Nene vs. Verejao: Perception vs. Reality

[MLKG]

Nene just needs to find some way to stay healthy. He's more talented than Varejao in pretty much every aspect of the game. People forget because he's been in the league for 5 years now, but he's actually a couple weeks younger than AV as well.

[rebelsun]

I'll take Nene, and it's not that close.

[futuristxen]

I think I already said this, but to know Verejao is to love him. He's the second best player on the Cavs and is a complete game changer on both ends of the floor. It's hard to measure what he does in stats alone though. But the Cavs have been keeping track of offensive fouls drawn this year, and Verejao is off the charts. His flops are as important as steals and he gets a ton of them. And his numbers when he starts are extremely good.

[Brandname]

Originally Posted by futuristxen

I think I already said this, but to know Verejao is to love him. He's the second best player on the Cavs and is a complete game changer on both ends of the floor. It's hard to measure what he does in stats alone though. But the Cavs have been keeping track of offensive fouls drawn this year, and Verejao is off the charts. His flops are as important as steals and he gets a ton of them. And his numbers when he starts are extremely good.

Leads the league in charges taken.

And while he flops, he also draws more legitimate charges than anyone I've seen in the NBA today. He's just uncanny at sensing where a player is going to drive and quickly finding the location and establishing position.

[futuristxen]

I think he has an elite level feel for where to be on the floor and when. On both ends. It's how he picks up easy layups and offensive rebounds. He is just constant motion. And his game is a lot more well rounded than people think. But he plays a very simple game, that is effective. Nobody on the Cavs roster after Lebron changes games more. Maybe Pavlovic is getting there the last stretch, but where Verejao's worth will really show up is in the playoffs. He's the Manu Ginobilli of powerforwards.

[RoddneyThaRippa]

Originally Posted by futuristxen

I think I already said this, but to know Verejao is to love him. He's the second best player on the Cavs and is a complete game changer on both ends of the floor. It's hard to measure what he does in stats alone though. But the Cavs have been keeping track of offensive fouls drawn this year, and Verejao is off the charts. His flops are as important as steals and he gets a ton of them. And his numbers when he starts are extremely good.

I agree with every bit of this post. That said, Varejao is no where near Nene.

[darth-horax]

Nene is better in the post, but AV looks like Sideshow Bob.

[jericho]

I think this thread is in danger of overrating both players.

Most any team in the league would be happy to have either guy, and they each have a fair amount of upside, but neither seems on track to be a monster.

It is looking like Nene will be the easy choice by the end of this year, if he keeps up his level of recent play. He's showing signs of emerging as an 18 ppg, 8 rpg type of dude, with good strength and athleticism. But I want to make sure that's an enduring trend. He's flashed signs of huge potential throughout his career, but due to a flickering pilot light and occasional injuries, he seems to have been riding on a 10-6 plateau throughout his career so far. If the pilot light is really on, then Nene can be a difference-maker for the Nuggets and probably a darn sight more valuable than Varejao.

[Dre]

I'm starting to dislike Varejao because you're overrating him. Yes, he's a nice energy guy and can hit a 15 footer, but Nene is more desireable on potential alone. Nene is a healthy season away from being a 16-8 guy, Varejao will be on this level forever.

[¹²³]

He is a fan favorite, no one can deny it. Both players have carisma.

[Pioneer10]

I'm not sure why so many people are blowing off AV here and making him out to be a scrub. Nene is a better offensive player but after that AV is a much better defender and he is a dominant rebounder. Nene had 2 rebounds in 36 minutes his last game (AV get 2 rebounds in a few minutes on the court).

[Jizzy]

Nene is coming into his own over the last couple of weeks. Nene, quite easily.

[futuristxen]

Look Nene is good, but you guys are nuts if you think Verajao is just another Mark Madsen type of player. He's a game changer on both ends of the floor. He won't win you a ton in your fantasy leagues right now because of the stacked cavs frontcourt(Mike Brown likes to distribute the minutes evenly, whether they are deserved or not)...but he wins you ball games. Second best player on the second best team in the east is nothing to be sneered at.

[futuristxen]

He put the Lakers away last night.

[Mateo]

Backtracking a little. The thread started out with quite a bit of arrogance, calling anyone who thinks Nene the better player as "behind the times" and "misguided". Now you merely want an acknowledgment that Varejao is pretty good?