Let's settle this: Kevin Durant vs. Carmelo Anthony

[ex carrabba fan]

Re: Let's settle this: Kevin Durant vs. Carmelo Anthony

I have soured quite a bit on Anthony and I have elevated my perception of Durant quite a bit since this thread.

However, you cannot deny that Anthony's team isn't so great right now. Talent wise and chemistry wise. If Anthony had a Westbrook, I wonder how much different things would look? I think it's fair to directly imagine what it would be like if Durant were on the Knicks and Anthony were on the Thunder, since they play the same position.

I hate to rain on Anthony but there are certain facts that are undeniable. While he puts up great stats and high scoring games, there's just an empty feeling I get when I watch him play. He goes to the post, can score from anywhere and rebounds well... yet somehow I don't think "gee, I'm watching greatness right now" like I think when I watch Durant play. Again though, it would be fun to watch Anthony play with an elite second option like Durant has.

[23]

Re: Let's settle this: Kevin Durant vs. Carmelo Anthony

Caarmelo has had some knuckleheads that were crucial to his teams success for far too many years.

[OkayC]

Re: Let's settle this: Kevin Durant vs. Carmelo Anthony

I feel melo could be just as good as durant. but he forces things too much. Durant also shows a willingness to not score or put up big numbers as long as his team wins. Melo does not seem to show this same attitude, he doesn't seem to try to make his team better. Even if durant were on the knicks, i still say they do somewhat better than they are now. But im not dillusional, durant is good, but its hard to be a one man show in todays nba, meaning they'd still probably struggle quite a bit.

[ojandpizza]

Re: Let's settle this: Kevin Durant vs. Carmelo Anthony

This season Durant has been more like Melo than any I've watched.. I've watched a couple games since Westbrook has been out and he is shooting damn near 30 shots per game. I know a shot chart won't show that but when you take 25 FG's and 15 FT's that's at least 5 more times you were actually shooting but the foul made it not show on the box score. - if that makes sense-

I really feel that Durant has the same effect Steph Curry has.. Where he is just so exciting and fun to watch that you don't care that he's taking a shot a nearly every touch he gets where he isn't picked up or doubled.

But over the past couple seasons I would say he's been a much better overall player than Melo..

Melo IMO just from a talent and skills stand point is among the best in the league, easily top 5, maybe top 2 or 3. When you just look at how "good they are at playing basketball" it's a tough debate and I honestly feel that way. I would never want him on my team, he's lazy on defense, don't like his attitude, don't like his shot selection, and one of my least favorite players to watch.... But as far as who is just a "better player" I would give it a toss up almost.

Obviously I would choose Durant to have on my team, it's a no brainer. And his play style is more effective and more efficient for him to be a better NBA player.

[ehh]

Re: Let's settle this: Kevin Durant vs. Carmelo Anthony

I feel melo could be just as good as durant. but he forces things too much.

Like the two plays last night where he was literally triple teamed in the paint by West-George-Hibbert and he still tried to go up. The first he had both Amare and Chandler wide open on the other block, a quick pass to either would have been an easy dunk. The second was even more comical, I think those four players were the only four inside the the arc and Melo still tried to go through all three and West blocked his shot. Something there is sorely lacking in making Melo take the next step as a player - whether it's court vision, feel of the game or shot selection. It's not ability, it's something upstairs. There's just no way that you CAN'T pass the ball in those situations.

Durant is obviously the better player at this point, I don't think you'll find a Knicks fan that wouldn't trade Melo for Durant straight up. Yes, outside of his first couple years Durant has had far better talent around him than Melo has but we've still seen enough to safely say that Durant is the better player.

[jeebs9]

Re: Let's settle this: Kevin Durant vs. Carmelo Anthony

Damn this thread is still here. We must be getting bored lol. I need to read through this again.

[slimm44]

Re: Let's settle this: Kevin Durant vs. Carmelo Anthony

Since December 1, Durant has shot 50% from the field and 40% from 3PT land. He has averaged 20 shots per game over the last 25 games, but when he's hitting half of his shots (without a legit 2nd option), IMO he gets to keep shooting. The tear that he is on right now is pretty well absurd. He's scored at least 30 points 16 times and has hit 48 twice. He has only had 8 games over the last 25 where he has shot under 45% an a few of those games were between 40 and 45%. IMO, Durant is the best pure scorer in the league and possibly the best scorer that I've seen in my lifetime. He's within .13 FG%, .16 3PT%, and .15 FT% from shooting 50/40/90 from the field for two consecutive seasons.

That's insane.

[ex carrabba fan]

Re: Let's settle this: Kevin Durant vs. Carmelo Anthony

After watching Durant go off again tonight for 54, I figured out why I like KD so much better than Anthony.

Durant gets most of his looks and points off of the flow of the offense. Sure, Brooks doesn't have the best plays, but the offense during the course of the game isn't just dump the ball into KD and let him hold onto the basketball. He doesn't stagnate too much and stop the ball.

Anthony on the other hand will almost exclusively get his points off of his own creation or offensive put backs. He holds on to the ball for extended stretches ala Kobe Bryant and Allen Iverson. Durant doesn't need to do that and his mentality isn't to stop the basketball.

[BringTheHeat]

Re: Let's settle this: Kevin Durant vs. Carmelo Anthony

After watching Durant go off again tonight for 54, I figured out why I like KD so much better than Anthony.

Durant gets most of his looks and points off of the flow of the offense. Sure, Brooks doesn't have the best plays, but the offense during the course of the game isn't just dump the ball into KD and let him hold onto the basketball. He doesn't stagnate too much and stop the ball.

Anthony on the other hand will almost exclusively get his points off of his own creation or offensive put backs. He holds on to the ball for extended stretches ala Kobe Bryant and Allen Iverson. Durant doesn't need to do that and his mentality isn't to stop the basketball.

Durant also has a much better team around him..

[ojandpizza]

Re: Let's settle this: Kevin Durant vs. Carmelo Anthony

That's their major different, shot selection..

Didn't want tonight's game but one thing I don't like that Durand does is just come down and shoot before their is even a chance to set an offense, sometimes contested pull-up 3's.. IMO that's a wasted possession, and just as bad as dribbling for 15 to 20 seconds and then taking a tough shot like Melo does. Both are a total waste of an offensive possession..

But Durant does things like that FAR less than Melo. And it's a big reason I enjoy watching Durant play and often can't stand watching Melo play,

[ex carrabba fan]

Re: Let's settle this: Kevin Durant vs. Carmelo Anthony

Durant also has a much better team around him..

No question. However when you go back to Anthony's Nugget teams, he still played the same way. I'd imagine Durant would still play within the team concept wherever he played. Durant's played within the team since Texas, and Anthony's played iso ball since Syracuse.

That's the main thing that separates them

[BringTheHeat]

Re: Let's settle this: Kevin Durant vs. Carmelo Anthony

No question. However when you go back to Anthony's Nugget teams, he still played the same way. I'd imagine Durant would still play within the team concept wherever he played. Durant's played within the team since Texas, and Anthony's played iso ball since Syracuse.

That's the main thing that separates them

For sure, different playstyles.

But as for who's a "better" scorer..I just don't see a huge gap between the two. I don't think the Iso ball is a knock, just describes how he plays..Kobe is a definitely an iso player but I'd definitely say he's one of the top 3 scorers of all time.

[ex carrabba fan]

Re: Let's settle this: Kevin Durant vs. Carmelo Anthony

For sure, different playstyles.

But as for who's a "better" scorer..I just don't see a huge gap between the two. I don't think the Iso ball is a knock, just describes how he plays..Kobe is a definitely an iso player but I'd definitely say he's one of the top 3 scorers of all time.

Scoring ability for sure is about even. I don't think scoring is the main topic of discussion here though. The point is that Durant doesn't hurt his team by stagnating the offense like Anthony does. That's what makes Durant clearly the better player than Anthony. I disagree with you that iso-ball isn't a knock, that's a terrible way to play and you will rarely win in the playoffs like that.

Kobe is in a class of his own simply because he really never played within the team yet still won rings. You don't see that throughout history too often.

[ex carrabba fan]

Re: Let's settle this: Kevin Durant vs. Carmelo Anthony

I should clarify, Bryant actually did play within the team his last two rings.

[ojandpizza]

Re: Let's settle this: Kevin Durant vs. Carmelo Anthony

Effort on defense is a big issue.. Individually neither is a great defender, but Durant works on defense and his length makes him a very effective defender. He gets better every year. He gives effort on that end every game.

The thing with Melo is, when he wants to play defense he's actually a pretty damn good defender. I'm talking one-on-one defense. He can be good when he puts the effort..

His problems lies with his defensive IQ. He has piss-poor defensive vision. Horrible in help, never sees players cutting, nearly useless in a team defensive scheme.. I think it stems from playing zone so much at Cuse, and then never having a pro coach sit down and make him be better in that aspect.

But just one on one guarding his man, I've saw many instances of him being a very good defender.. Sadly it's only when he wants to, and sadly he cares nothing about team defense.