I Know Why the Caged Bird Sucks

I have to calm down right now! Oh crap, I shouldn’t have used that exclamation point! I’m just too excited! I’m writing this just minutes after the Denver Nuggets handled the LA Fakers on their home floor. After a hard day at work there is nothing better to get me to finish up my article than a convincing win over my most hated of teams. The Lakers were helpless as the Nuggets led by Chauncey Billups rained down three pointers from wherever they chose in the second half. Chauncey had nine of them, a career high, while J.R. Smith and Aaron Aflallo added their own to the mix. This is a statement win for the Nuggets who now have to go in to one of the other toughest places to play, Energy Solutions Arena (bleccchhhh what a horrible corporate name), tomorrow night and try and pull out another win sans Carmelo Anthony.

Before tonight’s game, I had already written an unfinished piece about my beef with the Birdman this season. Maybe he has ESP or something, because like the rest of the Nuggets he put in a stellar performance in L.A.. So humor me and take what I have to say next in stride and wait for my allowances for Andersen at the end.

It seems to me with all the controversy surrounding J.R. Smith, issues with Nene’s aggressiveness, and now rumor milling around Carmelo Anthony’s ankle the player who has fallen off the most has been virtually ignored as a potential problem. Chris Andersen joined the Nuggets last season after being reinstated following a suspension for testing positive for an illegal, recreational substance. He was the steal of the year, averaging the most blocks per minute of any NBA player, getting copious rebounds, and providing the bench with a great energy boost and the Denver crowd with a willing mascot (sorry Rocky, we still love you). The Bird was the word, as Chris Marlowe is fond of saying, and he was a big reason we made it to the Western Conference Finals.

This year has been a considerably different story. After signing a contract extension which was far too high for any almost bench player, the Birdman has seemed to lack a certain killer instinct present last season. After being reinstated, he was still earning his way back in, but now the incentive only lies with his personal pride and desire for the team to win. I am not saying the Bird doesn’t have pride or doesn’t care about winning, on the contrary. I still think he is one of hardiest and most team oriented guys we have. What I am saying is it is easy to become distracted by opportunity and lose sight of what got you there in the first place. When I was watching the NBAtv inside looks at training camp this October, Rick Kamla mentioned how during his interview with the coaches they said Andersen had mostly tried to improve his jump shot. I knew this wasn’t a good sign. We will never need him to shoot anything outside of eight feet. Unless he made the leap to Mark Price type accuracy over the summer, like that reference?, there is no reason to even consider giving time and effort to the pursuit. I would have preferred he improve his post-game, boxing out, and learned the Nuggets plays better in order to cut to the basket at opportune times.

In addition to this lack of focus in practice, the Bird has taken on some questionable pursuits off the court. Now, I like the Mattress King and Kia commercials as much as anyone else, but it seems to be a symptom of the Birdman taking on too much too soon with his new found popularity. The extra-curricular activity I dislike the least is his attempt at a morning radio show. It is on way too early for me to have ever tried to tune in, however I have seen him in plenty of interviews and I can tell you the Bird is no word smith. My true dislike stems from the fact that already three times this season the Thursday airing has come in the early morning hours in the middle of back-to-back days for the Nuggets. In the second of these back-to-back games he has not had good showings either. Did anyone check the schedule before deciding on Thursday for his show?

Finally, are my beefs with the Bird’s in game play. Last year, Andersen was a new face in the crowd many opposing teams did not care about and certainly didn’t game plan for. He benefited from this oversight on many occasions coming in and swatting multiple shots from players who cared not to fake and grabbing rebounds away from those not caring to box him out. The word is out now though, and it says the Bird will bite on any pump fake and fail to stick his tail feathers in anyone’s face. Instead of adjusting to the adjustment, the Bird has taken to over working especially in the category of blocked shots. If the ball is anywhere within ten feet of the Bird he will flap at it. It is aggravating to see him come over from the weak side and try to impossibly block shots, leaving his man open to grab the rebound from the other side and put it back for an easy two.

I do believe Chris Andersen has seen the error of his ways of late, though. His last few games have been better. He is getting better at catching the ball in the key and is getting more rebounds while trying a few less block attempts. Tonight versus the Lakers he had a truly transcendent game. He came in with no headband or spiked hair, which I believe is a sign of his trying to focus on the game rather than the image so much. When he was in he played solid defense and grabbed many key rebounds to help seal the victory for the Nuggets. I am one of the biggest fans of the Birdman and I just hope he continues to work on his game and get back to basics. We need his presence so much with a three person low post rotation and without his concentrated energy we lose a big part of ourselves. GO NUGGETS!!!!