Before entering the 2009 NBA Playoffs, Carmelo Anthony was considered a regular season player. Like Tracy McGrady. One of those players that are between the best players of the league, but never perform at that level in the Playoffs, one of those that cannot advance his teams to the 2nd round.

Even in the 1st game in the Denver-New Orleans 1st round series, Carmelo Anthony still looked like that player, and Chauncey was the one that stepped up for his team. After that, Carmelo has performed as a truly "Playoff player". He was smart in the next games against the Hornets, passing the ball and getting assists when they doubled him, and waiting for the game to come to him, being patient.

We all have seen Carmelo's last two games, and it is about time to say that I will never, ever, accept any more one of those comments by ESPN analysts saying that Carmelo is not in the level of Wade, LeBron or Kobe in the Playoffs. He sinked the game-winner 3 pointer, and a previous easy-fast dunk in the last 35 seconds, that put the Nuggets closer to Game 3 epic victory. And yesterday, we all know and are disappointed that the Nuggets lost, and ESPN likes to say that "Nowitzki scores 44 outdueling Melo's 41".

Marc Stein, I do not think so. Dirk played the same amount of minutes than Melo. Melo converted 9 FTs out of 11, and Dirk scored 16 (yes, you read right) of his points thanks to FTs, shooting 17 in the whole game. I am not gonna enter in the whole referee thing yesterday, but it is a fact that Carmelo Anthony's penetrations should give him more free throws than just 11... And yesterday, I remember me saying "Are you serious? He got fouled 2 times on that play and they didn't call $$$$$!!!!!! (insert badword) " Also, besides the scoring thing, if you consider that Melo got 5 steals and just 2 turnovers, and Nowitzki got 4 turnovers and 2 steals, Melo getting 3 offensive rebounds by Nowitzki just getting 1, and Melo playing in Foul trouble while Nowitzki was playing with just 1 foul (ARE YOU KIDDING ME?), I think those numbers speak by themselves, and Nowitzki didn't play better than Melo, the Mavs played better than the Nuggets. I think Carmelo is really underrated in the NBA. Sometimes I try to figure LeBron James or Kobe scoring 33 points in a sole period, and I cannot imagine the NBA not making a "Where amazing happens" commercial about it, can you?

The talk is over. Carmelo Anthony performs in the Playoffs, period.

About Game 5:

There's no reason to be afraid. Here's some questions that, if you are sort of afraid, will help you calm down and realize that there's nothing to worry about.

• Did we really expect our Nuggets to win 4-0 the Western semi-finals?
• How likely is that the Nuggets will miss 12 free throws in Game 5 in front of their crowd?
• How likely is that Nowitzki will be allowed to shoot 17 free throws in the next game at the Can with all the people booing each call?
  
• Don't you think that the Birdman will play?
• Do you think we will need Kleiza to play 20 minutes again?
• Are the Mavs going to out-rebound the Nuggets 50-34 again in front of our homecourt and with the Birdman playing?

I don't think I need to answer any of those questions for you, do I?

GO NUGGETS.