Chris Anderson doesn’t have to score a lot of points, or even play a lot of minutes to be a difference-maker for the Denver Nuggets.  “The Birdman” is averaging 22.3 minutes per game, 6.2 points, 6.3 rebounds, 1.9 blocks, and 0.7 blocks this season.  He is great at guarding the rim, and whether he blocks the shot or not the opposition has to adjust the way they attack the basket when he is on the court.  Despite an ailing knee with tendinitis, Anderson has been playing even better lately.  During the Nuggets current three-game winning streak, Anderson is averaging 10.3 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 3.3 blocks.  A fan favorite in Denver, Anderson not only gives the Nuggets a great shot-blocker, but he also brings a lot of energy and excitement to the team when he comes off the bench.  Hopefully Anderson’s knee tendinitis doesn’t get any worse and he can continue to play through it, because he will be a huge asset for them in the playoffs when defense is needed most.

The Denver Nuggets can breathe a big sigh of relief with the return of their superstar Carmelo Anthony.  Anthony missed the previous 8 games with an ankle injury, and the Nuggets went 5-3 without him.  He returned on Tuesday night and helped the Nuggets blow out the Mavericks 127-91.  It was a good thing the Nuggets blew them out, as Anthony did not have to play a ton of minutes in his first game back.  He played only 30 minutes and went 8-16 from the field for 19 points, 6 assists, and 4 rebounds.  The Nuggets are not the same team without Carmelo and he can flat out score the ball for them.  He was leading the league in scoring before his injury, but now sits at third (29.5 ppg), only a few tenths of a point behind Kevin Durant (29.7 ppg) and LeBron James (29.8 ppg).  Carmelo is coming back at a key time for the Nuggets, who have some tough teams coming up on their schedule.  Out of the seven games they have left this month they have to face four tough teams in the Spurs, Cavaliers, Celtics, and Lakers.

Kenyon Martin has been playing some great basketball for the Denver Nuggets this year, particular in the past month.  With the Nuggets’ star player Carmelo Anthony missing a lot of games lately, the Nuggets have needed some players to step up their scoring.  No Nuggets player has stepped it up as much as Kenyon Martin.  In the past month Anthony has missed 10 games, and in those 10 games Martin has averaged 17.7 points and 10.5 rebounds on 55% shooting.  Martin is only averaging 12 points per game this season, so he has really stepped up his game on the offensive end.  The Nuggets have needed the extra scoring with Carmelo out, since he is leading the league in scoring at 29.7 points per game.  Nuggets fans have to be happy with Martin’s play, as he is finally playing up to his huge contract.

J.R. Smith was a 38% career three-point shooter coming into this season, and was a 40% shooter from three the last two seasons.  Well, something has happened this season as Smith’s sharpshooting ways have been a thing of the past.  He is only hitting 31% of his threes this season and he just can’t seem to get himself out of this long shooting slump.  In the last three games he has gone 3-17 from three, so it doesn’t look like his shooting woes are going to end anytime soon.  His overall FG% isn’t very good either at 40%, but this hasn’t stopped Smith from continuing to chuck them up.  Smith is very athletic and can get to the hole easily, so I would like to see Smith put it on the floor and be more aggressive driving the ball.  Perhaps some more trips to the free throw line could help him get out of this shooting slump, as he is only attempting 2.5 free throws per game.  The Nuggets are a very solid club and J.R. Smith is a big part of that, but they are going to need him to step up is shooting when the playoffs roll around.

Carmelo Anthony may be the star and the number one guy for the Denver Nuggets, but I think it is Chauncey Billups who is the most important player for the Nuggets.  As soon as Billups became a member of the Nuggets last season, they immediately became a much better team.  Billups was the key to all of the success the Detroit Pistons had in recent years, and I don’t know why they ever gave him up.  The Nuggets sure are happy that they did though, because Billups has not only made the Nuggets a better overall team, but he has brought the best out of his teammate Carmelo Anthony.  Billups does have the ability to put a team on his back, which he showed in last night’s 123-118 win over the Golden State Warriors where he dropped 37 points, 8 rebounds, and 8 assists on 11-19 shooting.  That is not the norm for Billups though, as he usually puts his ego aside and only scores that much when the Nuggets need it.  Billups usually just runs the point, letting Carmelo be the main scorer.  Billups is averaging 18.8 points, 5.7 assists, 2.8 rebounds, and 1.2 steals on the season.  Billups’ knack for hitting the big shot is also a huge asset for the Nuggets, especially when the playoffs roll around.