Knicks beat Boston by 2: Melo 17 in 4th qtr

[bnoro]

I love Melo, but you guys all realize he scored all his points being guarded by Sasha Pavlovic and Marquis Daniels (and Joey Crawford), right? He had a nice game and hit a ton of shots but most weren't very well contested. Lets see how this one goes with Paul Pierce and Mikael Pietrus playing.

 

[Gabjon]

I love Melo, but you guys all realize he scored all his points being guarded by Sasha Pavlovic and Marquis Daniels (and Joey Crawford), right? He had a nice game and hit a ton of shots but most weren't very well contested. Lets see how this one goes with Paul Pierce and Mikael Pietrus playing.

He dropped 47 against Pierce in the playoffs last year. Melo has proven he can score on ANYBODY. The difference is Pierce would have gone for 25 and the knicks probably would have lost yesterday if he played.

 

[bnoro]

He dropped 47 against Pierce in the playoffs last year. Melo has proven he can score on ANYBODY. The difference is Pierce would have gone for 25 and the knicks probably would have lost yesterday if he played.

I realize that, but I was there yesterday and the size mismatch there every time he touched the ball was enormous. At least Pierce has the size and strength to stick with Melo and force some tough shots.

 

[Gabjon]

I realize that, but I was there yesterday and the size mismatch there every time he touched the ball was enormous. At least Pierce has the size and strength to stick with Melo and force some tough shots.

Pierce can't guard Melo off the bounce so Pierce usually starts off giving up the jumper which gets Melo going from the outside. I do agree that Pierce can defend Melo fairly well in the post but Melo didn't do most of his damage for the post yesterday.

 

[DoctorBombay]

I realize that, but I was there yesterday and the size mismatch there every time he touched the ball was enormous. At least Pierce has the size and strength to stick with Melo and force some tough shots.

Melo is recognized by most as the best "scorer" in the league for a reason. He can post up & dive to the hoop, shoot lights-out to the 3pt arch, and has the speed, quickness, & handle to get around most bigs.
Paul Pierce is NOT all-world in defense- Melo has owned him before, & will again.
Pierce would've made a bigger difference in making Melo work DEFENSIVELY, and maybe wearing him out for crunch time.

 

[Knicks411]

Pierce would've made a bigger difference in making Melo work DEFENSIVELY, and maybe wearing him out for crunch time.

I think this would be the key.

 

[Actionthrill]

So when Lebron puts up 37 on Pavlovi and Daniels that won't count either. Who on Toronto was guarding Kobe when he scored 81. That shouldn't count. My point is the truely elite scorers, and Carmelo might be the best but definately top 3, will put up numbers on anybody.

 

[SUFan44]

I realize that, but I was there yesterday and the size mismatch there every time he touched the ball was enormous. At least Pierce has the size and strength to stick with Melo and force some tough shots.

Thank you for the perspective, Celtic fan. And much appreciated perspective since you were there. Did you also notice, since you were at the game obviously, that Melo was double and triple teamed all night, and it wasn't just Daniels/Pavlovic who was guarding him? Also, isn't/wasn't Daniels an above-average defender in the NBA?

Can't wait until Paul Pierce is healthy. And your boy Pietrus. Melo will get his regardless, and once Baron Davis gets healthy it should be a pretty entertaining battle.

 

[bnoro]

Thank you for the perspective, Celtic fan. And much appreciated perspective since you were there. Did you also notice, since you were at the game obviously, that Melo was double and triple teamed all night, and it wasn't just Daniels/Pavlovic who was guarding him? Also, isn't/wasn't Daniels an above-average defender in the NBA?

Can't wait until Paul Pierce is healthy. And your boy Pietrus. Melo will get his regardless, and once Baron Davis gets healthy it should be a pretty entertaining battle.

Melo was triple teamed? Not sure I've ever seen a basketball player triple teamed in any sport... The Celts doubled Amare more than Melo. And it was pretty much only Daniels and Pavlovic guarding him.

I don't hate the Knicks at all. I love Melo, and like Amare and Chandler a lot. Also like Landry Fields and B-Diddy. And the Knicks did a good job of coming back in the 4th (with a little help from Joey "everyone look at me" Crawford's technicals). But I would have loved to see Pierce healthy for this one. Not sure how Mikael Pietrus became "my boy" either, but sure.

 

[SUFan44]

Melo was triple teamed? Not sure I've ever seen a basketball player triple teamed in any sport... The Celts doubled Amare more than Melo. And it was pretty much only Daniels and Pavlovic guarding him.

I don't hate the Knicks at all. I love Melo, and like Amare and Chandler a lot. Also like Landry Fields and B-Diddy. And the Knicks did a good job of coming back in the 4th (with a little help from Joey "everyone look at me" Crawford's technicals). But I would have loved to see Pierce healthy for this one. Not sure how Mikael Pietrus became "my boy" either, but sure.

Your lack of basketball acumen is astounding.

 

[bnoro]

Your lack of basketball acumen is astounding.

Thank you.

 

[Czar]

Melo is recognized by most as the best "scorer" in the league for a reason. He can post up & dive to the hoop, shoot lights-out to the 3pt arch, and has the speed, quickness, & handle to get around most bigs.
Paul Pierce is NOT all-world in defense- Melo has owned him before, & will again.
Pierce would've made a bigger difference in making Melo work DEFENSIVELY, and maybe wearing him out for crunch time.

The best scorer in the league is Durant, Melo is second.

 

[NailstheCusefan12]

The best scorer in the league is Durant, Melo is second.

I'd agree with that. But in my opinion, Durant gets a lot more help from the refs because of his slighter frame. It's much more noticeable when he takes a bump than when Melo does.

 

[Czar]

I'd agree with that. But in my opinion, Durant gets a lot more help from the refs because of his slighter frame. It's much more noticeable when he takes a bump than when Melo does.

They're both the same weight

 

[longislandcuse]

The best scorer in the league is Melo, not Durant. Melo can score in ways skinnyboy Durant doesnt dream of. Also Melo is as clutch a scorer as it gets. I know its cool to say Durant is a better scorer than Melo, but no, hes not.

 

[Knicks411]

The best scorer in the league is Melo, not Durant. Melo can score in ways skinnyboy Durant doesnt dream of. Also Melo is as clutch a scorer as it gets. I know its cool to say Durant is a better scorer than Melo, but no, hes not.

It depends on how you define best scorer.

Melo probably can score in a larger variety of ways. (Ok, probably is an understatement, he almost certainly can. He has much more of a post game.). But Durant generally scores A) more points per minute and B) more efficiently than Melo.

I always try and relate this argument to baseball; is Frankie Rodriguez or Heath Bell a better closer than Mariano because they has more ways to get you out? Mariano has only one pitch, but it doesn't matter. It's not a perfect comparison, but in baseball no one talks about who is a better pitcher based on how many pitches (IE, ways to score) they have, it who gets guys out the best. So Durant scores more and more efficiently than Melo; until that changes, Durant is a better scorer. Durant may have fewer ways of scoring than Melo, but what does it matter, since he does it more efficiently and at a higher rate? (Durant's career true shooting percentage is higher than any single season for Melo).

 

[longislandcuse]

It depends on how you define best scorer.

Melo probably can score in a larger variety of ways. (Ok, probably is an understatement, he almost certainly can. He has much more of a post game.). But Durant generally scores A) more points per minute and B) more efficiently than Melo.

I always try and relate this argument to baseball; is Frankie Rodriguez or Heath Bell a better closer than Mariano because they has more ways to get you out? Mariano has only one pitch, but it doesn't matter. It's not a perfect comparison, but in baseball no one talks about who is a better pitcher based on how many pitches (IE, ways to score) they have, it who gets guys out the best. So Durant scores more and more efficiently than Melo; until that changes, Durant is a better scorer. Durant may have fewer ways of scoring than Melo, but what does it matter, since he does it more efficiently and at a higher rate? (Durant's career true shooting percentage is higher than any single season for Melo).

Yea but Mariano is the only pitcher in the game at the time. Thats a tough comparison, Durant is who he is within the 5 guys on the court as is Melo. Durant has his role on OKC and Melo has his role on the Knicks. I look at Durant's skillset as a scorer compared to Melo's and Melo has more ways he can beat you. Im also saying this because I think Melo in NY is going to blow up. I cant say you're wrong in thinking Durant is the best scorer but I think we should re-visit this topic after this season is over.

 

[Knicks411]

Yea but Mariano is the only pitcher in the game at the time. Thats a tough comparison, Durant is who he is within the 5 guys on the court as is Melo. Durant has his role on OKC and Melo has his role on the Knicks. I look at Durant's skillset as a scorer compared to Melo's and Melo has more ways he can beat you. Im also saying this because I think Melo in NY is going to blow up. I cant say you're wrong in thinking Durant is the best scorer but I think we should re-visit this topic after this season is over.

I grant you the analogy wasn't the best. Melo does have more ways to beat you. (Though I was watching the Thunder game last night, man Durant looks unstoppable sometimes when that jumper is falling). But Durant doesn't need them; he's 6-11 or whatever and can just shoot over everybody.

We can definitely revisit after the year; I'm feeling a monster year out of Melo as well.

 

[qdawgg]

They're both the same weight

Well, there you have it. They're both the same weight so they must have the exact same physical build.

 

[qdawgg]

The best scorer in the league is Melo, not Durant. Melo can score in ways skinnyboy Durant doesnt dream of. Also Melo is as clutch a scorer as it gets. I know its cool to say Durant is a better scorer than Melo, but no, hes not.

Why do people post about players they've obviously never watched play a single game?

 

[NailstheCusefan12]

They're both the same weight

Last year Durant shot 675 FT's to Melo's 605. Not as crazy as I thought. If you look back to 09-10, Durant shot 840 FT's compared to Melo's 612. And in regards to their weight, they're built differently and Durant has a couple inches on him. If you watch the two of them play, the difference is pretty noticeable.

 

[Czar]

Dude, Melo has more ways to score than Durant? Is that a joke? Durant's game beyond the arc is measurably better than Melo's, and so is his free throw shooting (80% to 88%). What are all these ways that Melo can score that Durant can't? Because I'm pretty sure the two time scoring champion knows a variety of ways to score.

 

[DoctorBombay]

The best scorer in the league is Melo, not Durant. Melo can score in ways skinnyboy Durant doesnt dream of. Also Melo is as clutch a scorer as it gets. I know its cool to say Durant is a better scorer than Melo, but no, hes not.

 

[DoctorBombay]

Dude, Melo has more ways to score than Durant? Is that a joke? Durant's game beyond the arc is measurably better than Melo's, and so is his free throw shooting (80% to 88%). What are all these ways that Melo can score that Durant can't? Because I'm pretty sure the two time scoring champion knows a variety of ways to score.

The difference between the two is that Melo can score in EVERY manner, from 3-pt'ers to post-ups.
Durant is not nearly as efficient as Melo in a back-to-the-basket game, mostly due to his weight.
Melo can bang with the big boys, & yet still step out and knock down jumpers on the perimeter.
Yes, Durant is the better shooter & his length makes him lethal, but other players AND commentators have said that Melo has MORE WAYS TO SCORE, than does Durant.
For instance, how many put-backs from offensive rebounds does Durant get in a game, compared to Melo? :noidea:

I think some folks are arguing another point when talking about a scorer, ie: "Durant scores more , thereby he's the better scorer".
But the distinction is not HIGHEST scorer, its BETTER scorer. If Durant's jumper is off, he's gonna have fewer options to turn to than Melo. Thats the biggest distinction.

 

[qdawgg]

The difference between the two is that Melo can score in EVERY manner, from 3-pt'ers to post-ups.
Durant is not nearly as efficient as Melo in a back-to-the-basket game, mostly due to his weight.
Melo can bang with the big boys, & yet still step out and knock down jumpers on the perimeter.
Yes, Durant is the better shooter & his length makes him lethal, but other players AND commentators have said that Melo has MORE WAYS TO SCORE, than does Durant.
For instance, how many put-backs from offensive rebounds does Durant get in a game, compared to Melo? :noidea:

I think some folks are arguing another point when talking about a scorer, ie: "Durant scores more , thereby he's the better scorer".
But the distinction is not HIGHEST scorer, its BETTER scorer. If Durant's jumper is off, he's gonna have fewer options to turn to than Melo. Thats the biggest distinction.

Hey look - someone else who has never actually watched Durant play a game but knows exactly how he scores points. I don't necessarily think that Durant is the better "scorer" then Melo but to say that Durant can't/doesn't score with the same skill set as Melo is very silly and also wrong.