As promised here are the Carmelo Anthony comments from after Game 4 in Salt Lake City. http://www.nba.com/video/channels/playoffs/2010/04/25/0040900174_den_sound3.nba/
Notice how he uses the phrase "I need some help." And now here are comments from the famous Leon from the Budweiser commercials from several years back. Leon was a fictional athlete notoriously painted as an arrogant hothead in the commercials.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3BkIh1R5utY
Also included the phrase "I need some help." Strikingly similar comments about teammates if you ask me. I can see the reporter asking Carmelo Anthony "So your 9 turnovers weren't a factor in your mind?" followed by a Leon like response by Anthony.
To be fair Anthony had 39 points and 11 rebounds and was a major force in Denver sticking anywhere close to the Jazz at all. But he also was one turnover away from what I like to call an "Evan Turner Triple Double" named for the Ohio State standout who had a traditional double-double this season that was lauded by analysts, but still had 10 turnovers in the same game.
Anthony said he wasn't trying to point fingers, but he clearly was when saying he needed help and that he couldn't do it on his own. I think he did play well but, as I noted earlier, the Jazz were clearly playing better team basketball last night. I don't know that Anthony is completely parallel with Leon, but his comments were strikingly similar and don't speak well of chemistry in the Denver locker room.
Here are the rest of the NBA scores for the last couple of days:
Sunday:
Game 4 -- (5) Miami 101, (4) Boston 92 (Celtics lead series 3-1, Dwayne Wade had a monster game with 46 points for the Heat)
Game 4 -- (1) Cleveland 121, (8) Chicago 98 (Cavaliers lead series 3-1, LeBron James' triple-double and half court shot at the end of the third quarter were impressive)
Game 4 -- (7) San Antonio 92, (2) Dallas 89 (Spurs lead series 3-1)
Monday:
Game 4 -- (2) Orlando 99, (7) Charlotte 90 (Magic win series 4-0)
Game 4 -- (6) Milwaukee 111, (3) Atlanta 104 (Series tied 2-2)
Game 5 -- (3) Phoenix 107, (6) Portland 88 (Suns lead series 3-2)
And here's the schedule for Tuesday:
Game 5 -- (5) Miami at (4) Boston, 5 p.m. MT (NBA TV, Celtics lead series 3-1)
Game 5 -- (8) Chicago at (1) Cleveland, 6 p.m. MT (TNT, Cavaliers lead series 3-1)
Game 5 -- (7) San Antonio at (2) Dallas, 7:30 p.m. MT (NBA TV, Spurs lead series 3-1)
Game 5 -- (8) Oklahoma City at (1) LA Lakers, 8:30 p.m. MT (TNT, Series tied 2-2)
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That is a great comparison you made between Carmelo and Leon. I think the comparison becomes even more relevant when you look at Adrian Dantley's postgame comments as well. Denver's chemistry is definitely not looking good at the moment. When the coach is saying a certain player is turning the ball over too many times, and that certain player is saying that he needs "some help," something's not right.
ReplyDeleteGood points made Derek! I think an underlying point to make is that Carmelo is playing against the UTAH JAZZ! Leading in assists, leading in unselfish offense and a team forced into extreme help defense by injuries.
ReplyDeleteI think it would be extremely hard to be an ego based superstar team like the nuggets and play against a jazz team sharing the ball like a game of hot potato. When the jazz lose, it is a team loss. When the nuggets lose it is the superstar's fault and melo has to find a way to deal with it.
The jazz can fry his brain into Denver McNuggets!!
I think you guys are both right. Even though Denver won tonight, it was a team loss for the Jazz like you said Derrick. I think everyone will contribute and the Jazz will take Game 6. Carmelo played better tonight, but we'll see if he can limit his turnovers in Salt Lake City on Friday. I think our raucous crowd will also make it difficult for the Nuggets team chemistry to hold together. I don't think you can solve all your chemistry problems after one win at home.
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