Nuggets swingman Ruben Patterson may be the only player with a game against the lowly Portland Trail Blazers circled on his calendar.
The Nuggets acquired Patterson from Portland in a four-team deal on Feb. 23. Tonight, he plays at the Rose Garden for the first time since the trade. Patterson was with Portland for 4 1/2 seasons and expects “appreciative fans” to applaud him tonight.
“I circled it down when I knew I got traded,” Patterson said. “I still talk to the guys. Nothing against my teammates. I love to see them guys once we go to Portland. I still watch their games. I watched (recently). It’s going to be fun going back to the Rose Garden seeing some guys.”
The Trail Blazers (21-55) acquired Patterson on Aug. 2, 2001, signing him to a six-year, $34 million contract.
The 6-foot-5, 223-pounder averaged 11.4 points and 3.4 rebounds in 45 games for Portland this season. Earlier this season, Patterson had a run-in with Blazers coach Nate McMillan and was suspended two games and was on the team’s inactive list for four.
“He was cool, man,” Patterson said of McMillan. “It was cool. He was an all-right cat. It’s over with now. Once we play them Monday, it’ll be time to go.”
McMillan said Sunday he has watched tapes of Patterson this season with the Nuggets.
“I’m sure he’ll ask (today) to start. You know, that’s Ruben,” McMillan told reporters after practice.
In recent years, the Blazers have been hit with off-court drama that garnered them the nickname “Jail Blazers.” Portland has been a disappointment on the court in recent years, too, for not doing well despite being loaded with talent.
Portland last made the playoffs in 2003 and is competing with New York and Atlanta for the NBA’s worst record. Patterson said he began thinking it probably was best to be elsewhere after teammate and good friend Rasheed Wallace was dealt to Atlanta on Feb. 9, 2004.
“Ever since he got traded, it went downhill,” Patterson said. “Bonzi (Wells) got traded. Jeff McInnis got traded. Then (Derek Anderson) got traded last year. I was like, ‘Man, it’s got to be my time sometime soon.”‘
Nuggets coach George Karl has been a fan of Patterson’s intensity and defensive play for years and wanted to add him to his roster. In 20 games with Denver, Patterson has averaged 13.0 points, 3.7 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 2.5 turnovers in 28.6 minutes per game. Denver also acquired Reggie Evans from Seattle on Feb. 23.
“His turnover game is something that’s driving me a little crazy,” Karl said of Patterson. “But he’s going to be a guy that’s going to be very useful for us in the playoffs and also next (season).”
McMillan said adding Patterson has made the Nuggets more versatile.
“Ruben is basically taking the assignment of defending the best player, the best offensive player at the two or the three position,” McMillan said. “So I think it just allows them versatility with Ruben and Reggie Evans joining that team. They’re big. They’re physical.”
Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony is averaging a team-best 26.8 points. But tonight, he might defer some of his scoring to Patterson.
“I told Carmelo, ‘Y’all give me the ball every time,”‘ Patterson said. “He just started laughing and said, ‘We’re coming to you, baby.”‘
Said Anthony: “He had this (game) circled. He’s going to be intense going back out there.”
Marc J. Spears can be reached at 303-820-5449 or mspears@denverpost.com.
