[ropeParticipant]

 What do you make of Carmelo Anthony and how he thrives in international competition.  Suit up the Americans and he is always one of the top five, if not one of the top one or two.  I know this is a somewhat depleted team, but there is nothing that would indicate he would have any different role with any roster make up.

To me, the games actually illustrate why his is kind an enigma in the NBA.  The guy is one of the top 5 players of his generation, but his teams have never been anything special, with some being outright bad.

What is your take on the difference between Team USA Melo and NY Knickerbocker Melo?  How does the international success modify your view of him?

 

 

 

 

 

[LA12Participant]

 I think Melo’s one of the best international players ever. This guy ALWAYS lights the Olympics up. His biggest strength is his mid range game, and the Olympic three isn’t that far from being a mid range shot for him. Combine that with poor defensive rotations on the other teams’ parts, since Melo somehow always seems to be free at the three point line when they play internationally, and it’s no wonder he lights up everyone he plays.

[Dazzling Dunks and Basketball BloopersParticipant]

 He is so good in international competition because he doesn’t have entire defenses geared up to stop him. He plays mostly off the ball as a spot up shooter and a guy that can attack defensive close outs. You rarely see him holding the ball for more than a few seconds. Its just catch and either shoot or attack the basket before the defense can react. He’s just so much more efficient than he’s been throughout his NBA career, where he’s basically been a heavy isolation, hold the ball guy.  Plus the closer international 3 point line plays to his strengths as well. 

If he was on an NBA team where he could be used in more of a complimentary role, I think you would see his offensive effeciency go way up. It would have been interesting to see if that supposed Miami "superteam" of him, Lebron, Wade and Bosh ever did actually come to fruition. Maybe they will be able to move him a little more off the ball this year in NY, but its likely that they will still have to rely on him to create a lot of shots for himself.

 

[Robb_CParticipant]

 I didnt read this before posting my thread… Youre 100% right., exactly my thoughts as well

[cabbycabParticipant]

 this is excatly same reason why Mullin was so good for the Dream Team. 

[Memphis MadnessParticipant]

 Carmelo is a finesse guy who can play pure basketball.  A guy like LeBron likes to bully his way to the basket.  Not much of that internationally.  Carmelo is not a flopper either (although they have that in the Olympics, too).

I guess he needs a good all-around team around him to do well, as opposed to maybe LeBron or Russell Westbrook, who are forces of nature unto themselves.  

On the other hand, I haven’t watched too much except for the some parts of the past two games, but Kevin Durant has gotten lost at times.  He disappears, or gets empty points.  Great player — but maybe not an alpha.  Not even as good as Carmelo Anthony on the Olympic stage — and I can see him floating in and out with Golden State this year, unless they focus on getting him the ball.  I can see Carmelo having a better year than Durant next season.

Carmelo SHOULD have enough help around him this year.  Porzingas is going to be big time SOON.  D Rose isn’t the old D Rose, but he is a guy who forces defenses to pick him up.  He can create some air space if he is doing his dribble-drive thing.  That should be a really good Big 3 right there, then they still have Noah, Brandon Jennings, and Aron Afflalo.  Carmelo will be THE MAN (as usual) but he won’t be the ONLY guy out there.  

 

 

 

[Robb_CParticipant]

Melo is so great in the olympics because hes a pressure release guy in the olympics.. 

In New York Hes the guy hes the one creating offense.. If you notice since 2012 Melos role in the Olympic Offense isnt as the primary scorer.. But as the pressure release when the offense breaks down hes typicall used as a spot up shooter.. Due to the fact the Fiba three line is shorter this makes him deadly in international play.. 

[ChoppyParticipant]

 In my opinion, Melo isn’t a number one option on offence. He’s best suited to being a number 2, or just one of a number of scoring threats on a balanced team. I think he wants to be ‘the man’ but struggles in that role. That’s why he thrives in the international setting.

[MkadozaParticipant]

 Carmelo is who he his, a fantastic scorer with deep range, a great post up game, and an aggresive offensive rebounder. Carmelo’s role has always been akin to Lebrons in terms of play style, but Carmelo just isnt Lebron James. Hes a scorer, a very good rebounder, above average passer, and mediocre to decent defender. With a team as loaded as the National Team, you really see how he measures up against his peers. Hes definitely one of the best players in the league. 

Also, hes had success at every level. College champion, international champion. And before he joined one of the most maligned franchises in sports today, the Nuggets were a perennial playoff team. He’s put up huge numbers with teams that werent exactly loaded with talent, and definitely didnt have the infrastructure of some of the leagues more successful franchises. You could say the same thing about KG before he joined the Celtics in terms of success.

I feel like Carmelo will always suffer because he isnt Lebron. Same position, same height, same draft class, hyped match-ups since high school. I mean how many other NBA small forwards would outdo Carmelos career? But IMO Carmelo has always been a spectacular, and somewhat underappreciated player, and more times than not show why hes on of the more prolific scorers ever.

 

 

[chall23Participant]

 Right on about Melo being one of the most under appreciated players ever. Melo almost always shows up in big games too. Remember Lebrons return to Cleveland? Yea, they lost to the Knicks when they were terrible. Melos head to head numbers against Lebron are remarkable, especially for the lackluster teams he’s had over the years. Melo will always get shit on by the media but he’s one of the best players of our generation and I think people will look back on him 15 years from now and realize just how special of a scorer he was.

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