Opening Tip: Can Melo elevate to ... MVP?

[still a fan]

I hate posting it but someone else will, and its all we've discussed every single point.

The best way I could put this right now: it means nothing how any fan thinks, its all about will Melo do what he's been saying? If so we are in for a treat.

I do however feel this year he is playing with a few vets who will give him not only tips but constant reminders.

Today's Burning Question: Can this be the season Carmelo Anthony finally elevates to the Most Valuable Player conversation?

Ball-stopper. Only talented offensively. Doesn't play consistent defense. Can't make players around him better. Will never lead his team to a championship.

Those are all of the things Carmelo Anthony has heard in his nine years in the NBA, and they've only intensified in the No. 1 media market. Not only that, his two 2003 draft class buddies, LeBron James and Dwyane Wade, have won titles and have been named league and Finals MVPs. (Wade's only MVP came for his Finals performance in 2006.)

Anthony continues to sit on the outside, wondering how to beat the Heat while trying to figure out how to become a more complete player. The love is not there yet. In fact, his ESPN.com NBA ranking is No. 17, dropping from No. 12 last year.

But with all of that said, this season presents the best opportunity for Anthony to elevate into the MVP conservation, along with James and Kevin Durant. Not only is Melo considered to be in the best shape of his life -- Walt Frazier, for one, believes so -- there are believers who say he can buy in consistently on defense under Mike Woodson. He did so in those 24 games with Woody last season, leading the Knicks to an 18-6 record to close the regular season and the third-best defensive mark in the league during that stretch.

There's also optimism about Melo catapulting into the league's most prestigious individual award category because of this: He has the deepest supporting cast he's ever had on any team, and he's even spoken about forgoing points for more team play.

"I don't want to try to put all that burden on myself to go out there and try to do everything, so I'm willing to make any sacrifice in my game regardless of what anybody else says," he told ESPNNewYork.com about a week ago. "If my scoring goes from 27 to 23, I'm cool with that. Right now, I'm willing to make any sacrifice that I have to."

Overall, this could be Anthony's season where he finally silences all of the negative noise. While he's not thinking about potential MVP consideration, he's thinking big enough to reach that level this season.

"At the end of the day, as long as we win games, everybody will be happy," he told ESPNNewYork.com. "I don't really think about it. My mindset is to make this one of the best years for myself and for the Knicks."

[6deep]

Melo will never win the public relations battle it takes to win MVP. He doesn't have the (management, sponsor, agent, PR) team in place to pull it off. The 'labels' he carries with him are already there. Selfish, iso-player, no defense, etc....

Knicks would need to have the best record in the East and Melo would have to be a big part of it in order to get any type of recognition and still the underlying labels would be there.

[Jagged QT]

The question is merely for him to be in the consideration, not actually winning it.

Top 10 offense and a top 5 defense probably would be enough.

[still a fan]

Knicks coach praises Anthony for carrying over his play from the Olympics

By MARC BERMAN
Posted: 2:53 PM, October 8, 2012

Knicks coach Mike Woodson has seen a new, fit Carmelo Anthony at training camp and he attributes it to his Olympic experience. Both Anthony and Tyson Chandler appear ahead of the other Knicks in terms of conditioning and readiness. Winning a gold medal will do that.

“It is a bonus,’’ Woodson said. “When you spend the whole summer competing at a high level for something of that magnitude and winning a gold medal, it’s a bonus for any coach to have two players who played throughout the summer and didn’t get a whole lot of time off. They should be pumped up and ready to go. These two guys have been that way. It’s nice to see.’’

'Melo and Chandler were with Team USA from July 5th when training camp began in Las Vegas all the way to mid-August when the gold was won in London. Woodson was there for 10 days and caught three games. Pablo Prigioni also got the experience, playing for Argentina, which lost in the bronze-medal game to Russia. Prigioni’s experience wasn’t as good because he developed kidney stones in London and was debilitated.

During scrimmages, Anthony has looked energetic on defense and smooth as silk on offense.

“I thought it helped,’’ Woodson said. “He and Tyson both. They put a long summer of playing, practicing and preparing for the Olympics and then when they got there, they were right in the mix of playing minutes. It’s been a long summer for 'Melo and Tyson in terms of playing and it’s been nice because it’s flowed into vet camp. Those guys are in damn good shape and it helps.’’

--

Rasheed Wallace is not quite in shape yet and he’s using boxing to get there. Wallace donned boxing gloves and threw punches with strength coach Dave Hancock while the rest of the team scrimmaged. It’s unknown if Wallace will be ready Tuesday either. As Wallace threw punches on the sidelines into Hancock’s mitts, it was quite the surreal scene. Wallace has been known for being most combative with referees.





Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/blogs/knicks...#ixzz28jsGJWi9

[milominderbinde]

"Rasheed Wallace is not quite in shape yet and he’s using boxing to get there. Wallace donned boxing gloves and threw punches with strength coach Dave Hancock while the rest of the team scrimmaged. It’s unknown if Wallace will be ready Tuesday either. As Wallace threw punches on the sidelines into Hancock’s mitts, it was quite the surreal scene. Wallace has been known for being most combative with referees. "

Sheed hasn't been in shape in five years. Love the boxing gloves part though. He can be our goon.

[Hustla23]

If Derrick Rose can win MVP, I guess Melo can too.

[elledaddy]

The real question is ............. WHO FUKS SOMEBODY UP FIRST? Sheed or Kurt?

[seikou8]

Melo will never win the public relations battle it takes to win MVP. He doesn't have the (management, sponsor, agent, PR) team in place to pull it off. The 'labels' he carries with him are already there. Selfish, iso-player, no defense, etc....

Knicks would need to have the best record in the East and Melo would have to be a big part of it in order to get any type of recognition and still the underlying labels would be there.

thank you for saving me the time

[jam]

After a 45-48 win season, probably not.

[BklynKnicks3]

knicks are winning 54 games. Melo is a top 3 player in the league the mvp award has become corny how can guys like lecunt or Durant be real Mvps when their teams would still be good without them. Not for nothing league could punish players for pairing up this way easily. If Lebron had bosh id have no problem with him getting mvp but bosh n wade u are a mvp what a joke. I think heat can make east finals without lebron.

[yankstheknicks]

As long as there's lebron and Durant mello will never see a MVP...look at Ewing.. if it weren't for Jordan he would have been MVP multiple times... I think the next MVP will go to and this is depending on their record will be deron Williams...( as much as I hate to say it ) ...but mello will be in the convo ..

[BklynKnicks3]

Dwill is so over rated and gets no hate thats nets team has been in the lottery since he got there n has not even got any better and he has been healthy for the most part some how the clowns on espn put him 10th n melo 17th. To dwill is not even on Melos level I wish players in the nba can vote their top 20 players in the nba i really do

[ny snoop123]

28ppg 7 rbs and 5 assist with 50+ wins and 1-3 seed in the east should do it! But seeing how the league favors lebron and durant have not won mvp yet bein scoring champ 3 years straight I doubt it will Happen

[HouRealCoach]

Dwill is so over rated and gets no hate thats nets team has been in the lottery since he got there n has not even got any better and he has been healthy for the most part some how the clowns on espn put him 10th n melo 17th. To dwill is not even on Melos level I wish players in the nba can vote their top 20 players in the nba i really do

You do know that in 2011 he came mid year & only played 12 games with them right?

& in 2012, He was out there with Rookie Marshon Brooks & Kirk Humphries as the next scoring options?

They have been in rebuilding mode since he's gotten there.. That statement makes absolutely no sense

But I think Melo could become MVP but this year it will be between LeBron, Rondo, Durant, CP3, and maybe Dwight... He sure has some work to do if he wants to get in that conversation over the next 3 years

[Dankster]

Him even being mentioned as a nominee will be predicated on how many wins this team gets. Hard to imagine he'll have an actual shot at it unless we somehow manage to snab the # 2 seed in the East- I don't know if the # 3 seed will be good enough. Nor do I think winning 50 games will be enough for him to merit consideration for the award. Will probably have to be at least 52-53 wins.

I will say though he has a realistic shot at it this year if he can maintain averages of 26 ppg, 7 rpg and 4 apg, but he'll have to average at least 46-47% FG shooting and the team will have to win a minimum of 52-53 games. Since this team has underachieved for over a decade now, if he can really help this team catapult into the elite status, he can very well be the dark horse this year for the award. Team success is almost equally as important as his individual stats for him to warrant consideration for it.