With the New York Knicks at the top of the Eastern Conference with their best record in years, there have been murmurs around the league that Carmelo Anthony is deserving of being league MVP.
Really?
Anthony has received praise from analyst, coaches and peers for his outstanding play thus far, but to be considered to be MVP so early in the season might be quiet a stretch.
Anthony is averaging 27.7 points per game, second to Los Angeles Lakers' Kobe Bryant with 29.2, and his Knicks are at a 16-5 record. Sure he's changed some facets to his game, but that's what he's supposed to do after being in the league for 9 seasons.
Anthony is finally playing like the player he's always should've been playing as, showing hustle and leadership on the floor.
For years everybody knew he could score the basketball, but now he's fighting for rebounds and being more vocal on the floor.
After winning the NCAA National Championship in the 2002-03 season for Syracuse University, he was perceived to be one of the bright stars coming out of that years' draft class. Since then he's been the only player worth mentioning to be drafted in the top five and still not having won a ring, with LeBron James and Chris Bosh each winning their first with the Miami Heat last season.
Now that James has his, Anthony is now looked at as the guy who can't seem to get it done.
Now I'm not saying that's what's motivating him because only he knows that, but I believe the system implemented by coach Mike Woodson is the reason why he's now thriving as a player.
Woodson is a known defensive minded coach and he's instilled that mentality into Anthony, as well as the belief that he's one of the best players out there.
The Knicks are flowing all through Anthony right now and that's nice, but what happens when Amar'e Stoudemire comes back?
Also we're still in the first half of the season and things don't really begin to buckle down until after the All-Star game.
With players like James, Kevin Durant and Chris Paul, who are all on top teams as well, it's too early to be naming Anthony league MVP.
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