The Nuggets were the 29th ranked offense (per ORtg) in the league in 2002-2003, which was dead last. They drafted Carmelo that April and went to 11th the next year. His teams have been in the top 11 every season but two (and his teams have been more consistently better on offense than LeBron's). He has only played on two teams that were NOT in the top ten on defense according to that same rating (these last two Knicks seasons). Whatever he is doing is largely working.