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Minnesota Timberwolves: The Pros and Cons of Carmelo Anthony

By Christian Anton

Feb 20, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony (7) laughs with Minnesota Timberwolves guard Andrew Wiggins (22) at Target Center. The Knicks defeated the Timberwolves 103-95. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 20, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony (7) laughs with Minnesota Timberwolves guard Andrew Wiggins (22) at Target Center. The Knicks defeated the Timberwolves 103-95. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 20, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; General view of NBA playoffs logo during game two of the first round of the NBA playoffs the Portland Trail Blazers and the Los Angeles Clippers at the Staples center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 20, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; General view of NBA playoffs logo during game two of the first round of the NBA playoffs the Portland Trail Blazers and the Los Angeles Clippers at the Staples center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

Pro Number 2:  Carmelo has been to the playoffs on 10 separate occasions. 

There’s a bit of good news and bad news with this but his playoff experience is undeniable.  For the first ten years of his career, he led both his Nuggets and Knicks teams to the playoffs.

The last time the Minnesota Timberwolves made the playoffs was the 2003-2004 season.

Both the fan base and the front office desperately hope to break the longest active playoff drought in the NBA next season.  A move for Carmelo Anthony could very well do that.

Playoffs Per Game Table
Season Age Tm Lg G FG% 3P% eFG% FT% TRB AST STL BLK TOV PF PTS
2003-04 19 DEN NBA 4 .328 .182 .344 .800 8.3 2.8 1.3 0.0 4.3 2.8 15.0
2004-05 20 DEN NBA 5 .422 .000 .422 .813 5.4 2.0 0.6 0.2 2.6 4.0 19.2
2005-06 21 DEN NBA 5 .333 .000 .333 .750 6.6 2.8 0.8 0.2 3.0 4.0 21.0
2006-07 22 DEN NBA 5 .480 .500 .526 .795 8.6 1.2 1.0 0.0 3.8 2.4 26.8
2007-08 23 DEN NBA 4 .364 .250 .375 .828 9.5 2.0 0.5 0.3 3.0 4.3 22.5
2008-09 24 DEN NBA 16 .453 .364 .491 .826 5.8 4.1 1.8 0.6 2.3 3.8 27.2
2009-10 25 DEN NBA 6 .464 .316 .486 .877 8.5 3.3 2.0 0.5 3.5 4.3 30.7
2010-11 26 NYK NBA 4 .375 .346 .426 .853 10.3 4.8 1.3 0.8 3.3 4.0 26.0
2011-12 27 NYK NBA 5 .419 .222 .435 .756 8.2 2.2 1.2 0.2 2.8 4.2 27.8
2012-13 28 NYK NBA 12 .406 .298 .434 .885 6.6 1.6 1.1 0.2 2.6 3.8 28.8
Career NBA 66 .417 .320 .442 .826 7.3 2.8 1.3 0.3 2.9 3.8 25.7
7 seasons DEN NBA 45 .424 .339 .448 .818 7.1 3.0 1.3 0.4 3.0 3.7 24.5
3 seasons NYK NBA 21 .404 .297 .433 .846 7.7 2.3 1.1 0.3 2.8 4.0 28.0

Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table

His individual statistics in the playoffs look good on paper averaging 25.7 points per game.  However, a closer look at his team records over those appearances doesn’t bode as well for the star.

Carmelo Anthony led teams to have a combined record of 23-44 in the playoffs.  They have lost in the first round on eight occasions, reached the conference semifinals once, and the conference finals once.

Carmelo Anthony has shown that when he has talent around him he can make it to the playoffs. Carmelo has also shown he doesn’t have the killer instinct to will his team to go very far.

The Knicks under Carmelo have not made the playoffs over the last four seasons.