If top 10 is your definition of "elite" then maybe you have a case. But to my mind someone who's elite is supposed to be the best of the best. The only ones who fit that category are LBJ, Wade, Kobe, Durant and DH. Melo is clearly below those guys, hence not exactly "elite". Steve Nash is from the league's worst defender, he's an excellent help defender. That dubious honor belongs to Rashard Lewis or Rudy Gay. Sure Melo can play good D when he wants too...but how often does he want to? Nash is one of the league's best shooters and can provide spacing, as well as being clutch and creating an entire team's offense. Melo doesn't do any of that. Granger's playing on a crap team with a crap coach and a crap GM. He may not have Melo's post-moves but he has 3 pt range and plays good D. You keep basing your arguments on team success when we're talking about just Melo and Granger. Look at their numbers they're pretty similar. Melo scores more point but Granger scores at more efficient clip. Now add good D and good moral character and Granger wins out. Did I mention he's making 2/3 of what Melo does?
If Kobe, Wade, and Lebron are the first tier of stars, there is at least another tier of Howard, CP3, Durant and DWill before you get to Melo, Dirk, Bosh, and healthy Yao etc.
I dont think anyone can put durant ahead of carmello. They're in the same category together which is right below kobe,lbj,wade,paul,and howard. Then u have carmello,durant,williams,nash,dirk,bosh.
Actually Kevin Durant is fast becoming a class all of his own. His TS% (shots taking 3 pointers and fts into account) was 0.605 last season. Compare that to Melo's pedestrian 0.536, and you have someone who is really "elite". Not quite prime Kevin Martin efficiency, but definitely getting there.
Have you ever heard of Dwight Howard? He plays center for the Magic. He wins Defensive Player of the Year awards. He leads the league in rebounding and still puts up close to 20 points per game.
Last season, I wouldn't have put KD over Melo. The first part of the year Melo was clearly better, but KD was off the charts for a period of time in January & February and I put him neck-and-neck with Melo for the season as a whole. Next season KD will clearly surpass Melo if he continues improving. Melo is what he is (elite) and won't get any better. KD has a chance to move into the Kobe/Wade/LeBron class at some point. Maybe next season he moves right behind them but clearly better than everyone else.
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I've read how Charley Rosen rates Melos offensive game (with the ball, completely hates his game off the ball). His got one of the most complete post up games for a wing player to be honest. He can slash, he can shoot, he can post up.
melo is basically the most complete offensive player in the league, possibly just below kobe in that regard. i don't know why you keep bringing up his bad attitude or "thuggishness" when he is one of the rare players that smile after every basket they make rather than faking some sort of tough guy face
You put him on any team and they will make the playoffs. So how is that not elite? You can't say that about many players, he might not fit on our team (I would disagree) so that doesn't mean that he's not elite. And to all the people hating on his attitude or "thugness" or whatever other character flaws you think he has, what about CP3? That guy is demanding a trade and everyone on these boards are on his nuts. I'd rather have a melo than a CP3 on this team any day.
