Carmelo Anthony to Spend More Time at Small Forward

New York Knicks small forward Carmelo Anthony will be spending more time at the small forward spot in new head coach Derek Fisher‘s triangle offense during the upcoming 2014-15 NBA season. 

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Anthony told ESPN New York‘s Ohm Youngmisuk on Oct. 4 that the Knicks already have a multitude of power forwards:

“Carmelo Anthony thinks he will be playing primarily small forward this season. 

“After playing a good deal of power forward — and excelling at that position — over the past two seasons, Anthony thinks he will mostly be a small forward this season.

“‘We got too many,’ Anthony said of power forwards on the roster. ‘I don’t need to go down there and battle. For what? 

“‘If it comes down to it, I’ll go back there,’ Anthony added. ‘But I doubt it. They’re going to move me. We’re pretty packed at four and five positions.’

“In the triangle, Derek Fisher envisions his players playing multiple positions. 

“‘I mean, Carmelo can play any position in our system,’ Fisher said. ‘So it just depends on what’s ultimately best for the team…We like the big guys on our roster right now, so we at least want to give them an opportunity. But we’ll see how it goes over these next couple weeks.’ 

“Anthony lost some weight in the offseason, but he says that he did not have to do with the fact that he thought he would play more small forward.

“‘Honestly, I thought I would be all over the floor, playing on the top, outside,’ he said. ‘I think in this system more than anything, playing on the wing is where I like to be. Playing in the post is where I like to be. And the way we play, we’re all over the court, so you never know where you’re going to get the ball, you never know where you’re going to be.’ 

Fisher: Carmelo Can Play Any Position – http://t.co/reOrsLBDuE pic.twitter.com/whEZFwbX86

— NBA Courtside (@NBACourtside_) October 6, 2014

“‘I was always a small forward,’ Anthony added. ‘Coach K (USA Basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski) made me a power forward.’

“Anthony is eager to see how he will benefit by playing in the triangle. He believes the system will take pressure off of him and some of the burden of carrying the team. 

“In the offseason, Anthony spoke to Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen and Kobe Bryant about the triangle and what he needs to know about playing within the system.

“‘Everybody said the same thing: You’re going to be patient,’ Anthony said. ‘Sometimes in a system like this you can overthink, and it can alter the way you go out there and approach the game. But if you play your game within the system, I mean everything works out for the best.'”

In another ESPN New York blog, Youngmisuk says Anthony is still undecided on the 2016 Summer Olympics in Brazil:

“Carmelo Anthony wants to continue playing for Team USA and win another Olympic gold medal. 

“But Anthony said the 2016 Games are a bit too far down the road to make a decision on it.

“‘I haven’t made a decision,’ Anthony said. ‘I would love to play.’

“Anthony, 30, is a three-time Olympian who helped USA win gold in 2008 and 2012. He was a part of the bronze-winning team in 2004.

“‘If I do play, that’ll be my final one,’ Anthony said. ‘That will be four Olympics for me. I want to play. I haven’t talked to anybody about it yet. I heard (Kevin Durant) said he wanted to play. I know LeBron (James) said that’s too far ahead, which it is.’

“‘A couple of years from now, you never know what’s going to happen,’ Anthony added. ‘I would love the chance to get back out there.'” 

The 30-year-old Anthony has averaged 25.3 points, 6.5 rebounds and 3.1 assists in 790 career regular-season games through Oct. 6 for the Denver Nuggets and New York Knicks, per ESPN stats.

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