For the past ten years, Knicks fans have been waiting for the next Patrick Ewing, the next “big star” to arrive in New York. Their prayers were partially answered in the summer of 2010 when the Knicks picked up six-time NBA All-Star Amar’e Stoudemire. Still, one man cannot win a championship. With the help of God’s grace, and the brains of Donnie Walsh, the Knicks will be able to become one step closer to winning a championship by acquiring Denver Nuggets Carmelo Anthony; while also ending the months long Carmelo-drama that enthralled fans, analysts, coaches, teams, players, and anyone that knows anything about basketball.
Why do the Knicks need Carmelo? Why do they need his 25 PPG AND 7.6 RPB? Because he’s outstanding, that’s why! He averages more points and rebounds than every player on the NYK roster except one (Stoudemire). He is a five-time NBA All-star, and has won two bronze and two gold medals with the U.S. Olympics team, and those are only a few bullets on his long resume’ after only seven years in the NBA. What do all these number and awards mean for those who are basketball-impaired – this guy is in his prime and has consistently proven that he will go down as one of the greats.
With the Knicks sitting uncomfortably comfortable at 28-26 during the All-Star weekend break in L.A., the question in L.A. this weekend is “Where will Melo end up?” The answer should be “the New York Knicks”. Why? They need him. If they want to be a serious contender for a championship, if they work their way up from a barely .500 team fighting for a bottom playoff spot in the East, if they want to be able to face up to teams like the Miami Heat and Boston Celtics, they need to put Carmelo Anthony in a blue and orange uniform.
Knicks fans are tired. They are tired of their season ending before the playoffs start, tired of heartbreaking losses, tired of “almost”. It’s “now” or never. They were burned by LeBron James and Chris Bosh, and are constantly burned by horrible owned James Dolan, but in this instance, the fans are begging Carmelo Anthony to join forces with Amar’e Stoudemire and be their savior. Since the days of Patrick Ewing and the “almost” championship in 1999, Knicks fans won’t be able to take another heartbreaking “almost”.
Why do the Knicks need Carmelo? For the same reason that the Lakers need Kobe and Gasol and the same reason that the Heat need LeBron and Wade, because they are what wins championship. They are players that can take their game and the players that surround them to higher levels. One man can’t do it all, Amar’e needs a little help, and Carmelo Anthony can bring a lot of help and more.
