It’s Apples, Orangemen as Far as NBA’s Concerned

Syracuse freshman sensation Carmelo Anthony may be the best player in college basketball, but his NBA future may not be as golden as predicted.

As the versatile leader of the Orangemen, Anthony has emerged as a potential high NBA lottery pick with his play this season. At 6 feet 8, Anthony can handle the ball like a point guard and play in the post like a power forward. And he makes it look so easy.

Anthony’s smooth style features an array solid offensive skills that has his NBA stock at an all-time high since leading Syracuse into today’s Final Four semifinal against Texas at the Superdome in New Orleans.

But does that mean Anthony is destined for a great pro career? Not if history repeats itself.

The Boeheim curse -- Syracuse’s Jim Boeheim is one of college basketball’s most successful coaches, but his best players rarely seem to live up to their billings in the NBA. Billy Owens, John Wallace, Pearl Washington, Rony Seikaly and Sherman Douglas have had disappointing pro careers after being All-World players for the Orangemen.

One reason is Boeheim’s trademark 2-3 zone defense. When played effectively, the 2-3 match-up zone looks a lot like a trapping man-on-man defense that takes advantage of tall, long-armed players.

But the defense also covers up poor individual defensive skills because players are defending an area of the court instead of an opponent. That’s been a detriment for many former Syracuse players in the NBA and may also be a problem for Anthony.

With a body similar to Boston’s Antoine Walker, Anthony plays with the same inconsistent defensive intensity as the former Kentucky standout.

In the NBA, Anthony would likely have to defend small forwards. That may be an issue because of his lack of lateral quickness. It will be important for Anthony, whose body is not as soft as it looks, to work hard in the weight room and on his foot speed.

Anthony also has the size to match up against power forwards, but he’ll have to get stronger. Because he doesn’t bang too well against physical big men underneath the basket, Anthony may have some problems at the next level.

Freshman hero, NBA bust -- If Anthony leads the Orangemen to this year’s NCAA championship, the accomplishment may be the highlight of his basketball career.

From Louisville’s Pervis Ellison to Kentucky’s Ron Mercer to UCLA’s Toby Bailey, the NCAA tournament was their moment in the spotlight. After outstanding Final Four efforts as freshmen, each player had nondescript professional careers.

Too much hype too early can do that to a player. But not always. Not for Arizona’s Mike Bibby and North Carolina’s Michael Jordan, who both played leadership roles as freshmen on championship teams and later became NBA All-Stars.

Because Anthony is the go-to player for Syracuse, this connects him more to Jordan or Bibby than to Ellison, Mercer or Bailey. When the game is on the line, it’s no secret that the Orangemen count on Anthony. That’s the way it was for Jordan and Bibby, but not with the other freshman Final Four heroes mentioned. It was easier for Ellison, Mercer and Bailey to step up because they were not considered leaders of their championship teams.

New Age player -- At 18, Anthony is a member of basketball’s new breed. Playing against NBA-level players will not be much of a jump for Anthony, who grew up watching Kevin Garnett, Kobe Bryant and Tracy McGrady come of age in the league. His game already shows it.

Anthony, who led the USA Junior team in scoring at the FIBA World Championships last summer, can get his shot off against anyone. He has fluid dribbling skills, a good first step and the willingness to use his size over smaller defenders. In Syracuse’s victory over Oklahoma in the East Regional final, Anthony dominated with knifing drives to the basket and explosive post moves. And when the Sooners took away the middle, Anthony slid outside and knocked down perimeter shots with a jumper better than most current NBA players have.

Another strength for Anthony is his ability to run the floor. It’s not uncommon to see him grab a rebound, start a fastbreak and score off an offensive rebound for the Orangemen. He has done that often during the postseason in averaging 17 points and 8.8 rebounds while making 33% of his three-point attempts.

Anthony also understands the game. His ability to be creative and still get the ball to a teammate at the right time is a gift. That’s what sets him apart from many of today’s young American players.