Simon Cowell of “American Idol” could not deconstruct Reggie Evans’ first days with the Nuggets any more harshly than the forward has himself.
Evans has pulled down at least seven rebounds coming off the bench since arriving in Denver on Feb. 23 – 7.8 per game. His team, despite a rebound deficit for the season, has outworked its past four opponents by 16.5 rebounds a game. Evans receives plenty of credit for this, especially with teammates up front healing from injuries.
So how would he rate his work?
“From a coaching staff standpoint, from a fan standpoint, they may like it,” he said. “But to me, I’m not too thrilled with myself. So my grade’s not very high. … I’m my biggest fan. I’m my worst critic. I know me. I can work harder and give the team even more.”
Others could look at Denver’s 115-101 win over Memphis on Monday and see Evans’ contribution to one of the most dominant rebounding performances in team history. The Grizzlies managed just 21 rebounds, two on the offensive glass. Both represent record lows for a Nuggets opponent.
But Evans sees the technical foul he drew, the pushes he took from Memphis’ Lorenzen Wright and the fact that he has not gained full control of his conditioning at altitude.
His new teammates are far more generous.
“I was doing it all year long and didn’t have much help,” center Marcus Camby said. “A lot of credit has to go to guys like Reggie Evans and Ruben Patterson, bringing that intensity and effort to each ballgame. It just seems to be trickling down to everyone else.”
Speaking of Evans, coach George Karl added, “We’ve got guys committed to play every position. If I don’t get that, I can substitute it and get it in if I want to. With all the injuries and sometimes commitment was negotiable. It’s not negotiable anymore.”
Evans’ self-criticism should not be confused with unhappiness. He spent most of the season waiting to get his ticket punched out of Seattle after the Sonics came at him with a contract offer just weeks before camp opened.
“I didn’t feel appreciated,” he said. “Now I feel appreciated around here.”
He may lack offensive polish, and his foul shooting is downright ugly – 53.6 percent. But his rebounding numbers, not to mention his general energy, would have seemed to merit more than the $1.1 million contract he earned for this year.
Evans will take another crack at free agency this summer, but said, “I do my best to block that out of my head.”
The critic in his head, however, doesn’t seem to be going anywhere.
Footnotes
Karl said he expects Kenyon Martin (left knee) to play Thursday at Philadelphia but said Eduardo Najera (right knee) is 50-50. … After speaking with injured forward Nene, Karl would not rule out using him in the playoffs if his right knee heals fast enough. “If we get into a situation where we’re going to play two powerful teams, then you might want to put him on the roster, just to have him around for a Tim Duncan,” Karl said. … The Minneapolis Star-Tribune reported free agent Fred Hoiberg, a shooting guard the Nuggets have eyed, was to meet with Detroit on Tuesday. … Camby noticed he got just one second-half shot against Memphis. “I’m not complaining,” he said. “I just want some more touches.”
Adam Thompson can be reached at 303-820-5447 or athompson@denverpost.com.
