ESPN Writer says Carmelo Anthony is not an elite player, agree or disagree?

[westkoast]

Tom Haberstroh over at ESPN.com has an article over on the ESPN INsider portion of their site saying that Carmelo is not worth a max contract and he is not an elite player.  His argument that even though Carmelo has scored 20 points a game every single season since he was drafted and was 3rd youngest to 10k (only other two guys didn't goto college Kobe/Bron) that he does not deserve to be mentioned along Dwayne Wade, Kobe Bryant, Lebron James, and Paul Pierce.

Do you agree or disagree?

[Joe Vancil]

I agree.  Carmelo is a good scorer, but little else.

And when you say:

Dwayne Wade, Kobe Bryant, Lebron James, and Paul Pierce.

then my reply is:  "One if these things is not like the others..."

If you said, "LeBron James;  he's the only one without a title," then you have a point, but not the one I was intending to make.

If you said, "Paul Pierce;  he's not an elite-level player," then you have the point that I was looking to make, before realizing the above.

Anthony belongs in the category of Pierce, but neither belongs with James, Bryant, or Wade, who are all a class above the aforementioned.

[westkoast]

I agree.  Carmelo is a good scorer, but little else.

And when you say:

Dwayne Wade, Kobe Bryant, Lebron James, and Paul Pierce.

then my reply is:  "One if these things is not like the others..."

If you said, "LeBron James;  he's the only one without a title," then you have a point, but not the one I was intending to make.

If you said, "Paul Pierce;  he's not an elite-level player," then you have the point that I was looking to make, before realizing the above.

Anthony belongs in the category of Pierce, but neither belongs with James, Bryant, or Wade, who are all a class above the aforementioned.

In terms of just 1 on 1 I view Melo and Wade as similar players.  Both are great scorers but are nothing to write home about on defense.  Now when you factor in Wade's ring it puts him above Anthony.  Does Anthony somewhat take a hit because his team has to get past the Lakers?  They did make it to a WCF with Melo playing superb ball.   

Throwing Paul Pierce in there threw me off.  I wasn't quite sure how he was better than Melo as a player at this point in his career.  He happens to be on a much better team.  When he didn't have this squad around him he was Camelo Anthony East.

[Derek Bodner]

Win Shares (last 2 years):
Wade: 27.7
Pierce: 18.6
Anthony: 12.9

[westkoast]

Win Shares (last 2 years):
Wade: 27.7
Pierce: 18.6
Anthony: 12.9

I think a max contract is a little bit more than just numbers though.  When you get a max contract not only do you have to post good numbers but you are the face of the franchise for marketing and you put rear ends in the stands.  I believe Carmelo has done a solid job as the face of the Denver Nuggets franchise.  I've spent enough time in Denver to know that he is very well liked by the people there.  They back him as 'the man'

[Derek Bodner]

Winning puts rear ends in the seats.  I'm not even sure if Carmelo is the most important on his team with regards to winning.

[Joe Vancil]

Winning puts rear ends in the seats.  I'm not even sure if Carmelo is the most important on his team with regards to winning.

Agreed.  I think the playoffs showed us that the most important piece to winning in Denver is GEORGE KARL.

[westkoast]

Winning puts rear ends in the seats.  I'm not even sure if Carmelo is the most important on his team with regards to winning.

Agreed.  I think the playoffs showed us that the most important piece to winning in Denver is GEORGE KARL.

No love for Chauncey?

[Joe Vancil]

Winning puts rear ends in the seats.  I'm not even sure if Carmelo is the most important on his team with regards to winning.

Agreed.  I think the playoffs showed us that the most important piece to winning in Denver is GEORGE KARL.

No love for Chauncey?

Lotta love for Chauncey.  No first round victory as the higher seed and a team that had the number of the team it faced for Chauncey, though.

I honestly believe that if George Karl were coaching, Denver would have beaten Utah.  We sure couldn't do much against them in the season while Karl was there....

[westkoast]

Winning puts rear ends in the seats.  I'm not even sure if Carmelo is the most important on his team with regards to winning.

Agreed.  I think the playoffs showed us that the most important piece to winning in Denver is GEORGE KARL.

No love for Chauncey?

Lotta love for Chauncey.  No first round victory as the higher seed and a team that had the number of the team it faced for Chauncey, though.

I honestly believe that if George Karl were coaching, Denver would have beaten Utah.  We sure couldn't do much against them in the season while Karl was there....

Do you believe that Denver would be relevant with out Camelo though?  I'd say that he has kept them competitive over the last 5 years.

[Joe Vancil]

Winning puts rear ends in the seats.  I'm not even sure if Carmelo is the most important on his team with regards to winning.

Agreed.  I think the playoffs showed us that the most important piece to winning in Denver is GEORGE KARL.

No love for Chauncey?

Lotta love for Chauncey.  No first round victory as the higher seed and a team that had the number of the team it faced for Chauncey, though.

I honestly believe that if George Karl were coaching, Denver would have beaten Utah.  We sure couldn't do much against them in the season while Karl was there....

Do you believe that Denver would be relevant with out Camelo though?  I'd say that he has kept them competitive over the last 5 years.

No, I don't believe Denver would be relevant without Anthony.  But, let's be honest - just how relevant are they WITH him?  If I ask you to name 5 teams that are going to win the championship this year, you won't mention Denver.  Ditto last year.  Ditto the year before.  It doesn't matter how well Denver does, come playoff time, they're going home on-schedule, if not early.

[westkoast]

Winning puts rear ends in the seats.  I'm not even sure if Carmelo is the most important on his team with regards to winning.

Agreed.  I think the playoffs showed us that the most important piece to winning in Denver is GEORGE KARL.

No love for Chauncey?

Lotta love for Chauncey.  No first round victory as the higher seed and a team that had the number of the team it faced for Chauncey, though.

I honestly believe that if George Karl were coaching, Denver would have beaten Utah.  We sure couldn't do much against them in the season while Karl was there....

Do you believe that Denver would be relevant with out Camelo though?  I'd say that he has kept them competitive over the last 5 years.

No, I don't believe Denver would be relevant without Anthony.  But, let's be honest - just how relevant are they WITH him?  If I ask you to name 5 teams that are going to win the championship this year, you won't mention Denver.  Ditto last year.  Ditto the year before.  It doesn't matter how well Denver does, come playoff time, they're going home on-schedule, if not early.

They did make it to the Western Conference finals two years ago and the semis the year before that.  The year before they had a legit shot to win the title and many said they were going to give the Lakers a tough time, in which they did.  I think with out having a talented big man that they've done pretty well.  A lot of that on the back of Carmelo improving his game and strength.

I would argue that Denver, regardless of who is there, can only be so relevant.  Denver is a pretty small market and the city is the Broncos first, Rockies second, and Nuggets third.

In addition I don't know if it is fair to say that just because a team doesn't make the finals their best player isnt a top tier player.  The Pacers were not really picked ever to win a title and they got slapped around by the Bulls in the EC for most of the 90s.  That wasn't held against Reggie Miller.

Btw, I am half arguing for Melo and half arguing because well, don't we talk about the same players and teams here?  Just want to chat it up about other teams and players lol