Melo is a lot like Harden, his bad defense is due to lack of effort than anything else. Just watch him in Denver and see if he was a bad defender or not. He wasnt happy in OKC if we had a melo who will play like he did in OKC then Morey wouldn't even bither getting him. Regardless Basketball is a net sum game, the team who wins is the one who has the best combination of offense and defense thats why we've seen defensively great and offensively great teams win a series. What is important is the net value you add to the team and Melo is a net positive due to his scoring. Scrubberson wasn't just bad defensively, he was also horrible offensively thats why he didnt belong on the court. Melo's offense makes up for his defense.
Bro Anderson doesn't try, Bruce Bowen, Shane Battier, even Steve Nash these guys try. Anderson just mopes about and is too scared to either shoot or defend. He is not exactly running back on defense c'mon now.
None of those Small Forwards on this team is better than Melo. Let's put that silly notion to rest right now. Nothing about your response was that of a reasonable observation. Neither was Smootie's. Especially if you actually looked at this roster as well as know exactly what each player brings and how they have performed throughout their careers. But hey yall are the experts who knows exactly who should start and who should come off the bench.
Melo was last in Denver 8 seasons ago when he was 26 years old. If the Rockets were getting that Melo, there wouldn't be any of the discussions being had now about capability, and of course he wouldn't be a minimum guy. Current Melo is NOT that player, he's lost a lot of athleticism and quickness due to age and injuries which is also why he can't get to the basket with his first step the same way he used to. I hope he does well, but asking someone to watch Melo from 8 years ago to determine how well he can defend now is pretty irrelevant.
Some people are so offended by Melo coming off of the bench and I don’t get it. Do they not see the benefit of having Melo and Gordon coming in to torch second units? Bench Melo might end up being the best Melo and if it isn’t then I have faith in MDA to recognize and change it.
There's an odd contingent of Melo Only Fans on this board. I refuse to believe it's not arranged by a PR agency, because the alternative - that there are people this delusional about Current Melo - is really really sad.
and he'll be coming off the bench this year bc MDA and co are smart enough to recognize that's where melo can bring his most value for this team
This isn't about who is a better player in a vacuum. Fit and what specific skills a player has plays into what their role is and whether they start or not. This should be obvious. There's nothing novel or difficult to understand here, Melo is no longer a good or efficient enough offensive player and has lost some of his mobility which also affects his defense that he isn't a player who is a definite starter on a contending team anymore. Has nothing to do with whether he is better than someone like James Ennis or PJ Tucker in some sort of vacuum comparison that ignores roles, fit and specific skills. Could he start? Yes, will he? Who knows, the coaching staff will determine that, but this outrage about the idea that he isn't a starter on a contender is pretty ridiculous, as if we're talking about prime Melo or something. So if the coaching staff decides to bring him off the bench what will be your next conclusion, that they are dumb?
No the outrage is you guys on here talking about the man needs to come off the bench. On here saying he's not a starter on a championship level team. But hey the smart ones always try to deliver a well written convincing argument. And I don't come on here with that silly stuff. If he comes off the bench, so be it. He's going to get his share of minutes as well as shots. My thing is Melo is actually the 3rd or 4th best player on this team now whether you like it or not. You start him at the 4, that way the spacing will be even better than it was with Anderson starting. That right there smart one should be obvious.
well melo isn't better than harden/cp3 obviously. hes not better than gordon at this stage of his career. Capela/PJ are more important than he is specifically for hou's defense. The rockets were an elite team without him. he doesn't immediately step in to be the 3rd/4th best player at 34 years old just like that
Why not dude can still score the ball. You act like you never seen that before. Come on I know you know better than that. Especially since you're one of the great minds on here.
and he can bring that value as far as contributing to this team off the bench like he's projected to be. it seems the issue is really only his ego. he's not exactly the type to be super energized when he doesn't get his touches. and there's more to just scoring the ball. theres plenty of guys in the league that can just score the ball and yet have a hard time being able to put things together to be effective.
So you would be mad if coach starts him? Why are you so hell bent on him coming off the bench. Tucker at the 4 is way to freaking short.
Bc the rockets defense is elite with PJ at the 4. it wont be with both melo and harden in the lineup. their minutes are going to be played sparingly together which is expected. to set the tone from the start PJ is absolutely the starting 4 for this team. being freaking short is a terrible reason. cp3 is short also. take him out of the starting lineup? did you not watch the rockets reach another level once PJ was inserted in the lineup. its not like the sample size was a few games
I agree, hopefully that will come with time in the Rockets system. As for the poster who created this stupid thread with an even more idiotic title: In the preseason he is averaging 11 ppg, 4.5 rpg, is shooting 56.7% from the field and 46% from 3 from range in only 26 mpg. Like RudyTBag mentioned his main issue is fouling, got to cut down on that,
Not really sure what you are so emotional about or why this is a discussion that requires any sort of name calling or whatever you are trying to imply. I never said he needs to come off the bench, and yes he is not a starter on championship level team if no championship level team would see it best to start him. Again, that has nothing to do with whether he is a useful player or not, that's just the reality of father time, this isn't prime Carmelo, and talking about him like he is doesn't make sense. Whether I like it or not, what does that have to do with anything? No, Melo is more like the 5th best player on the team after Harden, Paul, Capela and Gordon. Whatever the coaching staff decides to do is what they decide to do.
