Carmelo, Blazers may be a perfect fit
LOS ANGELES – Former All-Star and league-leading scorer Carmelo Anthony has demonstrated he has not lost his shooting touch. But can he maintain his steady production?
After all, he knows how narratives can be fleeting. In the Trail Blazers’ 11797 loss to the Clippers on Tuesday at Staples Center, Anthony had only nine points on 2 of 9 shooting. That happened only a day after he won the NBA’s Western Conference player of the week award for the first time since 2014.
After once seeing their championship aspirations dim amid a hobbled frontcourt, however, the Blazers (8-12) have become rejuvenated with Anthony. Not only has his arrival coincided with the Blazers winning four of their past seven games, Anthony has resuscitated his career after the Rockets waived him Nov. 8, 2018. Despite expressing appreciation for the leaguewide support, Anthony does not want a farewell tour.
The 35-year-old Anthony acknowledged to USA TODAY Sports he remains unsure how many more years he wants to play. Instead, he appears determined to prove he can maintain his hot start.
“I don’t like to pat myself on the back,” Anthony told reporters. “I have a lot more work to do.”
The Blazers can cut Anthony without any financial penalty before Jan. 10. Anthony is intent on proving he can adjust to any role after fielding mixed reviews on how he did that in Oklahoma City with Russell Westbrook and Paul George and in Houston with Chris Paul and James Harden.
“I honestly don’t think we gave it a shot and gave it a chance,” Anthony said about his time with the Thunder. “But to ask me to be the third or a fourth option after coming on a team as the first option? I don’t think people understood how difficult that was. But I was still willing to make that work.”
Plenty of skepticism in the NBA lingered after Houston waived him. The Lakers considered signing Anthony last season to pair with James after the two talked about teaming up since high school. Anthony added other unnamed teams expressed interest, too.
“It wasn’t in his power,” Anthony said about James. “Some people might say it was in his power. But it wasn’t something I was calling him and talking to him about and asking, ‘Can you do this for me?’ I wouldn’t put him in that position because a lot of times it’s deeper than that.”
Even though Anthony went through nearly 13 months without playing in an NBA game, he stayed disciplined with his offseason training that included sessions with James.
“From a stamina and physical standpoint, I stayed in it day in and day out. As far as basketball training goes, I didn’t know what to train on,” Anthony said. “It’s difficult when you’re just out there training as opposed to when you’re training for something. If you’re training for a situation, knowing what team you’re going to be on and knowing the system you’re going to be with, that makes it easier. Getting up in the morning and you have to force yourself into the gym, I don’t think people understand how hard that is.”
Anthony can thrive if he plays for a team that has a stable front office and a proven roster. Anthony can thrive if he plays for a team that places more trust in their players than the analytics department. As Clippers coach Doc Rivers said, “Can you imagine telling Carmelo or Kawhi Leonard, ‘When you get to the elbow, don’t shoot it.’ That’s just dumb.”
Yet Anthony’s future also hinges on how well he accepts that he will no longer command a max contract or the top role on a team.
“It’s always harder for a great offensive player all of a sudden to be the third or fourth option,” Rivers said.
Anthony has liked what Portland has told him so far. He described the front office, coaching staff and players’ approach as authentic and genuine.
“When you’re put into a box, a lot of times that doesn’t work,” Anthony said. “I don’t think there’s any boxes I’m being put in. I just go out there and play basketball.”
Portland has needed more frontcourt depth amid injuries to Zach Collins, Jusuf Nurkic and recently waived Pau Gasol. Based on their likely timetables for returns, Anthony will have a significant role throughout the rest of this season. Coach Terry Stotts has started Anthony and remains flexible with tweaking his system to make him feel more comfortable,
“I try not to limit guys,” Stotts said. “Melo is a Hall of Fame player, and he knows his game. He’s a smart player. I think it’d be crazy to try to put him in a box.”
Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum, both of whom campaigned for Portland to acquire Anthony in a trade two years ago, also seem more inspired. Lillard hosted Anthony for Thanksgiving.
“I’ve just been myself. I don’t try to go out of my way to make him feel comfortable by doing extra,” Lillard said. “We talk. We sit next to each other on the back of the bus.”
After Anthony went nearly a year without playing in the NBA, he said he “always believed in myself ” despite doubts on how he would fit. That prompted him to reflect on his shortcomings and remain selective on where he might continue his career.
“I never wanted to feel like I was begging for a job. I wanted it to be where the team wanted me for what I can bring to the game. I knew a lot of times it had nothing to do with basketball. It was the way the game is with the business of the game and the politics of the game. I had to get past that.”
As long as he and Portland remain collaborative, Anthony’s Hall of Fame resume will only get deeper.
“The game continues to evolve,” Anthony said. “So you have to evolve with it.”