The former MTV deejay might be exactly why Anthony will be staying home for the Nuggets next two games. The NBA superstar has played sub-par basketball recently, and seems to be distracted. Anthony has averaged over 20 points and 7 rebounds per game this season, but is averaging a mere 13 and 3 over his last two games.

The Denver Nuggets have been one of the hottest teams in the league so far this season. They were given an unexpected boost with the trade of Allen Iverson for Chauncey Billups. While Billups has played great for Denver, the team goes as Anthony goes. Fellow 2003 draft pick Lebron James, and the Cleveland Cavaliers, embarrassed the Nuggets and Anthony on Friday night. Shaq and the Phoenix Suns did the same the next night in a game where Carmelo shot 3 for 13.

Officially, the reason for Carmelo missing the next two games, at least, is a sore elbow. It is obvious that there is something amiss, but two games seems like too short a time to recover from any injury. Perhaps Carmelo needs to clear his head and get away from the game for a bit. He will not be with the team during either of the two games he is scheduled to miss, raising some eyebrows. It is probably a good strategy, because if he cannot forget about basketball with Lala waiting for him at home, there is no hope for him.