Anderson Will Be Key for Nuggets

It has been a couple of seasons since SWAY last caught up with Chris Anderson. Back then he was fresh off the boat from a two year suspension from the NBA on a drug rap. Not much was disclosed; he had gone quietly into the night. And then he had re-emerged, a washout in many people’s eyes and getting burn in five games with the New Orleans Hornets at the end of the 2007-08 season. He was rusty, but he looked good though his stint with the Hornets - the team he was under contract with at the time of his suspension - was short. He caught on the next season with the Denver Nuggets - the scene of his first pro stop and the only other NBA team he had played for. It wasn’t long before Anderson had total recall and so did the fans.

 

“That’s what they got me for,” Anderson told SWAY Sports. “To be energetic and play defense. That’s what I love to do, I love to block shots. I alter shots.”

 

Over the past two seasons in Denver Anderson has been one of the most efficient reserves in the league and up until this season, one of the best bargains. Defensively and on the glass he is a dizzying ball of energy stretched across a 6-10 frame. Offensively he plays it close, keeping his percentages high with sound positioning, put-backs and dunks. Since returning to the NBA Anderson has averaged 6.3 rebounds, 6.2 points and over two blocks per game. Last season he registered a career-high 2.5 blocks - second only to Dwight Howard in far less minutes - over 71 games and shot 54 percent from the field. For that successful return the Nuggets handed him a five-year contract that could top out at $26M with incentives. It cemented him as part of a Denver core that has bullied its way to a top three standing in the western conference for most of this season. Currently, Anderson sits third overall in blocks per 48 minutes for his 1.8 average in nearly 23 minutes of play a night, another career-high. His rebounding (6.4) and point totals (6.1) have remained virtually the same from last season while his shooting percentage actually rose to over 56 percent.  Despite the improvements to other parts of his game Anderson’s specialty remains attacking the shot, which is the motor to his game.

 

“Blocking a shot and dunking on people… it’s the same all around this room,” said Anderson eying his teammates. “If somebody else dunks on somebody it’s definitely going to put a little spark into it. That’s all you need is that little spark. Fire it up and next thing you know you’re playing at a high level.”

 

Call it the world according to the “Birdman”, Anderson’s well-earned moniker. His personality also transfers to off-court business and despite his rocky past he figures comfortably in the organization’s marketing efforts. His tatted torso is now celebrated and his on court antics are no longer deemed a distraction. His true colors are shining. His role is about to expand some too, with power forward Kenyon Martin sidelined by injury heading into the playoffs. If the Nuggets plan on returning to the conference final Anderson will have to play a significant part. He’s no savior but he will be depended on more than he has been at any other time in his career… the role of a lifetime. The Nuggets will also be without head coach George Karl as he battles cancer, making for some serious internal adjustments.

 

“We miss him,” said Anderson. “But it’s up to us to be professionals and come out and dig ourselves out of the hole we’re in”

 

The hole he refers to had its ground first broke when Karl stepped away from the game for treatment. The Nuggets haven’t gotten as many stops in recent games as they have for most of the season and without Martin the problem has been magnified. The race for second seed in the western conference has tightened.

 

“That just falls on us,” continues Anderson. “We’re not protecting the basket as well as we should be. It’s a matter of trusting each other and getting out there and playing as a unit.”

 

Assistant coach Adrian Dantley has done serviceable job in Karl’s absence but a recent three-game slip raised flags with the Nuggets, especially with Dallas and Utah surging. Along with center Nene, Anderson knows he is responsible for closing the gaps and with that comes a closer study of his approach. He is also aware of the immediate dividends his style of play pays out when he’s at his best.

 

“When I’m in there they don’t really drive to the basket anyway,” explained Anderson. “They like to pull up jumpers and just throw some shit up. But sometimes I take it out of context and I’ll try to go block shots I don’t even have any business trying to block. That right there puts us in a bad situation because now we don’t have two bigs rebounding. It gives the (other) team an opportunity to get an offensive board. It’s just a matter of being a smart defender and knowing when to go and not to go.”

 

In many ways Anderson’s road back to NBA stardom has been mirrored by the ascension of the Nuggets to legitimate contender. Led by a young superstar in Carmelo Anthony and a grizzled veteran and former champ in Chauncey Billups the team seems poised to make a serious run despite the absence of Karl and Martin, their two most vocal citizens. Anderson knows all about seizing the moment and making the most out of each chance. He has faced far worse odds and cleared much higher hurdles and after reaching the conference final last season Anderson also knows that the push starts now.

 

“That’s just it,” Anderson pinpoints. “We’ve got to turn it up right now. If we try to play like a playoff team at the end of the season it’s going to be tough.”