They gave the ROY to Lebron back in October....forget the ROY going to anyone else, that's been a lock since day 1...
FREAKS do not win championships because individuals don't win championships. TEAMS win championships. It's about heart, desire and a little bit of luck.
Lebron is having a better overall season, IMO, than Anthony. Twice as many assists and slightly better FG%. He just doesn't shoot enough and doesn't get to the line enough. This is similar to Yao vs. Amare last season. If you have two rookies with similar numbers and one rookie's team is in the playoffs, you give it to the rookie that's in the playoffs. I'll say it again, though. ROY has always been a statistical award, because most good rookies are on bad teams. If Lebron were averaging 25 points and had similar assist and rebounding numbers, I'd give it to Lebron over Carmelo if Carmelo averaged the same numbers and the Nuggets still got in the playoffs
Last play of the game, who would you want to have the ball in his hands, Lebron or Carmelo? I'd take Carmelo. Lebron is a better around player, but Carmelo is a certified Grade A scorer. I expect his shooting % to get better as the year goes on. Plus I expect that Carmelo, starting next year, to average 20+ ppg for a long, long time to come. Lebron needs to get his outside shot working, before he can take his game to the next level (or risk becoming the next albeit more athletic Jason Kidd).
The Nuggets, IMO, may not make it to the Playoffs. Their current record is a bit misleading since, they have the 26th hardest schedule. Meaning they have one of the easiest schedules so far, and when they start to play tougher teams their winning percentage will take a dive. The West is really tough, and especially our devision.
I can see where you're coming from, but I wouldn't take either. Carmelo shot 5/20 last night, and has lines like that pretty often. And a more athletic Jason Kidd? Oh my god! You're describing what would be the best player in the league.
I agree with this though... there's no reason that Carmelo won't average 20ppg THIS season. Kid can flat out score. But right now he's more of a volume shooter. FG% should, as you said, improve. I guess it will peak at around 46% around his 3rd season or so. Which is okay for a small forward.
I don't know that Lebron's overall season is that much better - I'd say it's marginal. The only statistical categories he is better in are FG% and assists. And it looks like Carmello is on the statistical rise - over the last month he betters Lebron in every category except assists (LBJ 5.9 to CA 3.2). Following this trend the statistical edge will be well in Carmello's favour by season's end (but what ever follows the trend??) Lebron's extra assists should be no reason for him to get ROY - Anthony blocks twice as many shots, and his 3 apg is pretty good for a forward! I did buy the Lebron hype early on, but I must admit, on performance, Anthony is probably better right now! Long term it's hard to think that Lebron won't be better though...
I know it is usually foolish to take team success into account when awarding ROY, but with Lebron I feel it is warranted. That team is very similar to what they had last year. The only major change is that they have Lebron, and the team wins have not dramatically changed (so far). So even though Lebron's numbers look good superficially, they aren't helping the team win any more games at this point, so you have to wonder if he is really being effective or just getting numbers at the expense of the team (admittedly, I can't imagine any time when an assist would be at the expense of the team, or rebounds). It's difficult to say. Also, I don't think you can take the same approach with Melo, since the Nuggets have a lot of good, young talent. Their improvement this season could be chalked up to those players getting better (as well as the ever stellar Earl Boykins ) as the arrival of Anthony. It's a tough choice, and one that I don't think could be made easily right now. I have a feeling that by season's end, the separation between these two will be enough that it won't be such a coin toss.
I agree, he has Igalkus (sp) and Ricky Davis and some other servicable players. If he was that great of an NBA player his team should be much better. Carmello's team on the other hand has improved substantially more even though they are still getting little from their top 5 overall pick last year. Yes, Boykins and Barry are nice subs--but Carmello, though not a great NBA player yet either, is clearly the main reason for their improvement. Finally FG% can be overrated. You can be a 40ish FG shooter and present a lot of problems for the defense--just look at Iverson. Lebron FG% IMO is high because he isn't much of a shooter thus has spent most of the early season passing or going to the hole--if he were taking the shots Carmello can make all over the floor (which pressures the defense) his FG% would be worse than Carmello's. Notice Lebron's FG% has also been falling recently as teams realize you should play him to stop the drive or dish. Carmello is a more difficult cover in the half court and creates more mismatches in the half court. I don't think Lebron will probably pass Carmello, but right now Carmello is having the greater impact--certainly in the half court where most games are won and lost.
