Denver Post sports writer Benjamin Hochman posts his Nuggets Mailbag on Mondays during the 2010-11 NBA season.
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How did Shelden “The Landlord” Williams get his nickname?
—Cindy, Littleton
That’s a fun question, indeed. Shelden got the nickname back in his high school days in Oklahoma City, because he “owned the paint.”
When he was one of America’s top talents, coach Rodney Dendy of Midwest City High told The Herald-Sun: “They call him The Landlord, because if you come inside, you’re going to be evicted.”
Shelden is having a nice little season for the Nuggets, wouldn’t you think? Especially considering he has a minimum contract. He has started every game (due to the Kenyon injury), and in just 20.3 minutes per game, he averages 5.5 points and 6.3 rebounds, the latter number popping off the page.
And how about this stat: Shelden is 14th in the NBA in rebounds per 48 minutes (14.9). But like they say of the 48-minute stat, there’s a reason why some of these guys don’t play bigger minutes.
Hey Burgerman! Why doesn’t Nene have a double-double every night? He can obviously score, but for a center, his rebounding seems a little sub-par. He’s big, strong. Why can’t he get 10 boards a game?
—Pete, San Francisco
Pete, what is up, man? Glad you’re enjoying the (my cholesterol went up this season like )., if you didn’t see it.
As for Maybyner Rodney Hilario, the guy has been great of late. I’m writing you this from Madison Square Garden, where earlier today he unleashed a nasty/gnarly dunk over Amare Stoudemire.
In the Memphis game on Dec. 5, he had 27 points and 11 rebounds. On Dec. 10 against the Raptors, who he had a 20 ppg average against in the previous four games, he scored 26 (along with six boards). And then today (Dec. 12) at New York, he had 26 with eight boards.
OK, but the question is, why doesn’t he do it every night? Like George Karl has said in the past, in regard to Nene’s rebounding, Nene is one of those guys who boxes his man out pretty well – but isn’t one of those guys who covers extra ground for rebounds.
What do you make of the Boston game on Wednesday (a 105-89 Nugs loss)? No Melo, sure. And no K-Mart. And no Bird. But Denver rallied from way down (a plus, sorta), then fell right back to get blown out (ugly). I know it’s a difficult comparison with so many injuries, but a 16-point loss is bad tidings. The Celtics are the kind of team Denver should measure itself against.
—Marquez, Denver
In some games, it’s easy to find silver linings, but in that Celtics game, well, it was just a tough loss. But, to be fair (and George Karl agrees), the Celtics might be the best team in basketball.
That night, the Nuggets didn’t have much size and, really, couldn’t get anything going. Chauncey Billups and Al Harrington both played without much rhythm (combined 5-for-20), missing open shots a lot. Really, the only guy who did anything was Ty Lawson (24 points, seven assists).
But like you said in the question, when you don’t have three of your rotation players, you’re behind the 8-ball before tipoff.
Benjamin, comment not a question… I’m a 44-year-old basketball freak and I remember when George Karl coached Real Madrid in Spain. Their top player, Fernando Martin, died in a car accident on his way to practice. This event devastated all Spaniards and coach Karl handled the situation with a grace and class which I still haven’t forgotten. Congrats to him and his family on his soon-to-be 1,000 wins! But in my book it’s how he has handled adversity on and off the court that really matters.
—Carlos, Houston
Indeed, this has been a pretty emotional year for George Karl and everyone around him — the all-star coaching gig; the cancer announcement; the battle; the Nuggets playoff implosion; the victory against cancer; the birth of a granddaughter; the return to coaching; the Melo mess; the possible contract extension; win No. 1,000.
Like Chauncey Billups said after that win in Toronto, Karl’s legacy is beyond basketball. He is an inspiration to fighters of any kind, anywhere.
As for the Martin tragedy, not a lot of people know about it. I interviewed George in 2007, right before the Nuggets return to Madison Square Garden for the first game after the fight. .
“Other than the birth of my children,” Karl said, “it was the craziest three days of my life… It was a psychological shock,” Karl said. “Other than my best player getting killed, I’ve never gone through something that psychological (in basketball). It was a mystery. For me, I didn’t know what to do.”
Benjamin Hochman is in his fourth season as the Nuggets and NBA reporter for The Denver Post. for the Nuggets Mailbag. And
