I would be willing to go ahead and agree, but the way the refs kept bailing him out just left a bad team in my mouth. the dude averaged 16 free throws a game against dallas. that's crazy.
To answer the original question, though (how good is Carmelo), he's a borderline top 10 player, while Wade is in the top 5 along with Lebron, Kobe, Nash, and Duncan (not in any particular order)
I wouldnt. Carmelo is good but he does NOT make his teammates better. his rebound number is juust for a sf
Pgabriel, I am surprised, usually you post with a lot more sense. Wade absolutely carried the Heat to 4 strait victories against the Mavs. The same team who beat the Spurs, and who had major match-up advantages everywhere except at SG and C. Further, Shaq did play well against Detroit (though not as well as Wade), but was actually a negative factor against the Mavs (check of his +/1). The Heat did better when Zo was on the court because they single mindedly went through Wade and got just as good if not better interior D. Shaq was even the 1st to admit it was Wade's team, not his. Calling Wade overhyped is like calling Jordan overhyped. Yeah, maybe they are to an extent, but you have to give credit where credit is do. Wade is no Jordan yet, and probably will never be quite that level, but in terms of carrying a team in terms of scoring, clutch plays, leadership and making your teamates better, he has been the most impressive guard since him. Carmelo is good, but is not in the discussion with Wade or Lebron. Wade and Lebron are the two best young players in the league by quite some margin, and you have a case for either one being better (and both of these two are better team basketball players IMO than Kobe and Tmac until the latter prove they can carry a team to some playoff successes and make their teammates better). Finally, the closest player to Larry Bird is Dirk, and he is not quite a Bird's level in terms of creativity, making his teammates better, and win at all costs.
OK, maybe not Jordan's first three finals (43, 8, and 6 in the 1993 finals ), but definitely his three finals appearances after his first retirement. Plus, Wade didn't have anything even close to Pippen or Rodman in the 2006 Finals.
I'm thinking about long-term plans. I'm not saying Melo is better than Tmac, but considering his back problems... I'd go for Melo. Rockets need a slasher type of player, Mike James would have been a good addition cuz he likes to drive to the basket.. anywasy, it's for a diffrent thread.. just a wishful thinking..
and he didn't play anything close to a magic/worthy, drexler's trailblazers, or the suns. you talk about his teamates, who was the second best player for dallas, terry? a guy who has never made the all-star team. wade is the perfect example, of right place right time.
This is nothing against Wade, because he was clearly the MVP of the NBA Finals. But I have never seen an individual player do so well and never face a double team. It was clear to me that regardless of performance, O'Neal is still the more respected player on the team.
Damn, pg...give the Mavs a LITTLE credit. Terry has never made an all star team because most of the great guards of this era have either been on really good teams or were the first option on offense...Marbury, Francis, Iverson, Wade, Parker, Nash, Kobe...something Terry has never been. You really can't compare the Mavs to any of those early 90's teams, because the pace of the game was much quicker back then, resulting in higher socring teammates for those teams. Besides, Magic and Worthy were over the hill in '91(and got their ASSES kicked by Jordan), Portland had a similar supporting cast stat wise to Dallas, and the Suns didn't even try to play defense, so their scoring was inflated even by early 90's standards. Dallas would have easily taken the Bulls to six games like those two teams did. Face it, Dallas was clearly the superior team, they won 60 games (impressive in any era), and Wade carried a mediocre team to a championship with the most dominant finals performance in the past 10 years, the end...
Wade is so overhyped it isn't funny? I've heard it all now. What's truly funny is how some fans have trouble accepting how good he is. Spurs fans are jealous because he's better than Manu. Because of Kobe, Laker fans are almost insanely biased against Wade. Looks like a few Rockets fans have a problem with him too. Nobody will argue the refs helped him big time in the Finals, but he's still great and he was clutch on the biggest stage there is. There were plenty of times late in games where Wade wasn't fouled and hit the shot. He also got plenty of key rebounds late. In 04/05, the Heat barely missed Shaq when he was out. Some here made the excuse that Shaq being on the team had changed their attitude and that's why they kept winning. It couldn't have been Wade carrying the team. Some even suggested Shaq helped make Wade the great player he is, which is just plain dumb. When it comes to hard work and dedication, Shaq is no example to anybody. And those of us who remember Wade before Shaq saw how rapidly he improved during his first two seasons. When it comes to making teammates better, Shaq definitely does, but he has declined so much his impact is limited. Damon Jones ought to thank Wade for that silly contract he got from the Cavs. The Heat realized all Damon did was stand in place on the outside while Wade did all the work, including passing. To say "wade is the perfect example, of right place right time" is cheap and means nothing. The same could be said about anyone who has had great success like he has. Shaq going to LA and matching up with Kobe and Phil, blah blah blah. Name your player or coach and I'll fill in the rest. Wade will never do enough for some of you and that's a fact. He was the reason an inferior team came back from the brink with 6 1/2 minutes left in game 3 and beat a better team in the NBA finals. It doesn't get much better than that. The Heat snatched victory from the jaws of defeat led by the great Dwyane Wade. I love Melo but he ain't LeBron or Wade; at least not yet. Maybe next year. This Carmelo thread has been hijacked and turned into a Wade thread. May as well change the name.
Nash makes his teammates better by making plays for them and at the same time scoring. Shaq's presence?
Never faced a double team? You better watch the games again. But I should give credit to coach Riley for overcoming that...
what hurts carmelo in the NBA is the fact that he is not as athletic and his first step is not that quick. Those two things contribute to his lack-luster shot selection.
OK, poor choice of words. I've never seen a player do so well and face so few double-teams. (Better now?)
