Sly and the Family Notes …
Kobe Bryant is about to win the NBA scoring title. Much to the relief of one Carmelo Anthony.
“I’m cool with it,” Melo said. “If he’s going out there throwing in 65 points like that, he can have it. It’s all fun and games winning the scoring title. It’s an individual accolade.”
It’s also an indication of Bryant’s so-so supporting cast. Not so with Anthony. His teammates, most notably Linas Kleiza and Nene, have been scoring more lately, and, with the playoffs approaching, nobody is happier about it than Melo.
“I’m really feeling good about what I’m doing, about not having to go out there and score 30 or 35 points,” he said. “It feels so good when I can score 20 or 25 and we can win. L.K., (Marcus) Camby, Nene … everybody is doing something.” …
Melo’s pick for MVP? That would be Dirk Nowitzki. “Kobe is always going to be up there,” he said, “but you’ve got to go with the team with the best record and the best player on that team. And Dirk is that guy.” …
George Karl, when asked about the Nuggets’ 2-3 Eastern swing: “I know you all think it’s hard, but it’s a great trip. You can see it in our body language and our step. There’s an energy to our confidence. Hopefully we’re getting in a good place.” …
Karl’s grade for the trip? “A-plus. Maybe not A-plus, but it’s somewhere in the ‘A’ range, wherever you want to go with it.” …
It isn’t your imagination. The Nuggets are D’ing it up. Karl just received a batch of numbers that indicated the Nuggets in the past month were seventh in the league in points per half-court possession. …
The Nuggets’ ultimate destination is the No. 7 seed in the West, which would get them a playoff date with the Suns. Good thing. That’s a much better matchup for them than San Antonio, a team that gives Anthony fits. …
Steve Blake, when asked if NBA players practiced 60-some-footers, the likes of which Rasheed Wallace sank to beat the Nuggets in Detroit: “If someone wants to make 100 dollars here and there.” …
LeBron James’ mansion-in-the-works in suburban Cleveland reportedly encompasses 35,440 square feet, including a bowling alley, a two-story master closet and a barber shop. And four bedrooms for the barber-shop quartet, no doubt. …
Let’s see now, Rod Smith took a pay cut and Al Wilson has been shown the door. Guess it isn’t easy being a Broncos icon these days. …
He isn’t returning my phone calls, so I can’t tell you what Shannon Sharpe thinks of that guaranteed $15 million the Broncos laid on tight end Daniel Graham. What I can tell you is this: Sharpe never got a signing bonus of more than $375,000 before jumping to the Ravens as a free agent. …
Tom Brady isn’t the only Patriot having a, um, productive offseason. The Pats’ front office signed Adalius Thomas, simply the best free agent on the market, and Donte’ Stallworth, a big upgrade at wide receiver. Now come – count ’em – four compensatory draft picks from the league office. …
By the numbers: UCLA’s berth in the Final Four is the 17th in school history, surpassing North Carolina (16) for the most among NCAA hoops factories. …
Ohio State coach Jim Tressel, when asked by The Associated Press how he felt about losing the BCS championship game to Florida: “What do you want me to say? Depression?” …
To put it in a way Pacman Jones will understand, word is NFL commish Roger Goodell plans to shower Jones with fine money. …
The good news is ex-Golden Dome wideout Jeff Samardzija is pitching lights-out in the Cubs’ camp. The bad news is that it’s the Cubs’ camp. Names Kerry Wood and Mark Prior ring a bell?
Jim Armstrong can be reached at 303-954-1269 or jmarmstrong@denverpost.com.
