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12:30 p.m. ET, 1/10/07Is Carmelo An All-Star?
Posted by Marty Burns
When the Nuggets' Carmelo Anthony threw that punch at Knicks guard Mardy Collins on Dec. 16, he might have cost himself his first All-Star berth. Anthony, the NBA's leading scorer, was a shoo-in to make the Western Conference squad before the brawl. After earning a 15-game suspension from commissioner David Stern, he now faces a much tougher road.
Carmelo Anthony is averaging career highs in points, assists and field goal percentage.Bob Rosato/SI
Assuming he isn't voted in as a starter -- Anthony is fourth among West forwards in the latest fan balloting -- the main obstacles for the 6-foot-8 forward will be whether he hurt his team so severely with his actions that it offset his fine play, and whether he has appeared in enough games. 'Melo is not due to return until Jan. 22, when Denver plays host to Memphis. At that point he'll have about five games to bolster his case before the deadline when coaches, who select the reserves, have to turn in their ballots. The coaches pick two guards, two forwards, one center and two players at any position.
Even coaches willing to overlook Anthony's part in the brawl might deduct points for his having played in only 26 of his team's 41 games (at the time ballots are due). Keep in mind, the West is loaded with deserving candidates at forward. In addition to the two leading vote-getters so far, Kevin Garnett and Tim Duncan, the rest of the field includes Dirk Nowitzki, Shawn Marion, Carlos Boozer, Elton Brand, Josh Howard and Zach Randolph.
The good news for Anthony is that Pau Gasol, who made the team a year ago, won't be in the mix this season. Also, Amaré Stoudemire is listed as a center. With Brand off to a slow start (at least by his standards), he too might not be a factor this time around. Still, Anthony figures to face tough competition from Nowitzki, Boozer, Marion and Howard for what could be as few as three open reserve spots.
The guess here is that Anthony will make it, despite not having played as many games as those other guys. He is the league's leading scorer, and 26 games is still a significant portion of the season. Put him in there with Dirk and Boozer.
Comments:
No, he has missed too much time to deserve a spot in the loaded Western Conference (particularly at forward). Garnett, Duncan, Nowitzki, Howard and Boozer should go before him. I would put Brand about equal with 'Melo.As a Mavs fan, I'll be very upset if Melo makes the squad and no love is left over for my boy Josh Howard. All this kid does is play an integral role on the league's best team - and for my money the probable title winners this year. And oh yea, he doesn't suckerpunch dudes and then run away. Good as Melo is, how can the Mavs not have 2 all-stars? Melo cost himself a spot this year; J-Ho earned himself one. Simple.It's unfortunate that players in the NBA don't learn from the Carmello Anthony situation. Yesterday's Jazz v Mavs game had two flagrant fouls from Jerry Stackhouse...one of them a punishing elbow to the face...and the media credits the win to the blow and the Mavs praise the act. I can understand getting a T to spark some motivation...but it's sad what now is seen as praise-worthy, smart and motivating behavior.Yes. There is no need to talk about Boozer or Howard, because the All-Star game should feature the best players in the game and not the best players on the best teams. Melo is clearly in the top 10 rankings of best players in the game right now. Stop talking about all-star game, but if Melo comes back and brings his team back from medicore results; Melo should be considered for MVP.
I watched this young man grow from HS till today. He is not what people make him to be. It would be a real sucker punch to leave Melo away from all-star accolades.Melo deserved it last year. The guy averages 12 field goals a game, .503% from the field (no other top ten scorer but Yao does that), and his team is 3-6 without him. Not even Iverson can save the Nuggets without Anthony's help. Two wrongs don't make a right.yes, the league way over reacted to his actions in the brawl and David Stern destroyed Melo's image by making him into a Ron Artest. It's not like Laryy Byrd and other greats never got into fights. It's a disgrace. He should be on the team no question. It would be a shame if Lebron and Wade were on teams without Melo who is playing as good or better than both.Carmelo has put himself in tough spot. I thought this would be his year. He has not made the all-star team during his career. Unlike his counterparts Wade and James. I dont know if the leagues leading scorer was ever left off the all-star squad. I think he deserves a spot, but so does all the other contenders.How could someone who cost his team many games be an all-star? He might lead the league in scoring but he has missed too much time. The west has much more deserving players like boozer and marion, not to mention howard who has been playing great. Dirk is a no brainer, as well as Duncan and KG. Brand is off to a slow start and is just as deserving as Melo, but both of them should be out of the game...my man 'melo is an incredible player who i feel has been snubbed by the league through-out his career. he should hav won the ROY or shared it with lebron.i don't c how u leave the best pure scorer in the league out of the all-star game. wade's a shoe-in and just look at miami's record.He should be out of the All-star ballot and game. In this way, the fans are saying that we don't condone any violence. Also, we should not be rewarding him with an All-star spot after this incident. Other forwards are more deserving to go.How about a little love for Zach Randolph. His stats speak for themselves 25 and 10, is nothing to sneeze at. Also, he's putting a Portland team (that every sports writer, wrote off on media day) in a position to win games on a nightly basis. For the first time in a decade, they aren't being refered to as Jailblazers and the future looks bright in Portland. And without Zach right now, they wouldn't have won 5 games. How about a little love?Looking at your list of deserving forwards, it contains mostly power forwards - the 4 spot. Melo is only one of a couple of small forwards that has had a year. If this is the case, you would be better off with possibly a 2 guard instead of a forward.Obviously all of you that say Melo should not be an all-star know nothing about basketball or what an all-star game is about. So he punched a dude, get over it. All his accolades aside he is a much more exciting and better player than boozer, howard, randolph, or brand. The league has tarnished his name and he does not compare to Artest at all.Iverson can barely keep the Nugs afloat whereas Melo alone made them a serious contender. Show some loveIt is indubitable that Melo should be an All-Star. Duncan is boring and KG is old. Melo and Dirk should both start. All Melo's accolades aside, he is a franchise player and can carry his team(which even Iverson is struggling with) and he is exciting to watch. He punched a dude, so what? Get over it, when it comes down to it, it should be about the best players being able to play. Melo and Artest should never be mentioned in the same sentence. How is this even a controversial issue?Absolutly not...the spot belongs to Shawn Marion. Even though 'Melo leads the league in scoring he doesn't do as much for his team like Shawn does. He doesn't have the total package that Shawn has. The All-star game is supposed to represent the best that the league has to offer and in my opinion Shawn has a lot more to offer then any of the players metioned. Besides Marion hasnt been suspended for anything and certainly didn't do anything to hurt his tean the way Melo hasExactly, 'Melo made the Nuggets a contender and then put them in an awful situation by getting himself suspended for 15 games. I think that regardless of him PPG average before the brawl, his behavior should cost him a spot on the all-star teamMelo should go. He's the best scorer. Duncan only gets a ticket because voters know his name. How many of you would actually pay to see Duncan play? Melo is more exciting and more deserving, especially when you see how the Nuggs have been without him. He's gotta go. He should have been there last year. His numbers were way better than Pau Gasol's.melo is freaking good. as a small forward, he's undoubtedly the best. don't compare him to freaking duncan, garnett, nowitzki. . .they're all power forward. and melo is freaking a lot a lot better than josh howard. howard is a surprise hit, but melo has comes from that basketball tradition of stellar breed.Melo absolutely should not be an all-star. An all-star helps his team win. Melo's absence has cost his team several wins. His unsportsmanlike conduct, coupled with his long absence should preclude him from the all-star game.
I think the tough decisions will be between Marion, Howard, and Boozer. Marion has better cumulative numbers than all three (Marion's cumulative numbers are better than even his own all-star teammates - Nash and Amare). But how can the Mavericks with the best record in the league have only one (Dirk)? And how can the Jazz, who lead their division, have zero? See, tough decisions. But Melo should DEFINITELY not make the team.Personally I think Carmelo should be on the All-Star team without a thought. But either way, the man has been one of the most unaprecciated players in NBA recent history considering his talent. He very well may end up being one of the greatest players ever. His talent is undeniably in the same stratosphere as Wade and James, but the hype machine never plugged into Anthony. Anyway, in 10 years, it'll all be water under the bridge for a future Hall of Famer pending injury.Everyone has things that they regret personally and professionally. But that one incident should not determine the tone of his entire season, especially when the Nuggets wouldn't be half the team they are without him. He didn't attack the fans a la Artest and if anything, he was sticking up for his teammates in the matter. Let the man play, its only the All Star game.the same thing happened 30 years ago when Kareem busted a knuckle on Kent Benson's head(who deserved it)Carmnelo should go-Zeke should be sent to coach the team at RahwayCarmelo is not a all-star simply put he is not better than the other guys like Boozer,Dirk, and Marion at the forward spot the diffrence with him and all the other guys is that these guys play the forward postion all around Carmelo could be confused as all most a 2 spot but not the forward spot he shoots a lot but anything other than that is pretty ordinary and not enough to leave the other guys out who deserve to play forward for the West in 07 all-star game Carmelo hopes he gets in at a guard spot but he can forget about the forward spot these guys and did I forget to say BrandPlease. Carmelo is very deserving of an All-Star appearance. He leads the league in scoring, he (at the time) had his team in an elite status, record-wise, and when he returns, it's going to be business as usual. If Shawn Merriman can do steriods and still get voted into the Probowl, Carmelo can throw a punch and still get voted in the All-Star game. At least Carmelo wasn't cheating.The league didn't tarnish Melo's name-he did that himself. He didn't need any help from the league (He's very good at it). How can you put him on the team when he's only played a little over half his games this year??? Bottom line: Melo is a cheap-shot, backpeddling, ballhogging, crybaby, soresport, self-centered, pseudothug. All star game.... thanks but no thanks.No way. He better not make it, he's gotta beat boozer, and marion. Keep this in mind he can only score he's rebounds and assist suck for small forward. His image is shattered after the brawl at the knicks game. Zach Randolph, or Marion should definetly make it out of anyoneAs big a fan I am of 'Melo, bad behavior cannot be condoned. some ppl have suggested excuses such as Bird did it, or 'just get over it' etc. But these days NBA players are a lot more looked up to by youngsters than before, reason: media internet more apparels etc etc. The fact that Melo cost Nuggets atleast 8-10 victories should rule him out. Along with KG and TD, Dirk and Booze should go. Zach/elton outside finishers. 'Melo will become a better person after thisSure, that's a brilliant idea. Let's reward the thug who punches guys and immediately runs backwards at about 20 mph w/ the recognition of being an all-star.
Nevermind the fact the he didn't take his team into consideration when he threw said punch which could've cost his team the season had the Iverson trade never happened. Sure, let's reward that.
Nevermind the fact that Shawn Marion, Carlos Boozer, and Josh Howard all have had amazing years while each helping their teams to the top of their divisions. Let's tell them they won't go to Vegas because Anthony is. You guys are brilliant. You should all be spending your time coming up w/ ways to create cheap alternative energy solutions, or brainstorming ways to win the war, because you guys are too smart to spend your time posting on SI.
"Anthony an All-star"... just brilliant.NO!!! Melo is a terrible roll model and does not deserve a spot. How do you know he won't punch someone at the all star game?Sportsmanship is sometimes lost in today's games. To punch a player (and not hold your ground) is not right. He is a great player and his game is incredible, but with the punch, the missed time and many other deserving players in the West he may have to wait for his first All-Star game. But he is very young and Spirit willing will see many All-Star games in his future.To say he isnt one of the best forwards in the league is naive. He has improved his game in every statistical category this year, and is one of the most clutch game winning/tying performers of this era. Whoever said his assists are terribel for a small forward, that may be true, but you have to consider he was playing with andre miller, who was floating between 2 and 3 for assist leaders int he league.
People who say he sucker punched a guy, then retreated, that is not the case. Maybe he punched a guy, but to me that wasn't as bad as the hard foul. As for the retreat, that was a smart thing to do. It wasn't b/c he is a wimp. He could have stood his ground and beat the snot out of robinson and friends. But he realized, immediately, that he made a mistake, and backpeddled as to avoid screwing up his season even more. Going away was the best thing he could make out of a bad situation.
Melo does deserve to get into the allstar game.Being an all star is an understatement. He shoul be a front runner, if not leading, in the MVP race. Worse things have happened!Isn't it funny how several comments talk about how the Nuggets were an "elite" team with him? Let's see, last year they tied for the 7th best record in the West and then got pummelled by the Clippers in the first round of the playoffs. This year, at the time of the great suckerpunch and runaway, the Nuggets were about 5 games behind the Jazz for the division lead and in 6th place in the division. That's elite? You're kidding, right?of course melo should be an all-star. hes averaging career highs in three categories and his team cant win without him. melo should most definitely be and all-star this as he should have been last yearHe's in. Top Scorer. His team wins when he plays. Playoffs every year since he has been drafted. He'd average fifty a game if he'd get half the calls he should get in the lane. But I forgot that no one else in professional sports has ever thrown a punch...So maybe he's out. And I don't even live in Denver.Are you kidding me? After reading most of these postings I wonder how anyone can compare Josh Howard Shawn Marion, and even to some extent Carlos Boozer who lets not forget jumped ship on his mates in Cleveland after giving his word that he'd stay. My point for having Melo on the team is that an all star is determined as someone who wins games for his team. At the end of the game you know Melo is getting the ball and if your cheering for your nuggets you are going to be upset if you need a shot to tie or win and the play is not for anthony. This my friend determines all-stars. Josh Howard, Shaw Marion, and Carlos Boozer will not be getting the ball at the end of the game. This alone ends the argument of who is the better player. But alas if you still want to find solace for Howard to be an all-star consider? How much better would Phoenix, or Dallas be with Melo as opposed to the incumbents that are manning the current positions. If I have all those guys to choose from and I need a star to carry my team and hit the game winner it's not even close. Put the man on the team.I don't think even half the people that have posted have ever seen Anthony play. He's brought the nuggets from the worst team in the league to a play-off team without any recognition. It is a shame that all-star voting relies on how much media attention and national coverage a team gets. It is undeniable that many other players deserve to be there, but unfortunatly it would be a shame to exclude one of the NBA's best young players. In addition, I just wanted to remind you that just before he defended his teammate he gave $1.5 million to help kids in Baltimore. It doesn't make up for a lapse in judgement, but he isn't the devil that everyone makes him out to be.His ridiculous actions with the brawl should omit him from consideration. But, didn't Jermaine O'Neal make the team the year of the Detroit brawl (not sure if someone already mentioned that)?The only way Melo makes the All-Star game is by being a leading vote getter at his position. That wont happen. Melo will not get picked over Dirk, Boozer, or Howard by the West All-Star Coach. Sorry Melo but this was suppose to be your year. You'll learn from your sucker punch and make up for it in the playoffs.There is no debate, Melo deserves to be not only an all star but a starter. He is clearly one of the best in the league.
I am sick and tired of people questioning the character of this kid. He recently donated 1 mil to Syracuse, he was first in line to play in the exhibition game for Hurricane Katrina victims, he is the front man on creating a college fund for the kids of Darrent Williams and he has done many more things that gets unnoticed. His character is only a plus to the argument of him being an allstar. Don't judge him by one punch and if you do look at Shaq punching Brad Miller, Alonzo fighting the Knicks...and judge all of them the same.
To all the Mavs and Phoenix fans, I think J. Howard and S Marion are fine players but give me a break. It is pretty easy to score 20+ points a game when you never get doubled team.All Stars don't throw sucker punches. Period. Give the spot to somebody who deserves it, like Josh Howard or Shawn Marion.You can say he's a bad role model, turns the ball over too much, etc. etc., but one thing you can't argue about is he leads the league in scoring, and that merits an all-star berth. Some players...such as Shawn Marion, josh Howard or Baron Davis are going to get snubbed, but I don't think Melo should be......of course, what does it matter, the all-star game has turned into a joke anyways....Shaq and his whopping 4 games leads the east in votes for centers...I mean I know the east is pathetic, but PLEASE!First of all, the punch wasn't that big of deal. He did punch a guy but it was in the heat of the moment and every player will make a mistake in their careers. In terms of all star ballot there is no way he can make it over Nowitzki, Marion, and Howard. We all know Nowitzki and Marion are going to make it. The "question mark" is Howard. But how can you not select him? The Mavericks have the best record in the NBA at 28-8. In their 8 losses, Howard has averaged 13.6 points in 7 and didn't play in the 8th. In their wins he has averaged 21.5 points. When he plays good, the Mavericks are the best team in the league. I'm a Lakers fan and don't really like the Mavericks, but if he doesn't go to the All-Star game something is wrong. They should definitely send 2 players to the game. And even though their isn't really defense in the game, Howard is 10 times the defender that Anthony is. Anthony spends all his energy on the offensive end. Let Howard do that, and he'd drop 30 a night as well, but he guards the best player on the other team which is a hard task in itself.NO! Melo should NOT make the team. His punch was a major screw up that has cost his team wins down the road. An "all-star" contributes to his team winning. Melo is young, and I'm sure he learned from his mistake this year. He will have plenty of other all-star opportunities.
Shawn Marion's the guy. He is consistently productive, and he gets less credit then he deserves for the Suns' wins. Plus, it would be cool for him to head back to his Vegas college stomping grounds!Very little talk about Zach Randolph. Which is very suprising because unless I am in the wrong place this is a discussion about Western Conference forwards. Zach means just as much to his team as any of these guys. How could you even think to put Boozer, a role player, Howard, another role player, and Brand, a player either on the down-turn of his career, or just having a bad year in front of Randolp. I'm not even a Blazer fan, but I find this conversation oddly lacking someone.I think that All-Stars not only have to be good, but they represent the league the right way... I don't want some coward throwing sucker punches in the All-Star game. Carmelo has had a great year, and he will for sure be an All-Star soon. But I just don't think he deserves it this season, what with the stellar play of Boozer, Marion, Dirk... and so on.All of the people hating on Melo need to remember something - this kid admitted when he was wrong, did NOT appeal for that reason, and took his punishment like a man. Have any of you ever made a mistake and wished you had a second chance?
The numbers don't lie. Melo's an all-star caliber player, and he deserves to play so long as his play from HERE ON OUT is the same as it was pre-fight.In this "post-Brawl" period, you have to play by the same rules that everyone else does. You throw a punch, you get suspended.
IMHO, If you are suspended for more than 3 games during the first half of the season, or 7 in the past two seasons, you are ineligible for All-Star events. You don't get suspended for playing nice with others, and being a good example.
All-Stars are in the spotlight at a major event, and you are trying to reenforce good behavior. If he is allowed to play, it is just saying to the young people that watch these things, it's is ok to act out, because you will still get all the benefits.
The NBA does not want players like that representing them.The fact that Melo was involved in a fight doesn't mean that he isn't still one of the best players in the NBA. Anyone that has ever played a basketball game knows how important it is to stand behind your teammates, and although he should never have done what he did, I see no reason why the leading scorer of the next decade should be left off of the all star team for it.a fight in an all-star game!! That would be wonderful. Hope the coaches will vote Melo in.Melo has played well and should be an all-star. I think Melo deserves to go. I'd like to see high-flyers and real stars in the all-star game. Boozer has played well but he'll probably get a ball bounced off his face like he did in the rookie game.
These comments about Melo's image and not being a role model are ridiculous. He made a mistake several stars have made, he got in a fight. Jordan, Bird, Dr. J, Barkley, Shaq, Kobe all got into fights. It happens. What matters is their play on the court. Melo is one of the top scorers in the league and an exciting player.Each year there is always a snub or two. My team would be kobe,tmac,duncan,kg,yao(voted). Reserves would be amare,nash,dirk,iverson,melo,howard,boozerCarmelo does not even deserve to be on the ballot of the all star game. His antics in the new york brawl should cost him his all star spot. I mean, what kind of message would the NBA send if they let a player who throws cheap shots at players. An all star should be more than points per game and popularity.Shawn Marion deserves to be an All-Star.Melo deserves it. Dont try and tell me about Boozer, Howard or Marion. All of them have a player on the team that makes them great(Mgrady, Nash, Nowitki). They are not the primaries getting double teamed the whole game and leading the league in scoring. Yes Melo messed up he payed for it but now its time to give one of the best NBA players his due. Watch out cause the Nuggets are coming!many are saying melo kept them in contention but ai isn't. that is wrong. melo had miller and the fact they play 16 games out east compared to 8 west. with AI they have played 11 west games and 3 east. those 11 included rockets twice, lakers, jazz, spurs and dallas. they beat houston with ai, and almost did it the other time if it hadn't been for battier hitting 3 straight three to close it out. they almost beat the spurs and lost to dallas by only 3. with melo the only western team that was tough was dallas and they got spanked by 20 i think. so to say that AI is not doing wat anthony did is absurd. AI has played their toughest part of the scheduale. melo had an easy ride playing bobcats, hawks, knicks, 76ers and nets.Melo deserves the All-Star nod. All of the Comment I've read against him are insane. "You cant reward bad behavior". How about Merriman of the Chargers, dude does drugs and starts in the pro bowl. Also he was third in defensive player of the year. I'd rather a player protect his teammates and punch a guy then be a steriod using loser. Melo is an All Star and its time for David Stern to shut up and the coaches of the NBA to show respect for the leading scorer.Not a chance in hell. Anthony irrepairably tarnished his chances to make the AS team by sucker punching Mardy Collins. I respect his game, but I don't respect his negative behavior.
Someone more deserving should get the spot- Marion, Howard, or otherwise.he shouldnt go, not because of the fight or because hes undeserving, but because a guy like marion and is more deserving. marion does so much for his team and hes always under the radar, if the suns didnt have marion they would not be nearly as good as they are right now. a pure scorer is not needed in the all star game, theres many already. dirk is a shoe in, and kg and duncan are also. all that said, i do believe that he will make the all start team as a 5th forward, but i think if theres going to be a 5th, it belongs to boozer.Recent Posts
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