Carmelo Traded - - Why The New York Knicks Win

The trade of the season has happened.
Just over a week ago I could see this coming.
Yet, I didn't really see it coming.

Sure my crystal ball (Actually a Disney World snow-globe) showed me quite clearly that Carmelo Anthony would be wearing a Knicks uni before the 2/24/11 trade-deadline.
What I didn't see was Chauncey Billups going to the Big Apple, too.

The basketball world is buzzing with the thought of Carmelo Anthony playing in the bright lights of Madison Square Garden.
And, I understand.
Carmelo has earned the right to be treated as an NBA superstar.
He's a straight-up scorer and clutch-time shot-caller.

Just like that, the New York Knicks are legitimate contenders.
And just like that, the Denver Nuggets are a lottery-team for the foreseeable future.
Because of Carmelo? Sure.

Amare Stoudemire...Your prayers have been answered.

But, just as likely, because of Chauncey Billups.

Sound crazy? Maybe.
But, Chauncey, as much as Carmelo, made the Nuggets a contender in the NBA West.

It was no coincidence that the Denver Nuggets made it to the Western Conference Finals in Billups' first season with the Nuggets.

That was something Carmelo was unable to do without Chauncey in the line-up.
In the Carmelo-era, the Nuggets had never made it out of the first round of the Playoffs prior to bringing Chauncey Billups from the Detroit Pistons.

The Carmelo and Amare Stoudemire duo wasn't going to make the Knick's a contender.
That tandem would have made for great sports headlines.
It certainly would make for some terrific highlights.
The Carmelo/Stoudemire pairing may  have even lead to a first round playoff upset.

But that would have been the end of it.
With Chauncey Billups running the point and playing the role of leader in the Knick locker-room, all of that changes.
A first-round upset will only be the beginning.
Yes. The Chauncey Billups intangibles are that good.

Carmelo Anthony is the sexy name in the trade.
He brings the scoring, the ticket sales, and the hoopla.
But Chauncey Billups brings NBA Championship experience...and, as my beloved Beastie Boys said, you can't front on that!



The BC Mafia.......you can't front on that!