Carmelo Anthony and Kobe Bryant (Reuters)
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If the voting for the NBA’s Most Valuable Player Award were held today, Carmelo Anthony would be a consensus selection. But that’s not reality. One quarter of a season does not make an MVP.
At this point in 2010, Amar’e Stoudemire would have gotten his share of MVP votes, but then came trades and injuries and his season didn’t deserve a trophy.
So while chants of “MVP! MVP!” will continue to be showered on Anthony, it won’t become a reality unless he continues to shine in games like tonight when the Knicks face the Lakers at Madison Square Garden.
Maybe I’m wrong, but judging from the various media platforms previewing tonight’s matchup, Anthony’s MVP-caliber season is second fiddle to what’s wrong with Kobe Bryant and the Lakers. Bryant was all over ESPN and NBATV yesterday as the experts debated reasons for the Lakers’ 9-13 record. Somehow a Mike D’Antoni-coached team struggling on defense is supposed to be news. Perhaps it is to the rest of the world, but not to Knicks fans, who never saw proper defense played until this season under Mike Woodson.
Bryant, with five championships and 30,000-plus points, comes to town tonight hoping to get the Lakers on track and steal Anthony’s thunder. And D’Antoni would love nothing better than to beat his former team. If this is truly Anthony’s time and he is worthy of being the league MVP, he won’t let that happen. Not in his town and not on his home floor.
Anthony refused to let the Knicks get beat by the Nets Tuesday night, scoring a season-high 45 points and playing the kind of basketball the great ones play with passion, determination and a desire to make his teammates better. He has always been a scorer. But high-scoring games haven’t always equated to wins. Last year, the Knicks were 8-9, including the playoffs, when Anthony scored 30 or more points. His teammates would become unproductive bystanders as he worked for a shot.
This year, the Knicks are 5-2 when Anthony totals 30 or more points, including Tuesday night’s four quarters of brilliance in Brooklyn. It helps that he is surrounded by better talent. Three-point shooters J.R. Smith, Steve Novak, Raymond Felton and even Jason Kidd have opened up the floor. He trusts them with the ball when double teams cut off his path. The penetration ability of Felton and backup guard Pablo Prigioni also makes things easier for Anthony. He’s starting to be for the Knicks what Bryant has been for the Lakers.
“I think he’s figured it out as a player in terms of how to take your unique talent and make your team better,” NBA analyst Greg Anthony said of the Knicks star. “And you have to give the organization credit for the moves they made. They surrounded him with a group of guys that can help him reach his potential.”
Despite owning five championship rings, Bryant has to be a bit envious. He hasn’t been able to shoot the Lakers out of their slow start. A year ago, the Lakers were 17-7 when Bryant scored 30 or more points. This year, they’re 1-10.
It’s why tonight is important for Anthony and the Knicks. There’s no excuse for taking the Lakers lightly, not with D’Antoni on their bench, not with the name on the front of their jerseys and one name on the back that says Bryant.
Anthony’s season will be judged by games like Tuesday and games against the Lakers, Heat, and Thunder. As loud as they’ll chant “MVP! MVP!” for Anthony in the Garden tonight, those same chants can be heard for LeBron James in Miami and Kevin Durant in Oklahoma City. That’s why Anthony can’t let Bryant, D’Antoni and the Lakers win tonight.
Not in his town and not on his home floor.