OT - Nene is becoming everything that i told...
Posted: Thu Dec 4, 2008 6:50 pm
Well, i told earlier, i am speaking now and i will be here later... Nene is better then Amaré, and is better BIG TIME!
Nuggets' Nene an efficiency expert
Brazilian center's 64.2 percent from floor leads NBA
This is how Nene likes it.
While the Nuggets' monthlong hot streak has been credited almost solely to the arrival of Chauncey Billups and the improved all-around game of Carmelo Anthony, the Nuggets center quietly is becoming the player they always said he could be.
While Billups and Anthony continue to eat up the headlines, Nene has averaged 15.2 points, 7.4 rebounds and 1.68 blocked shots, all of which would shatter his single-season bests.
But perhaps most telling about the 6-foot-11 Brazilian's emergence is his 64.2 percent field-goal percentage, which leads the NBA but is on pace to be the best since Artis Gilmore shot 65.2 percent for Chicago in 1981-82.
"Now is my time," Nene said. "I've been through a lot of things to get to this position I am now."
Indeed, Nene has persevered through a laundry list of injuries and a bout of testicular cancer. Then, the onus further was placed on the seventh-year pro when Denver dumped starting center Marcus Camby and his salary on the Los Angeles Clippers during the offseason.
What had the makings of a PR disaster for the Nuggets if Nene did not immediately produce now virtually has become a forgotten topic.
"I'll tell you, I've been most surprised with Nene," Billups said. "I knew he was good. I knew that he was tough on the block to stop. I didn't know he could shoot as well as he does, and I didn't know he blocks shots as well as he does.
"Nene, he's an All-Star, man, and there's no one playing better than him in the league. I've looked around, I've seen it, and no one's really playing better than Nene. He's been a pleasant surprise for me, and he's such a great dude, which you guys all know."
Nuggets coach George Karl said Nene seldom takes a contested shot and terms the big man a "really efficient player."
But Karl also thinks Nene can do more.
"He bothers me because we run plays (for him) that he breaks out of and sets a screen for somebody else," Karl said. "We've had trouble getting guys to run plays for other people (but not for themselves). Sometimes I wish Nene would be a little more selfish to get his touch, get his opportunity, instead of sacrifice for other people."
Said Nene: "I'm no man who likes to force the ball. I just try to finish hard. I feel blessed, and now I have this No. 1 field-goal percent, and that's good because it will make me work more and take it more serious."
There were many who thought the Nuggets made a serious mistake when they signed Nene to a six-year, $60 million deal in summer 2006. He had a difficult first two seasons after receiving the contract many NBA insiders rated anywhere from high risk to ridiculous.
He was eased into action in 2006-07 because he was coming off knee surgery that limited him to one game the previous season. By the end of 2006-07, he was beginning to realize his potential, playing similarly to how he is now, albeit mostly at the power forward position with Kenyon Martin out because of knee surgery.
Then last season, Nene battled through calf and thumb injuries before being diagnosed with testicular cancer. He returned late in the season after receiving treatment, but his season could be described as disjointed, at best.
"It's great to see him back," Toronto Raptors forward Chris Bosh said. "He's playing like he was before, even better. He's a very good post player. He has a bunch of moves down low, and he's very strong."
Nene was his efficient self Tuesday in a blowout win against the Raptors, nailing 8-of-9 shots en route to 19 points and 11 rebounds. It was his second consecutive double-double and fifth this season, numbers that might suggest he is beginning to settle in to his role as a full-time starter.
"Do I feel comfortable? No," Nene said. "Never get comfortable. Because when you get comfortable, you can lose your position."
That prospect seems very unlikely, especially with Nene slowly beginning to get leaguewide acclaim after onlookers get past the contributions of Billups and Anthony.
"He's playing great," said Sam Mitchell, who was fired as Raptors coach after the loss to Denver. "But their whole team is playing great."
Nuggets' Nene an efficiency expert
Brazilian center's 64.2 percent from floor leads NBA
This is how Nene likes it.
While the Nuggets' monthlong hot streak has been credited almost solely to the arrival of Chauncey Billups and the improved all-around game of Carmelo Anthony, the Nuggets center quietly is becoming the player they always said he could be.
While Billups and Anthony continue to eat up the headlines, Nene has averaged 15.2 points, 7.4 rebounds and 1.68 blocked shots, all of which would shatter his single-season bests.
But perhaps most telling about the 6-foot-11 Brazilian's emergence is his 64.2 percent field-goal percentage, which leads the NBA but is on pace to be the best since Artis Gilmore shot 65.2 percent for Chicago in 1981-82.
"Now is my time," Nene said. "I've been through a lot of things to get to this position I am now."
Indeed, Nene has persevered through a laundry list of injuries and a bout of testicular cancer. Then, the onus further was placed on the seventh-year pro when Denver dumped starting center Marcus Camby and his salary on the Los Angeles Clippers during the offseason.
What had the makings of a PR disaster for the Nuggets if Nene did not immediately produce now virtually has become a forgotten topic.
"I'll tell you, I've been most surprised with Nene," Billups said. "I knew he was good. I knew that he was tough on the block to stop. I didn't know he could shoot as well as he does, and I didn't know he blocks shots as well as he does.
"Nene, he's an All-Star, man, and there's no one playing better than him in the league. I've looked around, I've seen it, and no one's really playing better than Nene. He's been a pleasant surprise for me, and he's such a great dude, which you guys all know."
Nuggets coach George Karl said Nene seldom takes a contested shot and terms the big man a "really efficient player."
But Karl also thinks Nene can do more.
"He bothers me because we run plays (for him) that he breaks out of and sets a screen for somebody else," Karl said. "We've had trouble getting guys to run plays for other people (but not for themselves). Sometimes I wish Nene would be a little more selfish to get his touch, get his opportunity, instead of sacrifice for other people."
Said Nene: "I'm no man who likes to force the ball. I just try to finish hard. I feel blessed, and now I have this No. 1 field-goal percent, and that's good because it will make me work more and take it more serious."
There were many who thought the Nuggets made a serious mistake when they signed Nene to a six-year, $60 million deal in summer 2006. He had a difficult first two seasons after receiving the contract many NBA insiders rated anywhere from high risk to ridiculous.
He was eased into action in 2006-07 because he was coming off knee surgery that limited him to one game the previous season. By the end of 2006-07, he was beginning to realize his potential, playing similarly to how he is now, albeit mostly at the power forward position with Kenyon Martin out because of knee surgery.
Then last season, Nene battled through calf and thumb injuries before being diagnosed with testicular cancer. He returned late in the season after receiving treatment, but his season could be described as disjointed, at best.
"It's great to see him back," Toronto Raptors forward Chris Bosh said. "He's playing like he was before, even better. He's a very good post player. He has a bunch of moves down low, and he's very strong."
Nene was his efficient self Tuesday in a blowout win against the Raptors, nailing 8-of-9 shots en route to 19 points and 11 rebounds. It was his second consecutive double-double and fifth this season, numbers that might suggest he is beginning to settle in to his role as a full-time starter.
"Do I feel comfortable? No," Nene said. "Never get comfortable. Because when you get comfortable, you can lose your position."
That prospect seems very unlikely, especially with Nene slowly beginning to get leaguewide acclaim after onlookers get past the contributions of Billups and Anthony.
"He's playing great," said Sam Mitchell, who was fired as Raptors coach after the loss to Denver. "But their whole team is playing great."
