Durant's great but 'Melo is better

GAME TIME: Nuggets 119, Thunder 90

The Pepsi Arena in Denver isn’t exactly the OK Corral, but it was still the scene of a shootout between two of the NBA’s top guns: Kevin Durant, the league’s second-leading scorer, versus Carmelo Anthony, the third best point-maker.      

Along with the final score, the scoring stats of each player affirm that ‘Melo won this particular faceoff.

He registered 30 points on 11-for-19 shooting in only 31 minutes, while Durant posted 19 points on 5-for-14 shooting during his 26 minutes of daylight.

While one ballgame represents only 1/82 of the regular season, it nevertheless showcased sufficient proof that Anthony is still more evolved than Durant — which is only to be expected since this is the former’s seventh season as a pro as against the latter’s 3rd NBA campaign.

Durant's advantages

• At 6-foot-9, 225 pounds, the young man is longer and leaner. Indeed, his reach and quickness constitute his main tools on defense.

• He has a much quicker release than does ‘Melo, and has better range.

• He can stop on a dime and pull going either way.

• From baseline-to-baseline, Durant is probably two feet faster.

• At age 21, there’s more time for Durant to improve his game.

Anthony's advantages

• ‘Melo’s most significant edge is his power.

• Unlike Durant, he’s strong enough to set meaningful screens. In the game at hand, several of Anthony’s screens created situations that led to easy shots for him and his teammates.

• Unlike Durant, Anthony is a dynamic post-up player who can bull his way to the hoop in heavy traffic.

• If his shot release is a mite slower than Durant’s, ‘Melo can use a step-back move to create enough space to launch his springers.

• When he plays with an open mind and isn’t determined to fire away every time he can see the rim, Anthony is a much better passer, e.g. his five assists as against none for Durant.

The bottom line is that KD is essentially an exceptional shooter, while Anthony's versatility makes him an exceptional scorer.

How Durant gets his shots

He’ll stop and pop in fastbreaks and early offense, even though the Thunder might have the defense temporarily outnumbered.

He’ll start a sequence near the hoop and then run to the top off a pair of staggered screens. Or else he’ll run a circle route from the right baseline to a high spot on the left wing, likewise utilizing several screens. In either case, Durant is looking to take advantage of any defensive switches — shooting over smalls or taking bigs off the dribble.

Occasionally, he’ll have the ball on a string while he plays peek-a-boo with a high screen until he can find an open space.

When he’s on the weak side, he’ll drift toward the ball, always raising his hand to make himself available for a kick-out or a reversal pass.

How Anthony gets his shots

He’ll be the recipient of a cross-screen and then assume a position in the low-post. Or he’ll set a cross-screen himself and then use an elbow screen to pop to the top.

For the most part, however, ‘Melo will simply be isolated on one wing or the other and create his own offense.

Defense anybody?

Anthony muscled Jeff Green out of position in the low post and later created a turnover when he slapped the ball out of Green’s hands. Occasionally he’ll overplay and deny entry passes to a wingman. More often than not, ‘Melo does look to box out and prevent his man from competing for rebounds.

Overall, Anthony can be an above-average defender whenever he decides to focus on this aspect of the game.

On the other hand, Durant studiously avoids contact. Several times he attempted to circle or to front a posted-up opponent with no success whatsoever. Even so, his length did enable him to block three shots. But he never attempted to seal his man from the boards.

And whenever Durant was forced to collide with an opponent, he was the one who bounced away.

Since both of these guys shoot just about the same number of free throws from game to game (roughly 9.8 each), and since Anthony takes more shots (21.5 to 20.4), why, then, does Durant have a higher points-per-game average?

Because he’s a more efficient shooter (47.9 percent to Anthony’s 45.7 percent), and because he attempts more treys (3.9 per game compared to 2.7 for ‘Melo).

What might the future hold for these two dynamic scorers?

It should be remembered that, despite his veteran status, Anthony is still about ten weeks short of his 26th birthday and remains a work in progress. Hopefully, he’ll learn to expand his vision — especially after being so rudely defensed by Ron Artest just a few days ago — and become a more willing and alert passer. By so doing, his scoring might diminish, but the Nuggets will be a better ballclub.

Still only 21, Durant must haunt the weight room during the offseason and put on at least 10 pounds of muscle. This will expand his scoring opportunities, improve his defense and help him avoid injuries.

If Durant indeed gets stronger in the near future, by the time he plays in his seventh season he could easily become a much more potent scorer than Anthony is now.

For the time being, though, ‘Melo is the more complete scorer and all-around player.

STRAIGHT SHOOTING

Most diehard fans are eager to find some consolation when their favorite teams lose close ballgames. It’s almost deemed to be a badge of honor to get beaten by 1-3 points by a team with a far better record.

These fans’ fallback position is usually that the winners were lucky.

If only this guy would have made that free throw… If only that guy hadn’t missed this layup … If only the ref had made the correct call …

The truth, however, is that believing in “ifs” is delusional.

Moreover, it’s virtually always the case that a team loses a close game because the players failed to do what they had to do in order to win. There’s also no doubt that, whether from the field or from the stripe, the difference between makes and misses is not accidental.

For sure, even the greatest players in history miss win-or-lose shots but, whatever the outcome, there are always several factors that must be considered:

Did the team play hard from the get-go? If so, they’d be much more likely to be successful in the clutch.

Or did they just try to ratchet up their effort in the endgame? If so, the odds of last-minute failures increase.

Did everybody properly execute the deciding play(s)? Were the screens sturdy, the passes accurate, the defensive rotations timely? If one player makes a mistake, the entire sequence is likely to be out of sync and doomed to failure.

Was the shooter ready and eager to shoot? Was he relaxed and confident on the foul line?

Did the players truly believe in their coach? Did they believe in each other?

Were the players too distracted by what the refs would or would not call?

There are no moral victories in the NBA. Moreover, losing too many tight games is one sure sign of an underachieving ballclub. Indeed, the release, recommitment and refreshening that can result from getting blown out can eventually be more positive than losing a game that could have been won if somebody didn’t do something they were supposed to do.

To quote Branch Rickey: “Luck is the residue of design.”

VOX POPULI

How would you compare Jason Kidd in his prime with Rajon Rondo as he is today? — Ken, Australia

Rondo, of course, is much faster and quicker than Kidd ever was, which is why he has an easier time getting to the rim even in half-court sets. For the same reasons, Rondo is better at attacking opponents’ dribbles and passes and can zip his way to many more breakaway layups.

J-Kidd was stronger but also had quick feet, and was therefore the vastly superior defender. Give Kidd a big edge in rebounding, too.

Although Kidd could occasionally post up a smaller opponent for profit, Rondo’s speedier crossovers (going either way) make him the better finisher.

These days, Kidd is an extremely dangerous 3-point shooter, but even back then his long-distance dialing was more consistent than Rondo's.

Still, the biggest differences between these two stellar point guards is evidenced in their respective passwork and decision-making. Kidd saw the floor, made judicious passes (short, long or lob) in every circumstance, avoided taking ultra-high-risk gambles, implemented his coaches’ game plans and could maintain his focus at levels that Rondo has yet to approach.

Because of his warp-speed dramatics, Rondo makes more spectacular plays. But, overall, J-Kidd is a surefire Hall-of-Famer while Rondo is still learning his trade.

TRAVELS WITH CHARLEY

Precisely 15 years ago today, my wife Daia and I had our first date — and we had a magical relationship from the get-go.

While I certainly value her beauty, intelligence, honesty, courage, patience, sense of humor, spirit of adventure and compassion, I am also incredibly appreciative of her blissful ignorance of virtually everything that happens in the world of sport.

During our initial encounter — dinner at her house — I discovered that she really and truly did not know the difference between a baseball, a basketball and a football. She’d rather read a book that dealt with any aspect of psychological awareness; or listen to a Gregorian chant, than watch the seventh game of a championship playoff. Choosing to be on the outskirts of popular culture, she tended to confuse Michael Jordan with Michael Jackson. And wasn’t ashamed to do so!

Since I was a solid citizen of Sports America, this new gestalt was refreshing.

After 15 years, she now has a fundamental understanding of hoops and can differentiate Shaq from Kobe from LeBron. Even so, mindless celebrity worshipping still makes her cringe.

Along the way, she’s visited with Phil Jackson, had dinner with Tex Winter and his wife Nancy, been introduced to the likes of Julius Erving, Scottie Pippen, Luc Longley, Steve Kerr and others. But more than their fame and their sporting accomplishments, Daia judges these folks by their capacity to care and be curious about others, by their essential humanness, and mostly by their sincerity.

Even after all these years, Daia’s angle of vision still has the capacity to surprise and delight me. And in so many ways, she’s helped me to be able to help myself — which is the best gift that anybody can give to anybody else.

But perhaps the biggest surprise occurred not long ago when we both chanced to be on a basketball court at the Kingston YMCA. That’s when Daia unveiled a low-slung and somewhat side-winding, but remarkably accurate one-handed push shot!

Happy anniversary, sweetheart.

If you have a question or comment for Charley Rosen, please email charleyrosen@gmail.com and he may respond in a future column.