The last two points were the hardest for Carmelo Anthony.
With the game in the balance, the crowd chanting "MVP! MVP!" and Anthony's sights set on an offensive milestone, the Nuggets forward sank a pair of free throws with 16 seconds remaining to finish off a career-high 50-point performance and help Denver beat the New York Knicks 128-125 Friday night.
"They might have been the two toughest free throws I've shot in a while," Anthony said. "If I didn't say I wanted to get [50], I'd be lying to you. ... But most importantly they were two big free throws."
He wasn't kidding. Every point the Nuggets scored — Denver also got 32 from Chauncey Billups and 17 from J.R. Smith — was crucial to holding off a Knicks team that got 41 points from Al Harrington, one shy of his career high.
"You would hope when you have a night like this, that you'd definitely win one," Harrington said. "We're just upset we couldn't come out on top."
The problem was, Anthony's night was a little better.
"He's got the total package right now," Harrington said. "He's hitting threes, he's hitting mid-range, he can get to the free-throw line whenever he wants. When you play against a guy that's going like that, there's nothing you can really do. I think our guys did a pretty good job, because if they didn't he would have had 70."
Anthony is the only player in the NBA who has scored at least 20 points in each of his games this season.
I wasn't sure he was mentally capable of stepping it up another level, but I'm glad to be proven wrong. I really have to like the way the Nuggets have been playing (most of the time). Afflalo has stepped into the shoes he needed to fill, Lawson has been a godsend, and the Nene/Kenyon/Andersen trio seem to have picked up where they left off last season. But Anthony seems to be the big difference-maker in keeping this roster's momentum going. Billups is still absolutely crucial to success, but I think Anthony finally is the most important person on this team.
__________________ Favorite players: Hakeem Olajuwon, Moses Malone, Bill Russell, Alex English, Kiki Vandeweghe, Sidney Moncrief, Lafayette Lever, Dan Issel, Bobby Jones, Julius Erving, Rick Barry, John Havlicek, Oscar Robertson, Jerry West...and Brooks Thompson
Right now, Anthony is averaging career highs in scoring, steals, and all the percentages. Is this just an early season hot streak, or will he be a legit MVP contender? I guess time will tell.
Carmelo is killing. I don't think this is merely a hot streak. his attitude is different out there. he knows that he can score at an all-time level, against any defender, and more importantly is comfortable with his abilities.
__________________
Quote:
"People understand confusedly that there is a change [in the air]," he said. "But no government will satisfy the reactions of the people. They have the greatest reticence and cynicism against anybody who holds responsibility.
"Against the business community because of the financial excesses. Also, the church has disappeared. The popular reaction is also a consequence of the fact that a number of traditional references have disappeared. People are looking for what is the reference." --Etienne Davignon
I'm not seeing melo staying this consistent all year. he has yet to prove to me that his mental toughness can span a whole season.
I'm sure he'll be crushed when he finds out that he's failed to prove himself to you thus far. Fortunately for him, enough people who are actually knowledgeable about basketball disagree with you. He's taken the proverbial next step with his game, and if you don't see that, then you're just wrong. That's the best way I can put it.
__________________ TheOfficial BBB.net Denver Nuggets Fanclub We bleed powder blue and yellow. Members
1. Kuskid 2. 23AJ 3. NugzFan 4. melo4mvp 5. smithys1510 6. Timmons 7. joshed_up 8. pac4eva5 9. nbanoitall 10. cambyblockingyou 11. darth-horax 12. nugzhomer 13. melo4life 14. SuperMascotRocky 15. 2dumb2live 16. EddieLopez 17. Majesty
Drop by here and post to join.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rick Majerus
(Durant) sees himself as a basketball player, not as a rapper or anything else.
I'm sure he'll be crushed when he finds out that he's failed to prove himself to you thus far. Fortunately for him, enough people who are actually knowledgeable about basketball disagree with you. He's taken the proverbial next step with his game, and if you don't see that, then you're just wrong. That's the best way I can put it.
Basketball Forum: where 18 games can cause verbal slander.
Melo scores career high 50 in Nuggets victory
Linear Mode
