If there’s a rule Mike D’Antoni’s Houston Rockets live by, it’s this: All 3s and layups — no long 2s! And well, they signed Carmelo Anthony: mid-range jump shooter, supreme.
Carmelo Anthony apologized to his Rockets’ teammates for playing like Carmelo Anthony
Melo turned down a 3 for a long 2, then looked at the bench and told his teammates he was sorry.
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Melo was at his best in Tuesday’s game against the Grizzlies, turning down a three to shoot — and make — an open mid-range jump shot. But even Melo had to laugh and apologized to his Rockets teammates on the bench for taking a shot so ill advised by the Rockets.
Melo took a slightly different tune after the game, though.
“I looked at the bench and told them I apologize for doing that,” he said after the game. “But that’s just who I am. If I got it, I’m gonna shoot that. I’ve been doing it my whole career. But like I said man, it’s good. You gotta take the open shot. You can’t always just settle for the 3.”
Maybe Melo missed the memo
First of all: Sorry, that’s a whole lot of M’s.
Second of all, Melo knows the Rockets are literally, allergic to long 2s, right? They make general manager Daryl Morey cough up curse words and send D’Antoni into a blind rage. Houston became legitimate challengers to the Warriors last season because they were able to take and make 3s at a rate higher than any team had ever seen.
The Rockets attempted FIFTY (read: 49.5) threes per game last year. And Melo wants to shoot a mid-range jump shot? A long two? That’s not part of the game plan.
He’s right about two things, though: Sometimes you do have to take the open shot, even if it’s a two. And shooting long twos has, indeed, been what Melo has done all his career.
But they say insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. Melo wants to win, and he wants to win at a high level.
It might be time to unleash three-point happy Melo.
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