The Carmelo Anthony Trade, the New York Knicks and Angst
Within the world of the New York Knicks, angst is a way of life.
So it is with the Carmelo Anthony trade. Instead of welcoming a player of immense skill and talent, mostly what we're hearing is three things:
That the pressure is on Carmelo; he must find a way to coexist with Amar'e “the savior” Stoudemire; he must not “slow things down.”
The Knicks may have given up too much (angst folks are noncommittal on this, probably hoping for an opportunity to relish in more angst later).
Carmelo can't do this or that on a basketball court.
Who are the primary angst predators preying perniciously over Madison Square Garden? They are the media—New York media especially, but some out-of-town scribes and screamers as well—people whose methodology is knock something first, then parasite off of any success afterwards; a significant portion of New York fans still stuck in the stupor of mediocrity, thinking erroneously, for example, that Danilo Gallinari was a potential franchise difference maker; and thirdly, the Knicks coach Mike “only offense matters” D'Antoni.
Check out a selection of D'Antoni quotes following the trade: “We moved the rock a little bit”; “I don't want to get booed tomorrow night” (when Anthony makes his debut); and "...don't get carried away thinking we're challenging Miami, Boston, all those teams. We're just not there yet."
Great optimist, that D'Antoni. Just a wonderfully buoyant guy. Huge thinker about the best in life. Bet Carmelo is thrilled to play for him.
The fact is, Carmelo Anthony wants to come to New York despite the Knicks' lame one-way coach, Mike D'Antoni, who couldn't win with league MVP Steve Nash and Amare Stoudemire together in Phoenix, when Stoudemire was pre-knee surgery, at the height of his powers.
The fact is, Anthony apprehends the athletic apex attainable with a title-contending team in the bright lights of New York. He also understands that if he performs well, the coaching situation will sort itself out, meaning D'Antoni will leave before he will.
It may turn out that Carmelo was part of a secret triumvirate if Chris Paul frolics to the Big Apple, but New York should appreciate that Carmelo wants to be “home” in any case because he believes in his own talent.
Carmelo Anthony can be an even better player in New York because he is happily located.
Carmelo can do more things offensively than LeBron James. He can post, score mid-range and long-range, drive to the basket, get up and down, spin and shake, and play like a guard, small forward, or even a power forward for short minutes. He misses less layups than LeBron, and LeBron has a hard time scoring mid-range and can't post. James needs that head of steam to really be effective.
Also, if they will listen, Anthony will show his Knick teammates how to use their bodies better to score. Anthony is like Adrian Dantley in this way. In addition, Anthony, like Larry Bird and Rick Barry, makes the job of those around him just plain easier. His detractors notwithstanding, Anthony sees the floor. If people are moving and open, Anthony will get them the ball.
Defensively, Anthony will not be “used;” he will compete and scratch. His eight rebounds per game speaks for itself, especially given that in Denver he was playing alongside Kenyon Martin and Nene Hilario, two other strong rebounders.
This begs the question: What else do you want?
Anthony may not be the second coming of Dave Debusschere, in terms of the “final solution”—who is?—but the current Knicks don't have Willis Reed, Clyde Frazier, and Earl Monroe on their roster to play with, as Debusschere did, either.
However, Anthony is a winner. He won a college championship with Syracuse through the force of his own will. His own. Not Jim Boeheim's, but his. That collegiate exhibition of character makes him a forever winner, even if the Denver Nuggets never won a championship.
In the trade for Carmelo Anthony, the New York Knicks gave up two inconsistent, unproven players in Gallinari and Wilson Chandler, an admittedly solid player in Raymond Felton—but one who may not start in Denver over a second-year guard Ty Lawson—and finally, Timofey Mozgov, a player who Rick Reilly of ESPN.com says possibly “does not exist.”
So why the angst in New York? Some people can't see sunshine. Some people can't see the forest for the trees. Some people can't see when leaves turn green.
Carmelo Anthony seems to be a happy camper; in and around New York people excel, but they often have a hard time being happy. Wake up New York: Carmelo Anthony may be your good “Puck.”
