Meet Carmelo Anthony, scorer of baskets and saver of lives.
After J.R. Smith was suspended five games for violating the NBA’s anti-drug policy, ‘Melo said he had a “heart-to-heart” with the New York Knicks shooting guard and reigning Sixth Man of the Year, according to ESPN New York’s Ian Begley.
“The time is now,” Anthony said he told Smith. “You’ve got to want to help yourself. Everybody else wants to help you, but if you don’t want to help yourself, that defeats the purpose.”
Anthony wasn’t alone in his attempt to get Smith to grow up. Knicks coach Mike Woodson has also showed Smith some tough love since the ordeal. Earlier in the preseason he said, per Begley, that it was time for Smith to “grow up and do the right things.” That includes not hitting the pipe when he’s supposed to be helping the Knicks contend for a title.
You see, ‘Melo has never been more aware of the task at hand. Ten years have gone by and still, there is no ring on Anthony’s finger. With free agency fast approaching, he would love a reason to remain in New York. Any reason. I truly believe that. He likes it there; he likes being the guy in the Big Apple.
More than he loves New York, though, he loves the idea of winning a title. If the Knicks aren’t a team in position to help him win that title next summer, he could leave. Whether it’s for the Los Angeles Lakers or another franchise doesn’t matter. It could happen.
Smith, New York’s second-leading scorer last season, will be a huge factor in Anthony’s decision. The Knicks are currently looking for a reliable No. 2, a prolific scorer to share responsibility of the team with ‘Melo. Smith can’t be that guy if he’s constantly in and out of trouble and failing to reach his potential.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=or8qsOh0czM
Last season was supposed to be a breakthrough. Not just statistically, but emotionally. It was supposed to be the year Smith left all his previous demons behind, the year he left that lifestyle behind. Recreational use of marijuana doesn’t seem like a big deal, but that’s just the thing—suck it up. The NBA has rules. Follow them. Even if you don’t agree with them, put your team first and follow them.
Really, that’s what this suspension is—selfish. People criticize ‘Melo for his seeming narcissism, but he’s grown as a leader in ways not all of us can understand. This is one of those examples. Not putting up with this kind a crap from a guy he has spent most of his career playing alongside shows that he’s matured. That he’s stepping up as a vocal leader.
That he’s putting the pursuit of a championship before everything else. Now, it’s Smith’s turn.
“We wish the suspension didn’t happen but it happened and we move forward from that,” Anthony said. “He had a long offseason, thinking about what’s been going on, trying to get back. Hopefully he turns over that new leaf.”
Turning over a new leaf dictates Smith buckle down as a player and person. No more illegal excursions. No more dumb-ass fines. No more elbowing Jason Terry across the jaw. No more being a child that Anthony and the Knicks must look after for the 21 hours of the day they’re not playing basketball. No more stupidity.
“It seemed like he took heed to what I was saying,” Anthony concluded. “So we shall see.”
Yes, we shall. And for the first time in Smith’s career, let’s hope that what we see of the basketball court isn’t a mixture of immaturity and self-destruction.
Dan Favale is a firm believer in the three-pointer as well as the notion that defense doesn’t always win championships. His musings can be found at Bleacherreport.com in addition to TheHoopDoctors.com. Follow @danfavale on Twitter for his latest posts and all things NBA.
