<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">The problems don't seem to be with the Cleveland Cavaliers, arguably the most improved team, talent-wise, in the Eastern Conference. The problems don't seem to be with the lack of talent surrounding LeBron, although most of it at this point is still undeveloped, raw potential. The problem doesn't seem to be the coach -- Paul Silas is apparently doing all the right things, on and off the court. Sadly, for those of us so excited by the emergence of LeBron, more and more the problem seems to be LeBron and the way he's playing. There will be the early apologists for LeBron as his team has struggled mightily out of the starting gate. He's so young. He's not ready. His team is so bad. Some of his teammates still need to be purged of the culture of self-absorption. No one could ever live up to the hype. He's not a skilled enough performer -- yet -- in a game based ultimately on refined skills. The list of excuses can go on indefinitely. But the dike is starting to spring some ever expanding leaks. I admit that LeBron is taking on a daunting task, joining one of the worst situations in the history of the NBA and in his hometown to boot. But he is not the first to go down this unsavory path. Wilt Chamberlain, Oscar Robertson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, David Robinson -- to name just a few -- were in relatively similar situations. Their immediate contributions to remarkable turnarounds are well-documented. And while each and every fairy tale has its own particular extenuating circumstances, the obstacles for LeBron have not so much to do with what he can't do but more so with what he's not doing. Great, historical-level players make their mark with their style, impact and competitive greatness. They all possess tremendous leadership qualities that pull a group together and make the team collectively far superior than any of the individual parts. The real special ones also bring a level of toughness, meanness and downright nastiness to the game that is unpleasant for those who think that this is just a job. It was not fun to be in a game with any truly great player unless you thought that this was very serious business. The best, at anything, punish you mentally, physically, spiritually -- heck, every which way -- in their single-minded drive for success. This is not about smiling and being nice but rather about taking what you think is yours. Despite nice fantasy numbers in Saturday's double OT loss to Memphis, LeBron is struggling and seemingly spiraling downhill. Now is the time for an abrupt about face because he is in the battle for the soul of his team. Now is the time to take over, to make an unmistakable and unwavering stand. Now is the time to start shooting a lot and putting up big numbers. Heck, you can miss as easily as the other guys. Now is the time to start challenging your teammates for their shortcomings, insisting and demanding accountability on a daily basis. Now is the time to lead with an elbow into the upper torso of a hard-charging opponent. Now is the time to get in the face of a referee who is making calls out of habit against a perpetually losing franchise. Now is the time to shed the niceties about how wonderful this all is. LeBron, you need to call somebody out. Instigate an altercation. Force the road crowd to boo you because you are here to fight and win. Slam the ball down -- or better yet, throw it into the stands after a bad call. Express your frustration and dissatisfaction with losing to the media. Get mad. Show us that you care that it's not working. Don't leave it up to your coach -- or anybody else for that matter -- to do the dirty work. There are so many different ways to get to where you want to go but remaining passive and docile is certainly not one of them.</div> Full Story
I always thought that it was LeBron who should be called "Melo" cuz its Carmelo who plays with intensity & hunger. But I guess thats what leading a team to an NCAA title will do for a player.
Thanks, once again, go out to Bill Walton for a lot of words that mean nothing. Bill knows how to criticize young players but he never really knows the core problems. He traces the problems to the players bank account, not to management, where the core problems usually reside. In Cleveland's case, there is a 2 step program I would like them to enroll in. 1) Go get an experienced player that has credibility and leadership qualities. 2) Give the Cavs more than 19 games to get some chemistry going. If we are going to judge rookies and teams that are re-tooling based on a 19 game result set, that's narrow. Give Silas time to find the right combination. LeBron is 2nd in the league in minutes played. He is getting the job done. Leave dude alone! Sports writers need to keep in mind that what is happening in Dallas w/ Parcells is the rare exception to the rule. Instant success is not always a good thing.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Joey F:</div><div class="quote_post">Thanks, once again, go out to Bill Walton for a lot of words that mean nothing. Bill knows how to criticize young players but he never really knows the core problems. He traces the problems to the players bank account, not to management, where the core problems usually reside. In Cleveland's case, there is a 2 step program I would like them to enroll in. 1) Go get an experienced player that has credibility and leadership qualities. 2) Give the Cavs more than 19 games to get some chemistry going. If we are going to judge rookies and teams that are re-tooling based on a 19 game result set, that's narrow. Give Silas time to find the right combination. LeBron is 2nd in the league in minutes played. He is getting the job done. Leave dude alone! Sports writers need to keep in mind that what is happening in Dallas w/ Parcells is the rare exception to the rule. Instant success is not always a good thing.</div> I think Walton is right on the ball with this one. The Cavs starters are even more talented than the Nuggets starters, IMO. I think that the nuggets are doing so much better cuz they have a leader like Carmelo who is hungry, & a clutch player. His experience in leading a team to an NCAA title gives him more passion for winning. The Cavs have to stop listening to all the media hype about lebron & find a real leader for that team, & not some 18 year old boy. In all his interviews, LeBron has seemed, (as Walton said) docile & passive- like he wasnt really passionate about the game. Maybe the fact that hes set for life w/ the $100 million nike contract has affected his drive & work ethic, just like a big money contract did to Juwan howard.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting crocopbandwagon:</div><div class="quote_post">I think that the nuggets are doing so much better cuz they have a leader like Carmelo who is hungry, & a clutch player. His experience in leading a team to an NCAA title gives him more passion for winning.</div> Calling Melo an NBA-level "Leader" is a bit of a stretch. You might want to give some credit to Miller & Boykins for some of their success. <div class="quote_poster">Quoting crocopbandwagon:</div><div class="quote_post">The Cavs have to stop listening to all the media hype about lebron & find a real leader for that team, & not some 18 year old boy.</div> I do agree with this statement big time. But I have not seen anyone on this team that can fill that role. <div class="quote_poster">Quoting crocopbandwagon:</div><div class="quote_post">In all his interviews, LeBron has seemed, (as Walton said) docile & passive- like he wasnt really passionate about the game.</div> That's his style. People like Duncan and Bron may seem passive, but they let their skills shine on the court - not on the mic. Remember, the kid is 18 y/o. He has a lot to learn but is still putting up better numbers night-in, night-out than 2/3 of the league. <div class="quote_poster">Quoting crocopbandwagon:</div><div class="quote_post">Maybe the fact that hes set for life w/ the $100 million nike contract has affected his drive & work ethic, just like a big money contract did to Juwan howard.</div> Apples and oranges. Period. Maybe at the end of the year or next year we might start to accuse him of that. I don't see a slacker when I watch LeBron play. I see a kid getting his "feet wet". This kid will probably turn out to be a straight all out stud sooner than later. My only point is this - the Cavs are not losing because of LeBron. I think it is unrealistic for anyone to think that 1 rookie is going to turn around a bottom-dwelling francise in 19 games.
Hey, it happened in Denver. Listen to the glowing comments that GS Warrior coach Eric Musselman (who probably knows what hes talking about) gave on Carmelo after he scored 26 pts to beat them: "It just shows you what a guy can do to a ballclub and change the franchise around in the snap of his fingers,'' Musselman said of Anthony before the game. "He's done that. Obviously he has a nice supporting cast, but that's a draft pick that has a significant impact on a franchise for today, and it's going to be that way for a while because he's a special, special player.'' http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c...SPGVA3FSS81.DTL Plus Boykins is a 5'5 point guard, & on his 7th team in 4 years. Andre Miller was a former Cav, & the cavs were still awful with him in the roster. Everyone said that Marcus Camby was why The nuggets were winning, but hes been out w/ injury the past 2 games, & the nuggets are STILL winning!! They beat the Cavs even worse w/ Camby out of the line up, than when he was in the line up the 1st time around. Sure Carmelo cant get ALL the credit, but he does get the lions share IMO. LeBrons supporting cast is even MORE TALENTED that Carmelo's supporting cast IMO. Why else are there 4 Cavs on the all star ballot & only 3 Nuggets on the same ballot? The difference is that the nuggets are playing as a team, while the Cavs ARENT. Nugs coach Jeff Bzdelik was the coach last year when the nugs went 17-65, so he couldnt be the main cause the Nugz are winning. The only possible explanation is Carmelo Anthony, & the leadership & winning attitude he gained w/ Syracuse & the NCAA title.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting crocopbandwagon:</div><div class="quote_post">Sure Carmelo cant get ALL the credit, but he does get the lions share IMO. LeBrons supporting cast is even MORE TALENTED that Carmelo's supporting cast IMO. Why else are there 4 Cavs on the all star ballot & only 3 Nuggets on the same ballot? The difference is that the nuggets are playing as a team, while the Cavs ARENT. Nugs coach Jeff Bzdelik was the coach last year when the nugs went 17-65, so he couldnt be the main cause the Nugz are winning. The only possible explanation is Carmelo Anthony, & the leadership & winning attitude he gained w/ Syracuse & the NCAA title.</div> It's a good point you make that the DN are playing together as a team. Don't get me wrong - Melo is a fine player. He has given them a real boost. IMO, regardless of their past play, Boykins, Miller, Camby and Lenard are playing well. If you say its because of Melo's leadership, ok. IMO there is another explaination. But this aint about Melo and DN. This is about LeBron. IMO, he will have a much better NBA career than Melo. We are all guessing at this point! You bring out some good points, though.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Joey F:</div><div class="quote_post">It's a good point you make that the DN are playing together as a team. Don't get me wrong - Melo is a fine player. He has given them a real boost. IMO, regardless of their past play, Boykins, Miller, Camby and Lenard are playing well. If you say its because of Melo's leadership, ok. IMO there is another explaination. But this aint about Melo and DN. This is about LeBron. IMO, he will have a much better NBA career than Melo. We are all guessing at this point! You bring out some good points, though.</div> Youre right- were all guessing at this point about LeBron being better than Carmelo long term. Thats the problem w/ all the hype- as sure as ESPN was that LeBron would make a big impact w/ the cavs, he still hasnt. I can only make conclusions based on facts, & the fact is last year the nuggets & the cavs had a 17-65 right. This year its a fact that the nuggets are 12-6 & 1st in their division w/ Carmelo , while the cavs are 4-15 & last in their division with LeBron. I can only AGREE with Bill Walton's article that Carmelo has something that LeBron DOESNT.
Sure LeBron has to step up, but I think that Walton conveniently overlooks his teammates too. Sure, 'Bron has all the hype, he's playing 40 min a game, he's leading the team from the PG spot (which takes more than 19 games to learn) and he's got expectations much bigger than everyone Walton mentioned in that thread. Jordan played college ball under Dean Smith and learnt the game. Abdul-Jabbar was one of the most NBA ready rooks in history. Robinson, Magic, Bird - these guys were all NBA ready and all out of college. LeBron is an 18 year old guy out of highschool trying to learn the hardest position at the highest level in the world, and he's being called out after 19 games? I know he's struggled a bit despite nice numbers, and I know a lot think he's overrated - but the point is it's not like he can switch the hype on and off at his own accord. Sure he has a touch of arrogance, all great players do, but on the whole he's developed the hype by playing great ball and pinning a franchise's hopes on him straight up is unrealistic, regardless of his talent or stature. As for Carmelo - he is a special player, and is a big reason for Denver's success. However at the moment his teammates are stepping up in a BIG way, whilst 'Bron's are struggling. Melo played a year of College ball too, don't discount the significance of that.
Lebron is being called out after 19 games cuz he was the most hyped rookie in NBA history, & his team is 4-15. At this point, Carmelo is vastly outperforming LeBron in wins w/ the 12-6 Nuggets who are 1st in their division, w/ none of the hype lebron gets. If the media can bulid LeBron up b4 he has even accomplished anything in the NBA, they can tear him down as well. Thats just the way the media works. It would have been smarter to take the "wait & see" approach regarding Lebron rather than all the hype & exagerration, but its not like the media hasnt done this before. Like I said: Boykins is a 5'5 point guard, & on his 7th team in 4 years. Andre Miller was a former Cav, & the cavs were still awful with him in the roster. Everyone said that Marcus Camby was why The nuggets were winning, but hes been out w/ injury the past 2 games, & the nuggets are STILL winning!! They beat the Cavs even worse w/ Camby out of the line up, than when he was in the line up the 1st time around. Sure Carmelo cant get ALL the credit, but he does get the lions share IMO. LeBrons supporting cast is even MORE TALENTED that Carmelo's supporting cast IMO. Why else are there 4 Cavs on the all star ballot & only 3 Nuggets on the same ballot? Not to mention the nuggets starters have an equal if not higher points per game (it fluctuates) than the Nuggets starters. The Cavs supporting cast is just as talented as the Nuggets. The only difference is that an 18 year old rookie cannot lead a team.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting crocopbandwagon:</div><div class="quote_post">Lebron is being called out after 19 games cuz he was the most hyped rookie in NBA history, & his team is 4-15. At this point, Carmelo is vastly outperforming LeBron in wins w/ the 12-6 Nuggets who are 1st in their division, w/ none of the hype lebron gets. If the media can bulid LeBron up b4 he has even accomplished anything in the NBA, they can tear him down as well. Thats just the way the media works. It would have been smarter to take the "wait & see" approach regarding Lebron rather than all the hype & exagerration, but its not like the media hasnt done this before.</div> You're missing the point. Bill Walton has called out 'Bron in that article, not the media. The media can call him out all they like, but just because 'Bron isn't living up the enormous expectations pinned on him by the media isn't a fair means of criticism. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Like I said: Boykins is a 5'5 point guard, & on his 7th team in 4 years. Andre Miller was a former Cav, & the cavs were still awful with him in the roster. Everyone said that Marcus Camby was why The nuggets were winning, but hes been out w/ injury the past 2 games, & the nuggets are STILL winning!! They beat the Cavs even worse w/ Camby out of the line up, than when he was in the line up the 1st time around. </div> Don't look at the past, look at the present. Boykins could have averaged 2 points a game in a Junior School league for all it matters now, the point is he is performing THIS season. Same goes for Miller, Lenard etc. The bottom line is 'Melo's teammates are stepping up in a huge way, whereas 'Bron's aren't. If you want to hold Melo and 'Bron responsible for both those scenarios respectively then fine, but I think that's an inaccurate view. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Sure Carmelo cant get ALL the credit, but he does get the lions share IMO. LeBrons supporting cast is even MORE TALENTED that Carmelo's supporting cast IMO. Why else are there 4 Cavs on the all star ballot & only 3 Nuggets on the same ballot? Not to mention the nuggets starters have an equal if not higher points per game (it fluctuates) than the Nuggets starters. The Cavs supporting cast is just as talented as the Nuggets. The only difference is that an 18 year old rookie cannot lead a team.</div> Phoenix and Minnesota are more TALENTED then teams above them, talent means nothing if you don't produce. Cleveland have a lot of talented players, but not many know how to play together as a team. Give me a bunch of solid guys who play as a team then a bunch of talented guys who don't anyday. Easy to look at the team records, but 'Melo has struggled just as much as 'Bron too this season, it's just that his teammates have stepped up. 'Melo is shooting very badly and turns the ball over a lot too by forcing shots, and to say he gets the lions share of credit for Denver's turnaround is BS. Sure he has been a key factor, but too many people conveniently overlook the many other components when they get into 'Melo vs 'Bron arguments. Interesting you say an 18 year old rookie can't lead a team. Tell me then, would 'Melo make that team any better than it is with 'Bron. I very much doubt it.
crocopbandwagon, cut the crying because you fell victim to the hype, not LeBron. Don't take it out on the record just because you are sick of seeing LeBron on tv and the internet. That is for too easy after 19 games when he is playing the point guard role. What do you do every time you see LeBron, you have a seizure? The Cavs are one of the (if not the) youngest team in NBA history. So it till take a lot of time for them to learn to play as a team and learn who should be where at what situation. That is why the Nuggets are winning, not to take anything away from Melo because I support him the same way I support Bron - they have vets, they have people that have been on winning teams and have been in the Finals. The Cavs don't have anything of that nature on this team, and that is the main problem. The Nuggets coaching staff and Kiki Vandeweghe deserve FULL CREDIT for Denver's success. They have found the right combination of players that play well as a team and have a great mix of scorers, defenders, and veterans. The Cavs just have youth, big difference. Kevin Ollie is our veteran leader if that helps you with anything. Back to James, the numbers are there, the outstanding plays are there, and of course he will have bad shooting games. Kind of easy to pick on a guy that is not a natural just yet (even though he has shot much better than Carmelo Anthony) but the assists and the rebounds have been there for the entire season. He is our point guard, his job is to get everyone involved. It is amazing he has put up these assists because his teammates don't run the floor, they don't move without the basketball, and they have dropped passes and had them bounce off the back of their heads. I won't comment any further because I, and my fellow mates have destroyed your hateful biased points against the kid. I summed it up the best when I started my post. "because you fell victim to the hype" Cut the hatred, support the kid and all rookies, you are better than that, are you not?
I didnt fall to the hype at all. In fact I was waiting for someone like Walton to call out LeBron kinda like that child in the fable "the emperors new clothes." How is it not fair to criticized LeBron for not winning when it was the media hype that got him his $ 90 million Nike contract in the first place? Obviously LeBron has benefitted from the undeserved hype, & now that hes not living up to the lofty expectations, the media is starting to ask questions. Its only the natural cycle of things. You cant say its not fair to criticize Lebron for not living up to the hype when he has already benefitted greatly from the hype & publicity, something that Carmelo hasnt had. The little publicity Carmelo has had from leading Syracuse to an NCAA title had to be EARNED. Listen to the glowing comments that GS Warrior coach Eric Musselman (who probably knows what hes talking about) gave on Carmelo after he scored 26 pts to beat them: "It just shows you what a guy can do to a ballclub and change the franchise around in the snap of his fingers,'' Musselman said of Anthony before the game. "He's done that. Obviously he has a nice supporting cast, but that's a draft pick that has a significant impact on a franchise for today, and it's going to be that way for a while because he's a special, special player.'' http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.c...SPGVA3FSS81.DTL
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Sir Desmond:</div><div class="quote_post">Don't look at the past, look at the present. Boykins could have averaged 2 points a game in a Junior School league for all it matters now, the point is he is performing THIS season. Same goes for Miller, Lenard etc. The bottom line is 'Melo's teammates are stepping up in a huge way, whereas 'Bron's aren't. If you want to hold Melo and 'Bron responsible for both those scenarios respectively then fine, but I think that's an inaccurate view. Phoenix and Minnesota are more TALENTED then teams above them, talent means nothing if you don't produce. Cleveland have a lot of talented players, but not many know how to play together as a team. Give me a bunch of solid guys who play as a team then a bunch of talented guys who don't anyday. Easy to look at the team records, but 'Melo has struggled just as much as 'Bron too this season, it's just that his teammates have stepped up. 'Melo is shooting very badly and turns the ball over a lot too by forcing shots, and to say he gets the lions share of credit for Denver's turnaround is BS. Sure he has been a key factor, but too many people conveniently overlook the many other components when they get into 'Melo vs 'Bron arguments. Interesting you say an 18 year old rookie can't lead a team. Tell me then, would 'Melo make that team any better than it is with 'Bron. I very much doubt it.</div> Actually it seems that the LeBron hype machine, ESPN is intentionally ignoring Carmelo. He rarely appears in any highlights even when he outscores Lebrn 26 to 4. I saw Lebron get 2 highlights even on his 4 point night. If that isnt unfair, I dont know what is. About the supporting cast, Hindsight is always 20-20 isnt it? If someone knew if guys like boykins & and miller could perform the way they do, Miller would still be on the cavs, & boykins wouldnt be on his 7th team in 4 years. The fact of the matter is that Carmelo is the KEY to the franchise's success. His role players are a decent, but they are NO BETTER than the Cavs. The Cavs have even MORE TALENT Its just that the Cavs keep coming up short due to their lack of mental committment & drive- things that Carmelo EXCELL in as shown by his leadership in leading Syracuse to a national title (please dont tell me youre not gonna give him credit for that one too). I'm just saying a lot of you apologists are finding exuse after excuse to defend the Cavs & Lebron. The Nuggets were EVEN WORSE than the 17-65 Cavs last year. People thought they overachieved when they won 17 games last year in the West. The fact of the matter is your starting line without Lebron up is scoring just as much if not even MORE than the Nugs starters. Talent or ability is not the question here- leadership & drive are. Carmelo is just a better leader than LeBron, & has much more drive. Walton even pointed it out- LeBron appears docile & unenthusiastic in all his interviews. But I guess thats what a $90 Million contract will do to you. Just ask Juwan Howard, a former nugget.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting crocopbandwagon:</div><div class="quote_post">Actually it seems that the LeBron hype machine, ESPN is intentionally ignoring Carmelo. He rarely appears in any highlights even when he outscores Lebrn 26 to 4. I saw Lebron get 2 highlights even on his 4 point night. If that isnt unfair, I dont know what is. About the supporting cast, Hindsight is always 20-20 isnt it? If someone knew if guys like boykins & and miller could perform the way they do, Miller would still be on the cavs, & boykins wouldnt be on his 7th team in 4 years. The fact of the matter is that Carmelo is the KEY to the franchise's success. His role players are a decent, but they are NO BETTER than the Cavs. The Cavs have even MORE TALENT Its just that the Cavs keep coming up short due to their lack of mental committment & drive- things that Carmelo EXCELL in as shown by his leadership in leading Syracuse to a national title (please dont tell me youre not gonna give him credit for that one too). I'm just saying a lot of you apologists are finding exuse after excuse to defend the Cavs & Lebron. The Nuggets were EVEN WORSE than the 17-65 Cavs last year. People thought they overachieved when they won 17 games last year in the West. The fact of the matter is your starting line without Lebron up is scoring just as much if not even MORE than the Nugs starters. Talent or ability is not the question here- leadership & drive are. Carmelo is just a better leader than LeBron, & has much more drive. Walton even pointed it out- LeBron appears docile & unenthusiastic in all his interviews. But I guess thats what a $90 Million contract will do to you. Just ask Juwan Howard, a former nugget.</div> Why do we have to defend LeBron? He's having a phenomenal rookie season. Here's a tip, don't just look at the Cavs record, actually watch the way he plays a game, the way he sees the court, his basketball smarts etc. Maybe the hype is too big, but the reason the hype is there is because he is a very special basketball player. Now again, Carmelo is a fantastic player and is a big part of the Nuggets success, I love the guy. But his supporting cast is stocked with veterans and guys who know how to play clutch and play as a team. The Cavs have a very talented ball club, but they do not have those things that the Nuggets have. They are also the youngest team in NBA history. We might find excuses to defend 'Bron, but I find it even more ludicrous that people are actually criticising him this much when he's 18 and has played 19 games in the NBA. Sure he might be the most hyped rookie in history and obviously gets the attention from ESPN cos people want to see him (it's called ratings), but he is still only 18 and learning the professional game of basketball. It is very easy to pick on LeBron cos of the contract, the hype etc. He doesn't control the hype, he doesn't tell Nike what money to offer him. It's also the easy way out, and it makes for boring, predictable bashing. If you wanna write off a player at the age of 18 then fine, but that would mean you don't rate Jermaine O'Neal, Rashard Lewis or Tracy McGrady. He's gotten the hype because of his super, super talent, and it's unfair to judge him on that while he is still only a teenager. Blind Freddy can see Carmelo has a better supporting cast too. They have veterans, they have guys who have been to the playoffs, they have teamwork and they have the players to cover when Carmelo shoots poorly, as he has been doing this season. LeBron has constant bickering, underachieving talents and selfishness. As for your comments on Miller and Boykins; Cleveland traded Miller because he wasn't going to re-sign, nothing to do with talent. As for Boykins, again it DOESN'T MATTER what he's done in the past, the bottom line is he is performing right now for the Denver Nuggets. Carmelo is special, but to even think that comparing Denver and Cleveland's records as a way of judging 'Melo and 'Bron isn't very fair at all.
crocopbandwagon, when will you bring something else to the table? We know you hate the Cavs and LeBron, which you are free to feel that way. I will however <font color="Red">not stand</font> for constant repetitive bashing. You let us know how you feel, so move on, because your points are no longer worth responding to because they are so dense. <font size="1">(Consider that a warning)</font>
Ok, warning taken I agree LeBron is having great stats his rookie year. They may be nowhere NEAR the Jordan like rookie #'s he was supposedly gonna get, but if Lebron is having a great year, Carmelo is have a super great year. "As for Boykins, again it DOESN'T MATTER what he's done in the past, the bottom line is he is performing right now for the Denver Nuggets. Carmelo is special, but to even think that comparing Denver and Cleveland's records as a way of judging 'Melo and 'Bron isn't very fair at all." Actually it DOES matter what boykins did the past years, cuz you're acting like he automatically became a GREAT player overnight, & not putting Carmelo's impact into the equation. The fact of the matter is that Carmelo is the KEY & the CATALYST to the franchise's success. He is the GLUE that is getting the Nuggets to play as a TEAM. Without Carmelo, the team is a sub .500 team. His role players are a decent, but they are NO BETTER than the Cavs. Why else are there 4 Cavs on the all star ballot & only 3 Nuggets on the same ballot? The difference is that the nuggets are playing as a team, while the Cavs ARENT. Nugs coach Jeff Bzdelik was the coach last year when the nugs went 17-65, so he couldnt be the main cause the Nugz are winning. The only possible explanation is Carmelo Anthony, & the leadership & winning attitude he gained w/ Syracuse & the NCAA title. But Lebron will definitely be a great player in the NBA. I just think that Carmelo will always be right with him statwise, regardless of what the media says.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting crocopbandwagon:</div><div class="quote_post">The fact of the matter is that Carmelo is the KEY & the CATALYST to the franchise's success. He is the GLUE that is getting the Nuggets to play as a TEAM. Without Carmelo, the team is a sub .500 team. His role players are a decent, but they are NO BETTER than the Cavs.</div> Same could be said with Andre Miller, Marcus Camby, Nene, and their 4th quarter game finisher, Earl Boykins. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">But Lebron will definitely be a great player in the NBA. I just think that Carmelo will always be right with him statwise, regardless of what the media says. </div> See, this is what I am talking about, you fell victim to the hype/media and are taking it out on the Cavs, LeBron, and JustBBall. You have ruined 2 threads now talking about the same things. We are tired of correcting you, <font color="Red">clean up your act </font> it or I won't let you in here. Do you see a thread here saying "Carmelo sucks" or LeBron will be the rookie of the year"? No you don't.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting crocopbandwagon:</div><div class="quote_post">Ok, I apoligize If you say so.</div> LOL. We appreciate your apology, but I don't think that KJ is requiring you to be completely submissive. You know a bit about basketball, just make sure that your opinions are backed up with facts. Also, don't present the same arguements over and over, and be unbiased. You don't have to agree with people all the time, but post intelligently. Happy posting!
