If any player in the NBA ever deserved a sixth man award, it is the “Birdman” Chris Andersen of the Denver Nuggets.

What a story. A short time ago, Andersen was suspended from the NBA for an entire year due to violation of NBA rules concerning drug policy.

Not only is Chris Andersen clean of drugs, he is playing for the No. 2 seed in the playoffs, and he is making some noise while doing it.

Andersen is a crowd favorite at the Pepsi Center. Every time he is checked into the game, the stadium erupts rivaling the cheers received by Chauncey Billups or Carmelo Anthony.

Andersen has come off of the bench in a large majority of the games this season. While doing this, “Birdman” has been one of the league’s most dominant defensive presences.

Andersen is second in the NBA in blocked shots per game beating out Marcus Camby, Yao Ming and Shaquille O’Neil.

Although Denver is not the top ranked defense in the league, there is no doubt that when Andersen is in the game opponents shot percentage decreases and so does the their offensive production.

In his first playoff game this season, coming off the bench, Andersen had nine points, six rebounds and four blocks.

The Hornets amassed three blocks as an entire team.