Is Lin a better all around player than Melo ?

[thirstyboots18]

They just play different styles.  Unfortunately for Melo, Lin won when Melo was out.  They have to figure out how to maximize each other's talents.

[dtrader]

No.

Its sad that Melo is going to get so much flak for the NYK debacle, some of it is justified but the majority of it isn't. Melo isn't a selfish player, he was successful with Chauncey Billups in Denver. The issue with NYK is that the fit is HORRIBLE. Melo and Amar'e are not complementary players. D'Antoni's system isn't built for the type skillset Melo has. Their fascination with trading for him had very little to do with basketball and more to do with marketing. They whiffed on LBJ and need to get something in order to justify purging their roster the past few years to land LBJ.

Lin is a nice player, but color me skeptical about how much longer he can keep this up. Until he actually proves himself longterm, the idea that he's better than Melo is completely unfounded. Let me ask you this: game 7 of the playoffs with the game on the line, who are you giving the ball to? Jeremy Lin or Carmelo Anthony?

who you're "giving the ball to" is only relevant to offense, so I dont think it says anything about who your teams best "all around player" is.  A player that was completely incapable on defense, and a black hole on offense (but a scoring machine), might get the ball with the game on the line, but have 4 or 5 better "all around players" on his team.

Regardless of how long he's been playing well, or how soon (if at all) he starts to fall back, that wont change the answer to "who is the better all around player RIGHT NOW?"  

Who is the better all around player RIGHT NOW? Carmelo Anthony. Melo is a better scorer and a better rebounder. Lin may be a better assist man, but Melo turns it over at a lower clip. Neither player is exactly a lockdown defender so that's a wash. The Nuggets managed make the playoffs several times with Melo as their best player. Really, what has Lin done to warrant all the hype he's getting? Not much. All of the Linsanity seems quite premature to me.

Lin turns the ball over more because he runs the offense.  Point guards and players with high assist numbers are usually high in turnovers.  I'd say Carmelo is at least as turnover prone as Lin, considering how few of Melos turnovers are due to him attempting a pass.  

As far as rebounding...melo is 5 inches taller and plays closer to the basket...of course he SHOULD have higher rebound numbers.  However, I'd say that Lin is at least as good a rebounder for his position, as Melo is at his.  

I agree that Melo is a more prolific scorer, but while Lins FG%, and 3pt% are as far above Melos as they are now, I think it's tough to say definitively who is the better scorer.  Lin has shown the ability to score 20-30 points a game while also racking up double digit assists.  Melo has never done that.

The Nuggets made the playoffs with Melo as their best player, but thats not necessarily because of him.  It isnt like he was making those teams better the way Lin was the Knicks in Melos absence.  Melo just happened to be the best player on some pretty stacked, well balanced, and well coached teams.

[guava_wrench]

Not even close. Expectations are just way lower. Even with Melo's extremely flawed game, I think he is way better than Lin. Melo is an all star level player. Lin is a rotation player. It is possible that he is a top 30 PG, but he is no where near all star level.

Lin is still developing though. I'm sure his PG savvy will continue to improve with time.

[LarBrd33]

No.  Raymond Felton was better than Lin in NYC.  Lin < Felton < Melo.

I'm not really sure what including Felton says about this.  When Felton was in NY he was talked about as a potential all star, and Lin has been playing even better than that.  

No he hasn't

Add in the fact that Lin seems to make everyone else on that team play better (Chandler, Novak, Shumpert, Amare)

Myth.  Not true either.

[thestackshow]

Is Dooling better then Jordan?

[dtrader]

Is Dooling better then Jordan?

Would the same team win more with dooling than Jordan?

[LarBrd33]

No.  Raymond Felton was better than Lin in NYC.  Lin < Felton < Melo.

I'm not really sure what including Felton says about this.  When Felton was in NY he was talked about as a potential all star, and Lin has been playing even better than that.  

No he hasn't

Add in the fact that Lin seems to make everyone else on that team play better (Chandler, Novak, Shumpert, Amare)

Myth.  Not true either.

Just to back up my dismissive comments.

Since his hot start (which can be expected when you're a complete unknown and teams have no practice time in a lockout shortened season)...  Lin has shot 36%, averages about 4 turnovers to every 7 assists ... and the Knicks have lost 7 of their last 8 games.  Including 6 in a row.  Not to mention, what's this crap about making his teammates better?  How is jacking up 17 shots (and making 5) against Philly while Melo takes 13 and Amare takes 9.  What have any of these guys done to make you think they have played "better" with Lin?  

D'Antoni's system has a tendency to inflate stats.  Felton averaged 17 points, 9 assists, 1.8 steals last season for the Knicks.  

Knicks fans must be half-retarded if they forget that last season Felton lead them through a stretch where they won 13 out of 14 games and averaged 20 points, 10 assists, 4 rebounds 2.5 steals all the while shooting 46% and 90% from the line during that stretch.

This year it's a different system and he's doing jack squat in Portland.  

Linsanity is a joke.  Raymond Felton is rolling over in his grave.

Y'all just got served.  Lol

[dtrader]

No.  Raymond Felton was better than Lin in NYC.  Lin < Felton < Melo.

I'm not really sure what including Felton says about this.  When Felton was in NY he was talked about as a potential all star, and Lin has been playing even better than that.  

No he hasn't

Add in the fact that Lin seems to make everyone else on that team play better (Chandler, Novak, Shumpert, Amare)

Myth.  Not true either.

Just to back up my dismissive comments.

Since his hot start (which can be expected when you're a complete unknown and teams have no practice time in a lockout shortened season)...  Lin has shot 36%, averages about 4 turnovers to every 7 assists ... and the Knicks have lost 7 of their last 8 games.  Including 6 in a row.  Not to mention, what's this crap about making his teammates better?  How is jacking up 17 shots (and making 5) against Philly while Melo takes 13 and Amare takes 9.  What have any of these guys done to make you think they have played "better" with Lin?  

D'Antoni's system has a tendency to inflate stats.  Felton averaged 17 points, 9 assists, 1.8 steals last season for the Knicks.  

Knicks fans must be half-retarded if they forget that last season Felton lead them through a stretch where they won 13 out of 14 games and averaged 20 points, 10 assists, 4 rebounds 2.5 steals all the while shooting 46% and 90% from the line during that stretch.

This year it's a different system and he's doing jack squat in Portland.  

Linsanity is a joke.  Raymond Felton is rolling over in his grave.

Y'all just got served.  Lol

No one is forgetting anything about felton or Dantonis system.  Like I said...Felton played all star level ball with the knicks.  I'm just saying that Lin has so far played even better.  If you compared Lins averages as a starter to Feltons averages as a Knicks starter, I think Lins numbers would come out on top.  I also think Lins intangibles (team attitude, aggressive play, etc), are stronger than feltons.

I also dont see why people say "since his hot start".  He didnt just start hot.  Yes...he had a bad game last game, but before that he had 2 games where he played great (shooting over 50% fg, and 50% 3pts).  Thats not the "start"...thats last week he was hot.

I never said he made Melo play better, but I think he (or any guard that thrives in a pick and roll offense), makes Amare and Chandler play better.  Additionally, watching the knicks play in Melos absence, you could see how the "lesser" players like Novak and Shumpert drew from Lins aggressive play and enthusiasm.

[LarBrd33]

No.  Raymond Felton was better than Lin in NYC.  Lin < Felton < Melo.

I'm not really sure what including Felton says about this.  When Felton was in NY he was talked about as a potential all star, and Lin has been playing even better than that.  

No he hasn't

Add in the fact that Lin seems to make everyone else on that team play better (Chandler, Novak, Shumpert, Amare)

Myth.  Not true either.

Just to back up my dismissive comments.

Since his hot start (which can be expected when you're a complete unknown and teams have no practice time in a lockout shortened season)...  Lin has shot 36%, averages about 4 turnovers to every 7 assists ... and the Knicks have lost 7 of their last 8 games.  Including 6 in a row.  Not to mention, what's this crap about making his teammates better?  How is jacking up 17 shots (and making 5) against Philly while Melo takes 13 and Amare takes 9.  What have any of these guys done to make you think they have played "better" with Lin?  

D'Antoni's system has a tendency to inflate stats.  Felton averaged 17 points, 9 assists, 1.8 steals last season for the Knicks.  

Knicks fans must be half-retarded if they forget that last season Felton lead them through a stretch where they won 13 out of 14 games and averaged 20 points, 10 assists, 4 rebounds 2.5 steals all the while shooting 46% and 90% from the line during that stretch.

This year it's a different system and he's doing jack squat in Portland.  

Linsanity is a joke.  Raymond Felton is rolling over in his grave.

Y'all just got served.  Lol

No one is forgetting anything about felton or Dantonis system.  Like I said...Felton played all star level ball with the knicks.  I'm just saying that Lin has so far played even better.  If you compared Lins averages as a starter to Feltons averages as a Knicks starter, I think Lins numbers would come out on top. 

They don't.  Done arguing with you.  This is lazy debating. haha.

[blink]

I don't think this is a 'joke' like a few of you.  Melo seems to me to be a spoiled brat when he doesn't get the ball, fails to develop his natural skills into a good defensive player, and hasn't made his team mates better.  melo doesn't do the little things that help his team win.

So it really depends on what traits you value as a basketball player.  The NBA all-star selections are a big joke to me.  No way should melo have been a starter this year, I am not even sure he should have been an all star.  Who knows what happens to Lin in the long run, but he had a really positive impact on his team, regardless of the media stupidity.  Melo and Amare need to be on different teams.  

[KG Living Legend]

 Carmelo is the worst "Superstar" in the game hands down.

 His attitude is terrible, would never want him.

[j804]

I don't think this is a 'joke' like a few of you.  Melo seems to me to be a spoiled brat when he doesn't get the ball, fails to develop his natural skills into a good defensive player, and hasn't made his team mates better.  melo doesn't do the little things that help his team win.

So it really depends on what traits you value as a basketball player.  The NBA all-star selections are a big joke to me.  No way should melo have been a starter this year, I am not even sure he should have been an all star.  Who knows what happens to Lin in the long run, but he had a really positive impact on his team, regardless of the media stupidity.  Melo and Amare need to be on different teams.  

^ about not getting the ball that time he got ticked off can't really blame him though, him and Amare even more so should have got more looks down the stretch. watching Lin stumble down the paint and trip over himself like a toddler learning to walk has to be tough for Knicks fans.

[kenmaine]

As Tina Turner might say to all the Melo fans-
"What's wins and losses have to do with it?"
It's all about one-on-one, individual skills, and stats, right?

[mctyson]

I honestly think he is a better player than Melo. Yes Melo is a superior one on one player, but Lin makes everyone else better IMO. He needs to have the ball in his hands.

The Lin thing is so completely overblown its pathetic.  His "run" consisted primarily of the Knicks playing at home against horrible teams.  They had two really quality wins - LA and Dallas.  But LA was playing 2nd game of back-to-back after OT game against the C's, and Dallas is no longer a good team.

The Knicks Are What We Thought They Were - a middling lower playoff seed that, given a couple crazy MSG crowds, could put a scare into someone.  But they aren't going anywhere.  Lin is not bringing them anywhere.  Except to the bank so Jim Dolan can cash more checks he did not earn.

[2short]

I think a better question might be :
Who gets more out of their games, Lin or Carmelo?