Can an MVP hopeful get a little help? (Via ESPN.com)
By the end of the third quarter, Carmelo Anthony had drained one 3-pointer after another, erupting for 18 points in the kind of way that diminishes the opposition. Then coach Mike Woodson decided to give Melo a breather to start the fourth quarter, oblivious to the reality that he had no one else to finish it. And by the time the New York Knicks realized the obvious, it was entirely too late.
Chris Paul was too good. As was Jamal Crawford. And the Knicks — without a fourth-quarter explosion from Melo — proved yet again that they simply are not good enough. Aside from losing 102-88 to the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday, the Knicks are in the process of losing something else: votes for Carmelo Anthony for league MVP honors.
“We’ve got to get our act together,” Knicks coach Mike Woodson said before the game. “There’s just no way around that, no matter how we slice it.”
There is no doubt that LeBron James is playing a role in Melo’s suddenly diminished stature. This is what happens when Melo’s primary opposition for MVP honors has hit 49 of his past 65 shots, having scored 30-plus points on better than 70 percent shooting from the field in the past five games, while keeping the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference lead.
But it’s also worth pointing out that James doesn’t have to do it alone — that he has individuals like Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and even Mario Chalmers, Shane Battier and Ray Allen at his disposal.
Where is Melo’s help?
It can’t be found at the moment.
Chris Paul is another MVP candidate, but after the 27-point outing Crawford registered at Madison Square Garden on Sunday, it’s clear that Paul has help. The same could be said forKevin Durant, who still has Russell Westbrook, arguably the most athletic point guard in NBA history, as his sidekick.
Again, where is Melo’s help? Somebody to make the Knicks seem like more than a one-man team, capable of being stripped of its potency the second a Kevin Garnett strolls into town and contributes to Melo shooting 6-for-26 from the field?
“I think we have a great team,” Melo told me recently. “We’ve got the pieces to really make a run for it all. I really believe that. Guys just have to do what we do.”
Actually, the Knicks need to do what they’re supposed to do. And it hasn’t happened recently.
A defense that was once ranked second in the league is now ranked eighth after spending Sunday afternoon giving up 31 points in the fourth quarter. For every win vs. the Heat, Spurs or Celtics, there’s a loss vs. the Wizards and the Kings.
No-shows are more common than ever. Injuries are perpetual. Inconsistencies are repetitive. And doubt simply won’t dissipate.
None of it qualifies as a surprise, considering that J.R. Smith, the team’s second-leading scorer, is shooting less than 40 percent from the field; opposing point guards seem to be salivating at the thought of playing against Raymond Felton; and Iman Shumpert, the team’s shut-down backcourt defender, is still struggling with his lateral movement after missing most of this season with a knee injury. But it still needs to be addressed, because the clock is ticking.
“There are four other guys out there on the basketball court (with me),” Anthony told reporters after Sunday’s game. “We’ve just got to make plays. We’ve been doing that all season long. (Sunday), we just didn’t make plays in the fourth quarter.”
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Stephen A. Smith:
Very well-written articles. Your passion for the sports debate is impressive. It’s second only to myself. All kidding aside bravo!
Steven A. Smith, I love listing to you speak. Most people don’t make any sense to me but you are one of the only who does these days, but I got to tell you my man, Carmelo is exactly what he is Just a dude who will just make the playoffs & that’s it. He can score all he wants but he is not a real team player or team motivator in fact I believe he is just the opposite of that. Sort of like Kobe scoring 81 pts but just barely win the game. I got tell you man you are the reason why 1st Take is been my favorite show for over a year now cause its nice to hear someone who actually makes sense when they talk. Keep on doing what you do your Great !
Steven A. Smith, I just want to acknowledge you as one of the premier sports journalist of our time. Your timely opinions and enthusiam for basketball and sports in general is unmatched in sports radio today and listening to you is an absolute thrill. Now, regarding the Knicks and their quest for an NBA championship, I am maybe one of the few people who think they can do it I’ll tell you why. The biggest stumbling block in the way of New York Knicks is not The Miami Heat but it’s the New york Knicks. If the Knicks start every game from the outset setting the tone for ball movement which is enhanced by players ‘without the ball’ continually moving, then passing the ball becomes easier and hitting the open man is easier. If they resort to JR Smith coming off the bench and taking unbalanced jump shots and going 3 for 18 they don’t have a chance. With ball movement it is easier to play manical defense simply because time of possession is in your favor and you spend less time on defense. With ball movement comes sharing and thus Carmelo won’t have to shoulder too much of the scoring load because others will be involved. The problem with this Knick team is that having 2 players taking the overwhelming majority of the shots sets you up for failure against a smart team like Miami. As the lone superstar who makes close to 50% of his shots I think Carmelo has earned the right to take shots. But not JR Smith. I think the Mike Woodson has to reign in JR Smith and sometimes Raymond Felton from taking these bad shots and have them drive to the basket on more occasions. Felton is almost unstoppable going to the basket. Why doesn’t he do this more is baffling. In the last Miami game they trapped Dwayne Wade which is obvious thing to do. But the Heat did something even smarter which is to let Carmelo score and trap everyone else. Then in the last 10 mins guess what they reversed and trapped Carmelo and dared others to beat them. With JR missing and the other Knicks cold, they lost. The Knicks also has to play maniacal defense throughout the whole game and I think the premier defender at this point is not Shumpert but Pablo Prigioni. The last game against Toronto I was pleased to see him start and I think he should remain a starter for the rest of the season. Lastly, I believe that although the Heat has 2 superstars and and All star in Chris Bosh (because I don’t consider him a superstar) and Ray Allen, and the Knicks has only 1 in Carmelo Anthony, The Knicks have a big advantage that nobody talks about which is the presence of a legitimate center in Tyson Chandler and the Heat don’t. It will be interesting to see how Mike Woodson’s team fare. I am a Knick fan and my money will be on the Knicks. I hope you get a chance to read my contribution Steven. Looking forward to tuning in to your show. And if you get a chance to whisper some of this in Mike Woodson’s ear please do. All the best. Take care and God bless.
Thank you, Stephen A. for a true and accurate article written about Carmello and the Knicks. I have enjoyed your enthusiac segments from The Steve harvey Show to ESPN. Let it be known that Carmello has carried the Knicks, but he can not do it alone. “Where Is The Help” this is the question that needs to be addressed and answered before next season. I feel that what will be will be, there are polictics in every aspect of life, and basketball is no different, if Carmello gets the MVP for the 2013 season, it will be well deserved but if polictics are involved, who only knows the outcome.
Thank you for keeping the nation up close and personal with sports and polictical issues around the globe.
Keep On, Keeping On!!!