Monday, January 23rd, 2012 at 9:00 am  |  150 responses

Carmelo Anthony Wondering if the Knicks’ Struggles Are His Fault


by Marcel Mutoni / @marcel_mutoni

It was inevitable, really. Here were the Denver Nuggets, a cohesive and unselfish unit, strolling into the Garden to take on the mess that is otherwise known as the New York Knicks.

Denver’s crushing double-overtime victory handed the reeling Knicks their 6th consecutive loss, and created ever more panic for their dejected fanbase and increasingly cynical media. As for the players themselves, Carmelo Anthony finds himself in need of some serious soul-searching.

The former Nugget wondered aloud if he was to blame for the Knicks’ woes, and Anthony says that he would like for his co-workers not to be afraid to tell him if this is the case. From the NY Daily News and Newsday:

“There is a bunch of stuff that goes through my mind,” Anthony said after the Knicks lost their sixth straight, including four at home in six days. “What am I doing? What am I not doing? I have been in this situation before when shots don’t go in. Should I pass it more? I am sitting there thinking. Maybe I should take the blame for the games we are losing … our offensive struggles. I will take it [...] “I am hard-headed at times as far as them telling me to sit down some games,” he added. “I don’t know how to take that but maybe it is time to reevaluate that.”

“We as a team need to do a better job getting Amar’e the ball,” Anthony said Saturday. “I have the ball in my hands. Maybe it’s on me. Maybe I need to get him the ball a little bit more, help him out with that. Me and [Stoudemire] will talk, try to figure it out together. If I’m doing too much, I want him to tell me. I want the guys on my team to tell me if I’m doing too much. We handle it like that.” Anthony said there already have been “team meetings, players meetings.” But this one-to-one seems long overdue.

The blame game in New York has shifted from head coach Mike D’Antoni, to ‘Melo, the lack of a productive point guard and bench, and finally Amar’e Stoudemire. As Anthony points out, STAT hasn’t been aggressive on the offensive end this season (to say nothing of his shortcomings on defense and the boards.)

Carmelo Anthony is right in that needs to take a serious look in the mirror. But he’s certainly not the only Knick who should be taking that crucial step.

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  • http://www.nba.com VanCityBBall

    they need to talk more D than offense in my opinion

  • Penis

    Its funny Denver got better without Melo and NY got worse lol…

  • ShiQ

    I think we may have opposing views on the way the word “helped” i be used in this context. But i won’t belabor that point, the fact is the Nuggets sans a Superstar are a better team. And the KNICKS with 2 All-stars and a champion just can’t get it together. I don’t blame Anthony…100% or D’antoni… I blame whoever went ahead and made my LIFE great by making such a heavy trade in feb 2011. Oh and p.s. the only reason STAT was as succesful in the D’antoni system in pHX is CLEARLY STEVE NASH! STAT shouldn’t be an afterthought though, pretty sad to think that he would be first ont he trade block, but if they are gonna do it then…….

  • ShiQ

    i meant *is being used. oh well.

  • http://cnbc.com JTaylor21

    I love how melo says that “amare and the team need to tell him if he’s doing too much (shooting)”. That’s not their job, it’s up to you as the team’s so-called point forward and the next LBird (according to D’Antoni) to have the right balance of shooting and creating scoring opportunities for teammates.

  • flipnoyce

    Damn, used to be one of Melo’s fan. I fell off the the wagon when the Nuggets had him and Iverson together playing against the Laker squad in the playoffs sometime ago in 08. I thought for sure that Melo would give the Laker a run for their money but instead I thought he gave up too soon to even make it a battle. Same thing back in 09 at western conference finals against the Laker and this time with Billups, I also felt he gave up in that series. He’ s a great scorer but that’s all you get from him. He’s got the whole offense on pause whenever he holds that ball. One dimensional player is what he is. No defense, at all!!! Knicks should try to get Nash to make this team complete. Nash made No D’ antoni a freakin genius but look at him now since leaving Pheonix. And Melo it is your fault, maybe you should stop playing by yourself and play with the other 4 guys that’s called team mates.

  • http://nyill.wordpress.com/ O

    Dolan sank the Knicks by overruling Donnie Walsh and trading away half the team. Donnie offered Wilson Chandler, Curry’s contract, Anthony Randolph and a pick. But Denver went for the gusto and instead of calling their bluff, Dolan caved and now we suck because of it. Looking back, we should’ve added Fields and kept Gallo.

  • meloman@2.0

    @ShiQ You’re not getting the point. IF Melo didn’t say anything, The Nuggets would have got no one for him. Point blank. Atleast credit Melo for having the curtesy to tell the front office that he didn’t want to be there anymore, because like I said, if he didn’t, the nuggets would be a bottom feeder

  • AQWORD

    The problem is lack of good PG to stabilise tings. + Amare can’t get his without one RECOGNISE !!! lol AT PENIS but it is a fact.

  • meloman@2.0

    and I don’t even agree that the Nuggets are a better team. Deeper, yes. But lets be real, that team will not go far in the playoffs. A 1st round win at best. with Melo they could atleast win two

  • http://www.kb24.com The Seed

    Melo its your fault move the ball around, play defense and stay of reality television is my advice. BOOK IT!!

  • http://www.slamonline.com Nick Tha Quick

    Anyone seen IamOrange these days? He’s been curiously absent.

  • Hart

    Should have waited till FA.

  • ctk

    Nuggets aint better till they win a playoff series …stars win n the playoffs ..PERIOD…the Knicks had to do that deal …Gallinari,Chandler,n Felton aint beatin no Bulls or Heat n a best of 7 series…u got a better chance with Amare n Melo

  • http://slamonline.com LakeShow

    @nbk, …. Knee!

  • http://cnbc.com JTaylor21

    and the knicks have won a playoff series?

  • http://www.yahoo.com The Fury

    …what if they trade Melo to the Magic for Anderson and Nelson??

  • DerekG

    Every good game that Gallinari and Raymond Felton have burns me to the core! They should be in Knicks uniform still and let Melo come in the off season via free agency!

  • dywm

    Its Coach Antoni’s fault.

  • http://slamonline.com nbk

    Amar’e for Deron Williams. I can’t see a way New Jersey gets Dwight with Brook Lopez hurt. I can’t see Dwight making it past the trade deadline in Orlando. And considering there was a report last week that said, New Jersey would trade Deron Williams (probably to New York) if Dwight is traded to a place he is willing to resign, the Knicks struggles, specifically Amar’e Stoudemire I would say that the trade is getting more likely by the day.

  • http://www.nbadraft.net showtime

    Bulls??? heat??? Amare n Melo can’t even beat No Country For OLD MEn(Celtics for the slow)!!!

  • robb

    It’s not his fault. When D’umbtoni leaves NY and they get a real coach, things will start improving pretty fast.

  • http://nyill.wordpress.com/ O

    nbk, apparently that trade might happen IF Dwight goes somewhere other than the Nets. Brooklyn would open a team with Stat and Brook and the Knicks would have a more balanced team. Also, I just read that the Magic have been thinking about trading Dwight to the Knicks for Stat AND Tyson Chandler…

  • ShiQ

    I’m not missing the point I disagree with how you’re saying it anywho Perhaps an “if then statement” But No way am I agreeing to him “helping the Nuggets” in the trade…but I digress. I’ll let it go But I won’t let this go…Nuggets aren’t a better team? Just deeper…that makes all of no sense…if you’re deeper ( and by all sense of that phrase it means effective) aren’t you a better team? Huh? the KNicks are sucking it up, and they are stilla better team.. No they have 2 all-stars and a championship winner…and No chemistry and an archaic offensive style that doesn’t suit them , but did suit D’antoni and AMar’e when they had future HOF all-star and MVP ..steve Nash. I’m gonna stick by the original statement that the NUGGETS are a better team, with better ball movement, Way better D ( horrible off boards tho yikes) and future HOF coach, and a better team style of play. Come on now at least admit to that one. the knicks aren’t even GETTING to the playoffs so that automatically makes that comment NULL and VOID :)

  • Riggs

    Donnie walsh was on a roll until Dolan stepped in like an idiot. It’s the reason why Donnie left before he had to.

  • http://slamonline.com Allenp

    wouldn’t the Knicks prefer to have Amare and Deron instead of Melo and Deron?
    Amare, Deron and Chandler is way better on offense in my opinion, with Shumpert providing a very solid two guard

  • http://slamonline.com Allenp

    Plus, if you trade Melo, you can pursue Dwight.
    Deron’s contract expires, but you can still resign him as your own free agent. You sign Dwight, resign Deron and you now have Deron, Dwight, Chandler, Amare and Shumpert as your core.
    Chandler is now trade bait, you can even holla at Golden State and see if they’re still interested.
    Think about it.

  • http://slamonline.com nbk

    Allen, well according to Mike D’Antoni he can’t really use Amar’e effectively next too Chandler. He said, Amar’e basically needs to learn how to be comfortable under a different offensive role. Which (this is just as assumption) isn’t going to really fit in the scheme Amar’e originally had planned out when he signed his name on the dotted line. I would think he is less of a “face” for the Knicks and with Chandler on the roster, the most expendable player. Plus his contract can’t be something the Knicks want very badly. I mean, it isn’t even insured.

  • http://slamonline.com Allenp

    Deron, Damion James and sundiata gaines for Melo and Bill Walker works as far as salaries.
    The Nets get a superstar who is locked into his deal for four years to bring with them to Brooklyn with Brook Lopez. The let Okur walk and try to convince dwight that a pay cut is still a good idea.
    Of course they will be fighting with the Knicks, who are going to try to let most of their roster walk in the offseason, and try to get Dwight themselves and sell him on playing with Deron, Amare, Chandler and Shumpert.
    Melo would be pissed, but hey, that’s life. Seems like a very good deal for both teams in my opinion.

  • http://slamonline.com nbk

    There is no way for that too happen Allen. Deron, Dwight, Chandler, Amar’e? how in god’s green mainly blue earth could that possibly happen. They would need to trade someone to get Deron, we’ll say Melo. Then they have Deron, Tyson, & Amar’e making over $12M a season. (you can’t resign Deron after you sign Dwight, Deron’s bird rights count against the salary cap until he is signed somewhere.) Basically, considering the salary cap, it’s impossible to have all 4 of those guys on the same team.

  • http://slamonline.com Allenp

    then Mike DAntoni needs to be fired.
    Look, Melo is a ball stopper. Giving him an elite point is not going to change that.
    You dump him, get back a superstar point, pair that with Amare and Chandler and your exciting rookie and still have a chance to snare Dwight if I’m not mistaken.
    Melo is $20 million off the books, which makes signing Dwight mad easy.
    You sign Dwight, re-sign Deron to go over the cap and your team is completely set.
    What am I missing?

  • meloman@2.0

    well ShiQ, we’ll see come playoff time. Theres no doubt that as of right now, the nuggets are better, i wont lie.

  • http://slamonline.com Allenp

    Ah, ok, I didn’t know that about the Bird rights. I though that if Deron opted out of his contract, which he plans to do, he would be a free agent and his current team would just have the option of going over the cap to re-sign him.
    Also, why not trade Chandler too? somebody will pick him up given what the market was for him last summer, and this way and team gets to save like $12 million so the contract is more palatable.
    I would make this deal in a heartbeat. I’m not a fan of Melo at all and I think the team would be better with a serious point guard.

  • http://slamonline.com nbk

    Don’t the Knicks have to wait a certain amount of time before they can trade Chandler? And wouldn’t it be after the trade deadline?

  • http://slamonline.com nbk

    30. Can a team with cap room sign all the free agents it wants (up to the salary cap) and THEN re-sign its own free agents using the Bird exception?

    A team’s ability to do this is very limited. The team’s free agents continue to count against their team salary (against the salary cap). This charge is called the “free agent amount.” There may not be enough money available under the cap to sign another team’s free agent, because the team’s own free agents are taking up all their cap room.

  • http://slamonline.com nbk

    That’s from Larry Coon’s Salary Cap FAQ just wanted you too see the rule AP.

  • http://slamonline.com Allenp

    I just read Larry Coon’s write up about the Bird Rights and didn’t see that info you provided NBK, where did you get it?

  • FoCo

    Melo may have inadvertently helped Denver by his desire to have his cake and eat it to but he by no means had their best interests in mind. He only wanted to be able to name where he was playing while still getting his max money extension under the old CBA. If he had waited until the offseason he was afraid of losing his money.

  • http://slamonline.com Allenp

    Nevermind, I found it.
    Oh well, I’d prefer a team with Deron, Amare, Chandler, shumpert and whoever else the Knicks can sign then the current squad. and I think they could still trade Chandler since his contract is now for $48 million starting next year instead of the full $60 million.
    Some team will take him at $12 million per for four years.

  • https://webfiles.uci.edu/lcoon/cbafaq/salarycap99.htm nbk

    it’s number 27 on the new FAQ. Click my name, go to 27

  • ctk

    Never said the Knicks won a series …the goal is to win a title …better shot with buildin a team around Melo n Amare to get that done…u couldnt lock long term deals with Gallinari n W.Chandler tryin to get that done …Knicks would of been like the 76ers r now …this is all about the Playoffs u need stars ….n Amare n Billups wont healthy against the celtics that would of been a diff. series if they was

  • https://webfiles.uci.edu/lcoon/cbafaq/salarycap99.htm nbk

    I would be right with you Allen if I thought the Knicks were operating under the “we would like to win more than James Dolan wants to sell tickets” team building plan. But I don’t. The Knicks are never trading Melo, not after last season and all they gave up, and what it cost their front office (Donnie Walsh). Amar’e to me, seems like the odd man out. And like I said earlier, idk if Chandler is even eligible to be traded yet.

  • http://slamonline.com Allenp

    they don’t have to trade Chandler this year. They can ride this year out with the Chandler Deron and Amare core.
    Then see what’s up in the offseason with teams and the draft.
    Think about it, they recruit Dwight. Tell him they are looking at trading Chandler to get him. If they convince he and Deron to sign for slightly less than the full maximum, how would it be a bad idea to dump Melo?
    You telling me Dwight would be enticed by the idea of hooping with Amare and Deron? You telling me pick and rolls with Amare and Deron wouldn’t be devastating with Dwight flashing from the weakside or hitting the glass?
    Melo needs to be moved.

  • https://webfiles.uci.edu/lcoon/cbafaq/salarycap99.htm nbk

    lol I agree with you 100%. except, He ain’t never, ever, getting traded.

  • http://www.slamonline.com Slick Ric

    I think Amare might still be dealing with back issues, raymond felton’s a good point guard but he aint making NO ONE play at a mvp level. I think the spacing may be a issue as well as carmelo being a ball stopper. Amare has never played with a guy like him in his career.

  • http://slamonline.com Allenp

    Well, maybe you’re right about Dolan. I don’t get it.
    I also don’t get why NO ONE in the national media has even discussed this possible trade.

  • http://slamonline.com nbk

    I don’t understand that either. I also don’t understand why the Knicks pursues Tyson Chandler in the first place. Not for 12 Million a year. They acted like that was going to legitimize their defense, like he has ever done that for a bad defensive team? ever? The Bobcats were still sh*tty when he was with them. Dallas was one rim protector away from being elite, they weren’t crap and then Tyson changed the culture like people tried to say, he just filled their only hole defensively. simple as that.

  • http://slamonline.com Allenp

    I don’t know if it was that simple, but I agree that he wasn’t going to solve the Knicks problems.
    I believe that any time you get more than two bad defenders in a lineup you are going to have serious problems unless you have an outstanding coach.
    I think the trade would immediately solve the Knicks offensive problems and help some on defense. More importantly, it would let them shed Melo’s deal so they could trade Chandler this offseason since his deal is reasonable at four years for $48 million.

  • charliewinning

    If D’Antoni can’t find a way to make Chandler/STAT work then it’s another reason he needs to go. I was never a Melo fan but I realize they’ll trade STAT before him. May as well go after Dwight or Deron with STAT and Chandler as trade pieces. I never saw the STAT/Melo combo working. Ftr, I can’t stand Melo’s game. It’s too damn one demensional.

  • Shiq

    Thanks FoCo “inadvertantly” and “not having thier best interest in mind…are EXACLTY what i’m getting at. I know melo wasn’t mulling over how to both “help” the Nuggets and get to NY. I know that the new CBA scared both him and the Knicks and the NJ Nyets still playing with NY’s emotions made them jump the gun and gut the team…that’s well put.
    I think i said this on NBA.com but it’s high time NY start looking to make more drastic changes in MSG. Re-open that incision from the hefty gutting they did last feb, wheel and deal for Dwill and Dwight…this may mean both Melo and Chandler, or Chandler and Amar’e getting outta dodge…I think at this point for tix sales and to see a star score anyone would gladly take Melo, but unless you want Iso ball…dude’s not changing anytime soon so teams should realize that…and I’d bet a pair of louboutins(yeah i’m a girl, we bet high stakes on shoes) on him NOT changing. NY better make a move for Dhoward and Dwill…they better at LEAST try.

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