How can we realistically win if Melo is averaging 16 points a game?
We give up 99 points a game.
That means we need to score 100 points a game to be a winning team.
Melo scores 16 points a game in 30 minutes(which isn't realistic since he averages over 20 ppg per 30 minutes)
Who else picks up the scoring load?
What does Smith average?
What does Felton average?
What does Bargnani average?
What Chandler average?
What does Shumpert average?
If you can't answer these questions and then give a solid reason why this team would win with those guys scoring points they never scored before in their career then it's best to say you have no point there.
Consider the fact most of those guys are terrible whether they take a lot of shots or take very little shots. They're not good. Stop thinking they can help this team. They can't.
Melo is a star player, he doesn't choose to be. Melo has been a star in high school, college and the NBA. He'll retire and end his career with that status and get a free walk into the hall of fame. You're covering your eyes and pretending Melo is inflating his stats for star recognition. I invite you to watch a Knicks game with me and I'll clearly show you the things Melo do on the court that separate him from other players.
This is your problem.
You want to create a world that isn't real.
You want to create a world where Melo isn't a superstar.
You want to create a world where Melo isn't the best player on the Knicks.
You want to create a whore where Knicks are better without Melo on the court.
The problem is reality.
Reality doesn't allow this for you.
Your protest to research will be your enemy.
Throughout research look at what we find:
Knicks play their best basketball when Carmelo is on the court.
If you look at the most productive units, Carmelo is in all of them.
The worst units tend to be the Chandler/Bargnani front court.
What does this tell you?
Melo is by far the best thing we have obviously, but it doesn't mean he's a bad team player; it is just an issue of us having a really bad team. When you realize that, things will make more sense for you.