COMMENTARY Rockets would be good fit for Melo If he were to pick Houston, the teams 3-point attack would get a positive jolt Updated: June 30, 2014, 2:09 PM ET By Bryan Gutierrez | Special to ESPN 693COMMENTS11EMAILPRINT Kim Klement/USA TODAY Sports Dwight Howard, left, and Carmelo Anthony could be quite a combo if they team up in Houston. Small ball appears to be the emerging rage in todays NBA. Carmelo Anthony certainly has the potential to play as a stretch-4 alongside Dwight Howard at the 5. That could be one of the many advantages Anthony could see if he decides to make the Houston Rockets his new team this summer. Houston lit up the scoreboard, and adding one of the best scoring machines in the league would certainly help even more in that department. The union between Houston and Anthony could have an influence on one specific part of their scoring attack. [+] Enlarge AP Photo/Patric Schneider Carmelo Anthony could add quite a scoring punch to the Rockets and be a complement to Dwight Howards inside game. While the Rockets pushed the pace and enjoyed letting it fly from 3-point range -- shooting the most 3-pointers in the league last season -- they finished in the middle of the pack in terms of 3-point percentage, at 35.8 percent. Anthony has seen an incremental increase in his perimeter shooting percentage over the past three seasons, with a career-best 40.2 percent mark in 2013-14. Playing within a small-ball setting, having Anthony stretch the floor with his threat to shoot from range could continue to open up the lanes to the rim for James Harden. With the threat of Howard on the inside and Harden attacking, the drive-and-kick and kick-out options would be very explosive for the Rockets on the offensive end of the floor. Already considered one of the more potent offenses in the league, adding Anthony to the mix could potentially make their attack better than theyve had in recent seasons. From the personnel angle, Houston presents an opportunity for Anthony to join a new core, one with already established stars. Anthony has had to do most, or all, of the heavy lifting over his previous 11 seasons in the league. While the likes of Chicago, Dallas and New York have pieces in place, Houstons younger core provides stability and continuity potential for the future. That longevity can benefit Anthony and the Rockets as the Western Conference continues to remain one filled with talented teams. WHOS THE BEST FIT FOR CARMELO? Where will Carmelo Anthony end up? Our writers state the cases for five teams. • Bulls » Knicks » Lakers » Mavs » • Rockets » Bulls up first for Melo » • 5 things about Melos free agency » • Rose wont recruit » Rumors The ace in the hole for Houston is that they would still have Patrick Beverley and potentially Chandler Parsons in the mix to fill in the gaps for the roster. If you have a new emerging big three in Houston with Anthony, Howard and Harden, players could slowly start to follow them. That is what happened in Miami with the Heat. While they wouldnt be star players that sacrifice huge contracts to join a contender, the players who join them in Houston would be competent role players, probably on the older end of the spectrum. Houston and Anthony would have to remember that while Miamis big three ultimately won championships, it took some time. The Heat didnt win it all in their first season, but they did make it to the NBA Finals. Getting the superstars is the hardest part to the big three equation, but part of the process requires time as you continue to slowly add assets to the mix as the franchise continues to manage its finances with the salary cap. The Western Conference is full of contenders, many which arent going anyway anytime soon. Houston recognizes that, and they are trying to shift the balance of power in their favor by adding Anthony. While he has a tough decision to make, Anthony will have to consider the Rockets. 693EMAILSUBSCRIBEPRINTCOMMENTS11
Posted on: Tue, 01 Jul 2014 13:26:09 +0000
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