Bold Predictions for Carmelo Anthony's 2014-15 Season

What’s in store for the New York Knicks’ Carmelo Anthony during the 2014-15 season? It’s not an easy answer.

After wavering a bit during the offseason, Anthony re-signed with a Knicks squad now spearheaded by Phil Jackson and led by first-time head coach Derek Fisher.

Considering that Jackson previously coached Fisher with the Los Angeles Lakers and utilized the triangle offense, it’s pretty safe to say its principles will heavily influence all things New York.

This philosophy beautifully spreads the floor and keeps every player engaged, which means that Anthony’s teammates will get opportunities to dictate the flow of the offense.

In trying to predict what we will see from Anthony, it’s important to understand both his situation and that of the team. I’m not sure the pieces all fit (yes, that includes Jose Calderon and Samuel Dalembert), but Jackson’s tutelage has helped teams compete for postseason berths despite marginal talent (example: 2005-06 Lakers).

Where does that leave Melo?

30 Points Per Game

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Anthony is going to average 30 points per game during the 2014-15 campaign and win the scoring title in the process.

The closest Carmelo has come to averaging this many points was during the 2006-07 season when he posted 28.9 points on average with the Denver Nuggets.

He will surpass the 30-point barrier this time around thanks to an offense that will turn his teammates into scoring threats. This might sound counterintuitive, but with defenses forced to focus on other Knicks players, it will open up the door for Anthony to operate against single coverage.

The Lakers’ Kobe Bryant as well as the Chicago Bulls’ Michael Jordan routinely produced around that amount of points because of their scoring ability coupled with an offense that consistently created high-percentage opportunities.

Melo will play a little more off the ball next season, which will give him chances to simply catch and finish.

Leading the League in Clutch

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Carmelo was reputed for making big shots down the stretch of games during his time in Denver (not quite the case in N.Y.), and he will take that to a new level during the 2014-15 campaign by leading the NBA in total clutch points.

The presence of a new coaching staff and offensive philosophy will make it easier for Melo to get the ball in the spots he desires during late-game situations where he will punish defenses.

Anthony will repeatedly bail his team out with explosive fourth quarters and look every bit the part of a superstar. How bold is this prediction? Melo hasn’t even sniffed the top five in total clutch points during the last five seasons, per NBA.com.

However, the situation seems conducive for him to win the “clutch scoring title.” New York will be a decent but not great team, which means contests should be close throughout. That will give him ample chances to score in tightly contested games, and Anthony will thrive during these situations.

All-Star Game MVP

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Anthony will make his eighth All-Star appearance and win his first All-Star Game MVP.

He will score 30 points against the Western Conference All-Stars thanks to his impeccable mid-range game. Anthony, a starter, will score early and often on a team that will start Chicago’s Derrick Rose and the Cleveland Cavaliers' Kyrie Irving, Kevin Love and LeBron James.

Anthony will get a multitude of touches and convert those into a marvelous scoring exhibition while going toe-to-toe with the Oklahoma City Thunder's Kevin Durant in an overtime shootout. In addition, Melo will score a few clutch buckets to propel the East to a victory.

In the 50s

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Carmelo will have two 50-point games next season, and both will happen before a nationally televised audience.

The first one will come on December 18 in Chicago (TNT, 8:00 p.m. ET). Anthony contemplated signing with the Bulls during free agency, but he ultimately remained with the Knicks.

Some in the media, including yours truly and B/R's Howard Beck, felt as though he should have teamed up with Rose in an effort to showcase his talent in May and perhaps even June. Anthony will use this night to remind the world of his talent and demonstrate that he can carry any team to any place he desires.

His second explosion will be a little more personal. It will come on March 12 (TNT, 10:30 p.m. ET) in L.A. against Kobe’s Lakers. Anthony’s wants to best Bryant, and dropping 50 on him in his building might be the best way to do so.

“I was going for 81,” Anthony said after scoring 62 points against the then Charlotte Bobcats in January, according to ESPN New York’s Ian Begley. That was a clear reference to Kobe’s 81-point outing against the Toronto Raptors in 2009. Considering that Bryant was shelved last season because of a torn Achilles and knee injury, Melo didn’t get an opportunity to compete against him.

However, Anthony will get a shot at Kobe in front of another crowd who thought it might land Melo during free agency, per an ESPN.com report by Ramona Shelburne and Chris Broussard. Anthony will wow fans and turn the contest into a spectacle as he shoots for Bryant’s record before falling roughly 30 points short. Fifty is still entertaining though, right?

MVP Candidate

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Carmelo will make a late run at the MVP trophy before ultimately falling short in a three-man race involving the Oklahoma City Thunder’s Kevin Durant and the Cleveland Cavaliers’ LeBron James.

The Knicks will win around 45 games and qualify for the playoffs with Melo scoring the most points per game of his career. That will get him into the conversation and make it an incredibly tight race for the Maurice Podoloff award.

Anthony will give them some stiff competition and even outshine them head-to-head on some nights. In the end, Melo will come close but not close enough. OKC and Cleveland will collect more wins, which will enhance the cases of Durant and James.