Mounting evidence says 'Melo is no superstar

By John McMullen

Being a glass is half empty kinda guy, I readily admit optimism is really the only practical solution to despair.
That's the major difference between the glass is half full people and my ilk. Optimistic folks tend to look at things the right way. After all, being happy isn't about getting all of the breaks -- no one does. It's about making the most out of a difficult situation and putting a positive spin on whatever curve ball life throws at you.

New York Knicks fans have always struck me as the optimistic type. No matter what kind of drek James Dolan threw on the floor in recent years, Knicks apologists sold out the World's Most Famous Arena while dreaming of LeBron.

When "The King" took his immense talents to South Beach, Knicks fans relished in Amar'e while waiting for Carmelo and fantasizing of CP3, Deron or Dwight.

To the long suffering fans of Gotham, ending a playoff drought in a top- heavy Eastern Conference and keeping a team slightly above .500 was enough to fuel MVP chants on a nightly basis for Stoudemire. Meanwhile, there was always the "superstar" looming off in the distance.

After all, who wouldn't want to play in the Big Apple? Just ask any New Yorker.

On Feb. 22 "the superstar" finally arrived when Carmelo Anthony was traded to the Knicks in a blockbuster deal. From what the locals were told it was the biggest steal since the Native American Lenape sold Manhattan Island for a few shiny baubles.

Since Anthony's ballyhooed arrival, the Knicks have gone a pedestrian 7-9 and fallen below the Philadelphia 76ers in the Eastern Conference playoff hunt. Conversely, Denver is 10-4, solidified itself out West and George Karl is ecstatic that he can now preach defense without a selfish, narcissistic player mucking it all up.

There is no danger of falling out of the postseason for New York but the Knicks could have certainly won the seventh spot and played sacrificial lamb to Boston or Chicago without Anthony. They would also still possess quality rotationally players like Danilo Gallinari, Raymond Felton, Wilson Chandler and Timofey Mozgov to build upon.

In the end the deal was supposed to make the Knicks "dangerous" come playoff time. You heard the nonsensical ramblings. Sure the Celtics, Bulls and Heat had more talent but none of them wanted this new Knicks team in the postseason. The thought process wasn't about the Sixers, it was about overtaking Atlanta for the fifth spot.

After 16 games of bad body language, sulking and flat out unprofessional behavior by Anthony, you can bet Donnie Walsh already has buyer's remorse. Meanwhile, the big boys in the East are salivating at the chance to face New York in the quarterfinals and you can bet they will be bringing a broom along for the ride.

Stoudemire has flourished in his role as leader for the Knicks and has already attempted to reach the headstrong Anthony through the media, reminding the Syracuse product that this isn't about the Knicks adapting to him, it's about Anthony adapting to New York.

That's not to say the Knicks mediocrity is all 'Melo's fault. New York gutted its roster to acquire the four-time All-Star. The top of Mike D'Antonio's rotation looks impressive on paper with Anthony, Stoudemire and Chauncey Billups but the team lacks a true center and has a starting two guard, rookie Landry Fields, that is a nice story but would be a deep reserve or situational player of a real contender.

The bench is stocked with Toney Douglas and little else. The team has no interior presence on defense and nary a wing player that can even think about slowing down players like LeBron, Kobe Bryant and Dwyane Wade.

Still, a true superstar in the NBA is never measured by any box score. The true greats take pride on making their teammates better. Michael Jordan was so good, he got Scott Williams a monster free agent contract. Larry Bird could make Jerry Sichting look like Jerry West for a spell here and there. Magic Johnson could still probably get me 20 points in the over-40 rec league.

Anthony, on the other hand, has never shown the ability to elevate the games of his teammates.

But buck up New York, the glass is half full and there is always another "superstar" waiting in the wings.