NuGGeTs-FaN
03-11-2008, 11:58 PM
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/mar/11/nene-return-near/
The Nuggets claimed their free agent moves this season would come in the form of in-house players Chucky Atkins and Nene returning to the lineup. Atkins has been back for three games, and it will soon be known whether Nene again will return to the hardwood this season.
“The gut feeling is this week’s going to be kind of important,” Nuggets coach George Karl said. “We’re hoping to get him on the court some this week, touching the basketball and playing the basketball a little bit. I don’t know how much physical contact we’ll do, but we’re moving him toward playing basketball as quick as he possibly can.”
Nene sat on the Nuggets bench during Friday’s home win against San Antonio, but has not practiced with the team since taking leave Jan. 11 after being diagnosed with a testicular tumor, which he later was successfully treated for.
Karl said he could not guess the likelihood of Nene’s return, saying only that he remained “hopeful.”
SMITH EARNING TIME
Karl claims J.R. Smith has carved his way back into the Nuggets rotation by playing better defense. The coach admitted, though, that Smith’s unpredictability and seemingly unconscious decisions to shoot, aspects that have been maddening enough to bench the fourth-year pro in the past, also contain a positive side.
Smith’s recent penchant for going on instant perimeter-shooting sprees off the bench has left teams at loss for how to defend a player who seemingly is willing to shoot from anywhere inside 27 feet at any time. As more regular minutes have come, Smith, averaging 17.6 points over the past 14 games, has begun to mix up his threes with drives.
“Offensively, he’s been very good at getting to the rim, getting to the foul line, which is important to us,” Karl said. “And his three-ball is going in at times at a crazy level, a crazy-high intensity.”
NUMBERS GAME
51 three-pointers made by Smith in the past 14 games, an average of 3.64 a contest. Peja Stojakovic of New Orleans leads the NBA with 2.98 makes per game for the season.
:smokin Another big body to throw at Duncan/Bynum/West etc
GK has been so quiet on Nene coming back but it sounds like he will be playing soon enough :clap
The Nuggets claimed their free agent moves this season would come in the form of in-house players Chucky Atkins and Nene returning to the lineup. Atkins has been back for three games, and it will soon be known whether Nene again will return to the hardwood this season.
“The gut feeling is this week’s going to be kind of important,” Nuggets coach George Karl said. “We’re hoping to get him on the court some this week, touching the basketball and playing the basketball a little bit. I don’t know how much physical contact we’ll do, but we’re moving him toward playing basketball as quick as he possibly can.”
Nene sat on the Nuggets bench during Friday’s home win against San Antonio, but has not practiced with the team since taking leave Jan. 11 after being diagnosed with a testicular tumor, which he later was successfully treated for.
Karl said he could not guess the likelihood of Nene’s return, saying only that he remained “hopeful.”
SMITH EARNING TIME
Karl claims J.R. Smith has carved his way back into the Nuggets rotation by playing better defense. The coach admitted, though, that Smith’s unpredictability and seemingly unconscious decisions to shoot, aspects that have been maddening enough to bench the fourth-year pro in the past, also contain a positive side.
Smith’s recent penchant for going on instant perimeter-shooting sprees off the bench has left teams at loss for how to defend a player who seemingly is willing to shoot from anywhere inside 27 feet at any time. As more regular minutes have come, Smith, averaging 17.6 points over the past 14 games, has begun to mix up his threes with drives.
“Offensively, he’s been very good at getting to the rim, getting to the foul line, which is important to us,” Karl said. “And his three-ball is going in at times at a crazy level, a crazy-high intensity.”
NUMBERS GAME
51 three-pointers made by Smith in the past 14 games, an average of 3.64 a contest. Peja Stojakovic of New Orleans leads the NBA with 2.98 makes per game for the season.
:smokin Another big body to throw at Duncan/Bynum/West etc
GK has been so quiet on Nene coming back but it sounds like he will be playing soon enough :clap