MIAMI — Who Carmelo Anthony is as an NBA player — who he should be and where he is going — may always be one of the most debated topics surrounding the Nuggets.
No matter where anyone thinks Anthony stands, those in and out of the organization this season say they have seen a change in how he approaches basketball. It has not only benefited the Nuggets, but put an added polish on Anthony’s game. He is regarded as being solely concerned with scoring, but that is changing.
“This year, he understands it’s a team concept, and it takes all of us to win ballgames,” center Marcus Camby said. “He’s buying into the team system when easily he can go out there and have nights like he did against Washington (career- high 49 points Friday).”
And that wasn’t always the case.
Scoring was Anthony’s main concern and to some extent it still is. But the truth of the statistics is he has become a harder-working, more efficient, more-willing-to-share player.
“Statistically, he’s shooting, I don’t know if it’s a career- high field-goal percentage, but he’s improved there,” Nuggets coach George Karl said. “His defense and decisions and rebounding are definitely a plus.”
Compared with last season, Anthony is playing slightly fewer minutes (38.2-37.0), yet has a slightly better shooting percentage (47.6-47.7) and 3-point shooting percentage (26.8-32.0), is averaging more rebounds (6.0-7.2) and has fewer points per game (28.9-26.2).
“I think people are really realizing that he’s one of the best players in the game today, especially one of the best scorers in our league,” Cleveland forward LeBron James said.
Asked about his on-court performance, Anthony said: “I love it. We have a good record, and I don’t have to average 30 points. I can try to get eight, 10 rebounds a night and make everybody else better.
“I know I can score the basketball. I can score at any given time on the court. But just going out there and doing the little things, playing defense, rebounding, passing — that’s what’s going to count.”
Perhaps most important, he is taking fewer shots to get similar numbers. A year ago, Anthony averaged 22.3 shots per game or 1,828 for the season. His current average of 20.1 projects to 1,648 for the season. He has 13 double-doubles, 12 in his past 24 games. His 2.5 offensive rebounds per game is the highest average of his career.
“We have a lot of talent on this team,” Anthony said. “It’s going to be some nights where I shoot a lot; it’s going to be some nights where I don’t shoot a lot. As long as we win the game, that’s all I care about.”
The Nuggets’ 31-19 record is the third-best through 50 games in the team’s NBA history and its best start in 20 seasons. Anthony’s turnabout has been one reason.
On rebounding, Anthony said he was inspired by Camby, the league’s second-leading rebounder (14.4).
“He sees me hitting the glass hard, and sometimes we’re down there actually fighting for rebounds,” Camby said. “He likes to complain that I steal a lot of his rebounds. But I don’t complain when he takes shots, so it balances out.”
Still, Karl notes there is still room for improvement.
“My probably only negative feeling for Melo is I think he could be a creator of the game and just not a scorer of the game,” Karl said. “That’s where I think I’d like to see him go, have more games where he gets 10 assists, 10 rebounds and 15 points.
“I think in big-time playoff games and situations, him becoming a creator is going to be more and more important and more valuable for us.”
DENVER AT MIAMI
5:30 p.m., Altitude 2, KKFN 950 AM
Spotlight on Shawn Marion: Before his first game with his new team, Marion picked up a microphone and thanked the Miami crowd for its graciousness. He then showed his thanks with 15 points, 14 rebounds, three steals and three blocked shots. Marion is averaging 15.8 points and 10 rebounds this season.
NOTEBOOK
Nuggets: Guard Anthony Carter played four seasons (1999-2003) with the Heat. He was let go two seasons before Miami won the NBA title. . . . Center Steven Hunter, who missed his second consecutive game Sunday with a sore right knee, is questionable for tonight’s contest. . . . With a win, the Nuggets would even their road record against Eastern Conference teams at 4-4. . . . The Nuggets have a two-game winning streak against the Heat in Miami. The last time Denver lost to the Heat in the Sunshine State was in 2005.
Heat: Very few are talking about Marcus Banks in any reverential terms as the additional piece in the Marion-for-Shaquille O’Neal trade. But Banks started strong in his first game with Miami — seven points, four assists and two rebounds in 15 minutes as a reserve. . . . Miami has lost 22 of 23 games.
Chris Dempsey: 303-954-1279 or cdempsey@denverpost.com
