Daily Zap 17-11-14

Denver Nuggets (2-7) @ New York Knicks (3-8)

The New York Knicks ended a seven game losing streak thanks to a win over fellow strugglers, the Denver Nuggets. The win was mainly due to Denver scoring just one basket from 16 attempts in the second quarter, while the Knicks scored 31 points. Even when Denver outscored their opponents in the next quarter, the Knicks didn’t worry, still possessing a 20 point lead. It looked like Denver could mount a comeback when they reduced the lead to 12, but Carmelo Anthony helped pull his team through for the win.

Knicks 93 - 109 Nuggets

KEY PERFORMERS

Ty Lawson - 17 points, 9 assists

Kenneth Faried - 16 points, 9 rebounds

Carmelo Anthony - 28 points, 9 rebounds

J.R. Smith - 28 points

Milwaukee Bucks (5-5) @ Miami Heat (5-5)

The Miami Heat fell to their third straight loss, this time losing at home to the Milwaukee Bucks. They may have won the first half 46-38, but the main damage was done in the third quarter. The Bucks outscored the Heat in the third by 26-13, being a great force on the inside. Miami reduced to the lead to three in the final quarter, but the game was over when Brandon Knight nailed two three-pointers in the space of a couple of minutes. Dwyane Wade was sorely missed by Miami, with Chris Bosh (2-17) and Luol Deng (3-11) struggling from the field.

Bucks 91 - 84 Heat

KEY PERFORMERS

Giannis Antetokounmpo - 11 points, 7 rebounds

Brandon Knight - 20 points, 5 rebounds

Shawne Williams - 13 points, 11 rebounds

Mario Chalmers - 18 points

Houston Rockets (9-1) @ Oklahoma City Thunder (3-8)

In one of the ugliest games in recent years, the Houston Rockets managed to grind out a victory against the Oklahoma City Thunder. If you wondering why the score was so low, it wasn’t due to terrific defence, both teams shot the ball poorly; Houston shooting 28.7% and the Thunder weren’t much better at 29.4%. The Rockets dominance in the paint - they outscored the Thunder 14-0 in the first quarter - was key to gaining an early advantage. But the Thunder rallied to even up the scores, being helped by Houston scoring just nine points in the third. However, it was the Rockets who led late on, 68-65 with one possession left. Reggie Jackson shot an unnecessarily deep three pointer which missed the targets, which maintained the Rockets unbeaten road run.

Rockets 69 - 65 Thunder

KEY PERFORMERS

Patrick Beverley - 12 points, 8 rebounds

James Harden - 19 points, 9 rebounds

Reggie Jackson - 15 points, 11 rebounds

Serge Ibaka - 10 points, 6 rebounds, 5 blocks

Golden State Warriors (8-2) @ Los Angeles Lakers (1-9)

The Lakers defence has been appalling so far this year, but even their biggest critics didn’t expect the Warriors to score 74 points against them in the first half alone. Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson were the main threats for Golden State, scoring the ball with the ease that we’ve seen many times before. The lead extended to as much as 38 points in the third, meaning they could relax a little in the final quarter, and still comfortably pick up the win. Kobe shot 34 shots from the field which implies that he has been given free rein  by Byron Scott to shoot when and where he wants.

Warriors 136 - 115 Lakers

KEY PERFORMERS

Stephen Curry - 30 points, 15 assists

Andrew Bogut - 15 points, 10 rebounds

Kobe Bryant - 44 points

Jordan Hill - 15 points, 11 rebounds

Melo to say Hello to Free Agency?

It is yet unclear as to where Carmelo Anthony will be playing next year.

He came to New York with the hope that he could win his first NBA championship, but Carmelo Anthony's contract is expiring this summer, and he hasn't got anywhere near a ring.

In fact during his 4 seasons at the Knicks, they haven't got past the first round of the play-offs. So it's no surprise that Melo has been rumoured to be weighing up his options in the free agency this summer, with plenty of potential suitors queuing up to sign him. Carmelo is likely to undertake a similar process to the one Dwight Howard took last year and test the free-market by meeting with different teams throughout the off-season.

Two teams are already allegedly on the list, his current club the New York Knicks (more on them later) and the Chicago Bulls. Joining the Bulls is an enticing offer for both sides, on paper at least. Melo isn't renowned for playing great defence and the Bulls aren't the most attacking side in the world. Tom Thibodeau (head coach of the Chicago Bulls) could help work on Carmelo's defence, and in return Anthony could easily drop 25 points a night, a figure that would propel the Bulls' record through the roof. The thought of a Rose-Butler-Anthony-Gibson-Noah starting 5 with players like Nikola Mirotic, whom the Bulls' are likely to buy the rights to, and D.J Augustin coming off the bench would send any Bulls fan into a frenzy, and with Tom Thibodeau at the helm, the team look like they could be genuine title contenders.

There are also whispers that a return to Denver could be on the cards for Carmelo. This could prove to be an exciting decision, with the Nuggets having plenty of young talent on their roster, such as big men JaVale McGee and Kenneth Faried. Adding Carmelo Anthony to that set-up could give them that bit of consistency that the Nuggets sometimes lacked this year. But unfortunately, it is a move that is very unlikely to happen. The Nuggets have absolutely no cap space, and are not likely to trade young players away in the hope that Melo will rejoin them, for a few more years before retirement.

The Lakers are another team who have been rumoured to be interested in acquiring Carmelo's services. This may not come as a surprise as they seem to be linked to every free agent on the market, but this deal looks like it is more likely to materialise. Kobe Bryant and Anthony are rumoured to be close friends, after playing together in the past 2 Olympics games (winning gold medals in both events). Kobe recently offered advice to Anthony (on the assumption that Carmelo would stay in New York), saying that although Madison Square Garden is the "Mecca of basketball" he should let the Knicks know that he won't tolerate being in a team that isn't contending for an NBA championship. If Melo did move to L.A., it would be interesting to see how the Bryant-Anthony partnership would work. Both players are known for their, sometimes "selfish", shooting form, and it is yet to be seen how well they could work together. An alternative view point is that Melo could be seen as a replacement for Kobe, who is now in twilight years of his career. Despite the Lakers being a prestigious franchise to play for, it's unlikely that Melo will end up there.

A more believable option would be for Melo to move to the Houston Rockets. The Rockets have had a good campaign, claiming their best record for 6 seasons. And with superstars James Harden and Dwight Howard already at the team, the parts are all there for a title-contending team. The trade proposed by most sources will send Omer Asik and Jeremy Lin to the Knicks. This deal works well with both teams. The Knicks regain Lin, which will help their struggling backcourt, and get Asik, who is desperate to get out of Houston. This trade seems almost too perfect, and is seen as a brilliant move by NBA legend Oscar Robertson. He said "If he (Anthony) goes to Houston, they're gonna win everything." Indeed, it could turn the Rockets into a dynasty, especially with young guys like Terrence Jones and Patrick Beverley developing, providing much hope for the future.

Of course, there's always the option of staying in the Big Apple, a choice looking more likely with the latest additions to the backroom staff. They've hired a new President, with Phil Jackson joining the club. Jackson is a known winner, winning 13 rings as a player and a coach and could be a pivotal factor in getting the best out of under-performing players, which the Knicks have plenty of at the minute (Raymond Felton, J.R. Smith, the list goes on). However, there are still uncertainties as to who will take the coaching role, with Jackson's first choice, Steve Kerr, being snapped up by the Golden State Warriors earlier in the month. The Knicks will be able to spend more freely in the next post-season, when players such as Kevin Love, Marc Gasol and LaMarcus Aldridge are available, but the question is whether 'Melo will want to wait until then?

Whether he stays or goes, Melo will always be remembered for his incredible scoring form. Sources close to him say that he's going to take his time to think about moving, but will have to persuade his family, who are very much settled in New York. As a player, he will want to win rings, and at the moment, it doesn't look like that's achievable with the Knicks.