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Denver won't stay in Los Angeles for long

By Aaron J. Lopez, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

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

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Nene's status for Game 1 still is uncertain.

Nene's status for Game 1 still is uncertain.

Coby Karl wasn't shy about talking trash with his father, Nuggets coach George Karl.

Photo by The Rocky / 2007

Coby Karl wasn't shy about talking trash with his father, Nuggets coach George Karl.

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The Los Angeles hospitality industry will receive only a modest economic boost from the Nuggets in the next week.

Opting for the comforts of home over the comforts of a posh hotel, coach George Karl plans to bring the team back to Denver after the Nuggets start their first- round playoff series Sunday against the Lakers.

"I think there's more comfort zone for the coaching staff," Karl said Thursday. "I don't like being in the enemy city that long. It makes me uncomfortable."

Game 1 is set for 1 p.m. MDT, with Game 2 scheduled for 8:30 p.m. Wednesday. The Nuggets have had two days between their first two playoff games in each of the past four seasons, and the decision to fly home was not unanimously endorsed in the locker room.

"That's a 'no comment,' " center Marcus Camby said when asked his thoughts on the commuting schedule. "That's a touchy subject.

"I was always told you get more distractions at home. Whatever they want to do is fine with us, as long as it's about winning basketball games."

Forward Eduardo Najera was more diplomatic.

"I think it will help a lot," Najera said. "You get to rest in your own bed, you come back and practice in your own gym. It's a smart move. Everybody's happy with it and we should treat it as a regular-season game."

Karl has followed a similar itinerary with other teams in the past, including in 1994 when he led the top-seeded Seattle SuperSonics into Denver for Games 3 and 4 of a first-round, best-of-five series.

The SuperSonics got blown out in Game 3 at McNichols Arena and lost Game 4 in overtime after a quick trip back to Seattle.

"To come back to your home is more comfortable," Karl said. "You've got your facilities here. You have the ability to come in at any time. You don't have worry about other people telling you what time you practice. There's just much more of a comfort zone."

After being bounced in five games each of the past four years, a change in routine certainly can't hurt.

Worse than a telemarketer

Coby Karl's calling plan must include unlimited trash-talk minutes.

George Karl received an early-morning phone call Monday from his son - a rookie guard for the Lakers - and the two exchanged barbs in advance of the series opener.

"He called me at 7:15 (PDT)," the elder Karl said. "I'm going, 'What are you doing up?' He threw some trash at me. I don't think we're going to talk much during the series."

Asked if it would be hard not talking to his son for a couple weeks, Karl scoffed.

"Why would it be hard talking to a guy who's basically trash talking you with insults?" he said. "He's earned the right to do that a little bit. . . . It doesn't mean I have to put up with it."

Coby Karl has appeared in 17 games this season but is not likely to be active for any first-round playoff games unless the Lakers run into severe injury problems.

Defending Bryant

Faced with the challenge of slowing Lakers guard Kobe Bryant, the Nuggets might try something a little unorthodox.

George Karl said he is contemplating a box-and-one defense designed by assistant Mike Dunlap. The box-and-one features four players in a zone and one player playing man-to-man.

Given that Bryant averaged only 22 points in three regular-season games against the Nuggets, Karl might not have to employ the box-and-one strategy, but it is one of dozens of options.

"Basically, you have a package of 30 or 40 ideas . . . so you've got to filter that down to a list of five or six," Karl said. "Those are going to be your emphasis in practice and that's your starting point. The 30 or 40 ideas, hopefully, you don't have to use all of them because usually you go to them when the first ones don't work."

Nene looking better

After missing the final five games of the regular season with a groin injury, Nuggets forward Nene looked pretty good during a light workout on the team's practice court.

Nene moved well during a pick-and-roll drill, but his status for Game 1 remains uncertain. He declined an interview request after practice.

"He's excited, and the best thing about it is that summer's coming up, so if his groin is bothering him a little bit, he can suck it up," Najera said. "He's going to get plenty of rest during the summer."

Draft position set

Based on having the 11th-best record in the NBA this season, the Nuggets will select 20th in the June 26 draft. The last time the Nuggets had the 20th pick was in 2005 when they took Julius Hodge, who no longer is in the NBA.

Numbers game

178 points scored by Nuggets guard Allen Iverson in five games against the Lakers while playing for Philadelphia in the 2001 NBA Finals. Iverson averaged 35.6 points in the series, which the Lakers won 4-1.

He said it

"It's just another team that we've got to get through to get where we want to be. They're a great team - not taking anything away from them - but we're a great team as well."

J.R. Smith, Nuggets guard, on facing the Lakers.

Comments

  • April 18, 2008

    9:26 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    jbowen43 writes:

    It would make more sense to spend as much time on the other teams floor when you're on the road as possible. The Nuggets don't shoot well on the road. They should practice there.If they aren't going to get familiar with the surroundings then they need to concentrate on making layups and forget the jump shot for the first quarter at least. As for the draft, the Nuggets history is that they are generally clueless except with a no brainer selection like Carmelo.

  • April 18, 2008

    10:07 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    TONE writes:

    All I got to say is.... KEEP YOUT FINGERS CROSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!

    Take some medz to slow the heart beat, cause it might be painful again....

    Please win this time.... This kind of remind me of the Bronco in the Super Bowl... after the first 4, they finally face the Packer and Bronco were underdog... I was scared to even watch the game. I don't know if I can take another lost. But we all know what happen, they are CHAMPION!!!!

    Can this be happening for the NUGGET also? Hmmmmmm.....

    Keep fingers crossssssss!!!!!

  • April 18, 2008

    11:30 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    spursfanincolorado writes:

    warning to all you laker fans attending games in denver some nugget fans will throw stuff at you and don't cheer for kobe you'll get cussed out good luck if you wear kobe's jersey in the parking lot just ask a spurs fan that wore a # 20 jersey at the last playoffs good luck

  • April 18, 2008

    12:11 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    lakersdodgersfan writes:

    I'm a Lakers fan and I am flying from San Francisco to Denver on Thursday. My posse and I which consists of 8 guys from San Francisco have tix for both games in Denver. Trust me when I say no one will have the ballz to f$#@... with us...We are Chicano's from the SF Area and are going to take over the Mile High City for a few days. Show them how it's done Cali Style! PURPLE REIGN!

  • April 18, 2008

    12:48 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    spursfanincolorado writes:

    just have fun ignore the mean nugget fans we are spurs fans from san antonio chicanas of course and trust me the denver cops dont like us either

  • April 18, 2008

    1:20 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    lakersdodgersfan writes:

    spursfan... thanks for the info and good luck to your team...give Phoenix hell and specially the big crack-foo!! One chicano love to another chicana!

  • April 18, 2008

    1:33 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    spursfanincolorado writes:

    lakers fans and spurs fans just know what it feels like to be CHAMPS crack-foo lol mucho carino y buena suerte!!!!!!

  • April 18, 2008

    1:39 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    spursfanincolorado writes:

    p.s. i mean NBA CHAMPS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • April 18, 2008

    6:42 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    ai33 writes:

    8 laker fans going to Denver to try to be a distraction to the Nuggets...hmm...I think that won't be a problem considering they won while playing against Golden State on the road, with a stadium full of die-hard warrior fans (around 20,700 of them)in a win or go home situation.

    @Spurs fans
    -Bowen for MLS MVP

  • April 19, 2008

    12:06 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    lakersdodgersfan writes:

    Dude. This isn't Golden State. This is the Lakers! Denver is a good team and will be a tough test. Playing in the playoffs get's a little tougher especially when you are on the road. The game slow's down tremendously so with that said I see Denver having all sorts of problems in a half court game. Golden State plays an uptempo shoot first style of offense. The Lakers play every speed and are very discplined due to the Triangle. Good defense also.

    I am not predicting a sweep and since I am not Nostradaumus I will stay away from predicting the amount of games it will take the Lakers to defeat the Denver Nuggets. That is why I have tix to two games in Denver and hopefully I will also have tix to the 2nd round whether in Salt Lake City or Houston..