[UPDATED] Jeff Bzdelik candidly discusses Carmelo Anthony...

by Andrew Feinstein on Jun 23, 2008 2:34 PM MDT

Former Nuggets coach Jeff Bzdelik - who gets a lot of love here at Denver Stiffs for being the most underrated coach in Nuggets history - was interviewed today by Radio Colorado Network's Dino Costa (aka "The Mile High Mouth").

Listen to Bzdelik's candid take on Melo (MP3 format). In telling a not-so-flattering story about Melo, Bzdelik basically confirms what many of us have suspected: that Carmelo is a decent guy but up until now has only cared about what's best for Carmelo. And for those of us in the anti-trade Carmelo camp, we're hoping - no, praying - that 2008-09 might be the season he starts to change for the betterment of the team.

Many thanks to Dino for scoring this interview and passing it along!

[UPDATED] The Nuggets just announced that they have suspended Anthony for two games for his DUI fiasco. Apparently Mark Warkentien doesn't like it when you get caught drinking and driving.

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Everytime I hear buzz talk about melo, I can't help but think "sour grapes"
One is still in the NBA, One couldn't hack it.

by bngc on Jun 23, 2008 5:48 PM MDT reply actions

Melo was what like 19 or 20 when that conversation happened? Buzz is right and melo didnt start to really do any defencive rebounding untill this year and I think that his time on the Olympic team with coach K is the big reason for this. Watching him in the Olympics will be pretty telling as to the type of player he can be.

by nickademus on Jun 23, 2008 5:53 PM MDT reply actions

Wow this actually explains why Melo doesn't really always play up to his potential. it reminds me of when AI said that he joked with Melo after he got a double-double saying something like "if I were that big I'd get a double-double EVERY night.." You know what, I believe him.

All we can do as fans is hope that Melo soon realizes that ultimately the TEAM is more important than his individual play.. maybe if he had a coach that could get through to him,..

Nuggets 2K9 - led by AI, JR & Melo

by NoYPi on Jun 23, 2008 6:09 PM MDT reply actions

Just when I thought the papers were worthless Linincome puts out a great article today in the Rocky.

"…the entire strategy of the Nuggets has been, or should have been, to develop a team around Anthony, though what has happened is that the Nuggets have built one to compete with him."
"Why Iverson would have wanted to stay here is clear. He gets to do whatever he wants to do and when he is tired of doing it, he lets Anthony do whatever he wants to do."
"This can all be repaired if Anthony shows more maturity than he has so far and if the Nuggets are more reassuring than as detached as they have been about keeping their star happy."

Well said. The interview with Bzdelik didn't tell much. 19 year old kids think they know everything. Despite all the noise, Melo has gotten better every year. Yes, he does a lot of dumb stuff off the court but so have countless other big name athletes in this town. Some have made the papers, Others haven't.

by Paterade on Jun 23, 2008 9:23 PM MDT reply actions

I agree to an extent. To say Melo is not one of the NBA's best is just wrong. He is going to start on team USA and according to everyone on that team he is the leader and star player. Thats basically saying he is the best player on the best team in the world. Now we all know that he is not the best player in the world but this should be a clearly visable sign as to how good Melo can be. He will surely take over as the dominate leader next year passing Iverson and he should average a double double while remaining in the top 5 in scoring, that is if he plays up to his potential.

by goldennugget on Jun 23, 2008 9:50 PM MDT reply actions

Unreal though pretty consistent with the dumb-headed folks who worship at the throne of Melo.

Firstly Jeff Bzdelik forgot overnight more about coaching basketball than the current coach will ever know.

Secondly, for you people to dismiss the constant problem child that has been in a Nuggets uniform the last several years, and wave off any critics, and attribute his indiscretions to his age is laughable...as well as a sad commentary on how easily duped many of you are.

On Costa's website he is right on the money when he refers to Anthony as a under-educated, ignorant, illiterate, dumb-ass. It is all right on the money and I think Costa was being nice by not adding a few more words to the mix.

He has worn out his welcome as has half the team. Get rid of him now before the next shoe falls...or wait, maybe it already has?

by Anonymous on Jun 23, 2008 11:03 PM MDT reply actions

i guess there's a reason why you stay anonymous. i'd hate to ruin my rep too.

getting rid of anthony now is flat out dumb. he had one bad season which statistically wasn't even bad! he has so much potential.

people look at his 3-16 playoff record. well who was coaching in those 19 games huh??

exactly. george karl. get rid of him and it solves every problem in the world. i bet if you fire george karl. i'll get a better job too. the nuggets will win

by andrew fisher on Jun 24, 2008 12:25 AM MDT reply actions

Dino, Ha! He's just mad Melo stood him up. If Dino is so smart, who does he think is going to come in here & do better than #15. How quickly people forget winning 20 games a season. These same people will be on the bandwagon when (not if) they start winning.

by BNGC on Jun 24, 2008 8:53 AM MDT reply actions

WE should try to coax Coach K out of Duke, or Boheim from Syracuse, I know classically college coaches fail at the NBA ranks (see Rick Pitino)but they both were able to control Melo and get the best out of him, especially coach K. Unfortunately i don't think either of them would leave their current job, but we can always dream right

by Zachm219 on Jun 24, 2008 11:43 AM MDT reply actions

paterade,

what is so "great" about that article? I understand some of you are die hard fans of Carmelo and all, but Melo's time is almost up and he really needs to show some maturity next season if he wants to be "built around". If Carmelo continues to not work on his game and play lazy at times in his sixth season, then why would he even be worth building around? Give me a break already. Carmelo has yet to even show why he is even worth all this trouble. Organizations moved Mountains for years for their players like KG, Kobe, Iverson and Lebron..because they were worth it and showed they had what it took to carry teams and take over in crunch time, they also worked hard..Carmelo has yet to that.

As far as Iverson is concerned..the guy was brought here to help, and the fact that some Nuggets fans and media treat him like the enemy makes them look beyond ridiculous. The Nuggets made the decision to bring Iverson, a huge superstar athlete, to Denver..so if they are making the decision to keep him then they need to work on making BOTH their stars happy..if they can't handle having two stars on one team (which some of the fans seem to not be able to handle), then they need to let one go..its really that simple. Also, Lincome is a bigget who seems to hate Iverson, so his little jabs at Iverson don't suprise me or anyone else with commen sense.

by Anonymous on Jun 24, 2008 2:54 PM MDT reply actions

So let me get this staright: a 19-year old college MVP, who led his school to the Natl. Championship, setting numerous records along the way, thinks his game is "good enough"! I'm shocked, shocked I tell ya, that he would think that way! Dino Costa is a 2-bit hack, who's job is to keep controversey alive, so listeners will tune in! It boggles the mind how short the average fan's attention span can be! At this point, I'm almost hoping these idiots trade Melo, & we can go back to 20-win seasons! As the old song says: "Don't it always seem to go, that you don't know what you've got till it's gone"?

by Anonymous on Jun 24, 2008 6:48 PM MDT reply actions

I don't think that Costa approaches this issue with the intention of simply keeping a controversy alive. The Nuggets have problems that run very deep, so too does Carmelo Anthony, and if Costa wants to remind people of these things and speak his mind...well then I guess that's what they pay him to do?

by Anonymous on Jun 24, 2008 11:50 PM MDT reply actions

Hey Dino, stop coming in here defending yourself under anonymous postings you coward.

M. Jones, Boulder

by Anonymous on Jul 11, 2008 2:43 PM MDT reply actions

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