Denver Post sports writer Chris Dempsey posts his Nuggets Mailbag each Thursday this NBA season on DenverPost.com.
To drop a question into the Nuggets Mailbag or visit DenverPost.com’s .
I’ve heard a lot of people criticize Nene’s play this year. Don’t they realize he played ONE QUARTER last year? Of course he’s rusty and out of shape. Has his recent play put him back on track to be our low-post power forward, and keep the naysayers off his back?
— Bryon, Fort Carson
Bryon – Not only is Nene back on the right track, but he also is by far the Nuggets’ best scoring threat on the block. It has taken him some time to fight through inflammation in his right knee, which still bothers him, but that has become less of a problem for him throughout the season.
Carmelo Anthony remarked once that the organization was waiting to see the “real” Nene, and now it seems he is getting back to being the player they believe he can be and inching closer to justifying the six-year, $60 million contract extension he was given last summer. But until he strings a few consistent, highly-productive seasons together, I suspect Nene will always carry the stigma of not being worth what he is being paid.
I think the Nuggets’ starting five should be Carmelo Anthony, Allen Iverson, Marcus Camby, Nene and J.R. Smith. I love Steve Blake, but J.R. needs to be on the floor. He has superstar potential. His 3-point jumper is electric. What do you think?
— Milton Taylor, Florida
Milton – I guess the J.R. Smith knee injury kind of makes this question moot for a while, but there is more to it. Even if he was healthy, at this point I think J.R. is better served coming off the bench, playing that “spark off the bench” role that every NBA team looks for. The Nuggets are in the process of breaking his game down and building it back up from a understanding standpoint, a decision-making standpoint, a willingness-to-play-defense standpoint and creating more versatility in his offensive game. Until those areas improve I think his best role is as a reserve.
Of the two, Steve Blake is probably better as a starter, particularly with Carmelo and Allen Iverson and Nene and Camby because all of those guys, to whatever extent, need the ball. Blake can sit back and make decisions and get the right guys the ball. Smith needs the ball, and having five guys like that on the court isn’t good for the purposes of passing and keeping the offense in a good flow. I think down the road we may see him back in the starting lineup, but his overall game needs to mature before that happens.
Chris – When does A.I.’s contract expire? Do you think he’ll stay with the Nuggets long-term?
— Bob, Chicago
Bob – Allen Iverson’s contract expires after the 2008 season, so he has two years left on it after this one. Every indication is he likes the organization and the city, but whether he stays or goes (or retires?) depends on factors such as how close the Nuggets are to winning a title, how he feels health-wise, and if he thinks he can still make a significant positive impact on the team. The organization has to evaluate if keeping him long-term is an investment they want to make as well, because it will take a lot of cash to lock Iverson up. So, it’s hard to say right now, other than the fact that the organization loves Iverson, and Iverson loves the organization. We’ll see how long that love keeps the two together.
Chris – Is Steve Blake in the long-term plans for the Nuggets? I could be wrong, but his assist-to-turnover ratio must be in the top 5 in the NBA, right?
— Craig, Boulder
Craig – First off, as of games played through Tuesday, Feb. 20, Blake is in the top 15 in assist-to-turnover ratio. His assists per game have skyrocketed since he has played with the Nuggets because of more playing time and better finishers than he played with at Milwaukee. At this point it appears the Nuggets would like to have him back, but that remains to be seen. Blake is in the last year of his contract. Thing is he shouldn’t be a terribly expensive player if the Nuggets do opt to re-sign him.
Given this team’s level of talent, do you think Stan Kroenke would ever consider replacing George Karl if the Nuggets continue to under-perform?
— Joey, Denver
Joey – I think any decision on replacing Karl is a ways off. Even if the Nuggets flame out this season in the playoffs, or even miss the playoffs, I think you’ll find Nuggets management willing to give him a pass (even if it is begrudgingly) on this season, which has been marred by suspensions and injuries that haven’t allowed the team to get on a consistent right track.
How come A.I. hasn’t been traveling with the team on road trips? Even if he has been ruled out of playing in the game, shouldn’t he still be there to support the team?
— Jim Crentist, Scranton, Pa.
Jim – This varies with each situation.
Sometimes injured players travel with the team and sometimes they don’t. In an effort to keep him off his injured ankle as much as possible, and to do the most effective rehab that could be done, Iverson did not travel with the team. If there was a chance that he could play, Iverson would have traveled.
His case is not uncommon. In Milwaukee, guard Michael Redd traveled with the Bucks at times but sometimes stayed home for rehabilitation purposes as well. There isn’t a steadfast rule that says players should go, and in Iverson’s case he 100 percent supports the team, but he could show that best by getting better as fast as possible to get back on the court.
Chris Dempsey is in his first year on the Nuggets beat. To drop a question into his Nuggets Mailbag or visit DenverPost.com’s .
