Mike Gorman's Comments on Carmelo

[huzy]

I’m not sure if anyone else remembers Mike Gorman’s comments on Carmelo Anthony earlier this season when Denver was in Boston.

They were along following lines
“Carmelo’s attitude is why he will never be on a championship team.”

I believe Gorman also referenced ‘Melo’s off the court issues and said that they reflected a larger problem in the NBA (Sorry for not having direct quotes)

I’m curious as to what people think about this as I don’t remember Gorman ever being so personally critical of another player while I’ve watched him.

What sparked my attention to this was Carmelo’s performance in Game 1 of the WCF. Just phenomenal. His face guarding of Kobe, ferocious work on the offensive glass, and ability to just knock down one huge shot after another reaffirmed the notion that he still has the ability to be a top 5 player in this league.

I love watching Melo when he’s on because you can see the game just slows down for him. He picks his spots and has the ability to look like he’s on “cruise control” while playing at an elite and outstanding level. He is a completely composed plyer when he’s on. When he’s off, that a whole other story.

Again, what sparked this thought is that Gorman so rarely, if ever, has had such derogatory things to say about a player. He is an extremely diplomatic broadcaster in my opinion and does not often have negative things to say. Why he was so adamant about criticizing Carmelo seemed peculiar to me. If the Nuggets win this series or even the title, I’m curious as to what this will do to his image.

[Mr October]

As much as I want to see the Lakers go down.... Denver will not win this series.

The Lakers are the big bullies if the NBA. They play down to their competition, take games off... but still have the most talent in the league and just wear the competition out. It stinks but its true.

Lakers will win 4-2, if not 4-1.

Carmelo and the Nuggets will still be viewed as a team of individuals who do not put team first.

[LB3533]

It's not unfair for Gorman to offer his critique of Melo.

There's plenty of off court evidence that shows Melo has an unfavorable aura about him.

On the basketball court he's a pretty darn good player. Maybe a bit selfish? But outside media also called Pierce selfish too.

[the_Bird]

I remember hearing that, and thinking that Mike must REALLY have a distaste for a player to come out and say that; he isn't one to put this kind of opinion out there without really considering what he's saying and how it'll be perceived. 

I hate the Lakers as much as anyone, and I've got a lot of respect for Chauncey....  but the Nuggets are a bunch of punks.  Not quite as bad as when AI was there, but they just aren't a team I can root for.  Hell, I'll root for Cleveland before Denver, at least Cleveland's guys all seem to be mostly good guys and they certainly seem to have that same team spirit that embodied last years' Celtics. 

[Amonkey]

I think Carmelo is a lot like Paul Pierce.  He's got that big body and great body control allowing him to go to the rim, but he's also got decent outside shot.  It's not great, but definitely on his repertoire.  Melo is one of those players that once he gets going, he can really get going (just like Pierce).  Wasn't he the one that scored something like 28 points in one quarter?  He can be a great defender if he applies himself but has been labeled a selfish player (just like our own Pierce early on his career).  Lastly, due to Wade's success and Lebron's freakish athleticism, he has become an underrated player of the class, just like Pierce was until he got the ring.

I think Lakers should be worried with Melo's performance from the first game.  If he can carry that on, Denver will be a tough team to beat.

[Scribbles]

Gorman's statements about Melo were right on until Billups was traded there.  Honestly Denver might not have even made the playoffs had they not gotten him.  Melo is a great scorer, but he still isn't that great a defensive player or team player.  But again having Billups in the locker room makes a huge difference.  He just knows how to win, and brought that with him to the Nuggets. 

[xmuscularghandix]

Gorman's statements about Melo were right on until Billups was traded there.  Honestly Denver might not have even made the playoffs had they not gotten him.  Melo is a great scorer, but he still isn't that great a defensive player or team player.  But again having Billups in the locker room makes a huge difference.  He just knows how to win, and brought that with him to the Nuggets. 

I 100% agree and i'll take you further. Not only does having Chauncey around help Carmelo's growth as a good player... Having Iverson gone helps just as much.

[Steve Weinman]

Gorman's statements about Melo were right on until Billups was traded there.  Honestly Denver might not have even made the playoffs had they not gotten him.  Melo is a great scorer, but he still isn't that great a defensive player or team player.  But again having Billups in the locker room makes a huge difference.  He just knows how to win, and brought that with him to the Nuggets. 

I 100% agree and i'll take you further. Not only does having Chauncey around help Carmelo's growth as a good player... Having Iverson gone helps just as much.

Rare double-whammy of addition by subtraction and traditional, you know, addition-by-addition, huh?   

-sw

[xmuscularghandix]

Gorman's statements about Melo were right on until Billups was traded there.  Honestly Denver might not have even made the playoffs had they not gotten him.  Melo is a great scorer, but he still isn't that great a defensive player or team player.  But again having Billups in the locker room makes a huge difference.  He just knows how to win, and brought that with him to the Nuggets. 

I 100% agree and i'll take you further. Not only does having Chauncey around help Carmelo's growth as a good player... Having Iverson gone helps just as much.

Rare double-whammy of addition by subtraction and traditional, you know, addition-by-addition, huh?   

-sw

once in a blue moon.

[Thruthelookingglass]

Rare double-whammy of addition by subtraction and traditional, you know, addition-by-addition, huh?   

-sw

Thanks for re-stating that in a way I can understand it?      

[POBstuntin]

   I think that Carmelo has some character flaws that not everyone understands but he has never been a bad teammate.  He won that championship at Syracuse, and has been often regarded as Team USA's best player with the international rules in effect.  

   A lot of what bothers people about Carmelo I think is a cultural thing, where he grew up in Baltimore is essentially where the Wire took place, and I know that the show is a body of fiction (a wonderful one at that) but its most certainly rooted in truth.  The stop snitching video he was in, the cheap shots on the court, while not excusable are much more understandable when you take a look at where has come from. (The drinking and driving thing was straight dumb, but he was in an epic fight with his girl, LaLa, who judging by that video of the Mavericks stands is not the most agreeable woman.  And I think we've all done some stupid things in reaction to a loved one.)  
  
   Chauncey coming in has done wonders for him but I never thought he was a bad guy or even a bad guy to play with, he just didn't really understand what NBA basketball was like.  Kevin Durant went through a similar thing in his rookie season in terms of shot selection, granted he figured it out much sooner than Carmelo did.  
 
    When Carmelo hits the offensive boards and commits to defense he's as good as anyone.  I think the Pierce comparisons are quite apt in that regard.