Sloan not keen on All-Star gig

Chris Tomasson, Rocky Mountain News

Published January 7, 2007 at midnight

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During his impressive career, Jerry Sloan never has coached in an All-Star Game. So is that something he's hoping to do in February?

"No,'' Sloan said.

If Sloan is in position to be the Western Conference coach, he said he will serve. But it may not be with a smile on his face.

"To me, it's not really true basketball,'' Sloan said of the All-Star Game. "It's a one-day thing. Guys either play or don't play. Some guys don't want to (play).

"I don't think they're totally enamored with playing with playing on the All-Star team. They'd rather be home doing something else and having the days off.''

So would Sloan. But if the Jazz has the best record in the West through Feb. 4 among teams excluding Dallas, Sloan would coach.

The Mavericks (27-7) have the West's top mark, but Avery Johnson can't be the coach in consecutive seasons. So that leaves Phoenix's Mike D'Antoni, whose team is 24-8, and Sloan, whose Jazz is 24-10, as the top two candidates, with San Antonio's Gregg Popovich, whose Spurs are 24-11, right behind.

CAMBY SITS -- After returning to play three games after suffering a fractured right ring finger, Nuggets center Marcus Camby is back on the shelf.

Camby sat out Saturday's 96-84 loss to Utah after suffering a hyper-extended right hand-wrist while blocking a shot in the third quarter Friday against the Los Angeles Lakers. He experienced discomfort in the area of the fracture, but an MRI did not indicate any change in the fracture.

"My feeling right now is it's only one game,'' said Nuggets coach George Karl, hopeful Camby will return Monday against Milwaukee.

Camby suffered the fracture Dec. 18 against Washington and missed four games. He was replaced Saturday by Nene, who played his second straight game after missing four with sore right knee.

SLOAN ON MELO -- Sloan believes Denver's record and how Anthony responds from missing 15 games due to a suspension will play the key roles in whether the Nuggets forward is voted by West coaches for his first All-Star Game.

"A lot depends on whether his team is winning,'' Sloan said of the Nuggets, who are 3-6 during Anthony's suspension and have dropped to 16-15. "Winning is what you play this game for.

"I have tremendous respect for (Anthony's) ability to play the game, but is (the suspension) going to be a good or a bad thing? ... It could be (a positive) how he handles it afterward. The important thing is if a player (messes) up today, how do you handle it tomorrow? If he comes back and players well and the team does well, those things have to be considered rather than he deserves it because he's Carmelo Anthony.''

Asked if he would vote for Anthony if his ballot had to be turned in Saturday, Sloan said he couldn't answer that because he has yet to see Anthony play this season in person. He's expected to get that chance Jan. 26 in Salt Lake City, six days before the Feb. 1 announcement of All-Star reserves.

IVERSON APOLOGIZES... AGAIN -- Allen Iverson has apologized on three consecutive days for his criticism of official Steve Javie after Javie ejected him from last Tuesday's game against Philadelphia, his former team.

Iverson, who accused Javie of having a personal vendetta against him, was fined $25,000 Friday by the NBA.

Iverson apologized Thursday and after the fine was levied Friday. Then he apologized a third time in a statement released Saturday.

"I would like to offer my sincere apology to Steve Javie for comments that I made following the game against my former team last week,'' Iverson said in the statement. "Steve is a veteran official of the NBA and he deserves the utmost respect. I allowed my emotions to get away from me, and for someone who has played in this league for as long as I have, that is inexcusable. I would also like to apologize to the league, the Denver Nuggets organization, and to all of my fans."

ETC. -- Karl said the Nuggets are trying to limit Nene, who has played two straight games after missing four with a sore right knee, to 20 minutes a game. "I don't know how we keep him at 20, but that's where we hope to keep him,'' said Karl, who said Nene has "swelling a little bit more'' when playing more than 20. Nene on Saturday played 19 minutes, scoring four points on 2-of-9 shooting. It appears Nene, who shot 7-of-12 for 14 points in 17 minutes Friday, has a tough time on the second game of back-to-back situations... Before Saturday's game, Karl touted Jazz point guard Deron Williams, who came in averaging 16.5 points and 8.7 assists. "I think you've got to consider Deron Wiliams as an All-Star,'' Karl said. "He's playing that well.'' Williams then went out and scored 22 of his 28 points in the first half, and also finished with 12 assists. "That makes me feel good,'' Williams said of Karl's comments. "I have a lot of respect for Coach Karl.''... After scoring 22 Saturday, Nuggets guard Earl Boykins has averaged 23.4 points the past nine games, with Anthony and guard J.R. Smith serving suspensions.

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