Knicks Score 111 Points & Melo Scores Only 20? Big Positive

When you have the Knicks scoring 100-points at home, with win (most importantly) and their best scorer Carmelo Anthony only scoring 20-points, that's a huge positive for the Knicks this season.

You don't understand how great it is to see the Knickerbockers back on court, for opening night at Madison Square Garden. You knew the Garden was gonna be electric, with the debut of Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah, Courtney Lee and Brandon Jennings. It was great seeing those brand new toys at the Garden, but it was even better seeing our main guy get off to a great and smart start.

The Knicks defeated the Memphis Grizzles, 111-104, and their superstar player Carmelo Anthony only scoring 20-points, with 5 assist and 6 rebounds, is absolutely huge, for this team.

I know Melo has always told the media and fans that he's a team player; that he'll pass the ball to his teammates when needed, but we saw too much iso-Melo through the years. We've seen too much of Melo telling other Knick players to spread the floor, so he go one-on-one with his defender. And to me, it was understandable. Because...who the hell was gonna pass the ball to, in those pass seasons.

Now, he doesn't have to do that. And last night, was a perfect example why Melo can play team ball.

Melo could've finished the game with only 18, 19 points. But he got into a mini hack-a-Melo, where toward the end of the game, while in the penalty the Grizzlies oddly kept fouling whatever Knick to get to the free-thrown line and it ended being Melo. And Memphis mainly did that because the Knicks were struggling at the free throw line, last night.

Melo could've finished under 20-points and the Knicks still could've won. And I'm not saying Melo should never take five attempts in-a-row; hey, if he's hot shooting from the field, you have to give him the ball. But now, with Knicks having stars on the team like Rose, who can score 6-points in three minutes, or Noah who can make passes down low in the paint, or have Lee score 16-points, Melo doesn't have to rely on himself to carry the team.

Then of course, that'll free up the unicorn himself, Kristaps Porzingis, with his 21-points; the highest scoring Knick from last night.

You'd have to say, this is the very first time since Melo has been a Knick, he's got so many prominent players to play with. Even more than the 2012-13 season, when the Knicks finished second. In that season, Melo had a lot of depth and role players and veterans. Now he's got depth in the starting lineup, with a former MVP, playoff experienced players and young star with immense talent.

Melo doesn't necessarily have a bench, but I think the Knicks will figure it out as the season rolls along.

One guy I was really impressed with and can become a big role in the second unit, is Justin Holiday. Last night off the bench, he came in fearless. Scoring quickly, making smart decision with ball, he wasn't indecisive; with his 8-points and 4-for-7 from the field, that's the type of playmaker you want coming off the bench. The way Holiday played, you can tell he wants to make name for himself in New York.