Spring Break
The Daily Orange'Melo scores 14 points in Dome return
By John Clayton
Posted: 10/20/08, 4:34 AM EST Section: Sports
Carmelo Anthony sat on the floor next to the Denver Nuggets bench, sheathed in a yellow practice shirt and seemingly impervious to the chants of "We want 'Melo!" emanating from the Carrier Dome crowd.
Anthony, Syracuse's iconic former national champion, had played 24 minutes during his Denver Nuggets' NBA exhibition contest against the Phoenix Suns at the Dome Friday. That, he decided, was enough.
"It's been a long summer, man," said Anthony, who was part of the United States Olympic basketball team that won gold in Beijing this summer. "I wish I could have went back in there."
Still, Anthony gave the 22,115 in attendance their money's-worth in his return home. He scored 14 points, hauled in nine boards and dished five assists in those 24 minutes, helping his Nuggets edge the Suns, 94-91, in the Ralph Crawford McDonald's NBA Classic.
The matchup between two Western Conference playoff teams bought plenty of big names to Syracuse, including Allen Iverson, Shaquille O'Neal, Amare Stoudamire and Steve Nash (the latter two didn't play). But it was Anthony who stole most of the adoration from the crowd.
"It brought back a lot of memories," said Anthony, now 24 years old. "We went 17-0 my year here. … It was good to be back here in front of the fans I played in front of several years ago."
That 2003 season, the then-freshman prodded Syracuse to its only national title, earning the final four's most outstanding player award. Anthony left after that season - drafted No. 3 overall by the Nuggets. But time away has done little to erode his heroic status among SU fans.
During player introductions, Anthony was last to be introduced, drawing a raucous ovation from the crowd dyed equal parts orange and powder blue (the Nuggets signature color).
The cheers continued when Anthony tallied the first two points of the night, taking an Iverson dish and rising up for a two-handed slam. Anthony scored all 14 of his points in the first half, eight of those in the first quarter. Eight of his points came via his signature, mid-range jump shot. In all, Anthony shot 6-for-14 from the field.
Anthony, Syracuse's iconic former national champion, had played 24 minutes during his Denver Nuggets' NBA exhibition contest against the Phoenix Suns at the Dome Friday. That, he decided, was enough.
"It's been a long summer, man," said Anthony, who was part of the United States Olympic basketball team that won gold in Beijing this summer. "I wish I could have went back in there."
Still, Anthony gave the 22,115 in attendance their money's-worth in his return home. He scored 14 points, hauled in nine boards and dished five assists in those 24 minutes, helping his Nuggets edge the Suns, 94-91, in the Ralph Crawford McDonald's NBA Classic.
The matchup between two Western Conference playoff teams bought plenty of big names to Syracuse, including Allen Iverson, Shaquille O'Neal, Amare Stoudamire and Steve Nash (the latter two didn't play). But it was Anthony who stole most of the adoration from the crowd.
"It brought back a lot of memories," said Anthony, now 24 years old. "We went 17-0 my year here. … It was good to be back here in front of the fans I played in front of several years ago."
That 2003 season, the then-freshman prodded Syracuse to its only national title, earning the final four's most outstanding player award. Anthony left after that season - drafted No. 3 overall by the Nuggets. But time away has done little to erode his heroic status among SU fans.
During player introductions, Anthony was last to be introduced, drawing a raucous ovation from the crowd dyed equal parts orange and powder blue (the Nuggets signature color).
The cheers continued when Anthony tallied the first two points of the night, taking an Iverson dish and rising up for a two-handed slam. Anthony scored all 14 of his points in the first half, eight of those in the first quarter. Eight of his points came via his signature, mid-range jump shot. In all, Anthony shot 6-for-14 from the field.
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