National Basketball Association

Carmelo Anthony thinking about shutting himself down

Published Feb. 10, 2015 10:55 a.m. ET

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Knee soreness is nothing new for Carmelo Anthony.

The New York Knicks forward has been dealing with such all season and has sporadically missed a total of 12 games because of it. Now, after leaving Monday evening's game against the Miami Heat early because of the same ailment, Anthony says he's getting closer to shutting himself down for the year. From Al Iannazzone of Newsday:

The Knicks have this crazy, err — €”insane, err — €”let's go with "outdated." Yeah, outdated. The Knicks have this outdated policy which often allows players to decide if they want to play or not. If they feel like they can go, then they're good to perform, but as New York sits at 10-42, a record impressive enough to plop them right at the bottom of the toilet bowl Eastern Conference, shouldn't the team have imposed and shut Melo down already?

If your one star with which to move forward is ailing, and you've mathematically clinched a sub-.500 season before we've even gotten to the All-Star break, you take precautions. Plus, if Phil Jackson's team really does want to tank, isn't the best route to go sitting your only needle-pushing player?

Anthony prioritizing the All-Star Game over his long-term health seems purely irrational, even if All-Star festivities are to be held in New York City this year. It would be less easy to criticize if Anthony hadn't also pushed to come back from the same knee injury early for the Knicks' game in London earlier this year.

It's better for the long and short term to sit Anthony. There can't be any doubt about that, and it would be irresponsible to let Melo carry on with a knee that continues to get reinjured. Rest up, rehab and come into the 2015-16 season at 100 percent. That's the only way Anthony or the Knicks should be thinking right now. 

The Knicks are so close to doing the right thing. We're almost there. They'll get it soon enough.

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