Superstar players with egos like Melo rarely seem to want to listen to people they consider to be lessor basketball players. DD
A good offense is the best defense. PHEW! I've always wanted to say that. Now I can scratch it off of my bucket list.
Didn't vote, I think it's between average and terrible. http://www.roundballminingcompany.com/2010/05/18/how-good-is-carmelo-anthony/ "The lack of passing, the lack of an appreciation for what it takes to win in this league from a defensive standpoint and the lack of postseason success is starting to create quite a bit of evidence that Carmelo Anthony is a player who can get you impressive numbers, but might not be the kind of player you can win a title with." Denver Nuggets Blog-
I'd love for Melo to lob Ron Arrest a call and get some defensive pointers. They're both NY guys and having builds and abilities similar enough to have comparable defense. The Melo from last year, particularly in the second half, used his lateral quickness and strong upper body to his defensive benefit. Those are Artest hallmarks...along with a viper quick and potent left hand. That being said, he is not the defensive sieve some are attempting to label him as. He does not have sustained effort there, but I don't know of a stud scorer that does. That's why Kobe is paired with Artest or Ariza...Melo with an Afflalo...Durant with a Thabo...Jordan with a Harper or Pippen...McGrady with a Battier. It isn't that these guys cannot play D. It's that they have a finite amount of energy and it is better for the team if their primary focus is on 1) scoring, 2) creating for others, and 3) assigning fouls on the opposition while a cheaper specialist expends his energy chasing opposing wings. Most teams, if so inclined, could collect 2 or more defensive specialists. Those teams cannot however, accumulate 2 or more guys capable of towing that type of heavy offensive load. If they can, they're typically well-balanced and championship contenders. Occasionally, they will be asked to lockdown a hot player that is just too physically gifted for the specialist to slow (LeBron attempting to slow Rondo), but it is...and should be...few and far between. I don't want my stud creator picking up fouls trying to lockdown their counterpart stud. Their value and effort offensively is just too difficult to replace. I'd sooner dedicate some MLE and vet minimum guys with hard foul and tough D on that assignment.
Anthony's defense is atrocious most of the time. He's capable of being quite good, and usually exerts effort in the postseason. Think healthy T-Mac, only worse.
what Melo brings on offense outweighs his defense, if we can keep Battier or bring in a Battier-esque player we should be fine.
I stopped reading at the similar build to Ron Artest part. LOL Ron is a beast and has probably over 40lbs on Melo if not more. Ron is probably physically stronger than James and probably the strongest strength to size ratio in the league. But he doesn't have the quickness to translate. the strength into something like James does (though LBJ is probably weaker of the 2)
You should've kept reading. Their builds are similar enough (barrel chested, physical small forwards) to where Melo could attempt to pattern his defensive efforts after Artest...when needed. Laterally, Melo could keep up with opposing small forwards, but he has the upper body strength...enough of it...to go chest to chest as a defender. Whereas a Battier needs (and has, effectively) learned defensive angles enough to play with space and beat his man to a spot, Melo has the body, coordination and quickness to play chest-deep and get physical with his opponent...same as Artest does. As a general rule...read the entire post. They aren't always fluff. Though the responses often are. Oh...and Artest in his prime had the speed...actually quickness...to match his size. He was an unparalleled defensive perimeter beast. Undoubtedly one of the best the league has ever seen. I'm not saying Melo should aspire to be the same, though. I'm saying when NEEDED he could learn and summon the same capabilities.
I totally disagree about Jordan. He was a huge part of how the Bulls often negated post play from opposing teams. Jordan and Pippen put tremendous pressure on opposing guards and didn't let them get entry-passes into the post in; other than that, yes, you're right.
Melo is finesse strong in the same way Rasheed Wallace is. He is not a physical specimen but much softer than Artest. Guys that are comparable in strength and size would be Artest, Caron Butler, and LBJ.. Those guys are physical forces.. Melo is and always will be kind of jiggley around the arms.. If Wade were 2 inches taller he would be in that mix...
Whom was called upon to guard Magic? Clyde? Nique? For the majority of games, it was not Jordan. I'm not saying he didn't apply pressure to prevent entry passes. That was a general defensive strategy of those teams...most actually (no team consciously concedes entry passes). I'm saying on an island, Jordan was often assigned the lesser defensive assignment. Or are you suggesting he was taking the toughest assignment while allowing Pippen to rest and play the passing lanes?
