Melo, LeBron dim the spotlight

Focus is on pair's individual rivalry, but team success is top priority for superstars

Aaron J. Lopez, Rocky Mountain News

Published January 18, 2006 at midnight

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Take a man-on-the-street poll and nearly everyone can name the guy who sits in the Oval Office, but few can name all 15 presidential cabinet members.

The lead singer for U2? Basic common knowledge. But what about the other three guys who back Bono?

Sure, Kiefer Sutherland has become synonymous with 24, but the rest of the cast boasts the anonymity of a police lineup.

Things aren't much different when it comes time to promote tonight's game between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Denver Nuggets. Only two names get top billing: Carmelo and LeBron.

It is a fact of life in the NBA, which has long promoted its biggest names over its collective teams.

"The marquee guy is going to get the majority of the accolades and the majority of the press coverage," Cavaliers guard Damon Jones said after practice Tuesday at the University of Denver. "Because of it, some guys get overlooked for some special things that they do, but that's the nature of athletics. If you're in it for the publicity, you're in it for the wrong reason."

Jones, one of the NBA's more dangerous three-point threats, is only one member of a Cleveland supporting cast destined to stand outside the spotlight that shines on The Chosen One.

Even at 7-foot-3, center Zydrunas Ilgauskas will never cast a shadow as long as the 6-8 James.

"What people say, it shouldn't matter. They're going to hype whoever they're going to hype - some deservedly so," said Cleveland guard Eric Snow, who also played in the orbit of Philadelphia 76ers icon Allen Iverson. "But it shouldn't affect one player's performance or passion for the game."

The marketing of individuals began in earnest after David Stern took over as NBA commissioner in 1984.

Recognizing that the league needed a marketing hook, Stern sold fans on the talents of Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan and Isiah Thomas.

The campaign produced remarkable results and continues to this day as the biggest stars are touted on a first-name and nickname basis.

Kobe, Shaq, LeBron, Carmelo, T-Mac, Yao, A.I., Vince.

Though he has benefited financially from the NBA's success, Nuggets coach George Karl laments the fact individuals are put ahead of the team.

"I don't think it's two guys playing. I think it's two teams playing, and I really resent it," Karl said. "I don't know much about marketing, but if you promote teams and you promote rivalries and you promote competition and the spirit of competing, that would be just as successful as individuals."

Though Karl stands by his old-school beliefs, even he would have to agree Anthony and James - they were drafted within 30 minutes of one another in 2003 - are the primary reason the Pepsi Center will be filled on a Wednesday night.

They are the primary reason ESPN chose to televise the game to a national audience.

If people are lured to the arena and the TV screen because of their interest in Anthony and James, they just might be impressed by the eight other guys on the court.

"I haven't seen one guy beat five people yet," Snow said. "It needs to be done collectively."

For their part, Anthony and James always have done their best to deflect attention away from themselves before their biannual meetings. It was no different Tuesday.

"It's a team game, no matter what," James said. "They never say LeBron James beat Carmelo Anthony or Carmelo Anthony beat

LeBron James. It's the Nuggets against the Cavs, and that's the only way it should be."

Said Anthony: "When I play against guys like LeBron or (Miami Heat guard) Dwyane Wade, I don't watch TV the night before, or two days before, because I get tired of hearing about it."

Anthony is hardly alone.

Nuggets center Marcus Camby said he has grown weary of the inevitable questions leading up to a Cleveland-Denver game, and forward Kenyon Martin huffed, "It's not the

LeBron & Carmelo Show."

Indeed, Anthony and James - they're averaging 25.7 and 31.1 points, respectively - have received steady support during their third NBA season.

Ilgauskas is averaging 16.2 points and 8.5 rebounds, while Drew Gooden is averaging 11.4 points and 8.7 rebounds. Larry Hughes was averaging 16.2 points before breaking his right middle finger nearly three weeks ago.

None of the aforementioned trio will be starring in any national ad campaigns any time soon.

"I think in some aspects, it's kind of difficult to go out and do the things that you do and very rarely get the credit that you deserve," said Jones, who has made 66 three-pointers this season. "This league in general, it's predicated on endorsements, and no one wants to endorse a guy that's not being talked about.

"You just have to have the right mentality and understand that LeBron James is the face of the Cleveland Cavaliers."

In Denver, Anthony has been aided by Camby, who was averaging a career-best 16.3 points and 12.9 rebounds before breaking his right pinkie on Dec. 26, and point guard Andre Miller, whose 8.5 assists a game is fourth in the NBA.

Earl Watson (.430 from three-point range) and backup guard Earl Boykins (13.6 points per game) also have helped take some of the pressure off of Anthony.

"I think Melo has a great supporting cast," Nuggets guard Greg Buckner said. "Once we get the entire cast together, we'll see how good Melo is and how good the team is."

So far, Anthony has done more with less, putting the team on his shoulders despite injuries to Boykins, Buckner, Camby and Kenyon Martin.

He is averaging 29.3 points since Dec. 1 and 35.3 in his past four games.

"My confidence level is out of this world right now," Anthony said. "I feel like that every shot I put up there is going in."

James has been equally superb as the Cavaliers try to cope without Hughes, who is expected to be out for another five weeks.

James is third in the league in scoring and is averaging 33.1 points in the past 10 games. The Cavaliers are 4-6 in those games.

It just goes to show, even the Chosen One needs some help.

Anthony's supporting cast

• F Kenyon Martin: He has missed 11 games but is still averaging 12.1 points and 6.1 rebounds a game and hit the winning shot Monday at Chicago.

• G Andre Miller: Denver's point man is fourth in the NBA in assists (8.5 a game) and is averaging 14.4 points.

• C Marcus Camby: A dominating defender and rebounder, he was also providing offense before being lost to a broken right pinkie.

• The role players: Energizer Earl Boykins is averaging 13.6 points a game; Earl Watson has been hitting his threes; and Eduardo Najera has provided hustle and grit.

James' supporting cast

• C Zydrunas Ilgauskas: Cleveland's 7-foot-3 center has been Mr. Inside for the Cavaliers, averaging 16.2 points a game on .513 shooting.

• G Larry Hughes: A big off-season addition, he was providing another dependable scoring option (16.2 points a game) before being sidelined because of a broken right middle finger.

• F Drew Gooden: The former Kansas star is seventh in the NBA in shooting percentage (.535) and has been a force on the boards.

• The role players: Point guard Eric Snow has provided on-court leadership, while Damon Jones is one of the league's top three-point threats and veteran Donyell Marshall has been a strong scorer off the bench.

Cavaliers at Nuggets

• When: 7 tonight.

• Where: Pepsi Center.

• TV/Radio: Altitude, ESPN; KKFN-AM (950).

• Starting lineups:

Cleveland (20-15) Pos. Ht. Pts.

19 Damon Jones G 6-3 7.4

20 Eric Snow G 6-3 4.8

11 Zydrunas Ilgauskas C 7-3 16.2

23 LeBron James F 6-8 31.1

44 Alan Henderson F 6-9 2.3

Coach: Mike Brown

Denver (20-19) Pos. Ht. Pts.

8 Earl Watson G 6-1 8.5

24 Andre Miller G 6-2 14.4

56 Francisco Elson C 7-0 4.6

15 Carmelo Anthony F 6-8 25.7

6 Kenyon Martin F 6-8 12.1

Coach: George Karl

• Injuries: Cleveland - G Larry Hughes (broken right middle finger) is out; Ilgauskas (sore left knee) and F Drew Gooden (right groin strain) are questionable. Denver - C Marcus Camby (broken right pinkie), F Nene (right knee surgery) and G-F Bryon Russell (right knee surgery) are out; G Greg Buckner (sprained right wrist) is doubtful.

• Notes: Camby is scheduled to have the pins removed from his finger next week but does not have a timetable for his return. He took part in practice on Tuesday, and athletic trainer Jim Gillen said "it won't be long" before Camby is cleared to play . . . Watson will make his third start in a row, and Karl indicated that he will stick with that lineup at least until Buckner returns to health . . . Watson needs six points for 2,000 in his career . . . Cleveland has lost four in a row, including the first three of a six-game trip . . . The Cavaliers won the first meeting in Cleveland on Dec. 15 and are seeking their first season sweep of Denver since 1999-2000 . . . Ilgauskas is 17-for-19 from the field in the past three games . . . James is the only player in the NBA averaging at least 30 points, six rebounds and six assists. Michael Jordan is the only player in league history to hit those marks for an entire season . . . As of Tuesday, about 1,000 tickets remained available.

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