6 Ways Carmelo Anthony Must Elevate His Game To Take Knicks out of First Round

Ever since he was selected by the Denver Nuggets in the 2003 NBA draft, Carmelo Anthony has been a franchise player.

Before acquiring the freshman phenom out of Syracuse University, the Nuggets were abysmal, missing the playoffs eight straight seasons from 1996-2003. With Anthony on the roster, they made seven straight postseasons, and his high trade value helped them get back solid players—from the Knicks this past February—who assisted in the team’s eighth consecutive playoff appearance last season.

Carmelo’s arrival in New York City created a level of excitement for the Knicks not felt since their last NBA Finals appearance in 1999. For fans, it helped heal some of the wounds created over the previous decade.

Some even felt the team became a championship contender good enough to take down the hated Big Three of the Miami Heat, which was a bit premature and fallacious.

While the Knicks made the playoffs for the first time since 2004, they were unable to get their franchise’s first postseason series victory since 2000 or even win their first playoff game since 2001. Still, a bright future lies ahead if they continue to improve, and that improvement must begin with their leading scorer—Carmelo Anthony.

Here are six ways Carmelo must elevate his game to get the Knicks past the postseason’s first round.

Improve the Intensity Level on Defense

It’s no secret that Carmelo doesn’t always give 110 percent on defense.

What’s less known (or even accepted) is that he’s a very capable defender when motivated, like when he’s matched up against LeBron James—who Carmelo is 10-4 against in his NBA career.

Carmelo could try picturing every player he guards as LeBron to see if that lights a fire in his belly. The two close friends have always had a competitive rivalry that stems back to their AAU days.

Carmelo would be well-served to harness that competitiveness for constant use.

Increase the Rebounding Output

Carmelo has always been a good rebounder, averaging 6.3 per game in his career, and it’s not far-fetched to think he could average close to or at least double digits.

In his only collegiate season, Carmelo averaged 10 rebounds per game. Obviously, the NBA has a higher level of talent than college basketball, but the NBA also has a lower level of effort and eight additional minutes of game time.

While he’s only twice averaged more than seven rebounds per game in a season, being on a Knicks squad with little interior presence increases his opportunities on the glass.

It also increases their need for Carmelo to put forth a consistent rebounding effort.

Run More Pick and Rolls with Amar’e Stoudemire

During his time on the Knicks last season, Carmelo did effectively run some pick-and-roll plays with Amar’e Stoudemire. Next season, the two superstars should perform the play at least eight to 10 times per game.

Amar’e has always been a very effective screener, while Carmelo has been good at using picks. When they engage in pick and rolls, Carmelo’s shooting ability and 6’8” frame combined with Amar’e’s incredible athleticism puts a lot of pressure on defenses.

It doesn’t take an offensive genius to realize these two should be running numerous pick and rolls.

Increase Overall Effort by Following Michael Jordan’s Philosophy

Michael Jordan always used to say he’d give it his all every game, no matter the situation, for those in the crowd who only had that one chance to see him play.

Carmelo should take those words to heart.

Obviously, Carmelo’s defensive effort needs to increase, but even his effort on offense could as well. Sometimes, he gets frustrated, either at himself or teammates, and seems to lose focus and intensity. When those instances arise, he has a tendency to force bad shots.

While it’s human nature to feel the emotion that is frustration, Carmelo must adopt a super-human mentality of sorts and move beyond it.

Allow the Offense To Flow More

When Carmelo was traded to New York, it remained to be seen how he’d gel with Mike D’Antoni’s free-flowing offense.

Before joining the Knicks, Carmelo was a ball stopper—someone who, upon receiving the ball, holds on to it and tries to get himself in position to score—and that didn’t change much after he landed in the Big Apple.

Carmelo doesn’t need to make 90 percent of the plays for his team to get a good shot off, especially since he has another superstar in Amar’e Stoudemire, a former NBA Finals MVP in Chauncey Billups and capable shooters in Toney Douglas, Shawne Williams and Bill Walker.

If Carmelo doesn’t allow the offense to flow more, opposing defenses will have an easier time guarding last season’s second highest scoring offense. Ball motion puts much more pressure on a defense than ball stopping because opponents have to stay on their toes and watch out for five guys instead of locking down on just one.

Increase Marketing Skills so Chris Paul Will Sign Contract Extension with Knicks

This doesn’t have much to do with Carmelo elevating any aspect of his basketball game but is still important and obviously contingent on the New Orleans Hornets agreeing to trade Chris Paul to the Knicks.

While the Knicks might be good enough to win a first-round series without Paul next season, adding him to the roster would help tremendously and also turn the team into a title contender.

One factor that may prevent the Knicks from pulling the trigger on a hypothetical trade is Paul’s current contract, which expires after next season. The Knicks could be hesitant to give the Hornets the necessary pieces—possibly Chauncey Billups’ expiring contract, Landry Fields or Iman Shumpert, Toney Douglas and draft picks—for arguably the NBA’s best point guard because of the risk that he might not re-sign with them.

That’s where Carmelo has got to do some off the court work.

Carmelo and Paul are good friends, and they’ve been the subject of much speculation as to whether they’ll form a Big Three in New York with Stoudemire.

Similar to how Dwayne Wade allegedly sold Miami to Chris Bosh and LeBron James before last summer’s free-agency period began; Carmelo will have to pitch New York City to CP3.

If successful, Paul could indicate to Carmelo that he’d sign a contract extension with the Knicks and Carmelo could let the Knicks next GM—who hopefully isn’t named Isiah Thomas—know about the good news.

That may be illegal to do by the NBA rulebook, but c’mon, this is America! Breaking the law, or a set of rules, is practically a form of patriotism.