‘Melo on Dime #37

Dime’s NBA preview issue (#37, Nov. 2007) included our list of “Players 2 Watch.” These were the guys we felt, at the time, made for the most compelling story lines heading into the ‘07-08 campaign — from MVP candidates to potential breakout stars to standout rookies to teams ready to explode or implode. Halfway through the season, how have they fared so far? We’ll look at the Western Conference P2W’s today and the Eastern Conference tomorrow.

CARMELO ANTHONY
What we said: “Carmelo has said that after watching ‘03 Draft classmates Dwyane Wade and LeBron James play in the NBA Finals the past two seasons, 2008 is gonna be his turn.”
What he’s done: 25.5 points, 7.0 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 1.2 steals per game. As of Wednesday, the Nuggets are tied for the seventh-best record in the West, still trying to prove they can hang with the conference’s elite squads. Carmelo earned his first All-Star Game starting nod, dropping 30-plus points in 14 of his 40 games. But even as good as he’s been, Allen Iverson has been actually Denver’s MVP, leading the team in scoring, assists and steals.

CHRIS PAUL & DERON WILLIAMS
What we said: “With each one having taken his turn as the League’s young point guard du jour, both CP and Deron are in line to have monster seasons.”
What they’ve done: Paul - 20.6 points, 10.7 assists, 2.6 steals per game. Williams - 19 points, 9.5 assists, 1.1 steals per game. Halfway through the season, CP has the advantage. His Hornets have the Western Conference’s best record and Chris is a legit MVP candidate, but Deron’s no burger; the Jazz are in line for another playoff berth and Deron has dominated games against some of the League’s best point guards.

LaMARCUS ALDRIDGE
What we said: “Previously looked at as a complimentary player to [Greg Oden], he’s now going to be the team’s No. 1 option in the post. Can he, at least temporarily, make the snake-bitten Portland fans forget about Oden?”
What he’s done: 17.2 points, 7.4 rebounds, 1.2 blocks per game. To answer the above question, yes he can. On Opening Night, LaMarcus gave Tim Duncan 27 points, and since then has been rolling while the Blazers have been one of the surprise success stories of this season.

KEVIN MARTIN
What we said: “…Martin looks like the guy the Maloofs are building around. Now that he’s being paid like a star, it’s time for Martin to show he really is one.”
What he’s done: 24.4 points, 1.2 steals per game. Despite missing some time with a groin injury, K-Mart has been one of the League’s top scorers this year. He gave the Knicks 43 in a game in November, and had 39 against Dallas in only 28 minutes. The injury-riddled Kings have struggled, but not as much as people originally thought.

DARKO
What we said: “This is the year when Darko can show he wasn’t a total bust and establish himself as a legit player in the League. And if he doesn’t do it now, odds are he never will.”
What he’s done: 6.2 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.9 blocks per game. If this is a make-or-break season for Darko, halfway through he’s still in “break” mode. He’s been able to block some shots, recording three or more rejections in a game 12 times, but he still doesn’t appear to know how to basketball yet.

DIRK NOWITZKI
What we said: “You could drop 30 and 10 for 82 straight games, your Mavs could challenge the ‘96 Bulls in the W-L department, but no one will care until the playoffs tip off and you’ve got to prove yourself.”
What he’s done: 22.3 points, 8.6 rebounds per game. While he’s not getting much (if any) MVP talk, Dirk is still the focal point of a team challenging for the League’s best record at 31-13. But again, no one’s buying it until the postseason.