Early-season schedule favors Nuggets

Chris Tomasson, Rocky Mountain News

Published October 30, 2007 at midnight

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Halloween offers a foe that scares few. The month with Thanksgiving presents not a lot of teams with things to be thankful about.

Nuggets players are talking about winning 60 games this season. To start off around that pace, they need to win 12 or 13 of their 17 games in October and November.

Fortunately for the Nuggets, the schedule makers may have cooperated.

"Our schedule is a little favorable in the beginning,’’ said forward Linas Kleiza. "It hasn’t been like that the past couple of years. We’ve got to take advantage of it.’’

Beginning with Wednesday’s opener against Seattle at the Pepsi Center, the Nuggets get what could be a month-long preview of next May’s lottery.

In addition to Seattle, the Nuggets get Minnesota twice, Indiana twice, the Los Angeles Clippers twice and Portland. It’s too bad they can’t round up an exhibition game against members of the 1972-73 Philadelphia 76ers, who went 9-73.

"I think November is a 10-win month and, if we don’t win 10 games, we should be disappointed,’’ said Nuggets coach George Karl, actually being a bit conservative in his goal.

Of their 17 games through November, 12 are against teams that didn’t make the playoffs last season and only four are against teams that had winning records. There are no games against defending division champions, although it must be said there is one against retooled Boston, the Atlantic favorite.

"This is a big month for us,’’ said forward Carmelo Anthony. "It’s one of the biggest months. I think we’re going to get off to a great start.’’

Of course, there is one problem. The Nuggets often play down to their foes, especially at home.

The Nuggets last season lost nine games at the Pepsi Center to teams that failed to make the playoffs. Among the most embarrassing defeats were ones to Memphis, Atlanta, Charlotte, Philadelphia and Seattle, which has lost stars Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis but Wednesday will unveil star rookie Kevin Durant, who has healed from a sprained ankle.

"Every team in the NBA can beat you if you don’t perform,’’ Karl said. "You’ve got to be ready.’’

Karl, knowing his team’s history and saying the Nuggets do play a lot of games early, doesn’t want to get too giddy about the soft early schedule. But it does come at a good time.

The Nuggets were banged up throughout the preseason, including point guard Chucky Atkins being lost for the first 1 ½ months due to a severe groin strain. With several key players limited, the Nuggets weren’t able to accomplish everything they wanted.

"I think the only thing I’m behind on is rotations,’’ Karl said. "Who plays well with whom?’’

The early part of the season may offer ample chances for Karl to experiment. While the schedule does get a bit tougher in December, the Nuggets still play 15 of their first 25 games at home.

So all the talk from the players about the Nuggets winning 60 could last a while even if Karl doesn’t completely endorse it.

"I’ve been blessed to be on those teams and (Denver’s players) don’t understand how focused you’ve got to be to get to 60,’’ said Karl, who three times won 60-plus with Seattle in the 1990s.

If the Nuggets want to show Karl they really are focused, they can do it by clobbering outmanned foes early.

ETC.: Thad Foucher, agent for Nuggets guard J.R. Smith, said he’s continuing to have conversations with Nuggets executive Mark Warkentien about a possible contract extension for his client. Barring an 11th-hour move by Wednesday’s deadline, Smith will become a restricted free agent next summer. "It’d be fine,’’ Smith said of that prospect. "I just got to play hard this year.’’ . . . Karl said he had a glass of wine Monday night when son Coby made the Lakers’ opening-day roster. "He’s officially an NBA player,’’ said Karl, whose team first faces the Lakers on Nov. 29. "I’m very proud of him.’’

Slim pickings

The Nuggets have a very favorable schedule the first month of the season:

Games: 17 (nine home, eight away)

Games against non-playoff teams from last season: 12

Games against teams with winning records last season: 4

Games against division winners last season: 0

Combined winning percentage of the foes last season: .459

tomassonc@RockyMountainNews.com

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