Has Carmelo Anthony Reached His Ceiling?

        Carmelo Anthony through three quarters of game six of the Eastern Conference Semifinals had 35 points, but came up short when his team needed him the most.

        Anthony finished with 39 points, going 2-7 from the field with two crucial turnovers in the fourth quarter that gave the Pacers the extra push they needed to win the game advancing to the Eastern Conference Finals.

        Has Carmelo Anthony reached his ceiling?

        Many have defended Anthony claiming he needs a better number two, he receives the praise when he plays well, and he's going to receive the criticism for coming up short, again.

        When facing elimination games, Anthony is 3-9 that is not a stat that validates him as a superstar in this league.

        Anthony is big time, and its time he silent the critics as myself.

        I'm not going to give him a pass, through three quarters of play he was the best player on the floor, but when it mattered in the fourth quarter he went missing in action.

        At the 3:57 mark in the fourth quarter, with the game tied at 92, Anthony turned the ball over on a bad pass, which was taken the other way with Lance Stephenson converting on a three point play.

        The following possession at the 3:28 mark, Anthony doesn't take the best of shots, the Pacers get the rebound take it the other way and score two points, Pacers lead 97-92 at the 3:12 mark.

        Now the crowd is into it, this is the time when your superstar comes up big three minutes to go in a must when game on the road.

        Anthony turns the ball over on another bad pass that goes the other way for the Pacers with David West scoring increasing the Pacers lead 99-92 at the 2:34 mark.

        By this time down seven on the road in a hostile environment, the Pacers go ahead and close the deal, defeating the New York Knicks 106-99.

        Anthony had his best chance of his career to advance to the conference finals, and when it mattered he came up short.

        Talent is not the issue, I do recall LeBron James leading the Cavaliers to victory in 2006-07 Eastern Conference Finals, James put the Cleveland Cavaliers on his back against the Detroit Pistons scoring 29 of the Cavaliers' last 30 points, finishing with 48 points.

        James did not have much help if he had any, Anthony could have done the same, but he didn't.

        Carmelo Anthony is a superstar in this league, but until he proves otherwise, he's reached his ceiling.


Justin Tyree

ESPN 730 Charlotte Bobcats Insider and Blogger

Twitter:  @JTyree704

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