Melo convinces Knicks' vets to take minutes cut to make way for youngsters

Despite the New York Knicks' struggles, Carmelo Anthony has been in a giving mood all season, dishing out assists at a career-high rate and showing a willingness to defer to his teammates in crunch time.

In that spirit of selflessness, the 31-year-old forward has volunteered to scale back his role so that the Knicks' young players can expand theirs during the season's final two weeks. Not only that, but he's convinced his veteran teammates to do the same.

"I went to Jose (Calderon) and (Robin Lopez) and asked them what they felt just about that whole idea of if you're playing 35 minutes, how about playing 30 minutes and spreading the minutes out and let some other guys get opportunities out there," Anthony said Wednesday night, according to Newsday's Al Iannazzone. "They were all for it and we went to (coach) Kurt (Rambis) and we talked to Kurt about it."

The Knicks have long been out of the playoff race, but after being mathematically eliminated on Sunday, they can now officially start looking toward next season. Anthony appears to be kickstarting that process, pushing for developing players like rookie point guard Jerian Grant, second-year shooting guard Langston Galloway, and 24-year-old former No. 2 pick Derrick Williams to build up their confidence and comfort level.

"It's more of getting those guys involved in what we're trying to do and what we're trying to create and keep on moving forward. They need to be out there, they need playing time, they need playing experience. You can practice and do drills, one-on-one things all day long, but you're going to get that experience playing in the games."

Grant welcomed the possibility with open arms.

"All season my minutes have been so inconsistent, it's tough to get into a rhythm," said the No. 19 pick in last summer's draft, who's averaging 15.4 minutes per game this season. "Hopefully I can do a little something and prove that I can be a starting guard on this team."

Rambis, after being approached by the veteran trio of Anthony, Calderon, and Lopez, brought the idea to team president Phil Jackson and general manager Steve Mills, and said they were on board. The goal, as Rambis sees it, is to find out what the Knicks have in their heretofore unproven players.

"We'd like to cut down on guys' minutes that we feel secure with, we know who they are as players and played well for us, and try and cut back their minutes to open up more minutes for other guys," he said.

Anthony's perspective is slightly different.

"I think it's good for the morale of the team, I think it's good for their confidence," he said. "Sometimes in a situation like this as a player you can lose your confidence, and that's something you don't want."

Though they tailed off badly in the second half, the Knicks have still upped their win total by 13 (and counting) from last season and appear to be trending in the right direction. Anthony's future with the franchise has been called into question all season, but this show of maturity serves as a reminder that, for now at least, he is the team's most important leader.