Denver Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony celebrates after scoring over the Dallas Mavericks in the third quarter during Game 1 of the NBA Western Conference semi-final basketball playoffs in Denver May 3, 2009. [Xinhua/Reuters Photo] |
Dever Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony has just marked his promising career with a weekly MVP on Friday as he spearheaded Nuggets to a 5-0 season opening.
Averaging 32 points per game, Athony is playing at a frighteningly high level.
Reflecting all the way back to his days in Baltimore gyms, Anthony said he's never felt this good to start a season.
"But really, it started in the offseason. I was telling people all summer that I was feeling great about this season coming up," Anthony said. "So far so good after second game against Portland.
"I know it's only two games, but two heck-of-a-games. It's mental. I wanted to challenge myself mentally to pick up where I left off last year, and I feel that I'm doing that."
After five flawless games, Anthony feels just right.
Anthony was the 3rd pick of the 2003 NBA draft by the Nuggets, behind LeBron James and Darko Millicic.
In his rookie season he turned the Denver Nuggets from a mediocre team to a playoff one. He lead the team in scoring with 21.0 points per game and is the only second player in history to lead his team in scoring as a rookie since David Robinson of San Antonio Spurs during the 1989-1990 season.
He led his team to the playoffs with a 43-39 record and was the 8th seed of the western conference. They faced the top-seeded and Kevin Garnet's Timberwolves, which they lost in 5 games.
He also finished second in the rookie of the year balloting behind the "hyped one" LeBron James.
After his rookie season Anthony progressed through his all around game, slowly raised his assist average every season.
With the Nuggets building the team around him, he did his job by being the clutch player the team needs. He is one of the go-to-players down the wire in a close ball game. He made 11 game winning baskets out of 17 tries over his career course, the highest percentage among current NBA players.
Aside from being hot on the court, he is also hot tempered, who got suspended for 15 games for punching Knick's player Jared Jeffries.
Over the course of his suspension, the Denver made a desperate move to save the season by acquiring Allen Iverson and formed one of the most high scoring duo with Anthony averaging 28.7 per game while Iverson averaged 26.4 per game.
But eventually, the powerful duo did not produce much and the Nuggets went on looking for a steady guy at the point and took in the once playoffs MVP Chauncey Billups which brought stability and leadership to the team.
Now, Anthony and the Nuggets are trying to clear obstacles with a solid core of Carmelo, Chauncey, JR. Smith, Nene, Kenyon Martin.
How far can the team go? It heavily depends on how much brilliance Anthony can put on.
If they beat the Los Angeles Lakers, not an intangible feat, it's a stride to the Larry O'brien trophy.
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