November 14, 2008 11:20 PM
Nuggets must watch Nene's minutes
By Chris Tomasson
Rocky Mountain News
He was feeling sick. His minutes have been piling up.
But one would hardly have known that the way Nene played in Friday night's 94-85 win at Boston.
The Nuggets center totaled 14 points, seven rebounds and five steals in 35 minutes. This despite having the flu for much of this week.
Nene has been an impressive presence this season. He's averaging 15 points and 8 rebounds over 34.7 minutes, and hasn't missed a game.
"That's our mountain,'' Nuggets coach George Karl said while Nene walked by before Friday's game.
But even Karl knows mountains wear down. OK, it did take the Appalachians millions of years to do that, but everything's relative.
The Nuggets are quite pleased with what they're getting from Nene. Still, there is a bit of wariness as the minutes pile up on Nene, recovering from last season's testicular cancer.
When Nene played 38 minutes last Sunday against Memphis and 39 Tuesday at Charlotte, it marked the first time since April 10 and 12, 2004 he had played consecutive games of 38 or more minutes.
Fortunately for the Nuggets, forward Kenyon Martin, who had missed the Memphis and Charlotte games due to a sprained wrist, has been able to return for the past two games. That helped the Nuggets cut Nene's minutes to 35 each of the past two games.
Still, the Nuggets are thin up front. With Chris Andersen out until late November due to a broken rib, the only players who see regular action taller than 6-foot-8 are the 6-11 Nene and 6-9 Martin.
"I have no other options,'' Karl said of having to sometimes play Nene more minutes than he wants.
For Nene's part, it sounds as if he might be most effective over the long haul playing in the mid-30s rather than the upper-30s in minutes.
"When there's a good rotation, (Nene isn't as) tired,'' Nene said.
So how does Nene feel overall after a stretch in which he's played six games in 10 days while averaging 36 minutes?
"My body is sore and tired,'' he said.
Having the flu for the past three or four days has played a role in that. Yet the Nuggets know they need to keep an eye on Nene's minutes.
After all, we're still talking about a player who missed 165 games in the previous three seasons.
November 15, 2008
12:36 PM
Mike writes:
The Nuggets look SOOOO much better with Chauncey, it is amazing how much better our defense and offense look. We many not score 106 points a game, but it looks like with billups in the line up we are giving up about 94 a game. Our one weakness now is that our big men are thin.
The nuggets brass need to do something about getting another big body on the roster so they don't wear out Nene or Martin. if either of the them go down we could be in trouble.
November 16, 2008
4:45 AM
Warren writes:
Sean Williams, the #5 Overall pick in last years draft that is just about nene's exact size and weight--he plays Center and PF for the NJ Nets--he is on the trading block.
The Nets have too many big men. They could really use some depth at guard and woudl benefit from someone whom could stretch the floor. The Nets budget is at $63 million, so that are well under the $70 million cap.
Chucky Atkins is almost healthy now. He woudl be a perfect fit for the Nets. The Nuggets could throw in that potential 2nd Round Draft Pick swap they got from the Clippers for Camby.
The deal would put the Nets up to about a $66 million salary, still under the cap of $70 million. It woudl also put Denver right about $250,000 under the salary cap.
Plus they woudl be getting a highly talented (albeit raw) backup Center/PF and by throwing in that 2nd Round pick swap they got for Camby, they wouldn't be getting nothing for Camby after all.
I really like Sean Williams ceiling. In a couple years, he might be a starter for Denver, if they go get him on the cheap right now. Even if Denver has to throw in another draft pick to get him, it's worth it.
Linus Kleiza, Sean Williams, Chris Anderson and Samb (7 foot center from Iverson deal), not a bad group of backup PF's and Centers.
November 16, 2008
11:42 AM
Joe Carter writes:
Good to see some positive discussion of the Nuggs. I'm sick of all the nay sayers, haters and critics. If you don't have an idea of how to improve the Nuggs that doesn't include getting rid of Karl or Kroenke the I welcome the opportunity to hear it. For example, I like the idea of trading for Sean Williams. A novel idea in an internet space void of constructive ones. Thanks, Warren. I also like the Billups addition. Chemistry seems to be improved both for us and Detroit.
November 16, 2008
5:02 PM
jon burtard writes:
word. There are usually only haters posting here
November 16, 2008
10:30 PM
Chad writes:
I'm kind of wondering what the Nuggets plan to do with Steven Hunter though...if we plan to ship out Atkins, we might as well ship out Hunter in a package deal to get someone better than Williams.
Other options besides Williams could be Andray Blatche of the Wizards or Chris Wilcox of the Thunder, both who look like they're not getting along well with their teams (whether it be coaches or playing style) but are both great players with great athleticism and/or upside.
November 17, 2008
12:54 PM
kodijack writes:
I like it Warren, nice job. I would bet that Mark W is all over this though.
We went from too many big men last year to too few this year, but we are playing better. Its amazing what working as team will do, huh?
November 17, 2008
11:11 PM
sfbevo writes:
Nuggets should speak with Scot Pollard formerly with Sac/Indiana. He can run, play good D, and is good in the lockerroom. He's in Lawrence, Ks. awaiting your call.