The Basketball Thread

[Korea 734]

Except Durant isn't taller than everyone. He's roughly the same height as Lebron, Paul George and lots of other small forwards and so what? Why doesn't natural ability and height count? Carmelo Anthony is 6 foot 8. That's hardly normal.The NBA is mostly made up freakish people. And he rarely drives the ball? Why does he get to the line more than any other player than the NBA? And you said best offensive player in the NBA. This will be Durant's 4th year in the last 5 with the most points in the league. This isn't even an arguable point. Durant is a better scorer and he's more efficient. Anthony isn't even second best. He just shoots a ton. Lebron is a better scorer but takes 5 shots a game less. Put Lebron on a team where he jacks up 21 shots a game and he'd outscore Anthony. The point is that these players are on teams trying to win Carmelo Anthony is on team Carmelo Anthony.

Hes not the same height...

Durant the tallest SF like in NBA history... James, george are like 6'7 or 6'8... Durant a good 6'11-7. Have you seen durant's arms? I bet his wingspan is like top 5 in the league. Durant shot is nearly unblockable if you add in his height and wingspan and the fact hes a perimeter player.

Also, your talking about efficiency... If thats the case than Lebron is like the best offensive player in the world, said no one in the NBA. Kobe was never efficient, yet everyone claimed Kobe was hands down the best offensive player in the league since MJ.

Melo is near the avg height for a sf. So, he doesn't really have any psychical advantages. Also, he shoots more cause his team cant do anything and that the way woodson coaches his teams...

Melo doesnt lack anywhere on the court offensively. Durant has absolutely no post game and his ball handling skills arent good.

There a reason why Kobe said Melo is the most difficult player to guard, and why a lot of nba players said that as well..

[TorontoChelsea 4,064]

Hes not the same height...

Durant the tallest SF like in NBA history... James, george are like 6'7 or 6'8... Durant a good 6'11-7. Have you seen durant's arms? I bet his wingspan is like top 5 in the league. Durant shot is nearly unblockable if you add in his height and wingspan and the fact hes a perimeter player.

Also, your talking about efficiency... If thats the case than Lebron is like the best offensive player in the world, said no one in the NBA. Kobe was never efficient, yet everyone claimed Kobe was hands down the best offensive player in the league since MJ.

Melo is near the avg height for a sf. So, he doesn't really have any psychical advantages. Also, he shoots more cause his team cant do anything and that the way woodson coaches his teams...

Melo doesnt lack anywhere on the court offensively. Durant has absolutely no post game and his ball handling skills arent good.

There a reason why Kobe said Melo is the most difficult player to guard, and why a lot of nba players said that as well..

I have no idea what you're talking about. Durant's ball-handling skills aren't good? No, he's not a point guard, but he still manages 5 assists a game. Kobe was an amazing offensive player but he was never efficient. He was more efficient than Carmlo and more importantly, he's a much better player overall. He can pass, he was an elite defender and his inefficiency largely came about because he was a guard. Carmelo is a 3 or a 4. Carmelo does nothing except shoot. And it's not Mike Woodsen. It was George Karl too. Anyway, It doesn't matter because Durant is MUCH better than Carmelo both in overall and in efficient. There is literally no aspect of the game that Carmelo is better than Durant right now. Carmelo is a poster-boy for what's wrong with the NBA. Players being hyped up as stars who are just bulk scorers. You can't win with someone like Carmelo. BTW OKC best record in the West, best team in the NBA despite Westrbook missing half of the year. That's Durant's shoulders. NYK-Not even in the playoffs in a woeful East. I'm so sick of Carmelo getting hyped up just because he shoots so much. (Incidentally, there are comparisons with football and Ronaldo whose offensive output is largely because he takes double the shots of any other player in La Liga. Ronaldo is better, but also overrated because of it)

[Korea 734]

I have no idea what you're talking about. Durant's ball-handling skills aren't good? No, he's not a point guard, but he still manages 5 assists a game. Kobe was an amazing offensive player but he was never efficient. He was more efficient than Carmlo and more importantly, he's a much better player overall. He can pass, he was an elite defender and his inefficiency largely came about because he was a guard. Carmelo is a 3 or a 4. Carmelo does nothing except shoot. And it's not Mike Woodsen. It was George Karl too. Anyway, It doesn't matter because Durant is MUCH better than Carmelo both in overall and in efficient. There is literally no aspect of the game that Carmelo is better than Durant right now. Carmelo is a poster-boy for what's wrong with the NBA. Players being hyped up as stars who are just bulk scorers. You can't win with someone like Carmelo. BTW OKC best record in the West, best team in the NBA despite Westrbook missing half of the year. That's Durant's shoulders. NYK-Not even in the playoffs in a woeful East. I'm so sick of Carmelo getting hyped up just because he shoots so much. (Incidentally, there are comparisons with football and Ronaldo whose offensive output is largely because he takes double the shots of any other player in La Liga. Ronaldo is better, but also overrated because of it)

If you have the play making role in the NBA, you will get assists..

Kobe averaged like 10 dimes a game when he literally became the pg of the lakers under mike d.

Durant is literally the playmaker of OKC right now. (however, i will say he is less selfish if that what you mean)..

On a side note, Lebron didnt win anything until he joined D wade and bosh, so.......

Also, okc didnt win anything as well, even though they tanked all those years and got like 4-5 lottery picks...

Also, Denver never reach the heights of the Melo led teams....

Also, Melo won the National champ with syracuse while durant was crying in the sweet 16.

BTW, okc wont win the champs this year as well, so......

Also, being the best offensive player has what to do with records, etc.....

Also, george karl got fired and isnt a coach anymore. Woodson had joe johnson playing the same way in atl, so....

Also, Melo has a post game, so....

Yea, i dont really know what your talking about.

Lastly, i never said best player....If that is what you were hinting at.

[TorontoChelsea 4,064]

If you have the play making role in the NBA, you will get assists..

Kobe averaged like 10 dimes a game when he literally became the pg of the lakers under mike d.

Durant is literally the playmaker of OKC right now. (however, i will say he is less selfish if that what you mean)..

On a side note, Lebron didnt win anything until he joined D wade and bosh, so.......

Also, okc didnt win anything as well, even though they tanked all those years and got like 4-5 lottery picks...

Also, Denver never reach the heights of the Melo led teams....

Also, Melo won the National champ with syracuse while durant was crying in the sweet 16.

BTW, okc wont win the champs this year as well, so......

Also, being the best offensive player has what to do with records, etc.....

Also, george karl got fired and isnt a coach anymore. Woodson had joe johnson playing the same way in atl, so....

Also, Melo has a post game, so....

Yea, i dont really know what your talking about.

Lastly, i never said best player....If that is what you were hinting at.

You said best offensive player. OK. So, let's just limit it to a discussion over who the best offensive player in the NBA is.It's Durant. Discussion over

Here's my argument:

1) Durant scores more points

2) Durant is more efficient so he scores more points per shot.

In summery. Carmelo is a worse scorer who is also less efficient. Despite taking the most shots in the league, he doesn't have the most points. In other words, he's worse. And your argument is about post-up game and length and athleticism and what their real height is and none of that matters at all. What does any of that have to do with who is a better scorer? Durant scores more. He scores more efficiently. He is better offensively. There are different ways to measure a player's ability to score but there is NOT one single way you can measure it where Durant isn't just better than Carmelo but miles ahead of him.

About overall play. Let me explain something to you. Every single simple NBA stat is overrated. Every one. Points, assists,steals, blocks. Team stats matter. Personal ones don't. The era of thinking someone is a great defender just because he blocks shots or thinking that someone is a great offensive player because he hoists 22 shots a game up is ending. Rebounding is only impressive if you're taking it away from opponents, not out-muscling your own players. Steals are only positives if you don't over-commit which leads to easy baskets. A block half the time just gives the ball back to the opponent. How is that a great play? People couldn't figure out why the Spurs kept winning and teams with "superstars" didn't. It was because the Spurs, as a team, are efficient. They play defence, they move the ball well, and they get the ball to the player in the best position to shoot whoever that is, Carmelo Anthony is the anti-Spurs. He's a a bulk scorer who single-handedly destroys a team's offensive flow because he takes so many shots that are poor from efficiency standpoint and also poor from letting his teammates have a chance at offensive rebounds. and makes it impossible to play team defence because he's so lazy and incompetent. The Knicks are 18th in the league in offensive efficiency and 27th in defensive efficiency and a lot of that is down to Carmelo.

In 10 years in the NBA as a "superstar" his teams have won 3 playoff series. He has the worst playoff record of any player in over 20 years. If I were starting a team, I wouldn't want him anywhere near it. The NBA creates these stars and fans go crazy over them and there is no relation to how good they actually are.

[Korea 734]

You said best offensive player. OK. So, let's just limit it to a discussion over who the best offensive player in the NBA is.It's Durant. Discussion over

Here's my argument:

1) Durant scores more points

2) Durant is more efficient so he scores more points per shot.

In summery. Carmelo is a worse scorer who is also less efficient. Despite taking the most shots in the league, he doesn't have the most points. In other words, he's worse. And your argument is about post-up game and length and athleticism and what their real height is and none of that matters at all. What does any of that have to do with who is a better scorer? Durant scores more. He scores more efficiently. He is better offensively. There are different ways to measure a player's ability to score but there is NOT one single way you can measure it where Durant isn't just better than Carmelo but miles ahead of him.

About overall play. Let me explain something to you. Every single simple NBA stat is overrated. Every one. Points, assists,steals, blocks. Team stats matter. Personal ones don't. The era of thinking someone is a great defender just because he blocks shots or thinking that someone is a great offensive player because he hoists 22 shots a game up is ending. Rebounding is only impressive if you're taking it away from opponents, not out-muscling your own players. Steals are only positives if you don't over-commit which leads to easy baskets. A block half the time just gives the ball back to the opponent. How is that a great play? People couldn't figure out why the Spurs kept winning and teams with "superstars" didn't. It was because the Spurs, as a team, are efficient. They play defence, they move the ball well, and they get the ball to the player in the best position to shoot whoever that is, Carmelo Anthony is the anti-Spurs. He's a a bulk scorer who single-handedly destroys a team's offensive flow because he takes so many shots that are poor from efficiency standpoint and also poor from letting his teammates have a chance at offensive rebounds. and makes it impossible to play team defence because he's so lazy and incompetent. The Knicks are 18th in the league in offensive efficiency and 27th in defensive efficiency and a lot of that is down to Carmelo.

In 10 years in the NBA as a "superstar" his teams have won 3 playoff series. He has the worst playoff record of any player in over 20 years. If I were starting a team, I wouldn't want him anywhere near it. The NBA creates these stars and fans go crazy over them and there is no relation to how good they actually are.

You need to have an offensive repertoire to be considered the best offensive player in the game...

Right now, Durant is a shooter and a substitute play maker. Carmelo plays for the knicks, the city i live in. I think I would know melo game since its on msg every 2 days...

So, technically, being efficient and scoring the most points, makes you the best offensive player. Being athletic/genetically better has nothing to do with it?

So, I guess wilt chamberlin was the best offensive player ever since he prob had a 65 percent shoot percentage... had a 50 point avg season, scored 100 in a game...

its too bad no one ever considers this...

So, lets take two people.

D rose (2011) vs Kyrie Irving....

D rose could probably take it to the hoop whenever he wanted due to his amazing athletic attributes, probably had a better shot percentage as well....

However, kyrie can score on the block, behind the three, both hands, etc...

So, you would select rose as a better offensive player, right?

Also, this has nothing to do with starting a team or records. The point was best offensive player. Not a shooter that is efficient...

All your argument is about team records, etc... You know what the scott brooks offense is called?Let knucklehead westbrook do some crazy thing and durant shoot the ball when he feels like it...

Also, how exactly does a Canadian watch the knicks games on TV? Or are you just reading box scores and stats like most people do...(chandler was out for most of the season... we have effing bargani, you know the guy you knuckleheads drafted first pick).... We have amare... We have knucklehead JR Smith.... You make it seem like its all melos doing...

One thing you forget is that ny knicks is own by dolan. You know the same guy that traded all the draft picks, signed aging players, etc... Players have a lot to do with their team winning, however, the organization itself does as well.. go ask lebron and cleveland...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e2X4sXWKJwc

[TorontoChelsea 4,064]

You need to have an offensive repertoire to be considered the best offensive player in the game...

Right now, Durant is a shooter and a substitute play maker. Carmelo plays for the knicks, the city i live in. I think I would know melo game since its on msg every 2 days...

LOL. Why do you get to decide the criteria as to what is a great offensive player? Why is being good at 4 random things more important than being great at 3 things? Why is having a strong post-up game more important than being efficient (in real life, it's exactly the opposite) Why doesn't being inefficient count as part of an offensive repertoire? .You don't even consider efficiency at all which is baffling because it's actually one of the only things that matters. As if a player who hits 3-42 shots is better than one who hits 2-2. It's like saying that Kalou was a better midfielder than Lampard because he had a better work-rate and you can't be considered a good midfielder without having a good work rate because you've decided on that random criteria. Offensive game=scoring ability and efficiency. Durant is better at both.

You obviously don't know Carmelo's game or you'd realize that he's a selfish player who doesn't play defence and you'd figure out that the Knicks will never win with Carmelo because he isn't nearly good enough a player. (Lucky for them, he'll likely leave this off-season and fool some other desperate team into thinking he's good just like the Nets got fooled into taking a mediocre Joe Johnson.) Not every superstar can take their team all the way. it's very difficult. But if you can't take your team to the playoffs in the worst division in a very weak conference the NBA, you're not a superstar, you're not a star, you're not even a great player. The East has 2 teams that don't suck. Toronto and Atlanta are 3rd and 4th and they'd be rolled over by teams in the West that aren't even in the playoffs. The 7 games before his big scoring night, he went 57-127 shooting which is an atrocious 38% on 21 shots a game which killed his team. There's really no point continuing this because you're arguing hype versus reality where you get to choose what defines a great offensive player and then just tailor that definition to Anthony because you like him or are a Knicks fan or something (Like Stephen A. Smith is). I don't know a single person who is not a Kicks fan and is over 16 who would take Carmelo over Durant in any scenario. He's just a much worse player.

[Korea 734]

LOL. Why do you get to decide the criteria as to what is a great offensive player? Why is being good at 4 random things more important than being great at 3 things? Why is having a strong post-up game more important than being efficient (in real life, it's exactly the opposite) Why doesn't being inefficient count as part of an offensive repertoire? .You don't even consider efficiency at all which is baffling because it's actually one of the only things that matters. As if a player who hits 3-42 shots is better than one who hits 2-2. It's like saying that Kalou was a better midfielder than Lampard because he had a better work-rate and you can't be considered a good midfielder without having a good work rate because you've decided on that random criteria. Offensive game=scoring ability and efficiency. Durant is better at both.

You obviously don't know Carmelo's game or you'd realize that he's a selfish player who doesn't play defence and you'd figure out that the Knicks will never win with Carmelo because he isn't nearly good enough a player. (Lucky for them, he'll likely leave this off-season and fool some other desperate team into thinking he's good just like the Nets got fooled into taking a mediocre Joe Johnson.) Not every superstar can take their team all the way. it's very difficult. But if you can't take your team to the playoffs in the worst division in a very weak conference the NBA, you're not a superstar, you're not a star, you're not even a great player. The East has 2 teams that don't suck. Toronto and Atlanta are 3rd and 4th and they'd be rolled over by teams in the West that aren't even in the playoffs. The 7 games before his big scoring night, he went 57-127 shooting which is an atrocious 38% on 21 shots a game which killed his team. There's really no point continuing this because you're arguing hype versus reality where you get to choose what defines a great offensive player and then just tailor that definition to Anthony because you like him or are a Knicks fan or something (Like Stephen A. Smith is). I don't know a single person who is not a Kicks fan and is over 16 who would take Carmelo over Durant in any scenario. He's just a much worse player.

4 random things?

You just said it was shooting percentage + ppg.

Having an offensive repertoire is doing it all over the court. KDB is not a triple threat player. Melo is.

So, i guess steve kerr is the best offensive player cause i shoot open threes all day long and shoot them at a high percentage?

I can be wilt chamerlin cause i avg 50 points a game?

KD can shoot lights out, so can Melo.

But Melo can post up, KD cant.

Melo can drive, kd isnt that good at driving..

I dont know what they teach you guys in Toronto, but in NYC, anyone, and everyone will tell you carmelo is the best offensive player in the game..

He might be a selfish sob, lazy defensive player, etc, however, it doesnt take away from his amazing offensive skills...

Also, you make it seem that KD plays defense, when people 5 inches shorter than him light him up all the time... When he doesnt play defense at all.

Guess who d Lebron james in the finals.. NOT DURANT.... It was harden, you know the guy that like 6'5 is guarding lebron cause we all know what lebron would do to kd.

Your whole argument is based on Melo the overall player, not melo offensive ability. Also, who says the knicks arent going to the playoffs? This is how the knicks usually play, start slow and do well after ASG.

Hype is for andrew wiggins. melo is near 30, there is no hype. He is what he is...

New York Knicks point guard Raymond Felton, when discussing the League’s best scorers, puts Kevin Durant and Carmelo Anthony at the top of the list. Felton feels that his teammate Melo is a better, more versatile scorer of the two (while defending Anthony’s shot selection.) Per NBA.com: “What’s it like playing with Carmelo Anthony? Because he’s such a great player, and he kind of gets overshadowed a bit by guys like LeBron or Kevin Durant. Even though he might be the best scorer in the NBA …’ FELTON: ‘Without a doubt. Without a doubt. Because he scores in so many ways. There’s a lot of guys who can score the basketball in this league. Kevin Durant, by far, is one of the top ones. Him and Melo could be neck-and-neck — those guys can score in a lot of ways. But Melo can score in more ways than KD, because Melo can post up, he can score off the dribble, he can score in the mid-range, he can score finishing at the rim, and he can shoot threes. You’re talking about a guy who has a total, complete game, and he’s big and strong — 6-8, big body, strong body. A lot of people like to talk about how he takes a lot of shots, this and that. Listen man: We need him to score. It gets maximized because if you’re having an off night and you take thirty-something shots, it’s like, ‘Aw man, he’s shooting too much.’ If you’re having a great night, he’s got 40-something points and he took thirty-something shots, ain’t nobody saying nothing. I just tell him, ‘You do what we need you to do. As a team, we know what you’re going to do every night.’ So we gotta adjust our games to that. Me as a point guard, I have to adjust my game to that. I hate when people say about him, ‘He takes too many shots.’ People try to compare him and LeBron — two different games. Melo is who he is, LeBron is who he is. So I hate when they try to make those comparisons. You can’t say Larry Bird and Michael Jordan had the same game.

Also, you seem to forget how Melo is always the best player for team USA and the most efficient one as well.

You also seem to forget that Melo was always regarded as the best offensive talent even in Lebron class since they were teenagers..

You also seem to forget that KD missed the playoffs more than Melo did, even though Melo is near 30...

You also seem to forget Tracy Mcgrady, the guy who barely wins in the playoffs as well, even though everyone rates him as the second best offensive player in the kobe generation.

Its ok though, when Melo joins the lakers, he'll win a championship and than you will find another excuse....

[Amblève. 4,995]

For the sake of this debate, just look up some advanced stats.

[TorontoChelsea 4,064]

For the sake of this debate, just look up some advanced stats.

You don't even need advanced stats. Simple stats, advanced stats, pundits, fans, everybody will say the same thing. Kevin Durant is the best offensive player in the NBA and it's not close. Korea is obviously a big Carmelo fan.

For anyone who is interested- http://espn.go.com/nba/statistics/player/_/stat/scoring-per-game/sort/avgPoints/year/2014/seasontype/2

Notice Durant is better at well, everything except very slightly worse at 3% shooting. You can also tab across to scoring per 48 minutes and see Durant still #1 but Carmelo slides to #5. Durant is also a much better passer and works in the flow of the offense as opposed to slowing it down. He also faces a vastly more difficult schedule. The third best team in the East wouldn't even make the playoffs in the West. There's also context of games. Durant scored 46 points in a close win against a tough team who are 32-11. Carmelo scored his 62 in a blow-out against a 19-27 team. Any single way you look at it, Durant is better.

[communicate 2,703]

You don't even need advanced stats. Simple stats, advanced stats, pundits, fans, everybody will say the same thing. Kevin Durant is the best offensive player in the NBA and it's not close. Korea is obviously a big Carmelo fan.

For anyone who is interested- http://espn.go.com/nba/statistics/player/_/stat/scoring-per-game/sort/avgPoints/year/2014/seasontype/2

Notice Durant is better at well, everything except very slightly worse at 3% shooting. You can also tab across to scoring per 48 minutes and see Durant still #1 but Carmelo slides to #5. Durant is also a much better passer and works in the flow of the offense as opposed to slowing it down. He also faces a vastly more difficult schedule. The third best team in the East wouldn't even make the playoffs in the West. There's also context of games. Durant scored 46 points in a close win against a tough team who are 32-11. Carmelo scored his 62 in a blow-out against a 19-27 team. Any single way you look at it, Durant is better.

For me it depends,

Melo is at his best operating slightly outside the paint where he can just post up/jab step2 and shoot over the defender. He is more of an iso player.

Whereas KD is more of a 'really tall' shooter who can handle the ball, finish extremely well.

I like KD game much better because he can play within the offense and also play off the ball.

also, he is not really a ball stopper whereas melo tends to hold the ball which make the offense become very stagnant.

If you are asking which one is the better scorer ? I think it is a toss but

if you are asking which one is the better player ? I think the answer is so obvious, if you have a poll which one will you pick to build your team, I am sure 100% GM in NBA will pick KD over melo

[communicate 2,703]

4 random things?

You just said it was shooting percentage + ppg.

Having an offensive repertoire is doing it all over the court. KDB is not a triple threat player. Melo is.

So, i guess steve kerr is the best offensive player cause i shoot open threes all day long and shoot them at a high percentage?

I can be wilt chamerlin cause i avg 50 points a game?

KD can shoot lights out, so can Melo.

But Melo can post up, KD cant.

Melo can drive, kd isnt that good at driving..

I dont know what they teach you guys in Toronto, but in NYC, anyone, and everyone will tell you carmelo is the best offensive player in the game..

He might be a selfish sob, lazy defensive player, etc, however, it doesnt take away from his amazing offensive skills...

Also, you make it seem that KD plays defense, when people 5 inches shorter than him light him up all the time... When he doesnt play defense at all.

Guess who d Lebron james in the finals.. NOT DURANT.... It was harden, you know the guy that like 6'5 is guarding lebron cause we all know what lebron would do to kd.

Your whole argument is based on Melo the overall player, not melo offensive ability. Also, who says the knicks arent going to the playoffs? This is how the knicks usually play, start slow and do well after ASG.

Hype is for andrew wiggins. melo is near 30, there is no hype. He is what he is...

New York Knicks point guard Raymond Felton, when discussing the League’s best scorers, puts Kevin Durant and Carmelo Anthony at the top of the list. Felton feels that his teammate Melo is a better, more versatile scorer of the two (while defending Anthony’s shot selection.) Per NBA.com: “What’s it like playing with Carmelo Anthony? Because he’s such a great player, and he kind of gets overshadowed a bit by guys like LeBron or Kevin Durant. Even though he might be the best scorer in the NBA …’ FELTON: ‘Without a doubt. Without a doubt. Because he scores in so many ways. There’s a lot of guys who can score the basketball in this league. Kevin Durant, by far, is one of the top ones. Him and Melo could be neck-and-neck — those guys can score in a lot of ways. But Melo can score in more ways than KD, because Melo can post up, he can score off the dribble, he can score in the mid-range, he can score finishing at the rim, and he can shoot threes. You’re talking about a guy who has a total, complete game, and he’s big and strong — 6-8, big body, strong body. A lot of people like to talk about how he takes a lot of shots, this and that. Listen man: We need him to score. It gets maximized because if you’re having an off night and you take thirty-something shots, it’s like, ‘Aw man, he’s shooting too much.’ If you’re having a great night, he’s got 40-something points and he took thirty-something shots, ain’t nobody saying nothing. I just tell him, ‘You do what we need you to do. As a team, we know what you’re going to do every night.’ So we gotta adjust our games to that. Me as a point guard, I have to adjust my game to that. I hate when people say about him, ‘He takes too many shots.’ People try to compare him and LeBron — two different games. Melo is who he is, LeBron is who he is. So I hate when they try to make those comparisons. You can’t say Larry Bird and Michael Jordan had the same game.

Also, you seem to forget how Melo is always the best player for team USA and the most efficient one as well.

You also seem to forget that Melo was always regarded as the best offensive talent even in Lebron class since they were teenagers..

You also seem to forget that KD missed the playoffs more than Melo did, even though Melo is near 30...

You also seem to forget Tracy Mcgrady, the guy who barely wins in the playoffs as well, even though everyone rates him as the second best offensive player in the kobe generation.

Its ok though, when Melo joins the lakers, he'll win a championship and than you will find another excuse....

IMO for melo to be great he need to play much2 better defense and move the ball better, right now his defense is just atrocious and he tends to hold the ball for too long.

Yes he is great at one on one but in playoff he will be guarded by lebron/paul george+hibbert not MKG.

I can see the knicks,if they are lucky, will lose in game 6 against either Miami/Indiana

[TorontoChelsea 4,064]

For me it depends,

Melo is at his best operating slightly outside the paint where he can just post up/jab step2 and shoot over the defender. He is more of an iso player.

Whereas KD is more of a 'really tall' shooter who can handle the ball, finish extremely well.

I like KD game much better because he can play within the offense and also play off the ball.

also, he is not really a ball stopper whereas melo tends to hold the ball which make the offense become very stagnant.

If you are asking which one is the better scorer ? I think it is a toss but

if you are asking which one is the better player ? I think the answer is so obvious, if you have a poll which one will you pick to build your team, I am sure 100% GM in NBA will pick KD over melo

I agree with most of what you say but being able to fit your offensive game into the context of a team is an important part of being a great offensive player. Durant makes his teammates better. Carmelo makes them worse. Not just defensively but offensively. Carmelo stops the flow of the offense. I also think not enough is made of the the extreme difference in the quality of the conferences. Memphis is a solid team and isn't in a playoff spot. I am a Raptors' fan but they are not a good team and are somehow third in the East. You look at Durant's 46 game point last week and it's more impressive than Carmelo's 62 point game. Durant scored 46 points on 25 shots in a close game against an elite team in Portland. Carmelo scored 62 on 35 shots in a blowout against a very bad Charlotte. Is scoring 3 goals against Hull in a 5-1 win more impressive than scoring 2 in a 2-1 against City?

[communicate 2,703]

I agree with most of what you say but being able to fit your offensive game into the context of a team is an important part of being a great offensive player. Durant makes his teammates better. Carmelo makes them worse. Not just defensively but offensively. Carmelo stops the flow of the offense. I also think not enough is made of the the extreme difference in the quality of the conferences. Memphis is a solid team and isn't in a playoff spot. I am a Raptors' fan but they are not a good team and are somehow third in the East. You look at Durant's 46 game point last week and it's more impressive than Carmelo's 62 point game. Durant scored 46 points on 25 shots in a close game against an elite team in Portland. Carmelo scored 62 on 35 shots in a blowout against a very bad Charlotte. Is scoring 3 goals against Hull in a 5-1 win more impressive than scoring 2 in a 2-1 against City?

Lol ya eastern conference is a joke. Toronto is in semi rebuilding mode yet they are 3rd in the east. No offense to raptor but nobody will be surprised if they get swept by either miami/Indiana in the playoff.

[TorontoChelsea 4,064]

Lol ya eastern conference is a joke. Toronto is in semi rebuilding mode yet they are 3rd in the east. No offense to raptor but nobody will be surprised if they get swept by either miami/Indiana in the playoff.

No offense taken. I don't like that they are doing so well because to succeed in the NBA it's almost impossible to win without getting a high draft pick star (and Andrew Wiggins is from Toronto!!!). All this winning will give people the wrong impression of the state of the franchise. The Raptors are nowhere near being contenders.

[Korea 734]

No offense taken. I don't like that they are doing so well because to succeed in the NBA it's almost impossible to win without getting a high draft pick star (and Andrew Wiggins is from Toronto!!!). All this winning will give people the wrong impression of the state of the franchise. The Raptors are nowhere near being contenders.

typical toronto fan... Savors the idea of tanking.

Tanking is the exact reason most teams never win the chip....

Builds a negative connotation of the franchise, creates a loser mentality..

When all the good players from your team will leave eventually ala carter, bosh and mcgrady.

[Korea 734]

IMO for melo to be great he need to play much2 better defense and move the ball better, right now his defense is just atrocious and he tends to hold the ball for too long.

Yes he is great at one on one but in playoff he will be guarded by lebron/paul george+hibbert not MKG.

I can see the knicks,if they are lucky, will lose in game 6 against either Miami/Indiana

this has nothing to do with defense..

This is best offensive player in the game. Also, Lebron cant guard Melo. Their a reason why he never matches up against Melo and they always use other players instead... Lebron can d Durant cause durant is an outside perimeter player, who weights considerable less than James.

Anyone that plays basketball, would know the advantages size + weight has in the game of bball. Their a reason why the NBA consists of all tall guys and not short guys, if being tall was not a relevant factor to an individual ability.

[Korea 734]

The word iso is a misconception used by foreign fans that dont understand the NBA game...

The NBA has always played bball like this. The word iso become so relevant to freaking Melo because all the fans from overseas watch the knicks games with Jeremy lin on the team.. Always trying to find excuses for Lin...

Guess what, now according to foreign fans, Harden does too much iso. Guess who his teammate is???? YEAP, jeremy lin.

[communicate 2,703]

The word iso is a misconception used by foreign fans that dont understand the NBA game...

The NBA has always played bball like this. The word iso become so relevant to freaking Melo because all the fans from overseas watch the knicks games with Jeremy lin on the team.. Always trying to find excuses for Lin...

Guess what, now according to foreign fans, Harden does too much iso. Guess who his teammate is???? YEAP, jeremy lin.

I may have never played professional basketball, but I have played and watched enough basketball to understand isolation play.

I don't understand why you bring lin and Asian fans. It has nothing to do with lin.