http://www.newsday.com/sports/baske...tells-carmelo-anthony-pass-the-ball-1.6335723
[On the eve of the regular-season opener, TNT's popular "Inside the NBA" analysts visited New York Monday and offered several pieces of pointed advice for the city's most prominent basketball citizen.
Read further at your own risk, Carmelo Anthony.
It began with Shaquille O'Neal suggesting the Knicks star "stop being satisfied with being mentioned after LeBron [James]. Him and LeBron are similar players, in my opinion. They're both strong, they're both physical, but it seems to me at times that he's satisfied with being mentioned behind LeBron."
Speaking at a luncheon to promote the new season -- and the show's visit to Flatiron Plaza in Manhattan Tuesday night -- O'Neal added, "If Carmelo wants to get past Miami, he needs to do more."
Then Kenny Smith chimed in by saying that though he "loves" Anthony and his game, he needs to evolve into the sort of star other players want to play with.
"That is what's missing, I think, from the Knicks and I think what's missing from Carmelo," Smith said. "It's the law of attraction. There aren't a lot of guys saying they want to come to New York and play here with this guy."
So, Charles Barkley, how might Anthony become the sort of player who attracts others? "Play a little defense and get a rebound every now and then," he said. "Pass the ball."Later, he added that though he considers Anthony "the best offensive player in the NBA," that is not enough. "Guys don't want to play with a guy who doesn't pass the ball," he said.]
[On the eve of the regular-season opener, TNT's popular "Inside the NBA" analysts visited New York Monday and offered several pieces of pointed advice for the city's most prominent basketball citizen.
Read further at your own risk, Carmelo Anthony.
It began with Shaquille O'Neal suggesting the Knicks star "stop being satisfied with being mentioned after LeBron [James]. Him and LeBron are similar players, in my opinion. They're both strong, they're both physical, but it seems to me at times that he's satisfied with being mentioned behind LeBron."
Speaking at a luncheon to promote the new season -- and the show's visit to Flatiron Plaza in Manhattan Tuesday night -- O'Neal added, "If Carmelo wants to get past Miami, he needs to do more."
Then Kenny Smith chimed in by saying that though he "loves" Anthony and his game, he needs to evolve into the sort of star other players want to play with.
"That is what's missing, I think, from the Knicks and I think what's missing from Carmelo," Smith said. "It's the law of attraction. There aren't a lot of guys saying they want to come to New York and play here with this guy."
So, Charles Barkley, how might Anthony become the sort of player who attracts others? "Play a little defense and get a rebound every now and then," he said. "Pass the ball."Later, he added that though he considers Anthony "the best offensive player in the NBA," that is not enough. "Guys don't want to play with a guy who doesn't pass the ball," he said.]