Assists.

Hopefully too, the new coach could put in a real system on defense, and make sure he puts in more effort.

Edit: Of course.. with Karl here, I see his ability to improve being hurt. Hopefully he can figure out a way around Karl, or next season I bet Karl will claim Melo can't improve anymore and will trade him.

[The Rebel]

Melo's biggest problem on offense is the floor spacing and not trusting teammates, neither of which he can do much about with the current group of Nuggets players. Nobody outside of JR is even close to being a dependable jumpshooter, Camby is the best one on the team at passing into the post, and the team has no one who moves without the ball. Until changes are made there will never be much continuity on offense regardless of who is on the floor.

[Nutty Nats Fan]

Yeah, I was thinking the personal needed some changing too. Though coach would be the easiest way to make an impact. Najera use to be real big about cutting to the basket, and Karl turned him in to a three point shooter. The team could have used that, but removing one thing they needed to add another doesn't help.

I think if the FO could somehow end up with a starting line up of:

Troy Murphy/Melo/Nene (healthy plz!)/JR/Hinrich

That would really help Melo's game. PF who can hit shots, SG and PG who can hit shots, and a strong post presence, if he is healthy. With some coaching that team could be tops in the league in efficiency on offense.

[Relentless88]

Melo NEEDS to improve his defense.

[SnakefromHell]

Improve his game? His game is at top level... his defense, if he wants to, is above average.

What he needs to improve his is game attitude. Not his game.

Right now, Paul Pierce is the second best SF in the L after LeBron James. He takes his defense to a WHOLE NEW level in the playoffs and not only the defense issue... it's the intensity, the focus on both ends every second he's on the floor, the desire to win, passion and energy.

If Melo can play with those, he would not only be the second best SF after LeBron but one could argue he's as good as LeBron if not better.

But right now, comparing Melo to LeBron is laughhahahahahahahaable.

[T-33]

There isnt a single person in the NBA who doesnt need to improve on their game... This thread doesnt make much sense to me lol.

[OmniDEN]

There isnt a single person in the NBA who doesnt need to improve on their game... This thread doesnt make much sense to me lol.

Ok well this person just happens to be our franchise player. I don't care about other players.

[Nutty Nats Fan]

If Melo can play with those, he would not only be the second best SF after LeBron but one could argue he's as good as LeBron if not better.

You're right, if Melo could play with those things (Ray Allen, KG, and a coach who wasn't a complete (Please Use More Appropriate Word)), you wouldn't see a frustrated player who knows his coach is a failure. Anyone in Melo's situation would be having trouble, actually a lot of people would have handled it worse. Get him out of it, and on a team like Boston, and it'll be like night and day.

[Ewingfan]

Improve his game? His game is at top level... his defense, if he wants to, is above average.

What he needs to improve his is game attitude. Not his game.

Right now, Paul Pierce is the second best SF in the L after LeBron James. He takes his defense to a WHOLE NEW level in the playoffs and not only the defense issue... it's the intensity, the focus on both ends every second he's on the floor, the desire to win, passion and energy.

If Melo can play with those, he would not only be the second best SF after LeBron but one could argue he's as good as LeBron if not better.

But right now, comparing Melo to LeBron is laughhahahahahahahaable.

Did you watch the series against the Lakers? That's what i am referring to. In the regular season Melo was great but the defensive intensity goes up in the playoffs. Melo was a black hole when he drove to the basket he was going up against two or three defenders and he did not pass the ball.
He needs to become more of a creator than a scorer. You guys are actin like Melo was trying to pass his teammates the ball and they were missing. I agree the personnel needs to change. I would change the coach though. The team played the same way it did in the regular season. You can make the argument that they played worse.

[Ewingfan]

The proof is in the pudding. Look at Carmelo's first round stats against the Lakers.

Game 1 11-26 FG 42% 3 assists
Game 2 8-20 FG 40% 1 assist
Game 3 5-22 FG 22% 1 assist (ouuch)
Game 4 8-20 FG 40% 3 assist

Now tell me that he doesn't need to work on his game. 8 assist in 4 games that's ridiculous. Like I said Carmelo was great in the regular season but in the playoffs shots are harder because teams key in on the superstars more. I do blame Karl for alot of the offenses problems but geez Carmelo has to pass more. When your shot is not falling you have to do the other things.

[airchibundo507]

The proof is in the pudding. Look at Carmelo's first round stats against the Lakers.

Game 1 11-26 FG 42% 3 assists
Game 2 8-20 FG 40% 1 assist
Game 3 5-22 FG 22% 1 assist (ouuch)
Game 4 8-20 FG 40% 3 assist

Now tell me that he doesn't need to work on his game. 8 assist in 4 games that's ridiculous. Like I said Carmelo was great in the regular season but in the playoffs shots are harder because teams key in on the superstars more. I do blame Karl for alot of the offenses problems but geez Carmelo has to pass more. When your shot is not falling you have to do the other things.

the lakers sat a help defender in the paint and dared us to shoot. the nuggets shot a miserable 25% from behind the arc.

I really don't know how well you expect a post scorer to do when there is no spacing, no off-ball movement, and no point guard setting him up for baskets.

[sportsmikegm23]

If Melo can play with those, he would not only be the second best SF after LeBron but one could argue he's as good as LeBron if not better.

You're right, if Melo could play with those things (Ray Allen, KG, and a coach who wasn't a complete (Please Use More Appropriate Word)), you wouldn't see a frustrated player who knows his coach is a failure. Anyone in Melo's situation would be having trouble, actually a lot of people would have handled it worse. Get him out of it, and on a team like Boston, and it'll be like night and day.

While I agree with some of your contention... I think it's a two-way street and Melo could do alot better job making his teammates better. LeBron doesn't have much help, but he trusts his teammates and always tries to encourage them.

While I am no Karl fan...I think it's really stupid everyone scapegoats him to lengths they have. What title has Jeff Van Gundy won? or Avery Johnson, or for that matter Mike D'Antoni, or Rick Carlisle... none of these coaches have won a championship either... sometimes players have to listen to the instruction...including the best player. Karl is not Phil Jackson or Popovich... and Karl needs to do things better and get more firey with officials... but if you really think any of these coaches would do that much better with this collection of talent.....I disagree.

[The Rebel]

-= original quote snipped =-



While I agree with some of your contention... I think it's a two-way street and Melo could do alot better job making his teammates better. LeBron doesn't have much help, but he trusts his teammates and always tries to encourage them.

So Lebron trusts and encourages them so much that he is in the media two or three times a year saying how he needs help and the team needs changes? Lebron has the ball as much as anybody in the league and his assist stats come directly from that, it is a fact that players that join him all have their offensive production go to hell.

While I agree that Melo could do more, when a player is in the post it is on the teammates to move into angles that the ball holder can see them and get them the ball, and also hit the wide open jumpshots they get because of that player in the post, something only JR seems to be able to do on a consistent basis. that is the number one reason I want to see this team changed with jumpshooters added, before we give up on Melo.

While I am no Karl fan...I think it's really stupid everyone scapegoats him to lengths they have. What title has Jeff Van Gundy won? or Avery Johnson, or for that matter Mike D'Antoni, or Rick Carlisle... none of these coaches have won a championship either... sometimes players have to listen to the instruction...including the best player. Karl is not Phil Jackson or Popovich... and Karl needs to do things better and get more firey with officials... but if you really think any of these coaches would do that much better with this collection of talent.....I disagree.

I agree that Karl has become the scapegoat far too much, this is not an easy group of players to coach. Karl could do more to help the team against the officials, and designing a better offense, but who says the players will follow that system, as they did have one before the trade and that was scrapped pretty quickly after the trade.

[Ewingfan]

-= original quote snipped =-



the lakers sat a help defender in the paint and dared us to shoot. the nuggets shot a miserable 25% from behind the arc.

I really don't know how well you expect a post scorer to do when there is no spacing, no off-ball movement, and no point guard setting him up for baskets.

i agree with the spacing and the ball movement but point guard is overrated. who is the lakers point guard? . derek fisher right. he does not create shots for kobe. kobe is more versatile than carmelo. he creates shots for others and guys like gasol and odom are good passers.
who is the point guard for cleveland. lebron james creates shots for his teammates. Carmelo is not as gifted as both those guys so its unfair for me to compare but that doesn't mean he cant try to pass the ball more. He wasn't even looking for his teammates. I hope Denver gets a coach in here who emphasizes passing the ball.

[The Rebel]

-= original quote snipped =-



i agree with the spacing and the ball movement but point guard is overrated. who is the lakers point guard? . derek fisher right. he does not create shots for kobe. kobe is more versatile than carmelo. he creates shots for others and guys like gasol and odom are good passers.

Do you understand how the triangle works? The only requirements for the Pg of the triangle is to hit jumpshots and play defense, the offense runs through the SG and the SF, with the forward usually being the main distributer there. While it could work with the talent the Nuggets have, Karl does not know the triangle, and does not coach the triangle. In fact the only coach that knows it well enough to coach it is Phil Jackson, and do you see a way that the Nuggets are going to be able to get him? If not then there are no other systems that work with the talent we have, without a very good PG.

who is the point guard for cleveland. lebron james creates shots for his teammates. Carmelo is not as gifted as both those guys so its unfair for me to compare but that doesn't mean he cant try to pass the ball more. He wasn't even looking for his teammates. I hope Denver gets a coach in here who emphasizes passing the ball.

How many games did Cleveland win? How many series against very good teams have the Cavs won? People act as if the Cavs are some great team, the basically ere given a walk through the playoffs last year, and lost badly to the Spurs, and this year they really did not do much better against the celtics.

You can blame Melo for not passing. although for the amount of touches he gets, he passes as much as any of the top scorers. The rest of the team needs to give him reasons to pass though.

[airchibundo507]

-= original quote snipped =-



i agree with the spacing and the ball movement but point guard is overrated. who is the lakers point guard? . derek fisher right. he does not create shots for kobe. kobe is more versatile than carmelo. he creates shots for others and guys like gasol and odom are good passers.
who is the point guard for cleveland. lebron james creates shots for his teammates. Carmelo is not as gifted as both those guys so its unfair for me to compare but that doesn't mean he cant try to pass the ball more. He wasn't even looking for his teammates. I hope Denver gets a coach in here who emphasizes passing the ball.

the lakers really don't have a point guard...mainly a facilitator in kobe. but carmelo doesn't have nearly the ballhandling needed to facilitate an offense in the way that kobe does. but most importantly, the lakers have shooters up and down their roster who can spread the floor and allow the triangle offense to play off of the attention kobe draws from opposing defenses.

no doubt melo could facilitate an offense from the post with these variables which are currently missing from the nuggets (perimeter shooting; unselfish role players; some sort of offensive system which encourages off-ball movement). but what I really want a point guard for is to A.) limit AI's touches and B.) utilize melo's ability to set himself up for baskets without the basketball.

[prekazi]

I don't understand this trusting his teammates thing. Passing has never been a strength of Melo and it will never be. Comparing him to LeBron on passing is nonsense. LeBron is a playmaker, Melo is a complete different player.

And of course he will work on his game. He's a pro, nobody has to make him work on his game. About attitude I can agree you guys. I was really disappointed in this year's playoffs when I saw Melo like that. He gotta be more tough and show some leadership.

[Kakish]

The main thing Melo needs is heart.

[Ewingfan]

Melo NEEDS to improve his defense.

Larry Bird wasn't a great defender nor was Charles Barkley or Isaiah Thomas. Melo needs help defensively. He needs a coach who has a defensive philosophy. Melo needs to pass more. passing has nothing to do with ballhandling. Real basketball observers would know that. Larry Bird wasnt a great ball handler but he was a great passer. Melo is too comftorable just being a scorer. HOW IS IT THAT MARCUS CAMBY HAD THE SAME NUMBER ASSISTS AS CARMELO. THATS RIDICULOUS. THEY BOTH HAD 259 ASSISTS LAST YEAR. Melo doesn't recognize double teams especially late arriving rotations.