Race to the MVP.

[TheGarden]

The media saying Melo is an MVP candidate on one hand, the other has realGM Durant and LeBron fan boys saying no one else has a chance.

Carmelo is so called inefficient because he doesn't have another player to take substantial pressure off of him on the floor. James had 4, Durant has 2.

People continue to bring up last year, the year before, etc.... none of that matters right now its about this year and when you watch games you see Carmelo is having a helluva year.

Durant- the advanced stats king
LeBron- overall game is just crazy right now
Carmelo- just doin work on the court

Knicks team is shooting better than Melo, third best team in the league in eFG%, 7th best 3pt shooting team. Felton, Kidd, Ronnie Brewer and JR Smith having carreer highs in 3pt%. There are 5 Knicks playing over 10 mpg shooting over 40 3pt%, and you say that no player take substantial pressure off him on the floor? COME ON.

Carmelo is not even close to Durant, LeBron and Duncan as a player this season. I like Carmelo, he's a good player, probably top10 in the league, yeah, he'll have MVP credit this season just like Kobe did last season without deserving a true shot, but still not a MVP caliber player. Hopefully the league won't make the same mistake as 2011.

New York Knicks team record is a product of a good defensive team, hot from three point land, above average rebounding team and a volume scorer. Melo isn't carrying this team like other players in this league does.

watch our games, Brewer, Kidd, Felton, JR are always open because Carmelo gets the ball teams double, Melo passes out and we hit the open man you can use that as a knock on Carmelo. If he had a Wade or Westbrook he'd be even better since he'd have someone else the defense needs to focus on and he can more room to work with its pretty damn simple.

Carmelo is a top 5 NBA player, 1 of the best in the world and an MVP candidate there is no way any of you guys can say he's not

[TheKingOfVa360]

The media saying Melo is an MVP candidate on one hand, the other has realGM Durant and LeBron fan boys saying no one else has a chance.

Carmelo is so called inefficient because he doesn't have another player to take substantial pressure off of him on the floor. James had 4, Durant has 2.

People continue to bring up last year, the year before, etc.... none of that matters right now its about this year and when you watch games you see Carmelo is having a helluva year.

Durant- the advanced stats king
LeBron- overall game is just crazy right now
Carmelo- just doin work on the court

Knicks team is shooting better than Melo, third best team in the league in eFG%, 7th best 3pt shooting team. Felton, Kidd, Ronnie Brewer and JR Smith having carreer highs in 3pt%. There are 5 Knicks playing over 10 mpg shooting over 40 3pt%, and you say that no player take substantial pressure off him on the floor? COME ON.

Carmelo is not even close to Durant, LeBron and Duncan as a player this season. I like Carmelo, he's a good player, probably top10 in the league, yeah, he'll have MVP credit this season just like Kobe did last season without deserving a true shot, but still not a MVP caliber player. Hopefully the league won't make the same mistake as 2011.

New York Knicks team record is a product of a good defensive team, hot from three point land, above average rebounding team and a volume scorer. Melo isn't carrying this team like other players in this league does.

You're so wrong. Melo is carrying his team more than any player in the NBA this season. And yes he is an elite player, stats don't lie. He's the best player on an elite team, number 2 in the NBA in scoring, 6th in per (Ant Davis hasn't played enough games to count), playing great defense, moving the ball, and leading his team. The bias vs Melo on realgm is insane, this is the only message board where Melo isn't treated like a top 5 top 10 guy. It's like the twilight zone.

[bbms]

watch our games, Brewer, Kidd, Felton, JR are always open because Carmelo gets the ball teams double, Melo passes out and we hit the open man you can use that as a knock on Carmelo. If he had a Wade or Westbrook he'd be even better since he'd have someone else the defense needs to focus on and he can more room to work with its pretty damn simple.

This explains why Knicks score more per possessions when Carmelo is off court.


I'd say having these 3pt shooting cast helps more to improve Melo's efficiency, than the opposite.

[TheKingOfVa360]

watch our games, Brewer, Kidd, Felton, JR are always open because Carmelo gets the ball teams double, Melo passes out and we hit the open man you can use that as a knock on Carmelo. If he had a Wade or Westbrook he'd be even better since he'd have someone else the defense needs to focus on and he can more room to work with its pretty damn simple.

This explains why Knicks score more per possessions when Carmelo is off court.


I'd say having these 3pt shooting cast helps more to improve Melo's efficiency, than the opposite.

You obviously never played basketball on a competitive level before. When you have a star on your team they attract double and triple teams. The offense is set to play off your star and it spreads the floor. That means shooters will be wide open. You take that star off the team and those same shots would be contested.

[Clyde Frazier]

I don't have a problem with people putting durant, lebron, and even duncan at this pt ahead of carmelo in the MVP race.

I do have a problem with people spewing blatant lies, though.

"Carmelo doesn't move the ball or play within the flow of the offense."

"Carmelo doesn't play defense."

"Carmelo is inefficient."

You clearly haven't watched the guy play this season. He makes quick drives to the basket, looks for the open man often, and has been an excellent spot up shooter. His team defense and hustle (outside of that awful play in Houston) have been more than adequate.

And 46% FG, 44% 3PT, 80% FT, 58% TS is more than efficient enough for a guy putting up nearly 27 PPG.

He's the best player on a top 5 team. That means he's in the discussion. Give it a rest.

[bbms]

Double teams in the perimeter are hardly considered a good strategy. When you have three point shooters to guard, it's quite a poor strategy. Since Melo and Durant are playing in the same league and I don't see teams doubling Durant on the perimeter every possession, I assume this is false, Melo doesn't get doubled every possession, you're taking a situational set and project it as a frequent set.

And yeah, this is the effect 3pt shooting role players have: stretch the floor. If you focus to guard the best scorer, there'll be a capable 3pt shooter open. And yes, this helps more the scoring star than the 3pt player. And yes, THIS TAKES PRESSURE OFF THE SCORER.

Look how Durant and Westbrook played poorly last season with 3 bad scorers, Sefo, Perkins and Ibaka. This allowed the opposition to focus the defense on Westbrook and Durant. Passing to Sefo, Perkins and Ibaka open, wouldn't magically make them 40+ 3pt% players on 3+ attempts per game.

I think your arguments are really poor... You can't argue Melo is having a production on LeBron, Durant and Duncan's level of excellence, then you throw here that he's team is not that good(well, Knicks has a hell of a role player cast), throwing situations as the whole picture... I think you are pretty desperate to make a case for Melo.

It's better to say: "he's my favorite player and carries the heaviest offensive load on my favorite team and we're top 5 team in the league". I don't want to make mean predictions, you'll probably eat me alive, but I think Knicks 3pt shooting is a bit hot and might go down as the season goes, dragging their team record a bit. This might also affect Melo's efficiency, and he'll separate from the top performers as MVP candidate soon.

[TheGarden]

Double teams in the perimeter are hardly considered a good strategy. When you have three point shooters to guard, it's quite a poor strategy. Since Melo and Durant are playing in the same league and I don't see teams doubling Durant on the perimeter every possession, I assume this is false, Melo doesn't get doubled every possession, you're taking a situational set and project it as a frequent set.

And yeah, this is the effect 3pt shooting role players have: stretch the floor. If you focus to guard the best scorer, there'll be a capable 3pt shooter open. And yes, this helps more the scoring star than the 3pt player. And yes, THIS TAKES PRESSURE OFF THE SCORER.

Look how Durant and Westbrook played poorly last season with 3 bad scorers, Sefo, Perkins and Ibaka. This allowed the opposition to focus the defense on Westbrook and Durant. Passing to Sefo, Perkins and Ibaka open, wouldn't magically make them 40+ 3pt% players on 3+ attempts per game.

I think your arguments are really poor... You can't argue Melo is having a production on LeBron, Durant and Duncan's level of excellence, then you throw here that he's team is not that good(well, Knicks has a hell of a role player cast), throwing situations as the whole picture... I think you are pretty desperate to make a case for Melo.

It's better to say: "he's my favorite player and carries the heaviest offensive load on my favorite team and we're top 5 team in the league". I don't want to make mean predictions, you'll probably eat me alive, but I think Knicks 3pt shooting is a bit hot and might go down as the season goes, dragging their team record a bit. This might also affect Melo's efficiency, and he'll separate from the top performers as MVP candidate soon.

this is all just bogus, its a shame guys can even admit he's playing at high level

no to mention the fact the Durant and Westbrook have each other it makes the game easier facts are facts he's playing with 2 other legit scorers while Carmelo is not. JR is very streaky at times, Felton as well. Guys like Brewer are thriving off of Carmelo but that doesn't mean anything I guess

Like I said Durant is the advanced stats king and media darling

[theokie]

Melo just isn't in the top 2 right now. Being some where between 3-5 in the MVP race isn't a knock on the guy or a negative comment towards his abilities at all.

[TheKingOfVa360]

Melo just isn't in the top 2 right now. Being some where between 3-5 in the MVP race isn't a knock on the guy or a negative comment towards his abilities at all.

He is on a lot of peoples top 2, he's some peoples MVP choice right now. The correct reply would be he isn't in your top 2 right now but 3-5 on your list.

[mademan]

I think Melo is comfortably behind Durant and Lebron. He's fighting with Duncan for 3rd place. He's got the "wow" factor going for him though, and we've already seen some people win MVP's because of that (Rose 2011, Nash 2006).

[litex]

The only reason Melo is not leading the MVP race right now is because the best player in the world's team is the best in the East, and the 2nd best player in the world's team is the best in the west.

[theokie]

Melo just isn't in the top 2 right now. Being some where between 3-5 in the MVP race isn't a knock on the guy or a negative comment towards his abilities at all.

He is on a lot of peoples top 2, he's some peoples MVP choice right now. The correct reply would be he isn't in your top 2 right now but 3-5 on your list.

You missed my point. Melo fans are upset that we are downplaying his accolades right now. They dislike when people put him somewhere from 3-5. All i was saying that there is no shame in being 3rd in the MVP race.

I realize my opinion isn't the final say. The correct reply would be try not to sound like a jackass.

[JordansBulls]

Melo just isn't in the top 2 right now. Being some where between 3-5 in the MVP race isn't a knock on the guy or a negative comment towards his abilities at all.

Maybe not, but truth be told this will probably be Melo's only chance to win mvp in his career.

[Hero]

The only reason Melo is not leading the MVP race right now is because the best player in the world's team is the best in the East, and the 2nd best player in the world's team is the best in the west.

You sure? More like Melo is not in the race because he isn't close to LeBron or Durant at this point in what he adds to his team.

[theokie]

The only reason Melo is not leading the MVP race right now is because the best player in the world's team is the best in the East, and the 2nd best player in the world's team is the best in the west.

You sure? More like Melo is not in the race because he isn't close to LeBron or Durant at this point in what he adds to his team.

Same thing said two different ways

[kamelion4291]

Good God. Can we stop making excuses for Melo ALL the time? "His efficiency isn't good because he doesn't have the players to take pressure off of him!" That is absolutely ridiculous. You think that ever stopped LeBron from putting up HUGE numbers on MUCH better efficiency than Melo when he was on the Cavs? Where was LeBron's perennial All-Star?

You know why people hate Melo? Because he gets more excuses made for him than any other supposed "top" player. When people point out his glaring flaws, it's a bombardment of excuses for why we're supposed to just ignore that his lack of efficiency, laughably low assist numbers, or why he doesn't win etc.

If you want to continually make the argument that Melo is a top 2 or 3 MVP candidate just because the media is talking about him that way (plays in New York, what a shocker), then go ahead. Just because your argument is based on the actual media voters being less informed than people on this very forum, which is 100% true, then fine, he's top 2 or 3 even when he doesn't deserve to be. This thread is supposed to be for discussing who we think the top MVP candidates are, not trying to predict how bad people will blow the actual vote.

For those pro-Melo people, I'd really love a legitimate argument for why Melo is ahead of LeBron, Durant, and Duncan that doesn't involve excuses.

[Tien]

As much as I love to crap on Carmelo I'll give credit when its due.

Knicks are number 2 team in the East right now mostly due to his efforts. He has no 2nd option.

Durant and LeBron have 2nd / 3rd options that produce every night. Melo has nobody. JR smith? Felton? Amare? Give me a break.

If Knicks win 58-60 games, with OKC and Miami each winning 60-62 games, Melo will be getting a lot of votes.

[airchibundo507]

Melo just isn't in the top 2 right now. Being some where between 3-5 in the MVP race isn't a knock on the guy or a negative comment towards his abilities at all.

Maybe not, but truth be told this will probably be Melo's only chance to win mvp in his career.

what else has your crystal ball revealed?

[airchibundo507]

As much as I love to crap on Carmelo I'll give credit when its due.

Knicks are number 2 team in the East right now mostly due to his efforts. He has no 2nd option.

Durant and LeBron have 2nd / 3rd options that produce every night. Melo has nobody. JR smith? Felton? Amare? Give me a break.

If Knicks win 58-60 games, with OKC and Miami each winning 60-62 games, Melo will be getting a lot of votes.

You have my respect, sir.

Now a lot would have to go Melo's way for him to actually win the MVP award, like the Knicks winning the East and having a number of statement wins over other elite teams, but all I'm saying is that he is in the conversation.

[Tron Carter]

As much as I love to crap on Carmelo I'll give credit when its due.

Knicks are number 2 team in the East right now mostly due to his efforts. He has no 2nd option.

Durant and LeBron have 2nd / 3rd options that produce every night. Melo has nobody. JR smith? Felton? Amare? Give me a break.

If Knicks win 58-60 games, with OKC and Miami each winning 60-62 games, Melo will be getting a lot of votes.

That's what it boils down to. Beyond the "shooting and efficiency ratings". Melo is our first,second, and third option.

Basing MVP votes off of advanced statistical data devalues the award. If that was the case guys like Rose wouldn't have won.

In LeBron's case he's surrounded by 2 other all-star players as well as my leading candidate for 6moty in Ray Allen. KD has an elite point guard in Westbrook, budding all-star in Ibaka, and borderline, if not elite, scorer in Kevin Martint.