Carmelo must get past playoff fadeaway
by Nate Timmons on Apr 21, 2009 2:49 PM MDT
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PrintThe term fadeaway in basketball refers to a shot where the offensive player halts their forward progress and attempts the shot while their body is moving away from the basket.
The term fadeaway to me can also refer to Carmelo Anthony's offensive game in the postseason.
The picture to the right of this text shows Melo attempting yet another fadeaway shot against Tyson Chandler and the Hornets. Melo finished Game 1 shooting just 4-12 from the field. Too many times I saw Carmelo settle for pull up jumpers and fadeaway shots when he had paths to the rim.
I worry that Melo either puts too much pressure on himself to score in the postseason or that he gets psyched out by the defensive schemes he faces come playoff time. Typically Melo will draw quick double teams and he has shown in the regular season that he can beat them either off the drive or by passing the ball. He does like to pull up for jumpers as the double comes from time-to-time, but I felt that he settled too many times in Game 1 for that quick shot.
This season Melo averaged 22.8 points per game and in three games against the Hornets he upped that average to 25 ppg. But in Game 1 Melo only scored 13 points on 33% shooting against the Bugs and it was the exact same team. Heck, you could say with a gimpy Tyson Chandler that these Hornets may actually be worse off on defense ... yet Melo wasn't able to benefit from it.
Instead of Melo going off in Game 1 Chauncey Billups took that role. Billups, averaging 17.7 ppg, set the Nuggets franchise mark with 8 three-pointers made in one game and took the scoring burden away from Melo for a night.
But we all know Billups will probably hover closer to his season averages and not come out for 36+ every night. And Melo must accept the challenge of leading his team in the scoring department, but be able to do so while playing within himself.
It's a tricky thing to ask Melo not to feel extra pressure, but lead the team by scoring at will. Sort of an oxy-moron. For his career Melo averages 24.2 ppg in 36.2 minutes, but in the playoffs that dips to 20.8 ppg while his minutes are slightly up at 37.4 minutes per game.
Tomorrow night Melo will have the confidence knowing his team is up 1-0 and again being on their home floor I would like to see the "regular season" Melo show up and get to work scoring the basketball.
All the ingredients are there. Melo's teammates showed they are up for the challenge in Game 1 ... and now it's Melo's time to enter the spotlight, not fadeaway from it.
| Regular Season | Post Season | |||
| Season | Points Per Game | FG% | Points Per Game | FG% |
| 2003-04 | 21 | 42.6% | 15 | 32.8% |
| 2004-05 | 20.8 | 43.1% | 19.2 | 42.2% |
| 2005-06 | 26.5 | 48.1% | 21 | 33.3% |
| 2006-07 | 28.9 | 47.6% | 26.8 | 48% |
| 2007-08 | 25.7 | 49.2% | 22.5 | 36.4% |
| 2008-09 | 22.8 | 44.3% | 13.0 (one game) | 33.3% |
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GK needs to
Tell Carmelo Anthony that he is nearly unstoppable if he goes to the rim. He is trying this year more than he was last year, but still, his quickness and ball handling is one of the best in the league in Forward position, and to all of that, you have to add the strength he has.
Melo’s goal for tomorrow should be attempt more shots from the paint than from jump shots.
This also gives the bonus of getting to the FT line every once in a while (when the referees are in the mood…).
GO NUGGETS
"Do not rest in defense. You can spend 24 seconds in offense on resting. If you do good enough on defense, you will be able to rest on offense."
by Lucas Navarrete on Apr 21, 2009 2:57 PM MDT reply actions
It was pretty frustrating watching him play in G1. He definitely had the lane on more than a few occasions but instead settled for the shot – and not even a good one at that. If he is worried about shot selection then that’s going to be an issue because it’s almost like he’s making the defensive pressure out to be worse than it really is. He’s better served driving it to the lane where, as sepioes mentioned, he’s unstoppable. If anything it’ll draw the foul and at least get a point or two on the board.
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My theory
We all know what Melo can do. When he sees the double, he needs to pass or use that first step right away to split it and score or get fouled. He was playing on his toes to start the game, a little tentative and not really testing his man when Peja was on him. Regular season Melo is at his best when he’s loose, smiling on the court having fun and not whining at the officials too much. The good thing about game one was he didn’t get frustrated, stayed in the game on D and tried to get inside. He shoot poorly but at least it was only 12 shots. Part of the problem is probably having faced really menacing D in the past playoffs, and worrying too much about what they will throw at him. I expect him to relax, let it come to him and not make mistakes if every shots not going down. He’ll bounce back.
I agree
I also think he will show us that he is ready for more Playoffs than just 1 round.
We all are!!!!
"Do not rest in defense. You can spend 24 seconds in offense on resting. If you do good enough on defense, you will be able to rest on offense."
by Lucas Navarrete on Apr 21, 2009 3:44 PM MDT up reply actions
Good points runningdonut ...
Watching film on how he was being defended will probably help him adjust and see the holes he may have missed.
Pickaxe & Roll.com: 5,280 reasons to be a Nuggets fan
by Nate Timmons on Apr 21, 2009 4:27 PM MDT up reply actions
The guys at the Hornets SB Nation site were commenting on how they thought Melo was one of the most overrated players in the NBA. Apparently they were just basing that on game one because I don’t think anyone who watches Melo regularly could really believe that. They were saying that he ’doesn’t love up to the hype’. What hype? The guy didn’t even make the All Star game.
Anyway, I’m pretty sure the Melo is going to prove them seriously wrong sooner than later.
They were also saying that ‘The Hive’ is much better than ‘The Can’ to catch a game. Only a Hornets fan could believe that. I suppose that’s why the Pepsi Center constantly wins ‘best NBA venue’ awards.
"C" is for Championship...that's good enough for meeeee!!!
by PosterNutbag on Apr 21, 2009 6:59 PM MDT up reply actions
I read that as well.
A lot of Hornets fans had some pretty good insight into the series. I haven’t been to a game down in NOLA, but I love attending games at Pepsi.
I agree that Melo should be proving them wrong any game now. He averaged 25 points against them this season and now that he has seen how he’s going to be defended he should do a lot better. I hate when the Media or fans compare Melo to LeBron, Wade, and Co. He’s not the same type of player at all and trying to view Melo in their light doesn’t work.
I don’t see Melo being as dominant as LeBron and them, but that isn’t a knock on him. He’s a very good player, but he needs some help getting the ball from his guards (but he can create his own shot as is one of the best small forwards in the League.)
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by Nate Timmons on Apr 21, 2009 8:00 PM MDT up reply actions
I think Melo was frustrated with his own performance in G1. He seems to get more physical contact than any other “star” player without a call by the refs. The good news is that he is learning not to show his frustration in more instances thanin the past. Melo should take the lead in Game 2 and will do that by getting to the rim.
I think we'd all like to see that!
Pickaxe & Roll.com: 5,280 reasons to be a Nuggets fan
by Nate Timmons on Apr 21, 2009 4:28 PM MDT up reply actions
A few things guys
1) Melo played a tick over 27 minutes— he was pacing for another playoff 20-10
2) He was 1-7 on jumpers, 2 were rushed/contested. Melo simply missed shots he can and WILL make at a higher %.
3) Melo dribble drives in his 27 minutes were fine- 1- was a great base-line move that Butler got a hand on, he destroyed Peja on a great double-crossover, he was on the end of a horrible kick-out offensive foul call by Chandler,
Consider that he was doubled on 40% of his touches- 2 of his pick and roll passes were bobbled, one of them resulted in free-throws.
4)he got 2 ft’s on a back-down, 2 ft’s on middle-spin, 2 ft beating everyone in transition with the ball, he had 2 offensive rebounds,
Melo just makes a couple more jumpers that he normally makes- he’s 6/12 with 17 pts in limited minutes and it’s a heck of a game.
But there certainly is something to his poor shooting in the playoffs. It’s definitely a mental block. But we all know that will change eventually- and when it does- the guy is due- it will be a raining. I would be very suprised if Melo doesn’t give us one of those 40+ pt guys this playoff.
by rururuland784 on Apr 21, 2009 9:13 PM MDT reply actions 1 recs
Great breakdown!
Pickaxe & Roll.com: 5,280 reasons to be a Nuggets fan
by Nate Timmons on Apr 22, 2009 7:25 AM MDT up reply actions
More
2003/2004: Minnesota 6th best defense in NBA
2004/2005:Spurs No.1 ranked defense
2005/2006: Clippers 8th ranked defense
2006/2007: Spurs second best defense in NBA
2007/2008: lakers 5th best defense in NBA
2008/2009: Hornets 9th best defense in NBA
03/04- melo sucked against hassel
04/05-Spurs killed him
05/06-Melo gets an excuse on this one (Bucker,Evans,DJ, MC supporting cast) triple teams
06/07-Torches Spurs- even with weak-side doubles
07/08-Melo doesn’t try, also misses 20+ inside shots.
No excuses this year.
Oh man, you just HAD to go there
My version
03/04 – KG
04/05 – Incredible run to make the playoffs after GK comes on. Steal game 1, Pop moves Ginobili to bench. Spurs win 2 titles in 3 years. F my life
05/06 – Elton Brand murders Kenyon Martin. He cries, and I weep even more. At least we can laugh at Brand now
06/07 – Mother F’ing spurs
07/08 – Nuggets give up
As far as I’m concerned none of that happened, neither did game one. Nuggets need a win on wednesday, period. GO NUGGETS
by runningdonut on Apr 22, 2009 4:40 AM MDT up reply actions
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