LeBron and Carmelo can't do it alone

By Derek Daggett Sports Central Columnist

The NBA is desperate. How desperate, you ask? Really desperate.

Take last week's mega-hyped LeBron James/Carmelo Anthony showdown. Everywhere you looked, ESPN, FOX, TNT, the local fishwrap; all were hyping the next great rivalry in the league. LeBron and 'Melo ... the next (Larry) Bird/Magic (Johnson), (Bill) Russell/(Wilt) Chamberlain. This rivalry would revive a league that has steadily seen its ratings dip. After what I saw, however, everyone needs to take a step back and re-evaluate the problem.

The game is not struggling because of a lack of rivalries. The Spurs/Lakers and the Kings/Lakers are great, exciting basketball. No, the game is struggling because NBA players, for all intents and purposes, have forgotten how the game should be played.

LeBron and Carmelo are not going to save the league if the same horrendous shooting continues to take place (of which they are equally culpable of). Currently, there are only three teams that are shooting over 45% from the field. Awful. Only four teams are scoring 100 points or more a game. Terrible. Even worse, 13 teams are scoring less than 90 points a game and two teams are scoring less than 80 points a game. That cannot continue.

Many people will blame the high turnover in coaching or the zone defense. Maybe. I contend the league has turned away from the way basketball is to be played. The game has slowed down too much. Players are taking too many low-percentage shots and not pushing the floor.

Players stand around and watch their teammates try to breakdown the defense. In the first two weeks, I have seen too many instances of one-on-five players looking for the officials to bail out horrendous shot opportunities. Here's a word of advise: when the other team has three players collapsed on you, that generally means two players are wide-open. Pass the ball.

The game has turned into an endorsement extravaganza. Players are not playing solely for the wins. They are playing for shoes contracts, face time on the nightly highlight show, etc. The problem is, basketball is not being played. The fan is subjected to 75-60 barnburners on a night-in, night-out basis.

Can the league turn it around? Maybe. I have been intrigued by LeBron's game. He is the first rookie I have seen in a long time who understands involving his teammates. He is one of he most unselfish players I have seen in awhile. This is encouraging because he is the epitome of the marketing machine the NBA has become. It genuinely seems that he thinks team first, endorsements second. For the NBA to thrive, they will need more players with LeBron's attitude.

The league is going through a transition. The youth of the game will eventually grow up and basketball will thrive. Like the caterpillar that turns into the butterfly, we will have to suffer as fans through the ugly period to enjoy the fruits of these players' growth.

Article courtesy of Sports Central.