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Unstoppable?

Nuggets will have hands full trying to slow Bryant and high-powered Lakers

By Chris Tomasson, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published April 18, 2008 at 12:05 a.m.

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Carmelo Anthony

Photo by Rocky Widner / Nbae Via Getty Images

Carmelo Anthony

Anthony Carter said he will sign his new contract with Denver on Wednesday or Thursday.

Photo by Garrett Ellwood / Nbae/Getty Images

Anthony Carter said he will sign his new contract with Denver on Wednesday or Thursday.

Derek Fisher

Photo by Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press

Derek Fisher

Vladimir Radmanovic

Vladimir Radmanovic

Allen Iverson

Photo by Chris Schneider / The Rocky

Allen Iverson

Linas Kleiza

Photo by Jack Dempsey / Associated Press

Linas Kleiza

Kobe Bryant

Photo by Kevork Djansezian / Associated Press

Kobe Bryant

Kenyon Martin

Photo by David Zalubowski / Associated Press

Kenyon Martin

Marcus Camby

Photo by John Froschauer / Associated Press

Marcus Camby

Pau Gasol

Photo by Kevork Djansezian / Associated Press

Pau Gasol

More Denver Nuggets

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Would Kobe Bryant go East? Would he stay in the West? Nuggets coach George Karl followed the saga closely last year. It wouldn't have bothered him in the slightest had the guard bolted from the Los Angeles Lakers.

"In the summertime, we were all rooting for the Lakers' demise," Karl said about Bryant having wanted to be traded. "And we've come and found the Lakers not only (didn't have a) demise, they're probably as close and tight as they've been, and they've added an All-Star center."

Now, Karl's Nuggets, the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference, face these rejuvenated and top-seeded Lakers in the playoffs.

To avoid a first-round exit for a fifth straight year, the Nuggets must figure out how to slow Bryant. They must figure out how to contain center Pau Gasol, the Lakers' midseason acquisition who is a primary reason why Bryant is very happy these days.

"The man is the MVP of the league," Karl said of Bryant, who finished second in scoring with a 28.3 average.

The Nuggets will throw all sorts of bodies at Bryant. That includes power forward and Swiss-Army-Knife defender Kenyon Martin.

"I'm going to have to guard him," Martin said. "I've guarded everybody in the league this year. One through five. Chris Paul to (Shaquille O'Neal)."

But, if the Nuggets pay too much attention to Bryant, there are other threats waiting to strike. Gasol averaged 18.8 points with the Lakers, while Odom averaged 14.2 and always is capable of breaking lose for 20.

But it's not as if the Lakers don't have some standouts to worry about. Nuggets guard Allen Iverson averaged 26.4 points and forward Carmelo Anthony 25.7.

"(They're) the best in the league," Odom said of scoring duos. "They're the same in the sense that they're dynamic offensive players.

"Carmelo is 6-foot-8 and can play on the block. I think besides Kobe Bryant, he's probably the best perimeter scorer in the NBA."

Unfortunately for Karl, Bryant did all of that scoring this season for the Lakers.

A look at how the Nuggets and Lakers match up.

Center

* Marcus Camby, Nuggets

Reigning Defensive Player of the Year sometimes was stranded on a deserted island as teammates didn't exactly tear it up defensively. The heart of the Nuggets averaged 13.1 rebounds and 3.61 blocked shots, although his scoring was a pedestrian 9.1. Always steps up in playoffs.

* Pau Gasol, Lakers

Speaking of deserted, Gasol rescued the Lakers from perhaps another uninspiring season when he arrived in midseason. He's savvy even if he's not the toughest guy around. Normally a power forward, he has played center because of Andrew Bynum's injury.

* Edge: Even

Gasol is better offensively and Camby is better defensively and a much better rebounder.

Power forward

* Kenyon Martin, Nuggets

Played in only two games last season but has bounced back from microfracture surgery on both knees to average 12.4 points and 6.5 rebounds. He's still capable of 20-point games, mostly with dunks.

* Lamar Odom, Lakers

Ideal third offensive option. Could average 20 on many teams but is content to play inside-outside role. Adept rebounder (10.6 average). Three-point shooting was down (27.4 percent), but don't leave him alone at three-point line.

* Edge: Lakers

Odom is more versatile, but don't underestimate Martin's toughness and having played in 58 postseason games to 25 for Odom.

Small forward

* Carmelo Anthony, Nuggets

Playoffs haven't really been his time, although last season's 26.8 scoring average and 48 percent shooting upped his career numbers to 20.8 and 39.5. He said he's more experienced and more comfortable, and there were no complaints about a regular season when he became a better all-around player.

* Vladimir Radmanovic, Lakers

Somebody has to start here until Bynum returns at center and Gasol and Odom are the starting forwards. Radmanovic has started the past 21 games but has been inconsistent. Shot 40.6 percent on three-pointers but didn't do a lot else while averaging 8.4 points.

* Edge: Nuggets

It's a slam dunk, which is what Anthony might do plenty when Radmanovic tries to guard him.

Point guard

* Anthony Carter, Nuggets

Initially seemed to be a stop-gap starter, but he resurrected his career with career highs in points (7.8) and assists (5.5). Still, the Lakers will leave him open and he must show he's the 34.9 percent three-point shooter of this season instead of the 12.6 percent marksman who entered the season.

* Derek Fisher, Lakers

Solved Lakers' point- guard woes after arriving as a free agent while averaging 11.7 points, third best in his 12-year career. At 40.6 percent on three-pointers, he's much more feared as a shooter than as a passer (2.9 assists average).

* Edge: Lakers

Carter is the better playmaker, but Fisher can change a game by hitting a string of three-pointers.

Shooting guard

* Allen Iverson, Nuggets

The more he gets hurt, the better he seems to play. Has been knocked around and is playing with a broken right ring finger, but it's hard to tell. Playing in all 82 games, his scoring average increased from last season's 26.3. At 32, he shows no signs of age.

* Kobe Bryant, Lakers

Only thing he didn't do was win a third straight scoring title but looks bound for his first MVP. Averaging 6.3 rebounds and 5.4 assists after playing 82 games for the second time in his career. But can he win a title without Shaquille O'Neal?

* Edge: Lakers

Iverson, who believes he, not Bryant, is "the best basketball player on the planet," will seek to prove he's got the edge.

Coaches

* George Karl, Nuggets

Sometimes doesn't know which team will show up but believes the Nuggets are in a "good place" entering the playoffs. While there were erratic defensive showings, he got the Nuggets to step up to win several big late-season games. Longs for first NBA title.

* Phil Jackson, Lakers

After two consecutive first- round exits, the conversation again can start about whether he can break the record of nine NBA titles he shares with Red Auerbach. Maintained great patience throughout Bryant's desire to be traded and now has a hungry team he successfully has motivated.

* Edge: Lakers

Even the son, Lakers guard Coby Karl, reminds his dad of Jackson's 9-0 lead in titles.

Bench

* Nuggets: They have two double-figure scorers in guard J.R. Smith (12.3) and forward Linas Kleiza (11.1) who can change a game with instant offense. Gritty forward Eduardo Najera can change a game with hustle. Guard Chucky Atkins and forward Nene, both often injured, also could help.

* Lakers: They've got two guards ready to fire three-pointers as soon as the warm-ups come off in Jordan Farmar (9.1) and Sasha Vujacic (8.8). Forwards Luke Walton and Ronny Turiaf are hustle guys, Walton doing it outside and Turiaf inside.

* Edge: Nuggets

Lakers might go deeper, but Karl's eight-man rotation has worked just fine in some recent big games.

Intangibles

* Nuggets: They're hungry to win a playoff series, having lost 4-1 in the first round four straight years. Impressive at home, going 33-8. While sometimes erratic, the Nuggets believe they are focused for the postseason.

* Lakers: They won the season series 3-0, and that was before acquisition of Gasol. They know they can score against Nuggets, having averaged 118.7 points. The Lakers have home-court edge and have won 20 of the past 22 against Denver at home.

* Edge: Lakers

Since his January 2005 arrival, Karl is 0-4 on the road against Lakers, the only win since then coached by assistant Adrian Dantley.

Season series: Lakers 3-0 * Nov. 29: at Lakers 129, Nuggets 99: Nuggets' Carmelo Anthony gets ejected for a flagrant foul 2.

* Dec. 6: Lakers 111, at Nuggets 107: Nuggets' Allen Iverson scores 51 points.

* Jan. 21 at Lakers 116, Nuggets 99: Nuggets coach George Karl faces son, Lakers guard Coby Karl, for first time.