Truckloads of money cannot quell the winner inside New York Knicks superstar Carmelo Anthony.
We’re talking strictly games, to be sure. He hasn’t won anything at the NBA level, other than some games, a handful of playoff series, a scoring title and the dishonor of being the player most likely to be whacked in the head and lose his headband.
Anyway, Melo is used to a certain level of success. Though he hasn’t won any titles, last year was the first time of his career he didn’t make a playoff appearance. And according to ESPN New York’s Ian Begley—tip of the cap to Eye on Basketball—he’s pissed…in a good way:
Anthony started working out two weeks after the end of the Knicks’ 37-win season.
Why such a short break?
“I was angry,” Anthony said Saturday at the Citi Carmelo Anthony Basketball camp in Manhattan.
Anthony also probably wanted to be in top shape for free agency. He tested the market over the summer and ended up signing a five-year, $124 million deal with the Knicks.
The star forward has been working out at the team’s facility in Westchester recently, along with “six or seven” other Knicks, to get a head start on the new triangle offense.
“I haven’t been broadcasting it, man. But I’ve been at the facility for the last couple of weeks with the young guys, with the coaches, trying to figure out that triangle offense,” Anthony said.
Of course he was angry. Who wouldn’t be? The Knicks went from winning 54 games and finishing second in the Eastern Conference to securing only 37 victories and missing the playoffs altogether.
Last year was absolute madness. It was mayhem. From injuries to Mike Woodson’s job security to Tyson Chandler’s effort—or lack thereof—on the defensive end to J.R. Smith being J.R. Smith to Raymond Felton having bricks for feet, thumbs for fingers and shit for brains, it was just awful.
After a hellacious season like 2013-14, who in Anthony’s position—one of fury and frustration—wouldn’t start working out early, prepping for next year, hoping to put distance between himself and fatal on-court demons that were, by and large, beyond his control? You’d have to be a non-competitive, soulless, disassociated existentialist not to be impacted by the crap Anthony waded through last season.
And while working out early guarantees nothing, things are looking up for Anthony and the Knicks.
Phil Jackson and Derek Fisher are expected to install the triangle offense and, per Begley, Anthony is amped. Having that system, running actual plays, will provide sorely needed structure and direction. The Knicks didn’t have such luxuries last year. They’re on a whole other level leading into 2014-15 because of the shift in on-court culture alone.
Redemption, though, is ultimately up to the players—specifically Anthony, who now appears to be leading by example.
Whether his diligence translates into collective work ethic, and whether that collective work ethic spearheads regular-season and playoff success, remains to be seen. But if nothing else, Anthony’s seemingly renewed passion and need for atonement has given us ample reason to watch and wait for what comes next.
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.
