…for dealing with adversity that he created. FanHouse has the mind-bending quote.
“I think it takes a strong-willed person, a strong-minded person, to deal with the stuff that I deal with and still go out there and go to work every day and perform on a nightly basis,” the Denver forward said about trade rumors that have swirled all season as the Feb. 24 trade deadline approaches. “I take my hat off to myself for dealing with all this stuff that’s going on and still be able to go out there and play at the high level that I can play at. I really don’t think an average person can walk in my shoes. I don’t think that.”
This guy…
If Carmelo didn’t want to deal with swirling trade rumors in February of 2011, then he should have signed the Nuggets’ three-year extension that has been on the table for the last six-plus months or demand that the team trade him before the season started back in October.
What a strong-minded individual he is, to perform well in the bad situation that he created.
His numbers are hovering around his career averages, which is admirable, but the Nuggets are just 31-25 (.554) after compiling a winning percentage of .638 over the last three years. According to the Nuggets’ performance over that span, they should have four or five more wins right now, especially since the roster has suffered no significant injuries and is getting a career season from Most Improved Player candidate Arron Afflalo.
So why the extra losses? Well, the trade clouds have been looming over Denver all season and it’s clearly taking its toll on the team. If the Nuggets were sitting with 35 or 36 wins and were in the #3 or #4 spot in the West, I could see Carmelo giving himself some credit. But considering he’s the source of all the drama in Denver this season, I don’t think it’s wise for him to break his arm patting himself on the back.
