Offseason: Free Agency | Latest from Ken Berger | Rumors
Carmelo Anthony has dropped a lot of weight because he thinks it'll help him in the triangle offense, and New York Knicks president Phil Jackson sees him as a small forward rather than a power forward, according to Marc Berman of the New York Post.
According to an Anthony confidant, Anthony has done so in order to resemble his physique as a rookie with the Nuggets and to be more viable in Phil Jackson's triangle offense.
..."He wants to be as athletic as he was when he was a rookie," the confidant told the Post. "Plus he wants to be a facilitator in the triangle and speed will help that."
...Orlando Magic forward Tobias Harris, a Long Island product, worked out three times with Anthony in June at the Terminal 23 gym Anthony owns in midtown. Harris noticed a major difference in his appearance. "He looked real good," Harris told the Post recently.
According to a source, the Harris camp was told Anthony was working out three times a day, doing basketball drills, agility drills, weights and yoga.
Anthony has also reportedly, like LeBron James, essentially cut carbs out of his diet this summer. It all appears to be working.
We'll reserve judgment on this until we actually see Anthony and the Knicks running the triangle, but the switch to small forward is questionable. All evidence from the past couple of years points to Anthony as a much more effective power forward, stretching the floor and creating a massive matchup problem, even if he always saw himself as more of a wing player.
There's an argument, though, that staying skinnier will be best for the longevity of his career. Some think pretty much all players should save themselves some wear and tear that way, especially as they get older. It's not easy to bulk up during the season, so here's hoping he has calculated this decision correctly.
