Carmelo Anthony News: Pro Sports Daily

Bosh held to 13 points as Raptors run out of gas

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November 18

Toronto Star

columnist Doug Smith

"It was as if an invisible wall was put up and the Raptors ran smack dab into it at halftime here Tuesday night. After matching the Denver Nuggets basket for basket and shot for shot through the first two quarters, the Raptors simply ran out of gas and dropped an 130-112 decision at the Pepsi Center. A delightful first half ended 64-64 thanks to some great offence on both sides but the toll of a road trip and the thin air, coupled with facing a Denver team that hadn't played since Saturday night, did in Toronto."

Raptors choke in Denver's thin air

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November 18

Toronto Star

"They were beaten and battered and beaten some more, bullied at times, acquiescing at others, and it doesn't take the greatest of minds to see why the Raptors were drilled Tuesday night. The most important numbers, of course, were in the score: Denver 130, Toronto 112. But a further examination of the boxscore tells the story just as well. Points in the paint: Denver 68, Toronto 36. "We had no answer for them," said Raptors coach Jay Triano. "Their bigs dominated us. It was a game of points in the paint and they destroyed us.""

Nuggets rout Raptors with Melo's help

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November 18

Denver Post

"With his retired number in the Pepsi Center rafters, Nuggets legend Alex English watched Tuesday night as Carmelo Anthony played like, well, Alex English. "The fact that he can score reminds me of me," said English, a Toronto Raptors assistant coach. "Just watching him, he looks stronger than ever. He looks confident." The Nuggets (8-3) routed the Raptors 130-112 in a shootout reminiscent of English's games during the 1980s. Anthony scored a game-high 32 points while shooting a remarkably efficient 12-for-15 from the field. Did we mention he did so in less than 31 minutes of playing time? And did so after missing the shootaround because of a migraine headache? Yes, Melo was unreal."

Aching Nuggets still have Melo vs. Toronto tonight

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November 17

Denver Post

"Carmelo Anthony is expected to play tonight, though the Nuggets forward has a migraine headache and missed Tuesday morning's shootaround at Pepsi Center. "I think he's going to play tonight," coach George Karl said. "I think there's some pretty serious stuff now for migraines, maybe even a shot." The Nuggets (7-3) host the Raptors (5-5) for the only time this season. The scintillating Anthony is tied for second in the NBA with 29.7 points per game. Nuggets reserve guard Anthony Carter (left hip strain) is questionable, while Karl expects his other three banged-up players to play — Kenyon Martin (left patella tendonitis), Chris Andersen (right patella tendonitis) and Ty Lawson (left calf ..."

History with that Melo fellow

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November 11

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

"Nobody has to tell Hakim Warrick about the talents possessed by Denver Nuggets star Carmelo Anthony. The Milwaukee Bucks forward was Anthony's teammate during the 2002-'03 college basketball season, when Warrick was a sophomore and Anthony a gifted freshman at Syracuse. Together they led the Orange on an improbable run to the NCAA championship, before Anthony left school after one season to become the third pick in the 2003 NBA draft. On Wednesday night, the 6-foot-9 Warrick and 6-8 Anthony will be on opposite sides as the Bucks and Nuggets play at the Bradley Center. "I knew he was a great offensive player, but I think he's really expanded his game," Warrick said of Anthony's progress ..."

Nuggets lose second straight despite 30 from Carmelo Anthony

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November 8

Denver Post

"Once a virile NBA center, veteran Jason Collins now has a body suited for a warm-up suit. The Atlanta reserve is listed at 7-feet, 265 pounds, but the guy looks as big as Savannah. Only on rare occasions does he squeeze out of that suit and tread up and down the court, and that's when you know things are going badly for an opponent. Such was the case Saturday night for the Nuggets, who lost 125-100 and inspired Hawks coach Mike Woodson to play his 12th man during garbage time. Denver's Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups combined for 57 points, sure, but the rest of the fellows totaled just 43 in the team's second consecutive loss, both on the road to talented teams. "No one should feel ..."

Melo can't do it by himself, Nuggets lose Martin

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November 7

Denver Post

"Well into Friday's second quarter, the Nuggets and Heat were knotted in a nice little game — until the Nuggets suddenly went as flat as a Cuban sandwich. It was a deflating performance by the road team, tied at 33-33 with 5:57 left in the second, but down by 28 late in the third. Denver ultimately lost 96-88, and might have lost Kenyon Martin for a little while too. The power forward suffered a lower left leg contusion in the second quarter and did not return to the game. X-rays taken at halftime were inconclusive, and Martin will undergo an MRI today and sit out tonight's game at Atlanta, Denver coach George Karl said. "The feeling I got is, it might be a week or two weeks, but it won't ..."

Balanced attack pushes Heat past Nuggets, to 5-1 record

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November 7

Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel

"Apparently, Friday nights are about erasing the past. A week ago, the Miami Heat snapped a 17-game losing streak in Indiana with a victory at Conseco Fieldhouse. Friday night, the Heat snapped its eight-game losing streak to the Denver Nuggets with a 96-88 victory over Denver at AmericanAirlines Arena. The common theme to the streak busting? A balanced approach. "That's what we've been trying for," coach Erik Spoelstra said. "We feel like we're developing balance, and it's been different guys each game, at times. Guys were very unselfish. There wasn't a lot of one-on-one." No, this was not an encore of Dwyane Wade's 40-point binge Wednesday in Washington. This was the Heat's star guard ..."

Melo ready for rumble with ex-teammate Jones

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November 3

Denver Post

"For a few moments before and after tonight's game against Indiana, Dahntay Jones' 4-year-old son will steal the show in the Nuggets locker room, where last season he was a team favorite. During the game, Jones will try to steal the show from Carmelo Anthony. Anthony got a taste of Jones' tactics in two preseason games this season and says he'll be ready for it tonight when the Nuggets begin their six-game road trip at Indiana. Things got a bit heated when the two squared off in Beijing and Taiwan last month. Anthony, who scored 45 points in the second of the two exhibition games against the Pacers, shrugged it off. "It got a little chippy. That's him though," Anthony said. "That's his ..."

Carmelo, J.R. a winning combination

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November 3

Denver Post

columnist Benjamin Hochman

"We've gone only about 0.2 miles in this marathon of an NBA season, but a fascinating story line is already developed in Denver, where Carmelo Anthony is going all Alex English on opponents. The most eye-popping number isn't his 37.7 points per game, but his 53.6 shooting percentage, which is emblematic of his efficiency that seamlessly transferred from the preseason to the regular season. So not only is Melo shooting better than ever, he's shooting more than ever - his 23 field-goal attempts per game would make for his highest season average, as would his 12.3 makes. But we forget that J.R. Smith has been suspended for these first three games (and the next four). Smith is Denver's ..."

Howard, Anthony named Players of the Week

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November 3

NBA.com

"The Orlando Magic's Dwight Howard and the Denver Nuggets' Carmelo Anthony today were named the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week, respectively, for games played Tuesday, Oct. 27, through Sunday, Nov. 1. Howard led the Magic to a 3-0 week, including two road wins, averaging 21.7 points, 16.0 rebounds and 2.3 blocks. The 6-11 center posted point-rebound double-doubles in all three of Orlando's games, including a 20-point, 22-rebound performance on Oct. 30 at New Jersey. Behind the league's leading rebounder, the Magic is off to a 3-0 start for the first time since 1993-94. Anthony led the Nuggets to a 3-0 week, averaging a league-best 37.7 points on .536 shooting from the ..."

Melo adds fine new title: leader

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November 2

Denver Post

columnist Dave Krieger

"Pro basketball's long grind is just beginning, as the Nuggets are the first to point out. But it is still worth noticing that through three games, Carmelo Anthony has been the best player in the NBA. He leads the league in scoring at 37.7 points per game on .536 shooting. He is among the Nuggets' leaders in steals, rebounds and assists. In short, as he begins his seventh NBA season at the still-tender age of 25, Melo is taking his game to another level. "He's just so focused," teammate Chauncey Billups said. "And he's just riding a high wave right now. We're just kind of getting on his back." If Anthony is setting a tone for the season, not only is a scoring title within his reach, so is ..."

Melo's 42 lead Nuggets' onslaught against Grizzlies

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November 2

Denver Post

"Chauncey Billups has played in the NBA since Ty Lawson was 10, dishing out 4,689 assists to everyone from Antonio McDyess to Zan Tabak. But after Sunday's 133-123 home win against Memphis, the Nuggets' Billups sighed and said: "Melo's the best scorer I've ever played with, yes, he is. I've played with a lot of guys, but he just has a knack, man. His skill set, for his body type, is just tremendous. It's a mismatch every single night." After scoring 30 points in the season opener and 41 on Thursday, Carmelo Anthony scored 42 against the Grizzlies - and did so with shocking ease, shooting 15-for-26 from the field (57.7 percent). He was in a zone that couldn't be zoned (or man-to-manned or ..."

Anthony's 41 points lift Nuggets past Blazers

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October 30

Portland Tribune

"Portland's 7-foot center didn't feel so great 30 minutes later when, after dressing in the team's locker room, he had to face reporters to talk about missing both attempts. "I stepped up there with confidence, thinking I was going to hit (them), but it didn't go that way," said Oden after the Nuggets' 97-94 victory. "I put this loss on me. I need to step up and make those. All of us have to step up, and I didn't do it tonight with those free throws." After Oden's second miss, Carmelo Anthony rebounded and was fouled with 1.9 seconds remaining. Denver's superstar made both free throws. After a timeout, Brandon Roy missed with a wild 3-pointer and the Nuggets had seized an important road ..."

Melo scores 41 points to lift Nuggets over Blazers

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October 30

Denver Post

"The Portland faithful painfully climbed the Rose Garden stairs, a few folks occasionally peered down at the court, as if maybe, just maybe, it didn't actually happen. But it did - down one point to Denver with 4.6 seconds left, Greg Oden missed two free throws, and the Nuggets proceeded to win Thursday's thriller, 97-94. It's not even November, and the Nuggets have notched what could be the biggest win of the season. Consider this: • It was against arguably Denver's toughest division foe. • It was the second game of a back-to-back, after the Nuggets arrived at their Portland hotel at 4 a.m. • Denver played without suspended sharpshooter J.R. Smith. • And it was a road win at the ..."

Melo embraces leadership role

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October 20

Denver Post

"Carmelo Anthony has shown glimpses of leadership in the past, but based on his performance in training camp, the Nuggets' star has taken it to another level. "Melo's really taken a big piece of leadership role on the team," guard Chauncey Billups said. "Guys are looking up to him. Melo always, since I've been here, he's been our best practice player. He goes hard. When you've got your best player going extremely hard like that and playing and competing every single practice, it makes everyone else around him say, 'He's doing it, I better do it.' He's been great." While Nuggets coach George Karl said he has seen Anthony's leadership manifest itself "by his approach and his actions more than ..."

Student fans an enthusiastic crowd for Melo

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October 17

Denver Post

"Carmelo Anthony raised his smokin' shooting hand, the shot swished through the net and the fans shrieked as if a helium-filled flying saucer appeared above. The masterful Melo made a free throw. The Nuggets' practice Friday in front of 1,500 school children at Metro State was a high-pitched hootenanny. "It's early and we might be a little tired," Anthony said after the 9:30 a.m. scrimmage, "but you get in there and kids are yelling, your juices get flowing, you forget about what time it is." Anthony was the Nuggets' standout player in the practice disguised as a circus, one in which coach George Karl said: "We looked like a basketball team, somewhat. For the most part, we don't want to ..."

Hibbert shines for Pacers

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October 12

Indianapolis Star

"The Indiana Pacers' two-game preseason trip to Asia ended early Sunday morning with a 128-112 loss to the Denver Nuggets in Beijing. The teams also had played in Taipei on Thursday, with the Pacers winning. The Pacers jumped out to an early lead Sunday, ending the first period ahead 33-29 thanks to some good work offensively by center Roy Hibbert, who had a good trip and seems to be regaining his confidence. He had 14 first-quarter points, making 6-of-7 shots and two free throws in the only period where starters on both teams saw most of the action. The Pacers led by as many as 11 points in the second quarter, but the game turned late in the period after Pacers All-Star Danny Granger, who ..."

Nuggets' Anthony shows accuracy after offseason work

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October 12

Denver Post

columnist Benjamin Hochman

"In this October of Josh McDaniels' fist pumps, Carlos Gonzalez's hit parades, Tyler Hansen's redshirt-pulling and Matt Duchene's hype-believing, it's easy to forget about Carmelo Anthony, who plays forward for the Nuggets. In this preseason — and, I know, I know, it's preseason — Melo has been shooting splendidly, which is a testament to his hard work with his personal coach this summer and, I hope, a harbinger that he will shoot effectively and efficiently in 2009-10. (Last season, Anthony shot 44.3 percent from the field, his lowest mark since 2004-05.) This preseason, Melo has had a couple of melodic performances, notably Sunday in Beijing, seemingly his second home. Playing at the same ..."

Anthony's summer anything but mellow

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September 27

Denver Post

"Carmelo Anthony drew imaginary zig-zagging lines in the air to illustrate his point. He's bounced across the country more in other summers, he insisted. This summer, he said, was more relaxing than taxing. But it was one enormous challenge in balancing a laundry list of commitments and keeping in shape for the upcoming season. By all rights, Anthony - 15 pounds lighter - navigated a heavy summer travel schedule and training with Magellan-like precision. It wasn't easy. "Of course, it was tough," Anthony said. "A lot of commitments, they want you in the morning. It's kind of hard to get workouts in, but we found a way. Whether it was 6:30 in the morning or 9 at night, we got it in." From ..."

Melo confident front office will help roster

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July 8

Denver Post

"A tanned Carmelo Anthony strode into the Gold Crown Field House on Tuesday, a beneficiary of the sun in Malaga, Spain, where he hosted the World of Basket Camp last week. He hopes he soon will be the beneficiary of a Nuggets roster improvement as well. "You know what you have to do and what you need and what you think you need to get over that hump," Anthony said. "I'm pretty sure the front office is talking about that, looking at that right now. And hopefully they can make some good decisions over the next couple of weeks." It started Tuesday night when center-forward Chris Andersen agreed to re-sign with the Nuggets. Today is the first full day NBA free agents can sign, and Andersen was ..."

Anthony rises into high-status ranks

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May 30

Denver Post

"If Carmelo Anthony felt the aftermath of the Game 6 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers, a humbling 119-92 defeat that eliminated the Nuggets from the Western Conference finals, was too soon to wonder about next year, it was because he had a hard time letting go of this one. Long after the final horn had sounded, Anthony sat in the Denver locker room, still in uniform. Eventually he took off his jersey, tossing it to a clubhouse attendant with a curse. But if the defeat wasn't quite the present Anthony had hoped for on his 25th birthday, he'll perhaps acknowledge how far he's come this season. Or even the last month. Chided entering the postseason for being unable to move his team beyond the ..."

Anthony seeing hard times and plenty of Lakers

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May 28

Denver Post

"Carmelo Anthony is finding that the bigger star you are, the harder you're played. The Nuggets star forward scored 31 points in his team's Game 5 loss, the third time he's gone over 30 points in this series - but he did it on 9-of-23 shooting. The stomach virus was no longer an issue. His ankle is sore but isn't an overriding factor in his performance. However, the Lakers are. "The Lakers ain't going to let me beat them. That's just the way it is," Anthony said. "Every time I get it, I'm seeing two, three, four people at a time. So I take it as a sign of respect. If they were out there and backing off me and not even worrying about me, then I take it as disrespect." According to his ..."

Melo feels well enough to play

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May 27

Denver Post

"Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony pronounced himself fit and ready to play tonight against the Lakers in Los Angeles. "I feel good," Anthony said Tuesday. He played Game 4 of the Western Conference finals Monday with what he called a stomach virus. Anthony finished with 15 points, hitting only 3-of-16 shots. He was 9-of-11 on free throws. Nuggets coach George Karl said he didn't expect Anthony to have any issues tonight in Game 5. Anthony said he has not needed more IVs. He had one at halftime Monday. And no more IVs is just fine with Anthony. "I can't deal with them needles," he said. Jones' foul upgraded."

Melo fizzles after fast start

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May 24

Denver Post

"Carmelo Anthony sat in the Nuggets locker room an hour after Game 3, leaning forward in a black leather chair, cellphone pressed to his ear. It was a very Clark Kent-esque scene from player who had played so much like Superman until Saturday night. Even the greatest of stars have bad nights at the office, and Anthony's third Western Conference finals game went from good to bad to worse. A game that started off with the appearance of another 30-point effort fizzled fast for Anthony in a bevy of missed shots. After a first quarter in which he scored 14 points, Anthony's night went as such: four points in the second quarter, zero points in the third quarter and three points in the fourth ..."

Anthony is taking his game to another level

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May 23

San Francisco Chronicle

"Carmelo Anthony just went through his most significant rite of passage when it comes to superstardom. The silky scorer, never one to turn down a shot, knew it was time for more responsibility. So by the end of Tuesday's series opener, he put himself on the line defensively and added the toughest assignment around - guarding Kobe Bryant. Basketball fans everywhere are better off because of it. It's been just two games in these Western Conference finals between the Lakers and Nuggets, and Anthony has already matched Bryant in the points, theatrics, and leadership department. It was Anthony who went mano-a-mano with Bryant at times as the Nuggets nearly pulled off a Game 1 upset. It was ..."

Anthony elevates game

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May 23

Denver Post

"When his playing days are over, Carmelo Anthony has a clear view of how he wants to be remembered in Denver. "I want to be one of the best ever," the Nuggets' star forward said. "I want to be one of the best to ever touch down in town. When you think about that, you think about the (John) Elways, and you think about what Alex English did, and David Thompson did, without even winning a championship. So imagine if I can bring a championship or a couple of championships to that town, the mark that I would actually leave?" Anthony is off to a great start in the Western Conference finals, with back-to-back sensational games in Los Angeles as the series, tied 1-1, moves to Denver tonight. His ..."

Melo: Nuggets will respond

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May 21

Denver Post

"Thirty minutes after the Nuggets lost Game 1 at the Staples Center on Tuesday night, some Denver players were laughing it up, cracking jokes in the locker room, putting the loss behind them. Wednesday was more of the same. If the Nuggets are worried about this series, they sure aren't showing it. Injuries to J.R. Smith (calf), Kenyon Martin (finger) and Renaldo Balkman (ankle) have the Nuggets a little more banged up than normal, but there is no panic in the Denver camp. The Nuggets' goal in the first two games of the Western Conference finals was winning back home-court advantage, and that's doable with a victory over the Lakers in Game 2 tonight. "Oh, we're going to respond. I guarantee ..."

Lakers star Bryant makes strong statement about Anthony

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May 21

L.A. Daily News

"First, Carmelo Anthony of the Denver Nuggets got scalding hot in the opening quarter, then the Lakers' Trevor Ariza got into foul trouble in the third period, and that's how Kobe Bryant got stuck trying to "wrestle with a bear," as he put it, in the fourth. Anthony scored 39 points in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals, but Bryant scored one more than Anthony. Denver finished with 103 points, but the Lakers had two more than the Nuggets on Tuesday night at Staples Center. Less than 24 hours after their compelling one-on-one battle down the stretch, Bryant couldn't stop talking about Anthony's brute strength on the court. And get this: Bryant said Anthony is stronger than LeBron James. ..."

Nuggets' Anthony keeps up his end

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May 20

L.A. Daily News

"Carmelo Anthony prefers to look forward. It's just so hard for everyone else not to look in the rearview mirror. During four regular-season games against the Lakers this season, Anthony was pedestrian, averaging 14.5 points per game. The playoffs clearly bring out the best in Anthony, who scored 39 points and was upstaged by only one man - Kobe Bryant, who had a game-high 40 points and took over the game in the fourth quarter. Anthony appeared to have done more than enough to lead the Nuggets to an upset Tuesday in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals. He made seven of his first eight shots and scored 16 points in the first quarter. The Lakers threw everyone and the kitchen sink at him ..."

Anthony and Nuggets Finally Break Through

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May 19

Washington Post

columnist Michael Wilbon

"It's rare that an NBA team catches fire late and threatens to run away with a conference, perhaps even the league. But the Denver Nuggets are making such a threat. Suddenly, as the conference championship series begin, the Nuggets look every bit the equal of the favored Lakers and Cavaliers. It's Denver that's got scorers, rebounders, defenders, depth, the requisite floor general and a coach with NBA Finals experience. It's Denver that's won 22 of its last 27 games, Denver that had the best field goal defense of any team in the Western Conference entering the playoffs, Denver that's playing with a purpose and confidence that leads you to say, "Tell me again why the Lakers are supposed to ..."

Melo vs. Kobe matchup has history

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May 19

Denver Post

"On Monday at Staples Center, after the Nuggets arrived in preparation for Game 1 of the Western Conference finals, Carmelo Anthony suggested that no two teammates on Team USA became closer at the Beijing Olympics than him and Kobe Bryant. "That's my man," said Anthony, who then flashed a smile. "But I don't know him this week." Anthony's Nuggets practiced Monday in preparation for Bryant's Lakers, before the two will face off in Tuesday's Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals. "We're very confident," Anthony said. "Not cocky, but confident." Anthony will spend some time guarding the Lakers' all-star, and Anthony said both players learned a lot from one another in Beijing. Melo picked up ..."

Lakers' Bryant, Denver's Anthony bonded by country

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May 19

L.A. Daily News

"Kobe Bryant and the Denver Nuggets' Carmelo Anthony forged a bond over the past two summers. They were united under the red, white and blue flag, members of the U.S. Olympic basketball team that sought to reclaim the gold medal in Beijing. Bryant, Anthony and the rest of the Americans were successful, defeating Bryant's Lakers teammate Pau Gasol and Spain in the gold-medal game last August. Bryant and Anthony have remained close. "He's like a brother to me, truly," Bryant said Monday. "I love him. We spent a lot of time together this summer. He was the one I was closest with on the team. I'm just really happy for him." Anthony and the Nuggets are in the midst of their first extended ..."

Anthony not fazed by his lack of points against Lakers

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May 18

Denver Post

"Forward Carmelo Anthony spent an entire season trying to crack the code to the Lakers' defense without much success. Against Los Angeles, he averaged 14.5 points on 32.8 percent shooting from the field and 20 percent from the 3-point line. His turnovers in the four games equaled his jersey number (15). But none of that, he said Sunday, is cause for concern in the Nuggets' upcoming Western Conference finals series against the Lakers. "I'm not worried about that," Anthony said. "They are going to do what they are going to do. They're going to send two, three people at me. They are going to shift the whole defense on me. I just continue doing what I've been doing throughout this whole ..."

Melo lifts his game, status

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May 14

Denver Post

"Thirty-four seconds remained when Carmelo Anthony walked off the court for the last time Wednesday night. He faced the crowd and clapped. The crowd clapped back. The rocky times through six up-and-down seasons seem like a distant memory, along with the cornrows and the first-round playoff failures. All that was left was adoration. Anthony is living his Kevin Garnett moment. The playoffs had been an albatross for the Boston Celtics star while he was a member of the Minnesota Timberwolves. It took eight tries for Garnett to get out of the first round. But when he finally did, he took the magic carpet ride all the way to the Western Conference finals. Anthony's sixth time has been his charm. ..."

All-NBA honors for Chauncey, Carmelo

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May 14

Denver Post

"For the first time in Nuggets history, two players were named to an all-NBA team in the same season. Guard Chauncey Billups and forward Carmelo Anthony were named to the third team Wednesday, the third time each player made an all-NBA team. "It's the honor in the league," Nuggets coach George Karl said. "Making all-NBA is the status of acceptance, the status of 'you've arrived.' " Billups became the sixth Nuggets player to make an all-NBA team, joining Anthony, David Thompson, Alex English, Fat Lever and Antonio McDyess, one of Billups' closest friends in basketball. On the all-NBA first team, Dallas forward Dirk Nowitzki was joined by fellow forward LeBron James of Cleveland, guards Kobe ..."

Co-stars: Dirk Nowitzki, Carmelo Anthony putting on a show

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May 13

Dallas Morning News

"The Mavericks' season has reached a point where they must figure out what they believe in. Themselves? Their abilities? Their grit and determination to beat the odds that remain stacked against them in this playoff series? All worthy beliefs. But of all the things they can hang their hat on in Game 5 tonight at the Pepsi Center, one is beyond all others. Trust in Dirk. In Game 4, Dirk Nowitzki and Carmelo Anthony put on the sort of show that doesn't happen very often. Only three times in history, actually. That's how many times two players have scored 40 or more points in the same playoff game. If you were at American Airlines Center late Monday night, save that mental snapshot. ..."

Co-stars: Dallas Mavericks' Nowitzki, Denver's Anthony putting on a show

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May 13

Dallas Morning News

"The Mavericks' season has reached a point where they must figure out what they believe in. Themselves? Their abilities? Their grit and determination to beat the odds that remain stacked against them in this playoff series? All worthy beliefs. But of all the things they can hang their hat on in Game 5 tonight at the Pepsi Center, one is beyond all others. Trust in Dirk. In Game 4, Dirk Nowitzki and Carmelo Anthony put on the sort of show that doesn't happen very often. Only three times in history, actually. That's how many times two players have scored 40 or more points in the same playoff game. If you were at American Airlines Center late Monday night, save that mental snapshot. ..."

Melo showing better poise

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May 11

Denver Post

"The greatest day of his NBA life was turning into night, and while Carmelo Anthony dined Saturday at Dallas' Nobu Restaurant with close friends, his BlackBerry buzzed with a message from another. It was an e-mail from LeBron James. "He told me it was a great shot, keep it going, and you still have unfinished business to take care of," the Nuggets' Anthony said. Hours earlier, Anthony hit the game-winning 3-pointer with a tick left on the clock, propelling Denver to a 3-0 lead in the Western Conference semifinals. It was a symbolic shot, cementing Anthony as a clutch postseason performer - not just some dude who can score 40-plus against the Timberwolves. And his fans from Denver to ..."

Melo's shot wins Game 3

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May 10

Denver Post

"The locker room was empty, except for the hero and his 2-year-old, the father preparing to celebrate his historic shot, the son playing with Dad's diamond ring, oblivious to what just happened. Someday, Kiyan Anthony will see what happened, perhaps, as his father suggested, in a commercial. In Denver's 106-105 dramatic and controversial victory against the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday, Carmelo Anthony swished a 3-pointer with one second left, giving Denver a seemingly insurmountable 3-0 lead in the Western Conference semifinals. "Biggest shot of my life," Anthony said. "I don't get nervous; those are moments that I live for. Crunch time, we need a bucket, and I was going to make a play." ..."

Melo forced to save his best for last

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May 4

Denver Post

"On Sunday, Carmelo Anthony starred as The Closer. He had no choice. The start to the first conference semifinal of his career was one he would rather forget. Foul trouble kept Melo on the bench for much of the first half and part of the third quarter. But he took over in the fourth, when he scored 14 of his 23 total points as the Nuggets broke Game 1 open against Dallas. "The first half, I kind of thought some calls could have gone either way," said Anthony, who had three fouls by early in the second quarter. "But that's just the way they were calling it. There's really nothing I could do. Was I kind of upset and frustrated by that? Yeah. But I knew I had a whole second half to go out ..."

Anthony overcomes fouls, slow start

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May 4

Denver Post

"Sunday, Carmelo Anthony starred as The Closer. He had no choice. The start to the first conference semifinal of his career was one he'd rather forget. Foul trouble strapped Melo to the bench for much of the first half and part of the third quarter. But he took over in the fourth, scoring 14 of his 23 points as the Nuggets broke Game 1 open against Dallas. "The first half, I kind of thought some calls could have went either way," said Anthony, who had three fouls by early in the second quarter. "But that's just the way they was calling it. There's really nothing I could do. Was I kind of upset and frustrated by that? Yeah. But I knew I had a whole second half to go out there and play and ..."

Anthony isn't felled by fouls vs. Dallas Mavericks

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May 4

Dallas Morning News

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Mature Melo earns his cred

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May 1

Denver Post

columnist Terry Frei

"After the Nuggets closed out New Orleans on Wednesday night, Carmelo Anthony said the Pepsi Center still was his house . . . and Chauncey Billups had just moved in. It was one of those remarks that, especially in print, can be misinterpreted. Anthony wasn't jealously claiming "it's all about me" primacy. He was expressing a star's attitude within a team concept, and also teasing the veteran point guard whose arrival was so crucial to the Nuggets' transformation from a 50-win team that never was more than an ersatz contender in the Western Conference to a bona fide threat to the Lakers. That's my interpretation of Anthony's words, anyway. When I asked Billups about it Thursday, he said ..."

Bruised elbow won't stop Carmelo

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April 27

Denver Post

"Carmelo Anthony's right-elbow contusion is "just a nasty bruise," according to trainer Jim Gillen, and Anthony said he will "be ready to go" in tonight's Game 4 against the Hornets. Anthony injured the elbow in Game 3 but played through the pain en route to 25 points. On Sunday, he received treatment, including ultrasound on his elbow, which was bruised on the radial head, Gillen said. "I got a couple treatments," Anthony said. "I feel pretty good, though. I'll be ready to go." The coach and the champ. In New Orleans on Saturday night, two of the men under the most pressure met up for a beer. Nuggets coach George Karl is friends with PGA golfer Jerry Kelly, who entered Sunday leading the ..."

Hornets have room to improve, but so does Nuggets' Anthony

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April 22

InDenverTimes.com

"Low-scoring playoff games traditionally haven't elicited giddiness from Carmelo Anthony. There was a 10-point game at San Antonio in 2005. Anthony's Nuggets lost 104-76. Then there was the disaster among disasters. That was the night Anthony shot 1-of-16 and scored two points against Minnesota in 2004, although surprisingly Denver lost just 84-82. But the Nuggets forward has had few worries since shooting 4-of-12 and scoring just 13 points in Game 1 Sunday against New Orleans. Judging by his mood since then, you'd have thought he scored 33. "If I can score 13 points and we win by 30, I'll take that,'' an upbeat Anthony said after practice Tuesday about Sunday's Game 1 win. While the ..."

Commissioner full of praise for Melo, Billups

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April 20

Denver Post

"Carmelo Anthony has played the best basketball of his career this season and has increasingly picked up praise for his improvement. Sunday, NBA commissioner David Stern added his name to that list. "We've had a number of conversations over the years, in a positive way," Stern said. "I find him to be an engaging young man. At some point I told him he's got to run out of cousins eventually. But I enjoy him, I enjoyed his Olympic experience, I enjoy what he's doing for the team now and the place he's taking." Anthony averaged 22.8 points, 6.8 rebounds and 3.4 assists during the season. He wasn't the only Nuggets player Stern has had his eye on. "Chauncey Billups has always been a favorite of ..."

Anthony: Nuggets will oust Hornets in seven games

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April 19

InDenverTimes.com

"There are plenty of NBA playoff predictions being made. ESPN is doing it. So is NBA.com. Carmelo Anthony now has made one. "In seven,'' Anthony said of his team doing away with New Orleans in seven games in a West first-round series that starts Sunday. Anthony's prediction came about when INDenverTimes asked him Saturday about a Friday quote in which Anthony said "probably only about one or two people out there are giving us a shot.'' Anthony was told a lot of people are picking the Nuggets to beat the Hornets. "I don't believe that,'' Anthony said, before adding, "I'm picking us.'' Anthony then was asked in how many games. After making his prediction that the series will go the distance, ..."

Melo: Apply pressure

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April 19

Denver Post

"Rosewood Crescent Hotel in Dallas is one of those impossibly opulent spots - six stars, if you will - with a 22,000-square-foot spa, a high-end sushi restaurant and two-story suites. On March 26, the day after a game at New Orleans, the Nuggets' starters had a day off at the posh hotel, but the reserves had practice at Southern Methodist University. After the team bus pulled up at SMU, the usual suspects walked off - Renaldo Balkman, Johan Petro, Steven Hunter - but then, like a star cameo in a movie, out popped Carmelo Anthony. "It just lifted everybody," assistant coach Chad Iske said of Anthony's presence. "It turned into a great workout - one of our best practices and one of our best ..."

Anthony looks back one year after DUI arrest

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April 14

InDenverTimes.com

"Last spring, Carmelo Anthony was shown in a mug shot and the Nuggets were a postseason long shot. This season, it's a completely different picture for the Nuggets. It was one year ago Tuesday that Anthony was arrested on suspicious of drunk driving shortly before the playoffs. The incident was a distraction, and the Nuggets soon were crushed 4-0 by the Lakers in the first round. Now, though, the Nuggets are a carefree bunch as they prepare for the playoffs. Anthony, playing the best all-around ball of his career, was reminded of the difference following his team's Northwest Division-clinching 118-98 win Monday night over Sacramento. "Everything is so much clearer going into the playoffs, ..."