Race to the MVP.

[702Celtics]

It's Lebron's to lose. Unless he gets hurt, I don't see anyone else taking it from him.

Miami is gonna push 70 wins this year, if they want to.

[arifgokcen]

In response to the guy saying Lebron doesn't get more calls your wrong. Career wise Melo has almost always attacked the rim more than Lebron (he actually has the record for most recorded shots at rim in a season) and he has always gotten less calls.

The difference between the two scoring wise is that Melo gets in the paint more but finishes over 10% worse than Lebron at rim.

Lebron also gets to the rim mostly on transition buckets (that speed) while Melo gets to the rim on post ups and hard drives.

Last season shots attempted inside paint
Lebron inside 31%
Carmelo inside 29%

Another thing to consider so that you understand what i mean lebron drives much more than melo.
Significant amount lebron assists are because of drive and kickouts.Melo rarely does that.So if you factor in that part of the game actually lebron drives inside at about 5-8% higher than melo does per possession.

Before you say do your research or dont post.

[arifgokcen]

I dont understand this knicks fans.Dont throw some arguments you cant backup.TheGarden you should read my post.

I am still waiting for an answer

[Mobby]

I could see Paul winning it if the Clippers win big, but even The Big Fundamental has a case for it so far.

[C-izMe]

In response to the guy saying Lebron doesn't get more calls your wrong. Career wise Melo has almost always attacked the rim more than Lebron (he actually has the record for most recorded shots at rim in a season) and he has always gotten less calls.

The difference between the two scoring wise is that Melo gets in the paint more but finishes over 10% worse than Lebron at rim.

Lebron also gets to the rim mostly on transition buckets (that speed) while Melo gets to the rim on post ups and hard drives.

Last season shots attempted inside paint
Lebron inside 31%
Carmelo inside 29%

Another thing to consider so that you understand what i mean lebron drives much more than melo.
Significant amount lebron assists are because of drive and kickouts.Melo rarely does that.So if you factor in that part of the game actually lebron drives inside at about 5-8% higher than melo does per possession.

Before you say do your research or dont post.

"Hey let's not read his post and take Melo's worst year because that makes sense!"

I put career wise for a reason because other than his Dantoni seasons (where he was either being a point forward or spotup shooter) he takes a ton of at rim shots. In 2011 pre Dantoni it was 38% of his attempts, 36% in 2010, 36% in 2009, 38% in 08, 42% in 07, and 33% so far this year. It was also 31% last year.

Lebron since 07 has taken 33%, 37%, 33%, 34%, 31%, and 35% yearly.

Since 06 (excluding Dantoni Melo) Melo is at 37%. Lebron is at 33%.

Also Lebron drives and kicks because the defense collapses in time. He probably wouldn't make most of those shots anyway.

[kamelion4291]

This "Melo is the best scorer in the league" argument will apparently never die even when you throw tons of stats at Knick/Denver fans that they can't dispute.

You'll notice anyone arguing in favor of Anthony as a scorer will never post many stats if they do at all. It's conjecture and conjecture only. They'll make things up like "Carmelo is inefficient because he takes more shots at the buzzer". When that gets proven wrong they'll go to something else. All the while the responses are where the actual facts come into play and never from the person making the argument. Considering the amount of time wasted looking up and posting all those stats, Knick fans just seem like trolls at this point.

I mean, LeBron gets 8-10 points on transition shots alone? Come on. "Carmelo is the better scorer because 'insert no stats here'" might be one of the most used statements on the board.

LeBron has been, is, and will be a better scorer than Carmelo Anthony. After 10 years in the league, it isn't likely to change any time soon. There is a ton of evidence to support it and almost none against it. A better comparison would be who the better scorer is between Carmelo and Dwyane Wade.

You'd figure the "best scorer in the league" would have at least one scoring title to his name, right? Right?

[C-izMe]

I'm actually just arguing that Melo takes more shots at rim than Lebron.

He's a better scorer than Lebron SKILL wise but Lebrpn is definetly a more effective scorer.

Melo with a coach to direct his skill in the right areas (basically attack the basket, shoot when they play off, and run PNRs) could be the most dangerous scorer in the league.

[kamelion4291]

Well, what if you factored in basketball IQ into the entire "skill" part? Shouldn't that be part of the deal? I mean when you talk about Josh Smith, when you compare him to people you have to assume you're talking about an idiot and not the idealized version of his skill sets.

If Melo doesn't know what a good shot is, can he really be considered the best scorer or even have the most innate ability?

[C-izMe]

Well, what if you factored in basketball IQ into the entire "skill" part? Shouldn't that be part of the deal? I mean when you talk about Josh Smith, when you compare him to people you have to assume you're talking about an idiot and not the idealized version of his skill sets.

If Melo doesn't know what a good shot is, can he really be considered the best scorer or even have the most innate ability?

Best scorer? No. Best innate ability? Yes.

Mindset (in this case Melo's love for the pullup J) is usually the result of coaching. It's how he learned to play.

A good coach can completely get him playing the right way though (like Wilt in 67 or Jordan/Kobe with and without Phil).

[Ziggy Stardust]

The hate for carmelo is ridiculous, and has made me a fan of his. Most of the talk isn't centered around Melo's play so far, but rather how inferior he is compared to Lebron. Yes I understand Lebron is also an MVP candidate, but it seems like most of you are purposefully ignoring the fact that the award isn't about best player in the league. You understand that when it's another player, but you somehow take it as an insult to Bron when it's Melo. Melo has been very valuable. His stats and, more importantly, his play so far has shown it. Sorry if a 44% fg percentage makes that all moot to you.

This is getting ridiculous. Lebron has come out taking what the D gives him, getting his numbers, playing solid D, and generally displaying his talent while him and his all-star team run train on people and generally outclass most opponents. Melo has elevated his game (taking on a bigger offensive, and leadership load while stepping up his defensive intensity), and his team is playing much better than expected. People are actually trying to counter that with examples of Lebrons defensive impact/versitility as when he shut down Jeff Teague and Chris Humphries for stretches?

[Woodsanity]

If Rose won MVP I fail to see Melo has no chance.

[OptimusOne6]

The top 3 for MVP will be the same as last year. It will be between Durant, CP3, and Lebron. I don't think Lebron will win it unless Wade sits a numerous amounts of games this year like he did last year. We won't see the best of Durant until later because he is a slow starter.

[truth serum]

The hate for carmelo is ridiculous, and has made me a fan of his. Most of the talk isn't centered around Melo's play so far, but rather how inferior he is compared to Lebron. Yes I understand Lebron is also an MVP candidate, but it seems like most of you are purposefully ignoring the fact that the award isn't about best player in the league. You understand that when it's another player, but you somehow take it as an insult to Bron when it's Melo. Melo has been very valuable. His stats and, more importantly, his play so far has shown it. Sorry if a 44% fg percentage makes that all moot to you.

This is getting ridiculous. Lebron has come out taking what the D gives him, getting his numbers, playing solid D, and generally displaying his talent while him and his all-star team run train on people and generally outclass most opponents. Melo has elevated his game (taking on a bigger offensive, and leadership load while stepping up his defensive intensity), and his team is playing much better than expected. People are actually trying to counter that with examples of Lebrons defensive impact/versitility as when he shut down Jeff Teague and Chris Humphries for stretches?

Nice post, dude.

[TheGarden]

The hate for carmelo is ridiculous, and has made me a fan of his. Most of the talk isn't centered around Melo's play so far, but rather how inferior he is compared to Lebron. Yes I understand Lebron is also an MVP candidate, but it seems like most of you are purposefully ignoring the fact that the award isn't about best player in the league. You understand that when it's another player, but you somehow take it as an insult to Bron when it's Melo. Melo has been very valuable. His stats and, more importantly, his play so far has shown it. Sorry if a 44% fg percentage makes that all moot to you.

This is getting ridiculous. Lebron has come out taking what the D gives him, getting his numbers, playing solid D, and generally displaying his talent while him and his all-star team run train on people and generally outclass most opponents. Melo has elevated his game (taking on a bigger offensive, and leadership load while stepping up his defensive intensity), and his team is playing much better than expected. People are actually trying to counter that with examples of Lebrons defensive impact/versitility as when he shut down Jeff Teague and Chris Humphries for stretches?

thank god someone gets our point

[GetItDone]

Paul or Melo.

If Clippers are a top 3 seed, it should 100% be Chris Paul.

[EvilSperm]

Melo or Kobe ( yes i said Kobe)

[stephcurry4life]

Its going to be between LeBron KD and CP3. I say KD will win it. Look at those rebounding numbers to start the season...ridiculous

[TheGarden]

Its going to be between LeBron KD and CP3. I say KD will win it. Look at those rebounding numbers to start the season...ridiculous

a 6'11 guy averaging 11 rebounds isn't ridiculous, its expected to be honest. KD should be a 30 and 10 guy

Westbrook will likely hold him back though from MVP aspirations

[Woodsanity]

Its going to be between LeBron KD and CP3. I say KD will win it. Look at those rebounding numbers to start the season...ridiculous

a 6'11 guy averaging 11 rebounds isn't ridiculous, its expected to be honest. KD should be a 30 and 10 guy

Westbrook will likely hold him back though from MVP aspirations

Being 6'11 doesn't mean you should be averaging 11 boards... Look at Dirk. Dirk and KD are at the perimeter a lot so they are going to get less rebounds than non shooting SFs and PFs. Anyway his current rebounding is not sustainable.

27/9/4.5 is probably around what he will get at best. Less scoring since he wants to focus on passing more.

[stephcurry4life]

Listen to what you just said though... he should be a 30 and 11 guy??? okay well if you are right about that then there is no way that he shouldn't be MVP unless his team severely under performs.