Hotmail
On a superstar's path, Carmelo elevates his game
by Lynn DeBruin, Special to FOXSports.com
But as statements go, the one Carmelo Anthony really wants to make this year is that of a player more committed than ever to helping the Denver Nuggets win a championship.
Thus, some changes were in store.
 |
| J.R. Smith chipped in with 20 points off the bench. (Garrett W. Ellwood / Getty Images) |
First, he cut his body fat to 7 percent, took on more of a leadership role and began hitting the gym each road trip for up to 90 minutes of serious lifting.
He even approached the Nuggets trainer about the best "recovery" meals, which is why Steve Hess has him stuffing down salmon and yams these days.
"Melo always wanted to succeed; he's learning now what he has to do to succeed," said Hess.
Still, there's nothing like a Friday-the-13th showdown with 11-time All-Star Kobe Bryant and the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers to gauge one's progress.
Despite a foul-plagued start, Anthony delivered.
He revved up the home crowd with a third-quarter roll that saw him score 12 points and make three steals, eliciting M-V-P chants along the way in the Nuggets' 105-79 rout at Pepsi Center.
"Hopefully it sends a big message, not just to the Lakers but the whole NBA," Anthony said.
Granted, the Lakers (7-2) were short-handed (without Pau Gasol) and sleep deprived (they got in around 4 a.m. following a late Thursday night game against the Phoenix Suns). But it was another step forward for Anthony, who finished with 25 points, four rebounds, three steals and two assists to Bryant's 19 points in 34 minutes.
Though he won Friday's battle, Anthony was realistic when asked what it will take to reach Bryant's megastar status.
"About seven more years, and about four more rings," he quipped.
"Good luck with that," answered Bryant, who gave his good buddy a giant postgame hug despite the loss.
"I'm just 25 years old," added Anthony, who's in his seventh season.
"People are talking like I'm on my way out of the game. I'm just getting started. You learn the game more and more every year."
Inside the NBA
That may be true, but Mark Jackson, who broadcast Friday night's game, wondered if it's really a fair question.
"You can count on one hand how many have reached that level," Jackson said of Bryant's stratospheric status.
But he has been impressed with Anthony's transformation from pure scorer to more of a complete player, on and off the court.
"You can tell the commitment and I think that sends a message to his teammates and players in the future," Jackson said. "He didn't just sit on what he did last year. He wanted to get better and it's refreshing to watch."
Last year, of course, Anthony and the Nuggets gave the Lakers all they could handle in the Western Conference Finals, forcing Bryant to be at his best in ousting Denver in six hard-fought games.
Though it was the Lakers' superstar moving onto the NBA Finals, where he helped dispatch Orlando en route to his fourth title and Finals MVP trophy, the conference series served as more motivation for Anthony.
Then, when he squared off against Bryant again in September for the Hollywood premier of NBA's 2K10 video game series, Anthony made it clear his intent — especially after seeing his rival donning a T-shirt emblazoned with four championship rings.
"I've never been more excited about a season. It's just that time. I'm about to take off," Anthony said at the time.
While Bryant insists too much has been made of this "transformation," saying Anthony is the same great player he's always been, teammates, coaches and reporters notice a difference.
"I think he got excited the summer before at the Olympics, then last year having the playoff success," Nuggets coach George Karl said of Anthony. "He came in just wanting to get to the top of the mountain."
That's how he began the season, with an all-out assault, as he averaged 37.7 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 4.3 assists in leading Denver to a 3-0 start. Going into Friday night's showdown, he ranked fourth in scoring (30.2), behind only Bryant (33.0), Miami's Dwyane Wade (30.6) and Sacramento's Kevin Martin (30.6).
Karl said there's no question teams are playing Anthony differently this year as he has gone from All-Star caliber to potential MVP candidate.
"He's got to be able to observe and adjust to the changes and it's not easy," Karl said. "Everybody thinks scoring is easy. But it might be the hardest thing to do in the game, score 25 points a night against defenses who are tuned to say, 'No, you're not going to get 25.' "
That, Bryant almost always finds a way to do — with Friday being a rare exception.
Still, it's the consistency over the years and the playoff success that Karl believes elevate players such as Bryant.
"Don't get me wrong, a lot of great players never won championships.
But when you win a championship, you get a key to the city," Karl said.
So far, only John Elway, and perhaps Joe Sakic, hold that honor in Denver. Until then, Anthony's pockets might as well remain turned inside out and empty.
"I've just got to get one (title) at this point," Anthony said. "This is a big win."
Add a comment
advertisement
