By Charles Jay
Was playing in the All-Star game just another “me-first” move on the part of Carmelo Anthony, or was it a gesture to satisfy the fans who voted him into the game? Well, it’s probably a little of both, but it also offers a commentary on what the state of the NBA is right now; perhaps a very sad commentary at that.
Anthony skipped the last game before the break against Orlando, and that was ostensibly to rest his knee, or maybe specifically to participate in the All-Star contest, which, during press interviews, he explained might be his last action of the season. Granted, Anthony has been battling knee issues all year long, and has taken some games off out of the Knicks’ schedule. But to skip a game that at least theoretically mean something in favor of playing in a game that is merely an exhibition, and most certainly a sloppy one, is something that has raised a lot of eyebrows. Not just among the Vietbet audience, but many Knicks’ fans and NBA observers.
The idea that Anthony would not be well enough to play in the game against the Magic, after playing in the game prior to that, but would be not only healthy enough to play in the All-Star game, an individual showcase for sure, but play the second-most number of minutes (30), might be a clue as to what kind of player he has really been in his pro career. And that is magnified after Carmelo made the comments that his team’s 10-43 record was a factor in this potential decision to shut things down. He did imply that if the team was in a contending position, he would play on.
Vietbet patrons know that Anthony has never been part of the team that has won anything of significance in the NBA. And that is probably not much of a coincidence. At the moment the Knicks’ situation is a bit out of control. Nothing they have done has worked. The Triangle offense, which was brought in when Phil Jackson was installed as the head of basketball operations, seems to have done little but confuse this team. And let’s admit – something that demands so much ball movement is not going to work when you have one player (Anthony) who requires so much isolation; i.e., the need to have the ball in his hands with everyone getting out of the way so he can make a one-on-one moves. His severest critics believe that the biggest mistake Jackson has made since becoming an executive was not figuring out a way to deal Anthony off to get some value for him.
Given the sorry state of affairs around New York these days, we would tend to agree with him.
Anthony has made the claim that he has played injured this season, and all indications are that he is implying. But Vietbet patrons understand that basketball players who make 10-figure salaries are expected to play hurt. And there is no way he would’ve gotten to the All-Star game – seemingly the ultimate goal – otherwise. Justifiably, there has been a backlash, with some of the media being quite vocal about the idea that he should have just pulled out of the All-Star festivities altogether. Others, like his former teammate JR Smith, who is now a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers, have defended his actions.
There’s a big difference between winning in fantasy basketball, which is all about stats, and winning in REAL basketball, which depends on teamwork. Right now, Carmelo Anthony might be a winner in the former, but is severely lacking in the latter.
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