Something’s Different About Carmelo Anthony

Carmelo Anthony has not been the same player this season. Articles across the country have lauded him for an improved all-around game. Surely his stats are more balanced since his rebounding and assist numbers increased, but that does not mean he plays better basketball overall. His rebound rate ranks among the top for small forwards, but the increase can be attributed to the departure of Marcus Camby, who previously snagged those boards. No one else on the team rebounds well, and someone has to get the ball. His shooting percentages are at a career low, and his possessions resulting in turnovers are far higher percentage than ever before. Melo apologists cite a sore elbow, but great players learn to deal with injuries. For the stat geeks out there, Carmelo’s PER has fallen to 16 this season, after three straight seasons between 21.1 and 22.1. Can we really blame the elbow? Here are the top four possibilities why Carmelo is missing shots and making more mistakes: He’s ... (link)