Chris Andersen vs. JaVale McGee: There's Only Room for 1 Shot-Blocker in Denver

Like a lot of people, I was blindsided by the Nene-JaVale McGee bandy that beatific the Denver Nuggets' allegedly "prized big man" to a afflicted Washington aggregation in barter for a young, high-flying, contrary big.

After the ball of restructuring Nene's accord throughout the summer and the alpha of the lockout, Denver absitively to allotment means with the injury-prone centermost two weeks ago.

I accept the move now, based on the Nuggets' new run-and-gun appearance of breach that sends Ty Lawson and Arron Afflalo sprinting down the cloister and jacking a attempt up in beneath than 15 seconds, or aggravating to get an alley-oop to Kenneth Faried or Chris "Birdman" Andersen.

So, now I pause.

Birdman has been a basic on this Nuggets aggregation for the accomplished several seasons. He's accepting up there in age (now 33), but he still provides that atom off the bench.

Whether it's blocking shots, avaricious rebounds, ablution on people's active or VERY occasionally authoritative a 10-foot jumper, Birdman has been that guy that comes off the bank and gets the army and his teammates pumped.

Unfortunately for him, Denver just brought in a nine-years-younger adaptation of him.

Shot blocker? Check.

High flyer? Check.

Great dunker? Check.

High energy? Check.

Ridiculous antics on the court? Check.

It is alarming how agnate the accomplishment sets of these two are. Now, I can accomplish all the claims I wish that McGee has clearly taken Andersen's job…but let's attending at the numbers in a "this is what McGee did, so this is what Birdman did" blazon of way:

How can you bank THIS?


March 15th vs. Thunder

McGee: absent bold (ineligible; he got traded the day before)

Andersen: played 15 minutes; 5 points, 5 rebounds, 1 block

March 17th vs. Boston, March 19th vs. Dallas

McGee: did not play in either game

Andersen: did not play in either game


Here's area it starts to get interesting. Since that March 19th bold adjoin

Dallas, Denver has played 5 games: vs Detroit, @Utah, @Minnesota, @Chicago and a lot of afresh @Toronto. The amazing numbers are below.

McGee (five-game averages): 25 mpg, 11.4 ppg, 7.8 rpg, 2.2 bpg, .661 FG%, 36% FT
Andersen (five-game averages): 1 mpg, .4 ppg, 0 rpg, 0 bpg, 0 FG%, 50% FT
Birdman played 5 account adjoin Minnesota…and that's it. I don't even bethink seeing him on the bank adjoin Chicago the added night.

Now, I apperceive Faried has taken some of Andersen's account away, but he was still at atomic accepting assimilate the court. Even with Faried, Mozgov and Koufos (who, in my opinion, should be the one alone seeing one minute of arena time a game), Birdman was still seeing a little beneath 15 account per game.
That's not that far off from his career boilerplate of 17.8 mpg.

I apperceive George Karl has a awash frontcourt with Harrington in there as able-bodied as the above players, but you still accept to appearance some adulation for the Bird. He's a fan admired who knows his role and can still be that atom off the bank that Denver needs.

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