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Composure not Denver's strong suit

Technicals, trash talk not helping vs. Lakers

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

Published April 25, 2008 at 12:05 a.m.

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In the pressurized atmosphere of the NBA playoffs, Nuggets coach George Karl would like his players to carry themselves with the demeanor of an assassin.

All business. Eyes on the target. Silent. Lethal.

In two games against the Los Angeles Lakers, the Nuggets have carried themselves with the demeanor of a 3-month-old Chihuahua.

High-strung. Eyes bulging. Yappy. Innocuous.

From barking their way to six technical fouls to trading barbs with Lakers star Kobe Bryant, the Nuggets struggled to maintain their composure while losing the opening two games of their best-of-seven, first-round playoff series.

With the series shifting to Denver for Games 3 and 4, Karl would like to see his players back up the talk with a better effort on defense and more generosity in the passing game.

Better yet, Karl would like to see them do it without all the off-color commentary.

"I think we all know that it's part of our immaturity at times," Karl said after putting the Nuggets through a short film session Thursday.

"You don't earn respect by getting technical fouls. . . . In the fourth quarter, every point could strategically have an impact on the game, so keeping your composure, keeping your focus and not beating yourself is a big part of winning games in the NBA. Technicals are a gift to the other team."

Two technicals - one on J.R. Smith, the other on Allen Iverson - contributed to an 8-1 run that helped the Lakers push a nine- point lead to 16 in the fourth quarter of Game 2 on Wednesday night.

The two extra points didn't prove to be the difference in a 122-107 game, but they certainly didn't help the Nuggets' psyche or their chances of putting together a late- game comeback.

"It's frustrating to lose, and sometimes we take it out on the wrong people," Denver swingman Linas Kleiza said. "We take it out on the officials and it hurts us. We need to do a better job keeping our composure."

The Nuggets, who led the NBA in technical fouls during the regular season, also would be wise to clam up around Bryant, who torched them for 49 points on 18-for- 27 shooting Wednesday night.

Bryant and Kenyon Martin exchanged words, and they were whistled for technicals, in Game 1, and Smith inexplicably decided to bark at Bryant in the fourth quarter of Game 2.

"That's just the way the game of basketball is," Smith said Thursday. "People are going to talk trash. People are going to do what they got to do to win games."

The problem for Smith and his teammates is that Bryant arguably is the most competitive and talented player of his generation. Words from the enemy serve as motivation, particularly when they come from someone such as the 23-year-old Smith, who has six games of playoff experience.

"For me, I take it as a challenge," Bryant said. "I'm already wired pretty tight. So when something like that goes on, it tightens it up a little more."

The Nuggets are having enough trouble stopping Bryant when he's not provoked. Since missing eight of 10 shots to start the series, he is 25-for-43 from the floor and 21- for-23 from the free-throw line.

Denver has tried forcing the ball out of Bryant's hands, which resulted in a 14- point loss in Game 1, and challenging Bryant to carry the scoring load on his own, which resulted in a 15-point loss in Game 2.

Neither strategy has worked, sending Karl back to the drawing board.

"I still like Kenyon on him a lot," Karl said. "I think we'll address where Kobe got most of his points (today) in practice. We have double teams (in the game plan) on him, but we've kind of been saving them for fourth-quarter situations, which we haven't gotten to yet."

Perhaps the comforts of home will help the Nuggets keep Game 3 close. They were 33-8 at the Pepsi Center during the regular season but lost their only home game against the Lakers on Dec. 5. Another loss Saturday probably would spell doom for Denver, which has yet to beat Los Angeles in five tries this season.

"It's a playoff game and we gotta go get it," Kleiza said. "You get down 3-0, it's going to be tough to come back after that. If we get a win, we put more pressure on them."

Perhaps then it will be the Lakers who start to lose their cool.

lopezaa@RockyMountainNews.com

Comments

  • April 25, 2008

    9:52 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    Condor writes:

    We are no youngsters, having been around a long time and watching the likes of Baylor, West, etc. Before the game, we sit around the pool and discus what to expect and look for. It is something we do, besides just sit there and watch the game.

    This kid Martin started the jive talk with Kobe. Even after Kobe replied and shut up, he, Martin, continue. To young and stupid to know better. At one point, you can sense that Kobe had enough, asked for the ball at the top of the key, drove towards the basket and dunk while getting a foul on the kid. A statement by Kobe.

    I like Denver and believe they have a strong team, but Karl needs to lead by benching this type of behavior. He must lead. I don't believe that Denver was ever good enough to beat the Lakers in a seven game series, but I am disappointed that this wasn't closer with the Lakers winning at the end. Sorry, we are Lakers fans.