Why carmelo anthony not playing

Nobody remembers that. It was an ego hit. I used to tell my son and wife, 'Y'all go to this tournament, I don't think I can handle it. For years, there was talk of what Anthony would need to change. Change of position, change of style, change of approach, change of role. Spiritually," Anthony says. But the mental, emotional and spiritual part was what I really had to get stronger at. And that's what I was really focusing on and what really made me at peace with walking away from it.

Congrats Melo! One of the greatest. Simple as that. With his back to the basket, he gives his defender, Celtics rookie Payton Pritchard , a subtle deke, a slight tilt of the head to the right to fake as if he's going to turn and drive over his right shoulder. Instead, he peels back and turns over his left shoulder, squaring up against the 6-foot-1 guard. Anthony crosses the ball right to left, then hits a mini hesitation as he drives toward the middle of the floor.

Pritchard shuffles to cut it off, but after one dribble Anthony plants his right foot, turns his back to the basket and gathers the ball, spinning into a baseline pull-up. This shot, like so many of the almost 22, before it, is part of a sequence.

It isn't a set play or a backside screen to free him into an open pocket of space. It is engineered, built from years of laboratory work, each move interlocked to the one before it to create a picturesque footer. It's well-documented that but for a few superstar exceptions, the midrange is an analytical crime.

It is also where basketball can become an art form, where the sweat equity of individual workouts and craftsmanship produces poetry. It's a basketball artifact. Imagine the paradox, then, for Anthony -- and for a generation of players who grew up admiring his game. That midrange shot had made him millions, gained him international fame, elevated him into an icon beyond the game itself.

That shot is why he's headed to the Hall of Fame on a first ballot. It's also what he was supposed to stop doing so damn much. How many has he scored just sizing somebody up and going to work? To legendary bucket getters like Crawford, both young and old, Anthony's game is the distillation of hooping. It's how you settled debates in the neighborhood, how you determined who sat on top of the food chain. One-on-one, me and you, who's better? And seeing him get buckets, seeing him win.

So many young players grew up watching him take Syracuse to a national championship as a freshman; watched him become a scoring machine in Denver and hit fadeaway jumper after fadeaway jumper in Madison Square Garden, doing it his way.

Towns says he would play NBA 2K in practice mode, setting up scenarios over and over with 10 seconds left. Melo always got the ball for the last shot.

As Crawford says, people love Anthony. Teammates, both current and former, cite his sense of humor and his attentiveness to younger players who look for advice and guidance. The way he played the game resonated with every kid picking up a ball.

As Anthony's future in the league became more uncertain, the support he received from players never wavered. LeBron James said in December he thought Melo could still play. Allen Iverson said there's no way Melo should retire. Magic Johnson said he thought Melo still had a lot left. Zach LaVine tweeted, "Respect the hell out of Melo! Been getting his name thrown around like he's not one of the baddest dude to put the ball in the hoop!

Same Melo only thing diff is the narrative ppl throw on his name. Will Barton said in December , "It's crazy the disrespect a guy that good gets on social media. You look on Twitter and Instagram, they're kind of always clowning him. But real basketball heads know how good that guy is, and he's a special talent. Mental Health , Trade , Top Rumors. They are expected to play tomorrow in Memphis, as well.

No back-to-back issues, Donovan says. Erik Horne: Russell Westbrook left ankle sprain and Carmelo Anthony right ankle sprain both listed as questionable for Sunday vs. Westbrook left, Melo right. Brett Dawson: Steven Adams out tonight. Carmelo Anthony will play and start. Royce Young: Steven Adams is not expected to play tonight. Carmelo Anthony has been upgraded to questionable.

Melo did a little today, and might be available. Carmelo Anthony was a late scratch because of a sore back, and Steven Adams missed his second consecutive game with a right calf contusion. George finished of, 7-of from 3-point range. Erik Horne: Billy Donovan said he found out about an hour before the game that Carmelo Anthony would not be available to play. Erik Horne: Carmelo Anthony is out for the Thunder tonight with a sore back. JR Smith: So now you just gone tie ya jersey in knots now??

Steve Popper: The show is on. Carmelo is available tonight for the finale. LeBron James is refreshed and ready to lead a Lakers title chase. Lakers star LeBron James said he was able to get the mental break he needed to reenergize himself heading in training camp.

Teammates have noticed. Last season with the Portland Trail Blazers, Anthony had his first taste of being a reserve. He started in only three of the 69 games in which he played. The 6-foot-7 forward shot I adjusted to it.

I want to come off the bench. They had a conversation during the summer about Anthony having a significant role for the Lakers.

But he did miss a couple today, yes. Lakers guard Austin Reaves to miss at least two weeks with hamstring strain.