Team excited Nene shows signs of rebound

Center/forward is slim, happy and making an impact

Chris Tomasson, Rocky Mountain News

Monday, February 12, 2007

The weight is gone. The smile is back.

For more than a year, there was a cloud hanging over Nene's once- sunny disposition. He tore his right anterior cruciate ligament in the opener last season and it was a long road back.

Even though he took the floor for this opener this season, the Nuggets big man wasn't the same player. Not able to condition the way he normally does, Nene was overweight and out of shape.

But who has that been this month throwing down dunks and smiling all the way up the court? None other than Nene.

"That's the guy I remember when we got traded together here in Denver five years ago," said center Marcus Camby, the only Nuggets player to have played each season with Nene since he arrived in 2002. "I always said it's going to take some time for him to get adjusted, especially coming off the ACL injury. He's just starting to come along, and at the right time."

Medical people had cautioned before the season that it would be about January before Nene - he was injured Nov. 1, 2005, had surgery and missed the remainder of last season - would start resembling his old self.

Nene was solid in January, and he has erupted in February. In six games this month, he's shooting 57.5 percent and has averaged 18.2 points and 8.2 rebounds to raise his seasonal marks to 10.2 and 6.0.

"I play good," said the 6-foot-11 Nene, who has started the past four games at center with Camby ailing but will be back at his starting power forward spot tonight against Golden State if Camby returns from the flu. "I'm so glad. I'm thankful for God. I'm happy about how I play. I just keep going."

Working his way back was no carnival for the native of Brazil. Rehabilitation was grueling. And even after he signed a six-year, $60 million contract as a restricted free agent last summer, he had to listen to many observers say the Nuggets overpaid.

Nene started out slowly this season. He was questioned when he banged his right knee in the fourth game, and what didn't look to be much of an injury shut him down for four weeks.

"I don't think nothing of people talking," Nene said. "I just focus on playing basketball and playing hard. Everybody's going to talk."

Now, they're talking him up.

Figures differ on how much weight Nene has dropped this season, Nene saying he has gone from 282 to 264 pounds, and strength and conditioning coach Steve Hess calling the drop from 276 to 260. Regardless, he's getting close to being able to run the floor the way he once did.

"He's done a brilliant job," Hess said.

Nene, who writes "Only Lord is God" on his shoes in Portuguese, credits his faith for helping him. He said his wife, Meleana Antuanes, has been an inspiration.

The two were married in July. She met Nene when she was a personal trainer helping him in Brazil with his recovery.

"She gives me a lot," Nene said. "Take care of you and love your man."

The Nuggets are loving what Nene has given them lately. He scored a career-high 27 points Feb. 5 against Phoenix. He has two double-figure rebounding games this month, which is saying something, since he wasn't much of a rebounder even before his injury.

"I'm excited," said Nuggets coach George Karl, who has used Nene an average of 34 minutes since moving him into the starting lineup at the beginning of February. "What I see is, his mind is strong and growing in a strong direction. His courage, his size, his physicalness and his presence is very good for our basketball team."

What Nuggets forward Eduardo Najera sees is the smile returning to Nene's face.

"I'm really happy for him," Najera said. "He has been criticized by a lot of people, which isn't fair when you're limping around. . . . He was frustrated. He wasn't having a lot of fun. But now, when you see him, he's a totally different person. He's enjoying playing out there."

Warriors at Nuggets

• When: 7 tonight.

• Where: Pepsi Center.

• TV/radio: Altitude; KKFN-AM (950).

• Starting lineups

Golden State (24-28) Pos. Ht. Pts.

1 Stephen Jackson F 6-8 14.9

3 Al Harrington F 6-9 16.5

15 Andris Biedrins C 6-11 10.3

2 Mickael Pietrus G 6-6 13.0

8 Monta Ellis G 6-3 17.0

Coach: Don Nelson

Denver (25-24) Pos. Ht. Pts.

15 Carmelo Anthony F 6-8 30.9

21 Eduardo Najera F 6-8 6.7

31 Nene C 6-11 10.2

43 Linas Kleiza G 6-8 5.2

25 Steve Blake G 6-3 3.9

Coach: George Karl

• Injuries: Warriors - Pietrus (sprained right ankle) is questionable; G Baron Davis (bruised left knee), G Jason Richardson (broken right hand) and F Zarko Cabarkapa (back surgery) are out. Nuggets - C Marcus Camby (strained left groin, flu) is probable; G Allen Iverson (sprained right ankle) is questionable; F Kenyon Martin (right knee surgery) is out.

• Notes: Camby has missed four games in a row but vowed Saturday night to return against the Warriors. "I'll be out there Monday," he said. Iverson, meanwhile, is feeling better but remains a game-time decision. He has missed six of the past seven games. . . . The Nuggets (105.5) and Warriors (105.5) entered play Sunday tied for third in the NBA in scoring. . . . Najera is averaging 14.7 points on 14-for- 19 shooting and 8.7 rebounds in the past three games. . . . Denver went 54-for-75 from the free-throw line in back-to-back wins against Indiana and Milwaukee. . . . The Nuggets have won six in a row against Golden State at the Pepsi Center but they are only 1-4 in their past five home games. . . . Denver swept a home-and-home set against Golden State in November. . . . The Nuggets have had all five starters score in double figures in three straight games. . . . The Warriors are 0-4 against Northwest Division teams on the road. . . . After losing 106-105 to Atlanta on Sunday, the Warriors are 5-7 since making an eight-player trade with Indiana on Jan. 17. . . . Nuggets forward Reggie Evans, a 49.3 percent free-throw shooter this season, was the target of a Hack-a-Shaq strategy Saturday night against Milwaukee. He responded by making five of eight free throws after being fouled intentionally on four consecutive possessions. "I can see how Shaq (Miami center

Shaquille O'Neal) feels with the Hack-a-Shaq," Evans said. "They were calling me a Hack-a-Reggie. I didn't really see it as no funny deal."

tomassonc@RockyMountainNews.com. Aaron J. Lopez contributed to this story.