Thunder's Adams: Old guys, like Melo, better communicators on D

Father Time usually catches up to aging athletes, robbing them of their mobility, speed, bounce, and athleticism - among other things.

But Steven Adams insists there are perks to maturing, using his new Oklahoma City Thunder teammate as the perfect example.

The comical 24-year-old center noted Carmelo Anthony is better at communicating on defense than younger and less experienced players.

"The good thing with Melo - he's getting old, mate," Adams said of the 33-year-old forward, as quoted by The Oklahoman's Brett Dawson.

"Mostly the old guys are good at talking because they have to. They have to make up for their movement. It would suck if he didn't talk and he didn't move. He can talk, which is really good. It solves a lot of problems."

Anthony also praised Adams' defense.

"His presence out there on the court, how much ground he takes up when he's out there, his athleticism, the way he can move from block to block, just take over that paint, it makes it easier for myself and other guys out there on the court to know that we have an agile big like that, a very aggressive big," he said.

Adams has been tasked with anchoring the Thunder defense this season. The 7-foot Kiwi is coming off his best year yet, averaging 11.3 points, 7.7 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 1.1 steals, and a block per game in his fourth campaign.