The Portland Trail Blazers recently completed a comfortable win over the Chicago Bulls. Carmelo Anthony was the star on the night, rolling back the years with a vintage performance. Now having played four games for this team, he’s showing he still has some game left in the tank.
Carmelo Anthony didn’t fit into this Portland Trail Blazers team straight away. As to be expected with his absence of a year from the NBA, he took a few games to get into his work.
With a sparkling performance in the win against the Bulls he showed that he was starting to get into his work nicely. What things has Melo done so far for this team and how can he continue to improve?
Quick decision-making
A feature of Melo’s play in his first few games for this team has been sharp passing. He has looked to move the ball quickly if he isn’t shooting and has shown some nice passes for secondary assists or on to Hassan Whiteside under the rim.
When Melo has received the ball in the pinch post he has looked to shoot quickly or attack the rim. Though not always successful on these drives, he hasn’t stopped the ball. He will still use the odd jab step but he isn’t burning whole shot clocks to do this.
Seeing Melo whipping the ball around the perimeter is a great sight for this team.
Spot up three pointers
Even in his heyday, Melo was never a massive volume three-point shooter. Yes, he was in the top 20 a few years for attempts, but considering his shooting prowess he could probably have taken more.
So far in four games, he is 9 of 23 for 39 percent. Attempting six a game in his role as the third option is a great volume of attempts. He will get plenty of corner attempts with the attention that CJ McCollum and Damian Lillard attract on-court.
His ability to spot up above the break or in the corners will give this team the extra spacing its been missing so far this season. Prior to the Bulls game, all of Melo’s three pointers were assisted, though he can create his own shot, if he’s just shooting off the catch he will be so much more efficient.
Attacking mis-matches
Though Melo was never an élite finisher at the rim, in the switch heavy NBA he should still be able to get position on lighter or shorter players in the post. Just fighting for position down low will attract defenders and sometimes double teams if he continues to shoot like he did against the Bulls.
In one swift action against the Bulls he was able to blow by Tomas Satoransky for a dunk. The perceived threat of Melo’s mid range game is such a big asset as players close out hard onto him. If he can blow by weaker players who can’t move side to side he will draw even more attention on the block.
Active hands
Melo isn’t a great defender at this stage of his career, but he wasn’t signed for his defense. He still has good hands though and can poke the ball away or get help side blocks at the rim. He doesn’t have the lateral quickness to stay in front of his opponents but he has used his strong instincts in the paint to get deflections and steals against opponents already.
Through four games he already has his best steal rate since the 2015 season with the Knicks.
Melo has shown in his first four games that he’s willing to change his game and adapt to a three heavy, faster style of game. He won’t score thirty points every night but his willingness to pass and cut, while running the floor for transition opportunities, show that he wants to stay on this Blazers team.
If he continues to play like this and embrace team ball, he will be a Blazer for the rest of the season.