Melo out tomorrow for personal reasons

[KSF-ERIC]

Anyone know what this is about?

 

[GhostOfPGA]

I imagine he will be with Kobe’s family. IIRC they were close.

 

[Chris Craig]

That sucks

 

[Natebishop3]

Anyone know what this is about?

I mean it seems pretty obvious to me.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

But it is odd that he didn't fly down with his team. If he is going to be with the Bryants it's the same town as were we play.

I was thinking that he is upset over not making the ASG.

 

[e_blazer]

He didn’t take the flight with the team, but he hasn’t been ruled out for the game.

https://www.nbcsports.com/northwest...lo-anthony-did-not-travel-los-angeles-blazers

 

[Charcoal Filtered]

He could also not want to face the reality of Kobe passing. Imagine playing at Staples Center would be tough for anyone close to him. Everyone deals with it in their own way.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

League doesn't want Melo to help the Blazers ruin the Lakers' first game after Kobe's passing.

Dame doesn't want Melo to take shots from him when he's attempting to go for 81.

 

[tlongII]

I hope he plays. He is close with LeBron.

 

[Wade Garrett]

I'm guessing he's in LA ahead of the team and hanging with LeBron and/or the Family.
The microphones in his face the other night was tough to watch, really felt bad for him.

 

[illmatic99]

Could be completely unrelated. Prolly best not to speculate.

 

[illmatic99]

Has it been said that he's definitely not playing?

edit: Just posted on NBA.com: https://www.nba.com/article/2020/01/31/carmelo-anthony-out-vs-lakers

 

[tlongII]

That sucks.

 

[Cugel]

Feel bad for the guy. Clearly a tough time for him right now. I support Melo not playing. Not like this is a game 7 or something.

 

[e_blazer]

Feel bad for the guy. Clearly a tough time for him right now. I support Melo not playing. Not like this is a game 7 or something.

True.

I also support Kobe’s buddy, LeBron, not playing tonight. I support that more than I do Melo, but I haven’t heard that LeBron does.

 

[Hoopguru]

He could also not want to face the reality of Kobe passing. Imagine playing at Staples Center would be tough for anyone close to him. Everyone deals with it in their own way.

Thats 100% correct.

 

[Hoopguru]

I hope he plays. He is close with LeBron.

Im thinking he will.

 

[KSF-ERIC]

Feel bad for the guy. Clearly a tough time for him right now. I support Melo not playing. Not like this is a game 7 or something.

It’s like a game 7 for us being that we could fall 4 games below the 8 seed if we lose.

 

[KSF-ERIC]

Has it been said that he's definitely not playing?

edit: Just posted on NBA.com: https://www.nba.com/article/2020/01/31/carmelo-anthony-out-vs-lakers

I don’t get it. He has already played two games after Kobe died.

 

[illmatic99]

I don’t get it. He has already played two games after Kobe died.

In LA with all the triggers can't be easy. People cope in different ways. I wouldn't be surprised if he skipped this trip altogether. The 24 sec and 8 sec tributes in our game against Indy on Sunday seemed to get to him

 

[Neil O. Shyster]

It’s like a game 7 for us being that we could fall 4 games below the 8 seed if we lose.

EXACTLY!

 

[hoopsjock]

I don’t get it. He has already played two games after Kobe died.

Apparently he and Kobe had dinner plans tonight and Kobe said he was coming to the game. That's gotta be tough.

 

[illmatic99]

things in life bigger than a game.

 

[fumanchu]

If Kobe is the reason he's missing the game, that's lame.

 

[BoomChakaLaka]

Life is far greater than a game of basketball. Be well Melo. Score 40 tomorrow against the Jazz

 

[hoopsjock]

If Kobe is the reason he's missing the game, that's lame.

No it's not man, let the man have a moment. It's just a game.

 

[Sprayzen1908]

Everyone has their own way to deal with it.

Not playing would of been a bloody hard decision knowing Kobe would’ve wanted players to play, let alone at Staples, against the Lakers and with another good mate on the other team.

Being with his family right now is way more important than a game.

 

[illmatic99]

It was Neil's idea. https://theundefeated.com/features/...pay-tribute-to-kobe-bryant-at-game-vs-lakers/

Ariza, meanwhile, had the option of sitting out the game. Trail Blazers general manager Neil Olshey spoke to head coach Terry Stotts about the possibility of giving Ariza and Carmelo Anthony the game off in Los Angeles because of their close relationships with Bryant, a source told The Undefeated. Stotts agreed that it was a good idea to give the two Blazers starters the option.

“It was a classy gesture and heartfelt,” said Ariza, who decided to play and was in the Blazers’ starting lineup.

Anthony took the Blazers’ offer to not play. Sources close to Anthony said he thought it would be too painful to play in an emotional game turned memorial for a friend who had “a much stronger connection to him than just the game of basketball.” Anthony didn’t return phone calls and texts from friends for two days following Bryant’s death, one source said.

Those close to Anthony said he grew close to Bryant in 2008 when they were Olympic teammates. Their wives are also close. Anthony and Bryant spoke regularly, the last time on Jan. 24, when the Lakers’ all-time scorer said he expected to come to the game Friday night.

 

[hoopsjock]

It was Neil's idea. https://theundefeated.com/features/...pay-tribute-to-kobe-bryant-at-game-vs-lakers/

Stuff like this makes me proud to be a fan of this team. I totally respect Melo's decision not to play and I also think it was cool that Ariza wanted to be there. Everyone grieves differently. Props to the organization for giving them that option.

Little things like that don't seem like a big deal but the organization gaining the respect of two vets like Ariza and Melo is great for the culture and maybe even attracting other free agents down the road.

 

[TBpup]

Blazers will need his fresh legs tonight.