Longform Shoals: Whatever Happened to LeBron/Melo?

It's been a long time since anyone's compared bronze medal-winners Carmelo Anthony to LeBron James.

Anthony can expect to make the All-Star game for the next decade, but LeBron's hoping to insert himself into the All Time discussion. Carmelo's offensive arsenal could spawn its own instructional video; LeBron, on the other hand, can reels off triple-doubles night after night after night. And while Melo's the new face of Brand Jordan, James aspires to succeed Jordan as sports' most humongous brand.

The NBA has never been shy about scheduling around its storylines. Yet when it came time for this season's first Melo/Bron meeting, they stuck it on a Monday night-hardly prime real estate during the fall-and broadcasted it on NBA-TV. A few years ago, these Nuggets/Cavs games would've been highlights of the schedule.

Not so much now: James is on another level than Melo, and any reminder of the "Magic and Larry again" script just makes Anthony look bad. But I'm beginning to wonder if it doesn't cut both ways. Even if LeBron James' talent level dwarfs that of Anthony, in some ways Melo comes off better than King James.



James is the superior all-around player. In today's East, LeBron could hold his own at any position on the floor. But while Bron's feel for the game and pure ability are without peer, he's not nearly as polished as Melo is.

When it comes to the business of scoring, Anthony's variety is amazing. LeBron, for all his improvisational flourishes, depends on a handful of basic moves. Our own Nate Jones once observed that, with Carmelo's post game, James would be unstoppable.

LeBron seems omniscient on the floor. In contrast, you can practically see Anthony's thought bubbles as he dissects a defense. His play makes basketball accessible, in that it relies heavily on positions, angles, and changes in direction. By comparison, watching LeBron is like seeing someone make a mountain disappear into thin air.



This dynamic bleeds over into their off-court image as well. Carmelo Anthony has had his fair share of missteps, most notably his involvement in the MSG Brawl and the STOP SNITCHING debacle. Factor in his hip-hop look, rough background, and attachment to his old neighborhood, and you get an anti-thug backlash.

Which is too bad, because if LeBron got Magic's basketball skill-set, Melo inherited his charisma. Charming and photogenic Melo comes across as a decent guy who sometimes makes bad decisions. Contrast that with LeBron, who continues to mold himself into a harmless, soulless Jordan-bot.

While LeBron has tried to show off his humanity, through awkward Saturday Night Live appearances and commercials about his passion for the game, there's still something vaguely inhuman about him. No one relates to LeBron; they regard him like a prized painting. Melo inspires a deeper connection with fewer fans on a smaller stage. He's the rightful heir to teammate Allen Iverson, a people's champ who inspires on a level beyond mere basketball.

LeBron James will always be measured against what he could, or should, be. Carmelo Anthony has mastered his craft, and thus is at peace with himself--and as fans, we're at peace with him.

Wool Shirt of the Week



A hairshirt makes you look silly and feel uncomfortable. A wool shirt looks good, but still make you uncomfortable. The Wool Shirt of the Week calls out a player or team that makes my inner-fan jump off the couch-while my inner-analyst snorts in contempt.

J.R. Smith is the inspiration behind this section. When Smith's on, he can knock down threes from anywhere in the arena; if that's not working out, he's got the ability to get to the basket at will. He'll never be a playmaker, but he can pass a little and put the ball on floor.

The rest of the time, Smith looks completely lost at both ends of the court. He launches off shots like he's on a deadline, and looks around like someone's going to feed him lines. With his off-court issues, you start to wonder if he's headed out of the league. And then, he puts up a game like Monday's showing against Cleveland, notching 29 points on 10-13 shooting. He went 7-8 from the land of beyond, and added 4 boards and 4 assists--all in less than 24 minutes.

Smith may never get his head on straight or achieve a measure of consistency. But when he's capable of this kind of showing-capped off with one of the sickest oops you'll ever see (up top)--you can't help but pull for the guy. Here's hoping J.R. Smith can get enough of a handle on himself to allow more of these occasional explosions.

Watch or Die



Spurs at Mavericks, 11/15: I loathe watching the Spurs, but this game matters. No matter what the early season returns are, or how badly Dallas choked against the Warriors, these are the two best teams in the West. The Mavericks have vowed to take it easy during the regular season, but that won't be happening here.

Rockets at Spurs, 11/16: The Rockets are a changed team, and the Spurs can change to match whatever foes throw at them. Houston took the first one of these, 89-81, and two in a row against San Antonio would be an immense statement.

Warriors at Raptors, 11/18: I don't know exactly what will happen here, but it will be weird. The Warriors are one more loss away from throwing all semblance of sanity out the window--right around the time Stephen Jackson returns to the fold. The Raptors never play anyone more than twenty minutes, and seem to be practicing an up-tempo version of basketball socialism.

This game probably doesn't matter like the other two, but there could be some sort of mutation/cross-pollination that alters the course of basketball forever. Certainly that's worth at least a few minutes away from football.

This Week's Great Moment in NBA Photography



The Kings' Mikki Moore kicks it with a kindred spirit.