Syracuse Orange legend Carmelo Anthony is facing the end of his NBA career. If you can get beyond the title given to this piece by Kirk Goldsberry at ESPN.com you’ll see a good read about the increased importance of efficiency at the NBA level and what it meant to players like Carmelo as his career winds down.
The NBA has focused so much on ball movement and passing up good shots for better shots, that players like Melo who thrived in isolation plays and a strong mid-range game aren’t nearly as valuable anymore. While we don’t know where Melo will end up (ok we do, he’s bound to be a Laker at some point) Goldsberry wonders what people will think about players like Melo and Dirk if the game continues this way.
We know what WE, as Syracuse fans, will think about him and the way his game was incredibly unique back in 2003 and for much of his career. But for as much as Melo has maybe lost a step, it’s the game that’s progressed far beyond his (and others’) skill set. That’s not a knock on him, as much as it is a commentary of how basketball’s adjusted.
College basketball hasn’t fully made this transition yet, and it’s uncertain it ever happens. The level of athlete needed to play NBA-style hoops is still far beyond the capabilities of most programs. That likely means good things for Syracuse under Jim Boeheim, given the program’s recent style of play, anyway.
In other Syracuse-related news:
Carmelo Anthony is the last great American ball hog (ESPN)
Carmelo was killing it, effortlessly blending speed, size, power, finesse and athleticism while putting up 20 points and 10 boards in beautiful ways I’d never seen integrated so well in college hoops. Fadeaways, post moves, dunks, putbacks and 3-pointers -- the kid had it all, and he was using it to drive his team to the Final Four.
How first responders saved a life before the Syracuse game (Syracuse.com)
He was just one section from Syracuse firefighter Darryl Trapps, who jumped into action to perform chest compressions and CPR. He was only a few minutes away from Carrier Dome medical personnel and an automated external defibrillator, which shocked his heart back to life. Before help arrived, he didn’t have a pulse. By the time it had been administered, he was responsive and capable of answering questions as he was carted out of the Carrier Dome.
Patrick Ewing: The Syracuse-Georgetown rivalry and returning to the Carrier Dome (Syracuse.com)
In his playing days, Ewing was the target for every opposing crowd’s venom. How will the fans at the Carrier Dome react to the sight of their once-hated foe? ”Some boos, some cheers,’’ he said. “Probably a little bit of both. Just like when we played St. John’s. There’s a lot of Knicks fans in Syracuse.’’
When Georgetown plays Syracuse, Louis Orr will be a man divided (Washington Post)
“He was voted to stay in the Orange nation,” Syracuse Coach Jim Boeheim said. “It was a close vote, but he’s still in.” “He’s definitely an Orangeman,” Georgetown Coach Patrick Ewing said. “But right now, he’s a Hoya.” “That’s my alma mater,” Orr said. “But hey, come Saturday, it’s competition.”
WVU’s Collins still sees orange after all these years (WVUSports)
Kimball went through something like this once before during a basketball game in Morgantown 22 years prior at the old Field House. Syracuse center Bill Smith actually took a swing at a referee late in the game, which nearly caused a full-scale riot that required a premature ending with a minute still left to play. Syracuse had to have a police escort out of town after the game.
Ten ACC players named to Walter Camp All-America squads (TheACC.com)
Syracuse women’s hockey falls to #10 Colgate (Daily Orange)
Grier shouldn’t skip Camping World Bowl Game (DubVNation)
Doug Marrone knows big changes are coming for Jaguars (ProFootballTalk)
Georgia Tech hires Geoff Collins as football coach (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)