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Knicks: One Key Area In Which Every Starter Must Improve

By Maxwell Ogden

July 26, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; USA forward Carmelo Anthony (15) shoots the basketball against China center Li Muhao (13) in the first quarter during an exhibition basketball game at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
July 26, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; USA forward Carmelo Anthony (15) shoots the basketball against China center Li Muhao (13) in the first quarter during an exhibition basketball game at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 26, 2016; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks small forward Carmelo Anthony (7) controls the ball against Cleveland Cavaliers shooting guard J.R. Smith (5) during the first quarter at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 26, 2016; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks small forward Carmelo Anthony (7) controls the ball against Cleveland Cavaliers shooting guard J.R. Smith (5) during the first quarter at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /

Carmelo Anthony: Scoring Volume + Efficiency

Position: Small Forward
Age: 32 (5/29/1984)
2015-16 Slash Line: .434/.339/.829
2015-16 Season Averages: 35.1 MPG, 21.8 PPG, 7.7 RPG, 1.4 ORPG, 4.2 APG, 0.9 SPG, 1.5 3PM

Carmelo Anthony is an excellent rebounder, an improved passer, and a far more reliable defender than he used to be. If that’s making you rethink everything you know about him, then the following statement will cause your head to spin.

The area in which Anthony needs to improve the most is his consistency as a scorer.

Anthony’s development as a facilitator is intriguing, but he needs to score at a level that’s closer to his career average than his 2015-16 mark. A season ago, he averaged 21.8 points on a slash line of .434/.339/.829.

That’s solid, but it pales in comparison to his career average of 24.9 points on a slash line of .453/.344/.812.

The Knicks don’t need Anthony to win the scoring title, but he needs to be a consistent source of 25 efficient points per game. That number isn’t necessarily concrete, but as Kristaps Porzingis develops and Derrick Rose tries to get healthier, Anthony must lead by example.

For what it’s worth, the 2015-16 New York Knicks were 12-11 when Anthony scored at least 25 points and 20-39 when he didn’t.

Next: Power Forward

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