Our weekly look at four topics — players, issues, numbers, trends — that are impacting and, in some cases, changing the game.
First Quarter: ’Melo’s big problem
Carmelo Anthony made a less than ho-hum debut for the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday night in his first NBA game in 376 days, scoring 10 points on 4-of-14 shooting with five turnovers and grabbing four rebounds in 23 minutes in a loss to the New Orleans Pelicans.
Nothing he did in a rusty debut was going to change anyone’s mind about whether he can be a dynamic fit in the right place or if he’s a relic from another time, incapable of playing in today’s game on either side of the floor.