Utah Jazz: Carmelo Anthony says he needs teammates to win

SALT LAKE CITY — If there's one thing Carmelo Anthony knows — OK, aside from how to annoy Jazz fans in Utah with his shoe ads — it's that he can't win this series by himself.

"In the playoffs," he said, "especially Utah, they're not going to let me beat them."

It can't just be a two-man Anthony-Chauncey Billups show, either. That was the case when the two stars scored 25 points apiece Friday while no other Nuggets hit double figures in the Jazz's 105-93 win.

On Saturday, Anthony spoke individually to center Nene and backup shooting guard J.R. Smith to remind them how vital their roles are.

"I pulled them up," Anthony said, "and told them whenever they play well we win."

Melo wants Nene to be a dominating center and for the guy called "J.R. Swish" in Denver to light up the scoreboard.

Denver, Anthony explained, was at its best this year when those two were contributors.

Smith is only shooting 36.4 percent for the series and has averaged 8.5 points since his 20-point Game 1 outburst. Nene had a quiet eight points and five boards Friday.

"I just wanted to let them know that I need them," Anthony said. "I don't want to feel like I'm out there fighting by myself, me and Chauncey. We need everybody, K-Mart (Kenyon Martin), Nene, J.R., Arron (Afflalo), everybody."

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