Carmelo Anthony Finding Championship's Elusive. "Ask Charles Barkley"

Over the past decade, and still to this day, there has been one king of scoring in the league, and his name is Carmelo Anthony.

Sure, Kobe Bryant had a stretch of magic in which he could only be defended by Melo or LeBron, but no one ever kept Melo from forcing his game upon you. In fact, he has to be fouled or doubled if he drives....period. He is the one guy who could win scoring titles every season by playing his natural game as LeBron and Kevin Durant often force their Jordanian ways. Melo is a scorer that even Jordan raises an eyebrow at. He reminds me of Charles Barkley.

During his time, Jordan may have been the best player, but Barkley was the most dominant force, especially when he added a jumper to his arsenal. For a stretch, it seemed as though Barkley was the only hope of derailing the back to back Bulls. Barkley's power at the rim, ball handling skills and deadly jumper made him formidable even when he got old. When I think of his game and his career, it reminds me of Melo every time (Barkley rebounded better of course).

As the free agent frenzy reaches a peak, Melo is on the nation wide jaunt to decide if he will uproot the wife and kid....again, or will he stay and attract free agents to come to New York with him, Phil and (Derek) Fisher?

IS THAT TRIANGLE something Melo can depend on?

Why couldn't Melo attract stars to Denver? Why isn't anyone screaming to play with the best scorer in the world in the best city in the world?  When guy's play against good players they offer up respect for their game. When they play against legends they walk away dreaming of joining them. Melo is the former, not the latter, so if no one decides to come, Melo might go.

My hunch is that money (NY has the most to give him), and family (LaLa has a t.v. show) will influence the outcome, but rich guys with tainted legacies are a volatile lot. They are liable to do just about anything chasing after glory while running from father time. Ask Charles Barkley.

Barkley could have stayed with Philly and trusted his front office to handle the business of basketball, but failure makes you doubt everything and everyone, including yourself. I often feel sorry for the greats of any sport. They are blessed with confidence and ability that allows them to do things that others marvel at. To also humble yourself towards the greater good is what builds amazing teams and separates great players and champion's.

Does that mean that Charles Barkley was too selfish to be a champion? His immense effort on the court says no, but his traveling chase of the crown begs the question. Karl Malone and John Stockton might have something to say about that stay put theory, but they all should come to grips with the truth of championship's.

They are hard under every circumstance. Jordan lost....a lot before Phil Jackson brought the glue that formed the 2nd greatest team effort over an extended period. Jordan won his first MVP in '88 but his first title in '91. The Boston Celtics of the Bill Russell era are the pinnacle of NBA teams (11 titles between '56 and '69 including 8 in a row). Winning anything that many times is other worldly. It was then, and it still is now. As Melo continues his search for a new home, he has to search for the best team he can find.

Will Kobe hand the reigns of his team to Melo? Will D-Rose or D-Howard do the same? Will anyone of those situations create the kind of teamwork it will take to one-up the scintillating Spurs?  How much can you know about that team you want versus the team you have? Melo is a NY Knick with Phil Jackson (an original Knick player) at the helm. Melo may doubt everything and everyone, but Phil has a track record of traveling the road that Melo is pursuing.

Phil came to New York to pursue a new jewel for his legendary career because he saw a chance to make the best scorer in the league into the same thing he made of Mike, a champion. Mike never won without Phil, but Phil won without Mike. Between Phil and Greg Popovich, the kings of teamwork; they've won 14 titles since 1991. Phil already has 9 crowns, but he still came to New York to be with Melo.

For the first time in his career, Melo has attracted "that guy" to his team, but he is considering leaving? If he leaves New York to become a champion, he might have to play second fiddle to someone else who is already in place.  If he stays, he has "that guy" to place the pieces around him, and him alone.

I am not sure what he will do even though I know what he should do. If he does choose to leave, we can all blame father time for scaring him into running away from his best chance to form a team, his team, and chase the crown.  But it happens to the best of them....ask Charles Barkley.