New York Knicks Need to Part Ways with Superstar Carmelo Anthony

With Carmelo Anthony as their focal point player, the Knicks cannot compete for an NBA championship. 

Anthony takes too many shots. He doesn't defend. 

Anthony's game is built around isolation and one-on-one matchups, the exact opposite of team basketball. Anthony is not a point guard, but tries to play like one. The ball needs to be in the hands of the point. 

The Knicks are better suited to build their team around point guard Jeremy Lin, power forward Amar'e Stoudemire, and center Tyson Chandler, than to continue with Anthony. 

While Stoudemire is not a good defender, Chandler won the 2011-2012 NBA defensive player of the year. 

Anthony has the worst winning percentage (.308) ever of a player with at least 50 games of playoff experience, according to Elias Sports Bureau. 

"ESPN Stats & Info ‏ @ESPNStatsInfo

Carmelo Anthony has the worst win% of ANY player that EVER played at least 50 playoff games (16-36, .308). Confirmed by Elias Sports Bureau.

 

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Like Anthony, the Knicks are futile in the postseason, losers of 13 consecutive playoff games, an NBA record, and are on the verge of being swept again. 

Only once has Carmelo Anthony advanced out of the first round in nine postseason appearances. It's clear that Anthony's selfish style of play doesn't win in the postseason. 

Anthony doesn't involve his teammates, and the other four players on the court are left standing around, waiting for Anthony to hoist up another shot. 

In this year's postseason, Anthony is shooting a horrific 22-for-64 (.344) and has made only one shot from three-point range. 

The Knicks as a team are averaging an anemic 77 points per game in the three postseason games this year. 

Without Stoudemire in Game 3, Anthony shot the Knicks out of the game, shooting 7-for-23. 

Even if Anthony's shots do fall, the fact that he doesn't involve his teammates enough is the main reason why the Knicks won't be going anywhere with Anthony. 

In last year's Hawks-Magic first round series, Magic center Dwight Howard averaged 27 points and 15 rebounds per game. But the offense was too reliant on him, making the other players go cold from the field. 

The same situation is happening here in New York. The Knicks offense relies on Anthony's isolation game too much, and the rest of the team is out of rhythm.  

Lin is a free agent this summer and the Knicks must re-sign him. Lin can distribute the basketball all around the court. Chandler led the NBA in field-goal percentage this year (67.9) by a wide margin. 

Maybe it would be a good idea to feed him the ball in the post. Lin can do that.