Carmelo Anthony has a great chance to bring home league MVP this year. Allen Iverson has made an effort to really become part of the Nuggets. I'm not saying he is doing perfect. Iverson over his career has shot poorly from the field. He would not even have a career 42% average from the field if not for his good last half of the year with the Nuggets. There are some times he does put up some bad shots when I wish he would have passed, but he does try to get others involved. AI is going to have to continue to defer to Melo for the betterment of the club.

Melo these past couple years has been around 48% from the field. This year he has the opportunity to hit around 50% from the field. This is amazing for a small forward. I wouldn't be surprised now with better shooters around him that his three point shooting percentage dramatically rises as well.

I expect the following from Melo this year.

• 49% FGs
• 6.5 rebounds
• 4.5 assists
• 1.5 steals
• 28-30 PPG

If you look at Melo's career so far those projections are fairly logical predictions despite how impressive they are. Melo also wants to win 65 games this year. I would be impressed with 55 or 60.

Everyone was talking Melo and LeBron when they first entered the league. Now its all Wade and Lebron talk. Everyone forgets Melo has been the go to guy on the Nuggets since game one. Lebron was the same for the Cavs in the very below average eastern conference and he couldn't make the playoffs as a rookie. Melo did it in the western conference. No offense to D. Wade because he has serious game, but Wade has had some help the year he won his title.

The Nuggets have done a below average job surrounding Melo with talent. AI was a high profile acquisition, but he isn't the kind of jump shooter that spreads the floor and makes Melo's job easier. Hopefully the Nuggets have enough shooters so Melo doesn't get mobbed next year in the playoffs. It doesn't happen often in the regular season, but when the playoffs start teams will focus primarily on Melo. When they played the Clippers previously, they sometimes triple teamed Melo because on the kickout the shooters would miss their jumpshot.

With Nene and Jr Smith to go with Melo the Nuggets can be good for a long time. Imporantly, if the Nuggets dont make the Western Conference Finals this year they need to rebuild. Camby and AI are getting up there in their 30s. Melo is a young guy and the Nuggets need to make sure they eventually build a team that will suit him and grow with him.