The night began with Melo (Don’t call me Carmelo) Anthony taking the microphone at center court and paying homage to those suffering in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. He thanked the sellout crowd for showing up under such adverse circumstances.
“It’s a most important time for the city to come together as one and help build the city back up,” he said. “So thank you for supporting the New York Knicks.”
A few hours later, after the Knicks had vanquished the Heat 104-84 in their regular-season opener, Anthony said the pregame speech was part of his role as a leader.
“It was something that I wanted to do,” he said. “They rarely hear from us and how we feel in situations like this. So it was only right, me being one of the leaders on this team, to step up to the forefront and give them some words.”
The speech was fine, but a bigger statement was the 30 points Anthony scored against the defending NBA champions, including 16 in a first quarter that set a tone of dominance. The Knicks look to be a deeper, more balanced team than they were last year. But for them to be all they can be, Anthony must be their star.
He won a gold medal during the Summer Olympics. Last night he had the look of someone wanting to collect some NBA jewelry.
“He’s very motivated right now,” Tyson Chandler said. “I’ve only been with him for two years, but this is the most motivated I’ve seen him. He’s doing so much, not only what was on display [against the Heat], but in the film room and walk-throughs. He’s changed. He’s getting in early, putting up shots from everywhere, pulling guys to the side to give them advice. He’s being a great teammate. I think the summer experience definitely helped him.”
The public address announcer called him “Melo” all night long, something Anthony insists wasn’t his doing. Still, he seemed to like the one-name approach. Those known by one name usually personify greatness: i.e. LeBron. “I would accept it,” he said. “It wasn’t my idea, but I’ll accept. I’ll keep it one name. Just Melo now.”
He was worthy of the one name last night. His shooting (10 of 28) percentage needs improvement, but he added 10 rebounds and was 4-of-8 from 3-point range. He highlighted a dominant performance by the Knicks. There were even chants of “MVP, MVP” when he went to the free-throw line late in the game.
“Today was something to give New York a couple of hours of peace,” Anthony said. “We gave them a good show. That’s the least that we can do.”
It wasn’t exactly the Mets playing at Shea Stadium days after 9/11. The wrath of Hurricane Sandy hasn’t made people fearful to sit in a public arena the way the terrorist attacks did. Showing up for a game that year meant you were defying fear to resume a normal life.
Recovery from Hurricane Sandy is about rebuilding homes, restoring power and finding gas. No one felt vulnerable sitting in the newly renovated Garden last night. So it was just about basketball; the first game of an 82-season the Knicks hope will finally return the swagger to a franchise that has consistently underachieved since Patrick Ewing left town.
If last night’s debut was any indication, the 2012-13 Knicks have the potential to be the best team we’ve seen in this building in nearly two decades.
“I just feel super-focused right now,” Anthony said. “At the end of the day, I know what I have on this team. I’ve got to believe in the guys on this team. And them believe in me.”
The city might be suffering, but it’s time for Melo and the Knicks to come together as one.