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New York Knicks: Will Carmelo Anthony Ever Bring A Ring To MSG?

By Nikolas Donadic

Mar 13, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony (7) looks up during a break in play during the first quarter against the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 13, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony (7) looks up during a break in play during the first quarter against the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports /
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After three gold medals and an NCAA championship, Carmelo Anthony has one question left to answer: Can he win big on the NBA level?

Derrick Rose made it widely known that he “heard” the rumblings about this year’s New York Knicks “super team”. The squad features a former MVP in Rose, a former DPOY in Joakim Noah, a budding star in Kristaps Porzingis, and one of the league’s more confusing superstars in Carmelo Anthony.

In spite of the new star power this is still Melo’s team, which can only mean one thing: The Knicks, are not winning the NBA Finals.

Let’s take it from the top, shall we?

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The 2003 NBA Draft brought three future superstars into the NBA. The first pick was the high school phenom, the chosen one, LeBron James.

Down at No. 5 was the two-year guard from Marquette, Dwyane Wade. In-between the two, now surefire Hall of Famers, at No. 3 was Carmelo Anthony. Melo was coming off a one-and-done championship season at Syracuse after which Jim Boeheim, his coach, said he was the best college basketball player in America.

Flash back to reality and Carmelo Anthony has been in the league for 14 seasons. LeBron is a three-time NBA champion and has made seven Finals appearances. Dwyane Wade has three rings as well, in five tries. Meanwhile, Melo has won only three playoff series period. He won two in seven postseasons in Denver and has won one in five and a half years as a member of the New York Knicks.

Mar 4, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony (7) hits a go-ahead shot against Boston Celtics forward Jae Crowder (99) during the closing seconds of the second half at TD Garden. The Celtics would defeat the Knicks 105-104. Mandatory Credit: Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 4, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony (7) hits a go-ahead shot against Boston Celtics forward Jae Crowder (99) during the closing seconds of the second half at TD Garden. The Celtics would defeat the Knicks 105-104. Mandatory Credit: Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports /

New York City doesn’t usually take kindly to losing, so it’s odd that fans have yet to sour on Anthony. New Yorkers will still expect the Knicks to win with a below average roster.

Knicks fans always believe that this year is “our year,” and no matter what, they will always be semi-detached from reality.

So why the love affair? Well, Melo is a hometown kid. Now it all adds up, he’s a New Yorker through and through. His swagger, his shoot-first mentality, and his passion have endeared him to the people of the Big Apple.

In Denver, Anthony’s title hopes were dashed by Kobe Bryant twice, Kevin Garnett once, and the Spurs twice. Those Nuggets teams were never Finals’ favorites, but six first round exits in seven years is hard to swallow.

Nov 10, 2014; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks head coach Derek Fisher coaches New York Knicks small forward Carmelo Anthony (7) and New York Knicks shooting guard J.R. Smith (8) and New York Knicks power forward Amar
Nov 10, 2014; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks head coach Derek Fisher coaches New York Knicks small forward Carmelo Anthony (7) and New York Knicks shooting guard J.R. Smith (8) and New York Knicks power forward Amar /

Meanwhile, in the city that never sleeps, he has been eliminated by an aging Boston big three, LeBron’s South Beach trio, and a gritty Pacers squad.

The New York Knicks were hampered by an oft injured Amar’e Stoudemire and his exorbitant contract, but were also hurt badly by the amount of talent they had to give up to acquire Carmelo. Nevertheless, in a weakened Eastern Conference the Knicks still haven’t reached the postseason in three years.

Melo isn’t to blame for his teammates’ inconsistency, or lack of durability, or inability to perform in the clutch moments. Though, it is important to note that in 14 seasons he has not grown a tremendous amount as an all around player.

Defense was never his strength and still isn’t. His rebounding has improved, but statistically not by much. He was an excellent scorer and is now arguably one of the elite isolation scorers of all-time, but isolation scoring can only do so much for a team.

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In the postseason when the game slows down and palms get sweaty, his game just doesn’t translate to winning. Carmelo Anthony cannot be the best player on a championship team, plain and simple. But if Melo were ever able to find a situation where he could be the Robin to another star’s Batman, then he very well might be able to capture that ever elusive Larry O’Brien trophy.

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