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The third round of the PtR Summer Showdown continues with an offensive battle between a top-tier star and a veteran scorer.
The Rules
It is a half-court game in which the scoring increments are 1 point for everything inside the arc and 2 points for everything outside the arc, so long-distance bombers will do well in our tourney. The higher seed starts off with the ball and the first player to 11 points wins. The possession switches every time the ball is scored, and your votes determine the winner.
Carmelo Anthony (1st Seed)
The first two rounds of this tournament have featured favorable matchups for Anthony. He faced players that didn't put up a real defensive effort. Kobe and Bradley Beal both tried to outscore Anthony, and that is not the way to attack Anthony. It will be hard to beat Melo in a straight scoring contest.
It can be argued that Carmelo has had the easiest road so far. In his third matchup he faces a seventh seed. Manu is going to play both ends, but Carmelo has a serious size advantage. He should be able to score just fine against Manu who is older and shorter.
Manu Ginobili (7th Seed)
The Cinderella of this tournament is still going strong after beating Andre Iguodala in Round 2. He faces an entirely new tier of player with Carmelo Anthony, whose size and talent are far beyond what Manu faced in his first two opponents. Anthony will be able to have his way on offense.
Manu is simply too small to put up a serious fight when Melo has the ball. His best chance is to try to outscore Melo, but that has not gone too well for his first two opponents. What sets Manu apart is his experience with how to score on anyone. He can hit shots from anywhere and may be able to score from beyond the arc more consistently, which could put Manu over the top.
Now It's Your Turn
This is where you decide the outcome. Vote on the poll below and make sure to let your opinion be known in the comments of this article.