Preseason Melo == Olympic Melo

I'll put it this way... so far so good.

 

Yeah, I think you're right in that most players in the Olympics play less selfishly -- that's the nature of USA Olympic basketball. In Melo's case, the difference is more striking because he's been labeled as selfish during his career, usually because he was the best player on teams that were often lacking. So "Olympic Melo" has become lazy shorthand for sportswriters.

 

That's true...and my apologies...those stats were from all USA basketball competition including Fiba and PreQ Olympic games and some of those games he put up crazy numbers....In 2004 that team won bronze, he only averaged like 6 Mpg..in 2008 we won Gold, He shot 42% from the field and 38% from 3. (Alot of those 3s are actually long 2s in the NBA)

But as u mentioned playing with better teammates does make all of the difference, and I think that is still the case with us. He played with better teammates in OKC than he has previously, but still don't think he ever bought in completely there. Here, as it was in USA basketball, it seems to be a complete buy in from him.

Now he may not actually be a better overall player, but i think Olympic Melo is more than just numbers and stats. Something like a state of mind, similar to hoodie Melo

Olympic Melo would not have any problem coming off the bench(Something he frowned upon in OKC, but open to here).

Most of Olympic Melo points came off of assists (We have 2 of the best passers I'm the game).

Olympic Melo played mostly at the 4 and also played 5 (Same positions he will play here)

You are correct that most of the intangibles of his game didn't and are probably not gonna change. Good thing that's not why we signed him

 

Melo would've been just fine if he came here last year.

1. He would have been playing with his best bud Chris Paul.
2. Both Harden and Paul are elite Point guards who would have set him up perfectly.
3. In MDA system he would have gotten his number of shot attempts.

In Oklahoma city he had none of that.

 

Denver was pretty good with Melo being the top dog back in the day.

 

What are your thoughts on Melo starting?

 

Would be good for spacing. Just like Anderson, but with more lethal offensive skills.

I would start him at the 4.