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Tipoff, November 15

Chris Tomasson, Rocky Mountain News

Published November 15, 2006 at midnight

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NUMBERS GAME

6-1 odds established by betting site Intertops.com that Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony will lead the NBA in technicals this season. He received the fourth-best odds, after Detroit's Rasheed Wallace (1-2), Philadelphia's Allen Iverson (4-1) and the Los Angeles Lakers' Kobe Bryant (4-1).

KLEIZA'S STRUGGLES

Now, Linas Kleiza knows why it's called preseason.

During the preseason, Kleiza appeared ready to become a fixture in the Nuggets rotation. The second- year forward averaged 13.9 points.

But things have been different during the regular season. Having played in five of the Nuggets' six games, he is averaging one point in 7.2 minutes and shooting 25 percent.

"It's definitely been a good preseason," Kleiza said. "I haven't been able to carry it over. I haven't played as many minutes. But it's still early in the year. . . . I'm not frustrated. I'm not mad. I'm working hard."

Nuggets coach George Karl said one should not "overreact." The Nuggets are overloaded with players.

"It happens all the time when you get minutes and you've got to earn your minutes, and then your minutes shrink because of circumstances," Karl said. "It's easier to play when it doesn't count."

In other words, preseason is preseason.

HE SAID IT

"Andre's our motor. . . . I wish he was 10 pounds lighter. . . . I still think there's a fatigue factor in his game."

- Karl, on Andre Miller, who reported overweight to training camp.