Go to the mobile version of this Web site.

Login | Contact Us | Site Map | Paid archives | Electronic edition | Subscription Questions | Extras

Karl muffles trash talk

Coach lectures team on playing right way after noisy practice

Aaron J. Lopez, Rocky Mountain News

Published November 7, 2006 at midnight

Text size  

More Denver Nuggets

More stories »

After spending much of practice listening to incessant trash talk, Nuggets coach George Karl stepped onto the floor to deliver the last word.

He challenged his players to be better and smarter.

He reminded them that success is a result of discipline and commitment.

He asked them not to cheat the game or one another.

"You can be a hell of a (expletive) team or floundering in mediocrity of the NBA," he said as the Nuggets gathered at midcourt Monday. "Let's play the right way."

Though Karl's words were sprinkled with an adjective favored by George Carlin, he did not speak out of anger as much as caution.

The Nuggets (0-2) are one of three teams - the Boston Celtics and Dallas Mavericks are the others - without a victory in the first week of the season, and Karl wanted to make the most of three days of practice leading into Wednesday night's game against the New York Knicks.

"I thought we should've had more of a serious commitment," Karl said. "(It) wasn't a bad practice. It just had a lot of NBA B.S. in it, which is fine if you're winning and you're serious and you're competitive in the right way.

"I don't think that was criticism. That was coaching. If I want to have criticism, I can be a lot worse than that.

"That's telling them and showing them the right path. I wasn't criticizing them."

Much of Karl's frustration stemmed from the escalating trash talk inherent to basketball, whether the games are played in a driveway or in a 20,000-seat arena.

"I don't think he really gets upset with the trash talking because that's just the competitive nature of everybody on the team," veteran forward Joe Smith said. "I think it's more when we do get to talking trash, we kind of lose focus on our execution and that kind of affects the practice."

Co-captain Carmelo Anthony acknowledged he and his teammates need to have good practice habits, but he said there also is a need for players to express themselves.

"Of course, he (Karl) want perfection, but at the same time, you've still got to have fun out there on the basketball court," Anthony said. "If you ain't having fun, then you might as well not even play no more."

The Nuggets have found little enjoyment in two games, squandering fourth-quarter leads against the Los Angeles Clippers and Minnesota Timberwolves.

The Nuggets could be 2-0, but the resulting losses have given Karl more ammunition as he tries to stress the importance of staying together as a team and improving daily, weekly and monthly.

"You're never going to be perfect in this game, but you can always prepare to be that," forward Kenyon Martin said. "That's what George is asking.

"He's only trying to get us to win games. That's what his job is predicated on - wins and losses. We still might be here, but if he don't win, he won't be here. I can understand the frustration."

Martin's support speaks volumes for Karl, who suspended the starting power forward for insubordination during the playoffs last season.

As Karl delivered his message Monday, eyes did not drift to the ceiling or drop to inspect the floor. The players were attentive, indicating they are willing to hear the truth, even when it hurts.

"He felt that we lacked intensity. He felt that we didn't come with the mind-set that we needed to come to work," said center Marcus Camby, the Nuggets' other co-captain. "He wants to get the best out of us and we have to want it ourselves.

"I think it's productive, especially because we have a lot of young guys on this team. Guys know what it's all about. But we've got 80 ballgames left. We can't hang our heads too low."

ETC.: Guard Julius Hodge is scheduled to have a skin graft this week to expedite his recovery from an infection in his left foot. Hodge, who has not played since being shot in the hip and legs April 8, will not travel with the team on a four-game trip that starts Friday in Philadelphia . . . Forward Eduardo Najera missed practice and could be absent again today after being excused for personal reasons. He is expected to return against the Knicks . . . Forward Nene practiced after getting two days off to rest his right knee. The brief layoff came after playing a total of 37 minutes on back-to-back nights last week. Because he still is recovering from knee surgery, Nene probably will rely more on power than speed in the first few months of the season. "He doesn't look like he's in the best of shape," Karl said. "He doesn't look like he has the best of bounces." . . . Anthony's image will adorn the cover of NBA Street Homecourt. The video game will be available in 2007.

or 303-954-5388