Carmelo Anthony Appreciation Thread

[Capn'O]

The Cap's last word on Melo (we can only hope)

Let's get it out there from the start; the Melo era was ill conceived to begin with and the Knicks teams with him on it were always behind the 8-ball here because of it. They failed on 'Bron and were left scrambling to make ANY move that kept them in the limelight. For that reason, Melo was a must get.

On the court, Melo was not an unknown quantity. We knew who he was. He was a great offensive player that needed prodding on defense, often clashed with his coaches, and only trusted other great celebrity playmakers with the rock. Otherwise he would make the decisions. The Knicks' best player at the time was also an offensively minded forward that needed a playmaker to maximize his talent and struggled on defense. A lot of the same issues. To acquire these talents, you wasted your draft picks, your cap space, and tradable assets. To get the help YOU SHOULD HAVE KNOWN YOU WOULD NEED AROUND MELO, you had to wait it out and/or hope for a miracle. There wasn't a clear plan to surround him properly. It was "get him and everything will fall into place. Just you watch." Lol.

All of this was readily foreseeable as was the ensuing drama when we couldn't bring in the right talent around him. If you were going to bring him back (I wouldn't have) Phil had the right idea - recoup the picks and try to build around him with cap space. But he could not execute a cohesive plan. The players he needed didn't come. And Phil acted like a petulant child.


OKC is doing it right with Melo, if a little late in the game. They have the elite playmaker and leader in Westbrook. They have defensive stoppers in Adams, Roberson, and George. They have the personalities to demand attention on defense. And they have prospects waiting in the wings to either get help or take the lead when their stars bolt. For now, Melo just has to do what he does best. Get the ball and score. Then fit in well enough on the other end. This is his shot to redefine his legacy as an NBA player or further cement it.


Last, since we're doing the Melo vs. Patrick thing in a few threads I'll leave this here:

It's not close. For the basketball reasons stated above, Melo's just a harder player to build around. In my view, Melo's a better offensive player but Patrick was an all time great defensive player and an easier personality to build with. Patrick was a better defensive player than offensive player and he was a damn good offensive player. Almost any piece fits well around that if they buy in.

Then there are the non-basketball reasons. The intangibles. Patrick brought that defensive intensity every night. He used to leave pools of sweat at the free throw line that ballboys would have to run and clean up when the opposition gained control. Occasionally, off the steal, they'd have to dive back to the sidelines to avoid being trampled by Knick players on the fast break. At the night's end, nobody ever wondered if he had anything left.

Patricks effort was that tangible and that personality spread to whatever teammates walked through the door. If you came to the Knicks, you had to commit to a defensive concept and fight until you bled every game because your leader did it. Those that didn't - they didn't last long. That's going to keep your team in every game and every season. It gives you a fighting chance.

Things soured towards the end but it was more like having to tell your dad that he really shouldn't go up on the roof anymore at his age than any real animosity. Pat stood us down because you do know that the goddamn gutters aren't gonna clean themselves so the fans and media got into fight with him over it. For a brief while it got ugly. Those that attacked him (I NEVER did... but I was young) didn't really mean it and knew we were too harsh as soon as he left. Certainly by the time he first returned.


Melo doesn't have that workman's edge - both the defensive acumen and that put your head down and grind it out mentality. When things got rough, he put his head down... but at the wrong end of the court often alienating the people that could help achieve better results. That is the sourness he leaves behind. But he does leave some sweetness. His offensive attack is unparalleled and I've seen Kristaps looking to emulate some of his moves with success in Eurobasket. He brought the scoring record back to the home floor. The Knicks had one very fine season with him in near MVP form. He has begun a legacy of standing for the right things off the court. He withstood a media onslaught greater than the one that broke Marbury and came out smiling.

But, for those of us that remember, he's not gonna be that guy whose legacy we never forget. He's another - the best - in the line of stars that we paid too much to bring in at the wrong time. So maybe now he gets to go to the right place and maybe now the Knicks get to take the steps they should have taken when Pat finally hung 'em up... as a Knick. Cutting your losses and rebuilding the right way. It'll take a change of ways for both parties but the opportunity is there.

XOXO

[Besart19]

Mozgov
Carmelo
Lebron
Chandler or Gallinari
C.Paul

Would that be a winning formula?

So dont blame Carmelo for what the FO didnt acomplish. If we got Lebron in 2010, Melo and Paul woul have come in 2011 and 2012.

[NoStatsGuy]

there's someone else with your handle and i got confused, my apologies.

i kinda want to clear that out, now that i have time to check on this thing. 1st of all i didnt only post in the okc forum on that day. thats bad research on your part sorry. 2nd point is, who are you? are you the knicks police checking on whos real fan and whos not? dont embarass yourself, seriously.

aand last but not least, sorry if i dont get excited about loosing and tanking like you all do. tanking and rooting for the team to loose is a freaking loser mentailty and i aint about that life, just sorry. but i dont know any successful team that tanked and is now a serious contender, neither gsw did tank nor did cleveland. cleveland was real lucky with the ping pong balls and only successfull now because lebron came back. the loser teams who tanked, like obviously, are still loosers.

in addition to that i rather have KP, frank, etc compete for playoffs and maybe get kicked their asses in the 1st round that makes the team way better than loosing 60 games and hope some rookie will be THE guy, who leads us to the promised land.

you are free to skip my posts in any given thread, i really dont mind at all.


//and yea im gonna request a name change, even tho i was here first

[Sark]

Mozgov
Carmelo
Lebron
Chandler or Gallinari
C.Paul

Would that be a winning formula?

So dont blame Carmelo for what the FO didnt acomplish. If we got Lebron in 2010, Melo and Paul woul have come in 2011 and 2012.

Lebron wasn't interested in waiting a year. Carmelo wasn't giving up his money either. That lineup was never a possibility.

[TraSoul82]

The glaring thing about Carmelo's career is that he's had 2 tremendous seasons with over-the-hill, yet competent point guards (Billups/Kidd ). The dropoff from those 2 is ridiculous, yet no iteration of the front offices Melo's played under made an effort to line him up with a young floor general. 14 years is plenty of time to line up the obvious.

I thought Carmelo's career was pretty much fading over the horizon. Now I think this next season will be pretty special. He's getting to play with the best point guard he's ever played with (particularly factoring in career arc) he still has his shooting touch and he's going to be away from the media circus and big city distractions.

Also, for all the people who talk about Melo getting his money, at least acknowledge that he wasn't even the highest paid player most of his time in NY.


There was a lot of potential even with Jason Kidd falling apart. Barren David's knee blew out. And Shumperts. Then the highest paid player on the team punches glass.... Man what a waste.

[NoStatsGuy]

The glaring thing about Carmelo's career is that he's had 2 tremendous seasons with over-the-hill, yet competent point guards (Billups/Kidd ). The dropoff from those 2 is ridiculous, yet no iteration of the front offices Melo's played under made an effort to line him up with a young floor general. 14 years is plenty of time to line up the obvious.

I thought Carmelo's career was pretty much fading over the horizon. Now I think this next season will be pretty special. He's getting to play with the best point guard he's ever played with (particularly factoring in career arc) he still has his shooting touch and he's going to be away from the media circus and big city distractions.

Also, for all the people who talk about Melo getting his money, at least acknowledge that he wasn't even the highest paid player most of his time in NY.


There was a lot of potential even with Jason Kidd falling apart. Barren David's knee blew out. And Shumperts. Then the highest paid player on the team punches glass.... Man what a waste.

that perception of him i never got, tbh. I think its ridiculous to say that because just in that season before he signed the contract with phil its was common sense that the cap will go up by a lot and star players were holding out for the first time signing 1+1's to achieve the best possible payday every year. melo signed, what i would call it, a baby max by now. the stars of today earn almost 10 mill more annually. i never thought melo is only about his payday, because if he were he would have signed 1+1's and im pretty sure in 2014 or '15 he wouldve received one of this 35/yr supermaxes from other teams aswell as the knicks.

im fairly sure melo is one of the most underappreciated players in the NBA ever. The notion that he doesnt pass, only is about himself etc. i never saw it. idk maybe its me but i really saw an honest man, being professional, a caring dad, who wanted stabillity for his family, didnt want to pull his son or wife out of their own lifes. I sincerly believe he wanted to be in new york because he loves the knicks and his family. and i will never hold that against anybody.

i rather despise poeple like KD and lebron, who are brainwashed by the media, hopping teams for their individual legacy because they dont like how skip bayless, stephen a and whoever else these **** are, talk about them. Their concerns are not the teams fans or the franchises interests. they are about their own brand, name and whatever. No knock against that, they can do and persue what they want, i dont mind. But melo has my greatest respect for the man that he is.

man, i was pissed at melo for being with the "stripper" girl. And i know hes not a lebron james or the leader of a team we wanted him to be. i know he rests on defense and doesnt care too much on that end. i know he made a mistake in suckekrpunching mardy collins when he was young.
but you know what? at the end of the day it doesnt matter because i can relate to a man, choosing his family and stabillity over money and the media. Who made one or two mistakes in younger days. I can just relate to that and thats why im a fan. That he broke the MSG scoring record, the olympic scoring record and was the only hope this team had for over 6 years, stuff like this helped to cheer for him. but im not even a melo fan because of his basketball skills.

****, i cant get out of this topic. this will be a very rough year for me. horrible basketball in the east, melo gone, fkin pussy ass kd gonna get the chip again, knicks losing. damn.. i need to get out! at least the knicks future looks kinda bright..i guess.

peace


//i will post my personal top 3 memorys with him as a knick just to close this chapter for me and get ready for the new look knicks! i kinda start to like them

no particular order

unfortunately lost by 3 : melo (42/17/6) and the d-leaguers (amare and billups out) vs the big 3

Watch on YouTube

50 points vs the heat, not even touching the paint once:

Watch on YouTube

Obviously this:

Watch on YouTube

[BeagleBoss]

Melo was the second best player I've seen play on this team behind Ewing. He was an elite scorer. It was unreal watching him when he got into that zone.

It's just unfortunate they could never find the right fit to maximize his time here in terms of coaching and supporting cast. Amar'e getting hurt was a huge blow. He was supposed to be that guy. We were never able to find anyone close to him in terms of talent. And hiring that idiot Phil was the nail in the coffin.

But Melo deserves blame too. It seemed drama and this black cloud followed him everywhere. Maybe he'll have better luck in OKC. I also don't believe outside that 2013 team that he gave it his 110% all. But whatever. It's done and over with. It just wasn't meant to be.

[PeoplesChamp]

When my season tickets were up for renewal a rep tried to sell me on "If we don't get LeBron, we'll get Melo".

From that moment I knew it wasn't about winning. It was about box office. And from that standpoint, the Melo Era was a success for the franchise. He's a hugely popular player. For reasons I don't know why, his personality never really rubbed me the right way.

They were never going to win because his place on the team was very much like his place on the court. There was not enough shots or cash left for anyone significant after Melo got his. And Melo getting his was first, second and third priority for this franchise.

I'm not faulting him for that. It doesn't make him a bad guy, but once he was here, there was no road to building a good team around him. They were constantly reaching for pricey vets who were nice pieces individually but none of them were difference makers. In hindsight, signing Amare was a bad move, if they were so sure they were getting Melo. Their games weren't going to be a good fit. He didn't fit the coach either.

Hopefully now we have a front office team with Mills & Perry that will have some forethought before they act. Although the Hardaway signing seemed to be a bit impulsive.

Melo always bristled when someone else shined. From Lin to KP, there are moments where you can see where he felt diminished by their spotlight. Players tend to be territorial. It's an alpha trait. He's on Westbrook's team now and will at least initially go along with the program and be a helluva third option. I wish him success.

I wish more success for the Knicks who are entering Rangers territory with this championship drought. 44 years and counting. Looking at least 5 years away from being a serious contender, if they play their cards right with this rebuild.

[WajaBawl]

Just gonna put this here, as I think it paints a pretty good picture of how Melo was viewed in the locker room. While he may have not been the kind of leader we needed him to be, he was always loved by his teammates nonetheless.

In a city like New York, where rumors run rampant, creating a state of constant chaos — Anthony was a locker room favorite, no matter how often he shot the ball or how many games the Knicks lost.

According to ESPN’s Ian Begley, this camaraderie went beyond the locker room and transferred into real life, where Melo cultivated the real roots of his relationships with his Knicks teammates.

“Anthony engendered loyalty among many of his teammates, particularly the younger Knicks,” wrote Begley. “One Knick last season told his agent that if Phil Jackson traded Anthony, he’d want to be dealt to the same team. That loyalty, at times, went both ways.

“Case in point: Shortly after Cleanthony Early was shot in the leg during a robbery attempt in his second season, Anthony told Early that if he were cut, he’d help ease any financial burden he incurred, according to people familiar with the matter. ‘That was real,’ one teammate said.”

https://clutchpoints.com/knicks-news-carmelo-anthony-showed-generosity-former-teammate-cleanthony-early-shot/

[offense]

62 point game is memorable, you guys are buggin if you say not.

[god shammgod]

http://nypost.com/2017/09/26/carmelo-anthony-isnt-done-with-the-knicks-he-left-behind/?utm_campaign=SocialFlow&utm_source=NYPTwitter&utm_medium=SocialFlow&sr_share=twitter

OKLAHOMA CITY — The Knicks may be finished with Carmelo Anthony, but the 10-time All-Star isn’t through with the team he spent more than six years of his career with.

Just days removed from being traded to the Thunder, Anthony said he’s spoken with most of his former teammates with the Knicks — including Kristaps Porzingis — and feels an obligation to keep tabs on how they do this season.

“I will always keep an eye on them. I have to,” Anthony told The Post on Tuesday. “KP is somebody who I look at as a little brother. Lance [Thomas] was one of my best friends on that team. Kyle O’Quinn, we became very close. Tim [Hardaway] Jr. was a guy who I played with before and worked out with. All of those guys, I’ll communicate with them throughout the season.”

Following his first practice with the Thunder, Anthony noted that he could finally “relax” by solely concentrating on basketball for the first time in a long time, and said he already feels comfortable in his new surroundings.

“It’s sunk in, now that I’ve got a practice under my belt,” Anthony said. “For the most part, it’s basketball. It’s business. It’s life. You deal with it. I think I’ve made that adjustment quickly.”

Still, nowhere else is like New York City, especially Oklahoma City, which ranks as the third-smallest NBA market.

“It’s definitely a culture shock,” Anthony said. “You’re gonna have those nights where, ‘Man, I want to walk to the deli. I want to go to the bodega.’ You’re gonna have those moments, but for the most part, it’s a smooth transition.”

Still, when the season is over, Anthony plans on returning to his apartment in Manhattan.

“That’s home,” Anthony said of New York. “Nothing’s going to change with that.”

[Jalen Bluntson]

Nothing personal. He had to go. His on the court play and his needs did not fit in with the direction of the team. That's all. I am still glad he's gone.

[Red Vines]

Melo can benefit from some slower living. I hope he does just focus on basketball more.

[DickGrayson]

Nothing personal. He had to go. His on the court play and his needs did not fit in with the direction of the team. That's all. I am still glad he's gone.

This team had no direction before Melo.
This team has no direction right now besides hoping Porzingis stays healthy and learns how to rebound and shoot 50% from FG.

[DickGrayson]

Melo, best Knick of this era and gave us our best shot at being a competitive team. Too bad staff neber built a great team around Melo + injuries. But Melo is tough and fought through all those injuries.

I love Melo. And1 this post if you part of Melo Gang.

[HarthorneWingo]

Melo was the second best player I've seen play on this team behind Ewing. He was an elite scorer. It was unreal watching him when he got into that zone.

It's just unfortunate they could never find the right fit to maximize his time here in terms of coaching and supporting cast. Amar'e getting hurt was a huge blow. He was supposed to be that guy. We were never able to find anyone close to him in terms of talent. And hiring that idiot Phil was the nail in the coffin.

But Melo deserves blame too. It seemed drama and this black cloud followed him everywhere. Maybe he'll have better luck in OKC. I also don't believe outside that 2013 team that he gave it his 110% all. But whatever. It's done and over with. It just wasn't meant to be.

Then you never saw Bernard King play.

[Capn'O]

http://nypost.com/2017/09/26/carmelo-anthony-isnt-done-with-the-knicks-he-left-behind/?utm_campaign=SocialFlow&utm_source=NYPTwitter&utm_medium=SocialFlow&sr_share=twitter

OKLAHOMA CITY — The Knicks may be finished with Carmelo Anthony, but the 10-time All-Star isn’t through with the team he spent more than six years of his career with.

Just days removed from being traded to the Thunder, Anthony said he’s spoken with most of his former teammates with the Knicks — including Kristaps Porzingis — and feels an obligation to keep tabs on how they do this season.

“I will always keep an eye on them. I have to,” Anthony told The Post on Tuesday. “KP is somebody who I look at as a little brother. Lance [Thomas] was one of my best friends on that team. Kyle O’Quinn, we became very close. Tim [Hardaway] Jr. was a guy who I played with before and worked out with. All of those guys, I’ll communicate with them throughout the season.”

Following his first practice with the Thunder, Anthony noted that he could finally “relax” by solely concentrating on basketball for the first time in a long time, and said he already feels comfortable in his new surroundings.

“It’s sunk in, now that I’ve got a practice under my belt,” Anthony said. “For the most part, it’s basketball. It’s business. It’s life. You deal with it. I think I’ve made that adjustment quickly.”

Still, nowhere else is like New York City, especially Oklahoma City, which ranks as the third-smallest NBA market.

“It’s definitely a culture shock,” Anthony said. “You’re gonna have those nights where, ‘Man, I want to walk to the deli. I want to go to the bodega.’ You’re gonna have those moments, but for the most part, it’s a smooth transition.”

Still, when the season is over, Anthony plans on returning to his apartment in Manhattan.

“That’s home,” Anthony said of New York. “Nothing’s going to change with that.”

But nothing about Derrick Rose? Tsk.

[blumatic]

I think someone earlier said it best. The timing of Melo was off.

I remember when Dwade and Lebron opted out of their earlier deal after year three and signed deals that made them free agents in 2010. Melo went against LeBron's advice and opted in and made him a free agent in 2011. Imagine if he was a free agent in 2010. Melo would have came, maybe we would have paused on Amare and got CP3 in free agency.

If that lockout didn't threaten to cut player salaries maybe Melo could have waited for free agency. And we used those remaining assets to get a great guard.

I'm glad Melo came. He gave the Knicks sexiness. When on he is a joy to watch. When he's frustrated he can be maddening to watch.

I felt Melo and the Knicks brand were a perfect match. Both iconic entities with major flaws. Both reputations carried by championship pasts but easily critiqued present. Both mishandled by management. Both seeing comparable entities accomplish more. I was hoping together they would win together as they were fighting the same demons. Alas the demons prevail.

I wish him the best. I'm happy for him. I'm happy for the Knicks.

[PeoplesChamp]

The glaring thing about Carmelo's career is that he's had 2 tremendous seasons with over-the-hill, yet competent point guards (Billups/Kidd ). The dropoff from those 2 is ridiculous, yet no iteration of the front offices Melo's played under made an effort to line him up with a young floor general. 14 years is plenty of time to line up the obvious.

I thought Carmelo's career was pretty much fading over the horizon. Now I think this next season will be pretty special. He's getting to play with the best point guard he's ever played with (particularly factoring in career arc) he still has his shooting touch and he's going to be away from the media circus and big city distractions.

Also, for all the people who talk about Melo getting his money, at least acknowledge that he wasn't even the highest paid player most of his time in NY.


There was a lot of potential even with Jason Kidd falling apart. Barren David's knee blew out. And Shumperts. Then the highest paid player on the team punches glass.... Man what a waste.

that perception of him i never got, tbh. I think its ridiculous to say that because just in that season before he signed the contract with phil its was common sense that the cap will go up by a lot and star players were holding out for the first time signing 1+1's to achieve the best possible payday every year. melo signed, what i would call it, a baby max by now. the stars of today earn almost 10 mill more annually. i never thought melo is only about his payday, because if he were he would have signed 1+1's and im pretty sure in 2014 or '15 he wouldve received one of this 35/yr supermaxes from other teams aswell as the knicks.

im fairly sure melo is one of the most underappreciated players in the NBA ever. The notion that he doesnt pass, only is about himself etc. i never saw it. idk maybe its me but i really saw an honest man, being professional, a caring dad, who wanted stabillity for his family, didnt want to pull his son or wife out of their own lifes. I sincerly believe he wanted to be in new york because he loves the knicks and his family. and i will never hold that against anybody.

i rather despise poeple like KD and lebron, who are brainwashed by the media, hopping teams for their individual legacy because they dont like how skip bayless, stephen a and whoever else these **** are, talk about them. Their concerns are not the teams fans or the franchises interests. they are about their own brand, name and whatever. No knock against that, they can do and persue what they want, i dont mind. But melo has my greatest respect for the man that he is.

man, i was pissed at melo for being with the "stripper" girl. And i know hes not a lebron james or the leader of a team we wanted him to be. i know he rests on defense and doesnt care too much on that end. i know he made a mistake in suckekrpunching mardy collins when he was young.
but you know what? at the end of the day it doesnt matter because i can relate to a man, choosing his family and stabillity over money and the media. Who made one or two mistakes in younger days. I can just relate to that and thats why im a fan. That he broke the MSG scoring record, the olympic scoring record and was the only hope this team had for over 6 years, stuff like this helped to cheer for him. but im not even a melo fan because of his basketball skills.

****, i cant get out of this topic. this will be a very rough year for me. horrible basketball in the east, melo gone, fkin pussy ass kd gonna get the chip again, knicks losing. damn.. i need to get out! at least the knicks future looks kinda bright..i guess.

peace


//i will post my personal top 3 memorys with him as a knick just to close this chapter for me and get ready for the new look knicks! i kinda start to like them

no particular order

unfortunately lost by 3 : melo (42/17/6) and the d-leaguers (amare and billups out) vs the big 3

Watch on YouTube

50 points vs the heat, not even touching the paint once:

Watch on YouTube

Obviously this:

Watch on YouTube

o

That Celtics playoff game would've been a part of his legacy if Jared Jefferies didn't fumble the ball. Melo was simply heroic in that game.

[Greenie]

I'm still hurt. Was too young for Ewing being traded. That **** must have hurt too. This is my first real heartbreak over a Knick player being traded.

I was upset at Tyson being traded but got over it quickly. This one is going to take a minute. The season needs to hurry up so I can heal and watch my Knicks...and complain about them being clueless. You know, normal stuff.