OT - Nene is becoming everything that i told...

[PeTBuLL]

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."

[b-ball forever]

He isn't better then Amare, but he's been real good for sure. Amazing what replacing Iverson with Billups can do to a team.

Hope u didn't just jinx him, those knees are pretty jinxable

[scootfu602]

Just because the kids "D" is better than Amar'e's, does not mean he is better. Offensively Amar'e cleans him up, F the high field goal % and I dont care what it is because I am certain 90% of those FG's are at the basket. It is getting ridiculous how we have people coming out of the woodwork talking about how bad Amar'e is, and how we should do this trade or that. Just a year ago we were all talking about how he will be MVP soon and how this is HIS team now.

Guess we have a new Marion scape goat for our troubles....Amar'e has worked harder than ANY Sun on his game. NO it is not perfect, especially on the defensive end, but has the kid ever even been coached on defense? It is just getting out of hand, and plain annoying.

As for Nene: I love his game, but until he is a 3+ time All Star and All NBA 1st teamer, he isn't even on STAT's level.

Sorry for the rant, hell I even fell victim to the Amar'e trade scenerio's recently, but he is the corner stone, franchise, and future of the Suns and should be treated accordingly.

[eastsidecrossover]

I know, hes the best ever!!!!! Better than Amare, Better than KG or TD, better than Wilt or Karmeem. The guy is in a class of his own.

I live in Denver now and watch their games because, thats all that is on. He looks good, but nothing spectacular. He does not look like an ALL star at all.

LAMO post

[PeTBuLL]

Well i hate Amaré from the beginning, no D, no passion, just stats... Im not in a new bandwagon, may i found one for myself years ago, but this new wave is not supported by me...

And Billups has nothing to do in this Nene deal!

[wdrummel]

He was given a 60 mil contract right before we threw one at Boris. *CRY*

[Phx4Life08]

no way is he better the Amar'e in overall game. He might be better in Defense but STAT's Offense makes up for it.

[nevetsov]

Wow, coming to the suns board and saying how you hate Amare, talking smack about our players and having no actual point to discuss demonstrates just how clueless you really are.

I am amazed at how you haven't been banned yet. Amazed.

[PeTBuLL]

Why, i cannot come here and start a thread like - I told you guys?

Nene ´s better, and i told before, now i have a point!

[garrick]

Nene has had subpar seasons until now and after 20 some games he is suddenly better than Amare? His rebounding is worse than Amare's, 7.4 rebounds per game and this is his career high?

[TASTIC]

PeTBull....I'll give you that Nene's been playing well, no doubt.

Ask ANY Gm in the league who they'd rather have out of Nene and Amare and 30 will say Amare

And I think you've just jinxed your boy...

[PeTBuLL]

PeTBull....I'll give you that Nene's been playing well, no doubt.

Ask ANY Gm in the league who they'd rather have out of Nene and Amare and 30 will say Amare

And I think you've just jinxed your boy...

OMG, Denver did not do well on National broadcast... Nene played awful... Tim Duncan overtake him...

[eastsidecrossover]

PetBuLL thoughts " He has become my everything, He is my everything!"

Dude, he still is not better than Amare. And I am not happy with Amare right now. The guy has been less than mediocre with all of his injuries. Take off the homer Brazil goggles off and see the light man.

Hes not going down with diarrhea man! You jinxed him.

So, can we start a thread that states "I told you so PetBuLL, your a (Please Use More Appropriate Word)"? I don't think you will like that. You better expect people firing off at you in a suns forum.

[tsherkin]

FWIW, Nene's per-36 numbers are basically at or below his career averages. He's the player he always has been, right down to the high foul rate.

He's just, you know, not suffering from cancer, or any kind of injuries. He's always been a 15/8 kind of player who plays excellent man D and stalks passing lanes well. His FG and FT efficiency are way up, but he's also playing with Carmelo and Billups and it's hard always been hard to guard him. This isn't really out of whack for him, he shot over 57% a few seasons ago. His per-36 rebounding is actually the lowest it has been since his second season (ignoring his 1-game "season" from a few years back) and it's the second time he's reached 16 PTS36.

[PeTBuLL]

Sup east, im not bothered by the fact that ppl. are bashing me here, i dind´t expect no one to get in my bandwagon, i just made this for fun, and i will tell you, im having a lot of fun... uhauahauhauha

Amaré is the best offensive player, im not a idiot, but no team in this league can rely on Amaré to reach a "contender" level, because he simply cant guard anyone... I just think that Nene can add. more for a team then Amaré, in the same way that Billups or Dre Miller could help more Denver then Iverson, and Iverson is the best of those 3.

If you put those names Bell and Leandro, you will get my point, Leandro are way more gifted offensive player, but he cant guard anyone...