Pelicans’ Anthony Davis’ similarities to Carmelo Anthony: Disgruntled Stars

On court comparison

The knocks on Carmelo Anthony were his reliance on a strong mid-range game and below average defense. That game used to work, but that shot is no longer mathematically successful in today’s NBA unless your team is coached by Gregg Popovich. Anthony lapsed on defense and was too ball dominate for his teammates to feel invested in the game’s outcome.

Anthony Davis never was a vocal leader and has complained openly about his teammates lack of talent. Davis is slightly more athletic, but also a touch more injury prone. Many small knocks have sent Davis to the locker room. Often, possessions went for naught as Davis took another mid-range jumper.

For a full season, this is not a great shot chart.

If that chart did not have the player’s name on top, many a NBA fan would have lost a bet on who owned those shots. Looking at both Davis and Anthony’s per game stats show they put up the same points numbers with about the same team results. Davis is better at the rim, Anthony is better from outside the paint.

Neither have attended a Finals except as spectators. Save for one series sweep, Davis has done little in the postseason. Without that one great Nuggets run, Melo is barely a mention in the previous era’s star debate.

Davis ran into the Warriors, yes. He also grabs more boards and has better defensive stats than Melo. However, Davis does not want to play in the five spot. It could be to avoid more bumps and bruises, though Davis has argued it’s a better showcase of his talent to use him at the four. His shot chart and off-ball work suggest he should be at the five if he were playing with a team-first mentality.

Davis wants to dictate not only his team but his position. It took some coaxing, but Melo finally relented on his positional role. Once Carmelo went to spacing the floor at the four, he hit .369 from three as a Knick.

Davis has shot .314 from three in his career. That’s great for a center pulling down a dozen boards along swatting a couple shots. Without that effort and defensive value, you’ve got a worse shooting Brook Lopez on double the volume.

Those stats at the four are great, no doubt. All-Star worthy even. They also have been hollow, like most fans view Davis’ words. the leadership behind the numbers has been lacking. The numbers are there because the player has the individual talent, not because of any team cohesiveness.