Knicks · George Karl blasts Melo in book (page 1)

Apparently in a book that will come out in January.

Karl states:

1) Melo does not like sharing the spotlight. He's addicted to it.
2) Melo does not give an effort on defense or care enough to.
3) Melo is a "User of people"

Look I know Melo has changed a little, matured and become a much better teammate since. However it goes to show and put what Phil said a few weeks ago in perspective. Phil has no bad intentions with regards to Melo. Melo is his franchise player right now and he wants him to move the ball and take hit shots quicker. Look at how good we looked in the last game when Melo and the guys just shot the ball and played freely without holding it too long. That's the key.

This though the media will have a field day with. All Melo's going to be asked the next few games is about this. It will distract him and shift his focus away from the game. Hopefully it will get him to play better. I don't know. Bad timing. Unlike with Phil's comments, which were to get Melo and the Knicks to play better, this is more personal. These seem like shots at a player. With Phil, they were about getting Melo to see that he needs to get the ball moving quicker and not letting the offense stall. We saw in the last game how beautiful Melo and this team can perform if they don't let the offense stall. That's Phil's goal.

And a snippet about "possegate" as well. Karl calls Smith's posse out in his book as well.

Good timing for Phil, with regards to the book. His comments look like compliments right now.

http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/18331035/george-karl-criticizes-carmelo-anthony-together-denver-nuggets

One thing I'm happy about is that even though I do agree with some of Goerge's comments on Melo, I think he has definitely allowed Kristaps to share the spotlight with him in the last year. He has embraced it. I don't know if it's because of KP's personality or what, but the two are a good fit in regards to that. It is not like Jeremy Lin or Amare or any of that. It's been very good between the two, so far. Could be because KP's personality is so different from other players Melo has played with, and he has such a diverse all around impact (on both ends) that Melo simply respects him and wants to give him the keys to the kingdom moving forward. Also with Rose coming in, Melo has allowed Rose to take a lead and step back. There were a few games where Melo really pissed me off with his play because he was just stalling the offense and not allowing others to express themselves, but most of the year it has been good. Last year, Melo was a very good leader on a pretty weak team outside of him, KP and RoLo. I definitely think Melo has matured since Denver and even since a few years ago. His defense though still needs to be called out by coach Hornachek. He takes too many possesions off and when your leader does that, it sends the wrong message. That's where Noah was really supposed to help, be a defensive leader for us.

Karl states:
1) Melo does not like sharing the spotlight. He's addicted to it.
2) Melo does not give an effort on defense or care enough to.
3) Melo is a "User of people"

1) If Melo doesn't like to share the spotlight why did he get himself traded to the Knicks who at the time had prime STAT who was playing at an MVP level at the time of his arrival?
2) Yeah, there are a ton of players you could say that about.
3) Need some examples of what he's talking about.

Karl is a good coach but he's also trying to sell books. Part of the deal is to throw shade at former players since his coaching days are over. All of it may be true, but I guarantee some of his former players could share some stuff about Karl that wouldn't be very flattering too. Stuff like this is interesting but also causes me to lose a little respect for the author of these tell-all type of books.

If Melo has grown he might find a way to embrace Karls comments and say he has matured.
Karl has said his game has evolved, so its in the past.
Regarding Smith and "posse", is it really racist thru and thru? Has players ever called their group "My Posse"? My take was Lebrons group includes his management team and advisors. This group is his financial and representation support. To call it "Posse" undermines the intellectual capacity. If a player just has his friends and hangers on who take then "exchange", and they are self labeled as "posse", I see no cause for Karl to be called out. Perhaps given the enlightenment of the last few weeks Lebron finding the term offending, maybe a better choice could have been made.
I don't see JR smith in the same light as Lebron.
I like George Karl and enjoyed his banter. Not enough to find interest in his book and I won't be seeking to purchase it.

George Karl is a bitter old man who's basketball years have passed him by. I find it ironic how he's critical of Melo for not sharing the spotlight, yet here he is digging up dirt from 10 years ago to sell a book and stay relevant. I really feel for Melo on this. He has acted like an adult thru all of the George Karl stuff and Karl is just incapable of moving on.

Once again, I do not understand why George Karl is cited and referred to so often as an authority. He has not won a damn thing. He has had problems with players constantly. He seems to have developed into an attention whore, filling the role of bitter, whiste-blower coach who tears down players.

Again, why am I supposed to care about what Karl thinks, not just about Melo but anybody? He has little to no cred as a winner in the NBA, kinda like D'Antoni. Except Pringles to his credit hasn't made tearing down ex-players his calling card.

Of course this doesn't mean that some of his criticisms aren't valid, they certainly are/were (especially with a younger Melo), but outside of a reader's appetite for Page Six type silliness, what exactly is the appeal of George Karl's take on anything?

Fuck George Karl.... that's it. Write a book and use Melo to get some sales. Tell your story walking

I read the excerpt this morning on the can... thought about it...

George Karl is mostly right. Didn't we experience that when Lin stole his spotlight? I'm a Melo supporter but acknowledge the team would've been better if he played D. He did when Sheed and Kidd were around.

I think claiming he is "a user of people" is a tad harsh and unnecessary, especially because Karl is using Melo to sell some books.

Everyone looks at things from his own perspective.
Melo was not beneficial for NBA coaches he played for and was not helping players around him in their NBA tenure until late.
But who said he suppose to help his coaches or teammates. He was not obligated to do any of this.
Karl was the one who made Melo in what he is so if he considered this a failure it is Karl failure in the first place.
Pringles never helped much too and Woodson also.
It is unfortunate that player of such incredible talent never met great coach and teacher to mold him into all time great of NBA like Jordan and Kobe.
Jackson is around for him but Melo is grown man and veteran so it is to late for complete change.
However some positive changes are already noticeable. Lets hope this will make good for the Knicks.

SupremeCommander wrote:I read the excerpt this morning on the can... thought about it...

George Karl is mostly right. Didn't we experience that when Lin stole his spotlight? I'm a Melo supporter but acknowledge the team would've been better if he played D. He did when Sheed and Kidd were around.

I think claiming he is "a user of people" is a tad harsh and unnecessary, especially because Karl is using Melo to sell some books.

Did Lin steal his spotlight? Or did Melo simply see him for exactly what he was? A flash in the pants and not something sustainable?

That being said I am sure much of what Karl wrote was true. Havent we seen Melo mature since he's been here? I mean he was 26 when he came here. Guys dont grow up a bit after that?

I am always a bit surprised how polarizing Melo is here, and why so many people feel so strongly about him one way or another. I would agree he pretty much quit under MDA but showed the opposite under Woodson. Aside from that (hey even Ewing quit on a coach) whats the beef been? I think people get so upset he's not Lebron, but only his haters seem to think anyone puts him in that category. He's not. He's a great scorer. Guy also never missed the playoffs until he come to this dysfunctional franchise.

As for "user of people" sounds a bit like sour grapes. I am still waiting or an ex player to say anything negative about the guy.

Maybe its the money. He totally bailed out the Knicks vs. the Pacers with that sick shooting outburst and I am pretty sure many people simply think thats how he should be. Nice to see him outplay Paul George for the win. He's got holes in his game. He's also a HOFer. Focus on what you want.

SupremeCommander wrote:I read the excerpt this morning on the can... thought about it...

George Karl is mostly right. Didn't we experience that when Lin stole his spotlight? I'm a Melo supporter but acknowledge the team would've been better if he played D. He did when Sheed and Kidd were around.

I think claiming he is "a user of people" is a tad harsh and unnecessary, especially because Karl is using Melo to sell some books.

Yeah George is a hypocrite in every way possible with this. Everything he is accusing Melo of, he is essentially doing himself. An overrated coach in history and clearly an even worse person, he always had issues with his star players, and has turned his drama into his career. It has overshadowed any success he has had as a basketball coach, and he seems to not even realize it.

Karl wrote Anthony and Martin not having fathers in their lives became a detriment to their personalities.

“Kenyon and Carmelo carried two big burdens: all that money and no father to show them how to act like a man,” Karl wrote.

He also mentioned JR... JR and KMart are two guys I cant stand but I totally side with them vs. Karl on this.

this shows an incredible lack of class IMO. Good job laying blame. Good luck with the book. Its gonna be the last paycheck you get from hoops. What an a-hole. Something in life are simply not your business to comment on. Wow... really strikes me as low.

Knixkik wrote:George Karl is a bitter old man who's basketball years have passed him by. I find it ironic how he's critical of Melo for not sharing the spotlight, yet here he is digging up dirt from 10 years ago to sell a book and stay relevant. I really feel for Melo on this. He has acted like an adult thru all of the George Karl stuff and Karl is just incapable of moving on.

I was thinking the same thing, besides, karl has nothing but negative sht to say about melo since he left Denver. Quick to point out the flaws, but never praising him on his positives.

That's how you start sounding like a HATER

fishmike wrote:

Karl wrote Anthony and Martin not having fathers in their lives became a detriment to their personalities.

“Kenyon and Carmelo carried two big burdens: all that money and no father to show them how to act like a man,” Karl wrote.

He also mentioned JR... JR and KMart are two guys I cant stand but I totally side with them vs. Karl on this.

this shows an incredible lack of class IMO. Good job laying blame. Good luck with the book. Its gonna be the last paycheck you get from hoops. What an a-hole. Something in life are simply not your business to comment on. Wow... really strikes me as low.

Yeah that specific quote didn't sit right with me at all. Very low class of Karl to go there. You want to talk about him on the court? Fine. I even agree with some of his BASKETBALL critiques of melo. But his (and Kmarts) father? Seriously? What a jackass...

TeamBall wrote:

fishmike wrote:

Karl wrote Anthony and Martin not having fathers in their lives became a detriment to their personalities.

“Kenyon and Carmelo carried two big burdens: all that money and no father to show them how to act like a man,” Karl wrote.

He also mentioned JR... JR and KMart are two guys I cant stand but I totally side with them vs. Karl on this.

this shows an incredible lack of class IMO. Good job laying blame. Good luck with the book. Its gonna be the last paycheck you get from hoops. What an a-hole. Something in life are simply not your business to comment on. Wow... really strikes me as low.

Yeah that specific quote didn't sit right with me at all. Very low class of Karl to go there. You want to talk about him on the court? Fine. I even agree with some of his BASKETBALL critiques of melo. But his (and Kmarts) father? Seriously? What a jackass...

yea... rip him for the defense... fine, but no father to teach him to act like a man? What a classless POS.

Book says more about Karl than anything he can write about former players. Ofcourse young NBA stars are immature and in need of growth. A good coach is one that provides this growth. He is the one that is able to figure out how to reach a young player and get them to elevate their games and their on court IQ. Was he able or has he been able to do that with any of his highly drafted players?...NO.

More importantly, would a good coach and molder of men with notable coaching success be writing a book taking shots at what these men did as immature twenty years olds? Not a good coach. Not a real man. Specially when commenting on the personal lives of these players. Which we all know Karl had no true insight of.

Hopefully, Karl's health has kept him from taking control of what's in the book. This smells like publishing company scumbags controlling the marketing process to sell more books.

I think Melo and PHil did come to a meeting of the minds and Melo is trying and is more rounded player.

Who is Karl? Played at UNC for Dean Smith and in the ABA and NBA.

Coached almost 2000 games, won .588%.

He sits behind only Pat Riley, Jerry Sloan, Lenny Wilkens and all-time record holder Don Nelson, who had 1,335 career wins. Funny, Riley has chips, Wilkens has just one, but the others don't.
Are they great coach's or just have longevity? Given that so few teams historically have won chips, these guys are often refered to as "What have they ever done". Riley and Pop have 5 each, and Phil has 11. That's 21 right there. Not much left for the Karls, Nelsons, Sloans, Dunleavy's and Adelmans. All fell to Phil, Riles or Pop at least once!!!!

Karl is an arsehole and not my favorite, but I respect him. His time with melo, I have to agree that Melo was an immature arrogant punk. While some of you might not like his book, I would be curious who would refute its accuracy regarding Melo and JR smith.

Maybe the same could be said about Lebron, but Lebron is a winner. Don't forget, Lebron has been to the finals SEVEN TIMES!!!!! IN A ROW!!!!!! Winning is forgiving. Melo has had his share of critics for years and most of it correct. Great Scorer no doubt. He has a long list of coach's that his fans can blame for his problems, but fact is some of them are pretty darn successful with years of experience.
Melo is successful as is karl. Both have elongated careers but don't have championships to show for it. Both have made a ton of money.

I was not a fan of the trade as I was not a fan of Melo when it was done. I have come to respect Melo and his effort to round out his game. Not sure he has done all he could do. After all, he owns a max contract, an NCAA chip, a few gold metals and has made over $100 million playing basketball. Karl is 5th all time in wins. Has had some good teams but also ran into some even better enroute. There is a long arse list of very very good coach's that don't get "Great" attached to it because they don't have a chip.

"Phuck" Karl, I suppose he does not have legions of fans, but I won't go there just to defend Melo, who is guilty in my book of much of what Karl says.
Melo can write his own story if he wishes. Bottom line is how many will read the book? I won't. Melo either. They are not of enough interest to me.

Consider the source. The guy is talented coach, no doubt. But there's a reason he''s worn out his welcome at every stop, regardless of success.

fishmike wrote:

SupremeCommander wrote:I read the excerpt this morning on the can... thought about it...

George Karl is mostly right. Didn't we experience that when Lin stole his spotlight? I'm a Melo supporter but acknowledge the team would've been better if he played D. He did when Sheed and Kidd were around.

I think claiming he is "a user of people" is a tad harsh and unnecessary, especially because Karl is using Melo to sell some books.

Did Lin steal his spotlight? Or did Melo simply see him for exactly what he was? A flash in the pants and not something sustainable?

That being said I am sure much of what Karl wrote was true. Havent we seen Melo mature since he's been here? I mean he was 26 when he came here. Guys dont grow up a bit after that?

I am always a bit surprised how polarizing Melo is here, and why so many people feel so strongly about him one way or another. I would agree he pretty much quit under MDA but showed the opposite under Woodson. Aside from that (hey even Ewing quit on a coach) whats the beef been? I think people get so upset he's not Lebron, but only his haters seem to think anyone puts him in that category. He's not. He's a great scorer. Guy also never missed the playoffs until he come to this dysfunctional franchise.

As for "user of people" sounds a bit like sour grapes. I am still waiting or an ex player to say anything negative about the guy.

Maybe its the money. He totally bailed out the Knicks vs. the Pacers with that sick shooting outburst and I am pretty sure many people simply think thats how he should be. Nice to see him outplay Paul George for the win. He's got holes in his game. He's also a HOFer. Focus on what you want.

Lin earned the spotlight. Melo probably did correctly figure out where Lin's spot in the league was. But Pringles basically said Melo ran Lin out of town. Amar'e had to back track on things he said about Melo and his relationship with Lin. Hell, Phil just touched on related topics.

End of the day I'm a Melo supporter and think he doesn't get enough credit. But I hope he actually reflects on some of this criticism. He played great basketball immediately after Phil's jab...

fishmike wrote:

Karl wrote Anthony and Martin not having fathers in their lives became a detriment to their personalities.

“Kenyon and Carmelo carried two big burdens: all that money and no father to show them how to act like a man,” Karl wrote.

He also mentioned JR... JR and KMart are two guys I cant stand but I totally side with them vs. Karl on this.

this shows an incredible lack of class IMO. Good job laying blame. Good luck with the book. Its gonna be the last paycheck you get from hoops. What an a-hole. Something in life are simply not your business to comment on. Wow... really strikes me as low.

We are only getting the excerpts that are news worthy. We don't really know how much he is throwing players under the bus or laying blame.
Most coach books I have read, including Phil DO take blame for lots of things and discuss how they might have handled it better.
Phil said Kobe was uncoachable and wanted him traded. Yet, they existed and still came back together when phil returned. I can see where nothing Phil wrote was not discussed with Kobe. PHil gushed about Kobes competitive spirit, work ethic and talent. If you don't read the book, you don't get the balance. If you just read the passage, you think the book is all about that!!!!

Karl is 5th all time in wins. He was hired many times as he is a hell of a coach. Maybe not a nice man, but there is a long list of not so nice coach's with lots of W's next to their name.

If Melo was not a knick, would we care? If Melo said he was an arrogant young man, would we be ok with that? I do think Melo was not happy with Lin's popularity, but I don't think Melo was wrong about the contract Lin got. I don't think we should have spent that money and we didn't.

fishmike wrote:

TeamBall wrote:

fishmike wrote:

Karl wrote Anthony and Martin not having fathers in their lives became a detriment to their personalities.

“Kenyon and Carmelo carried two big burdens: all that money and no father to show them how to act like a man,” Karl wrote.

He also mentioned JR... JR and KMart are two guys I cant stand but I totally side with them vs. Karl on this.

this shows an incredible lack of class IMO. Good job laying blame. Good luck with the book. Its gonna be the last paycheck you get from hoops. What an a-hole. Something in life are simply not your business to comment on. Wow... really strikes me as low.

Yeah that specific quote didn't sit right with me at all. Very low class of Karl to go there. You want to talk about him on the court? Fine. I even agree with some of his BASKETBALL critiques of melo. But his (and Kmarts) father? Seriously? What a jackass...

yea... rip him for the defense... fine, but no father to teach him to act like a man? What a classless POS.

Again, I would prefer to see the full context of that comment. On the surface, its pretty personal thing to write about even if accurate.