ESPN: Melo Vs Durant

[westkoast]

ESPN has an article on INsider about Kevin Durant vs Carmelo Anthony and was wondering who the board would pick and why.....

Look at the top three scorers in the NBA. Right behind LeBron James, the league's best player, are two special guys with some common threads running between them. Both are small forwards on playoff-bound teams. Both had historic one-and-done runs in college: Carmelo Anthony led Syracuse to an incredible national title run, while Kevin Durant dominated college hoops as few freshman ever have. And both learned hoops in famously tough and talented basketball hotbeds: Melo in Baltimore and Durant a short ride away in Washington, D.C. With LeBron, the reigning MVP, known more for his point forward skills and power forward physique, Melo and KD are the two best pure 3s in the game.

LINK TO ARTICLE HERE: http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/insider/columns/story?columnist=thorpe_david&page=KDMelo-100303&action=login&appRedirect=http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/insider/columns/story%3fcolumnist%3dthorpe_david%26page%3dKDMelo-100303

[marklapinski]

If I had to pick, I'd pick Durant without hesitation.

[Reality]

no contest, Durant.

[westkoast]

If I had to pick, I'd pick Durant without hesitation.

Based on age and potential?  Or just flat out skill at this point in time?

[ziggy]

You know my answer.

[Joe Vancil]

You know my answer.

Greg Oden?

Sorry....couldn't resist....

(In fairness, I defended the Oden pick.  Still do.  Just like I defended the Bowie pick.  And still do.)

[JoMal]

Watched Durant and Westbrook take control of the Thunder/Kings game yesterday. Kings played well, but Durant.......long and skilled and only in the NBA three years now. He is also four years younger and his potential is still to be met. Anthony is about where he will be.

Durant hands down.
 

[Lurker]

Watched Durant and Westbrook take control of the Thunder/Kings game yesterday. Kings played well, but Durant.......long and skilled and only in the NBA three years now. He is also four years younger and his potential is still to be met. Anthony is about where he will be.

Durant hands down.
 

This sums it up well.

[westkoast]

I didn't think it would be everyone in agreement.....

So is that saying Melo's stock dropped fast?  Durant's has soared over the last 2?  Or a combo of both?  Melo, Wade, Bron were suppose to be the next 3 top guys in the league for the next 5 years right?

[jn]

I don't think Melo's stock has dropped at all.  Durant's is just way up.

[Derek Bodner]

I wonder how many guys in league history have made 1.5+ 3's per game at 40%+ with 10+ fta's/game ?

Can't be many.  Durant will at some point in his career.  He's close to doing it this year.

He's absurd.

[JoMal]

I wonder how many guys in league history have made 1.5+ 3's per game at 40%+ with 10+ fta's/game ?

Can't be many.  Durant will at some point in his career.  He's close to doing it this year.

He's absurd.

This is what really got me. Thunder came to SacTown and beat the Kings Sunday night. On one play, he faked Tyreke Evans one way and burned him going the other for an easy lay-up. Durant is three inches taller, so posting up Evans would have been easy - but no, instead he out-quicks him on an inside move to the basket.

This kid is already there. and he is still going up.