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Iverson upset, but doesn’t have a problem with Karl

By Chris Tomasson, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published April 26, 2008 at 10:09 p.m.

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Nuggets guard Allen Iverson was upset with coach George Karl due to his fourth-quarter benching in Saturday’s playoff loss to the Lakers. But there were limits to his disappointment.

Iverson wants Karl to return next season, and he apparently won’t let the benching affect his decision on whether he’ll opt out of his contract this summer.

Iverson was benched for the final 10:49 of the 102-84 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers, which leaves the Nuggets trailing 3-0 in the best-of-seven series first-round series.

“He knows that I’m upset,’’ Iverson said in a post-game interview with the Rocky Mountain News. “I don’t have no problems with George as a coach. I wouldn’t like to see him leave, but that’s not my decision . . . Whoever our coach is, I’m going to give everything I’ve got to him.’’

There has been speculation about Karl’s future with the Nuggets. When asked about it after Saturday’s game, Nuggets vice president of basketball operations Mark Warkentien sought to diffuse it, saying, “The question doesn’t even merit a response.’’

It remains to be seen what Iverson will end up doing this summer. Before the July 1 negotiating period starts, he could opt out a contract that would pay him $20.84 million and become a free agent.

“I haven’t even thought about it,’’ Iverson said in his interview with the Rocky. “I’m going to wait until this thing is over. I would be cheating my teammates if I was worrying about opting out . . . My agent (Leon Rose) hasn’t said anything to me. I’m going to wait until I hear what’s going on with the talks and everything, but it’s going to be after the season. I would hope my agent gets on it right after the season.’’

Iverson said he’d like to make a decision not long after the season, and not have it linger into June. He said he’s not now leaning toward anything and didn’t want to speculate on the possibly of opting out and re-signing with the Nuggets, something Iverson previously has discussed.

Foremost on Iverson’s mind after Saturday’s game was Karl sitting him for the final 10:49. Karl said the plan was to reinsert Iverson, who left with the Nuggets down 85-66, but he didn’t when the score remained lopsided.

“If you had known anything about me and watched me for 12 years, you know that, in a game of that magnitude, I want to be involved in it,’’ Iverson told the Rocky. “But (Karl got his own personal reasons. He’s the coach and he was doing what was best for the team . . . He knows how I feel. He knows how competitive I am.’’

Iverson said in his interview with the Rocky that Karl “don’t owe me no explanation for nothing. He’s the captain. He’s running the ship.’’

But, speaking to reporters later, Iverson’s tune had changed a bit.

“To not go back in, I don’t understand that,’’ said Iverson, who shot just 5-of-16 Saturday for 15 points. “And (Karl) didn’t even say nothing to me even afterward . . . I played every game with a broken finger and all. I always came to play, every game we had. So why not tell me nothing?

“I didn’t understand (the benching). I know I didn’t play well. But there were plenty of games I didn’t play well. I ain’t doing that on purpose.’’

But Iverson, 32, stressed he would not create any trouble due to being upset.

“The young one, there would have been a lot of problems,’’ said Iverson, more combative with coaches earlier in his career. “The older one, it’s a lot easier to just let it go.’’

The Nuggets, who play Game 4 Monday at the Pepsi Center, will try to get back in the series. But it won’t be easy considering NBA teams are 0-83 in series when trailing 3-0 in a best-of-seven series.

Until then, Iverson will look to shake off his disappointment from Saturday.

“I've been in a lot of playoff series,’’ he told reporters after the game. “I don't think I've ever been this frustrated.

“When it comes to be a competitor, I'm right up there at the top with everybody that ever played this game. My competitiveness has gotten me this far. In a game like this, I don't want to sit and watch it, I'd rather be a part of it. That's why I was so frustrated from this game."

Comments

  • April 27, 2008

    12:56 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    stansoup56 writes:

    Iverson couldnt throw it in the ocean anyway on Saturday. So he might as well sit his ass down.

  • April 27, 2008

    6:49 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    misterbigge writes:

    Until George says goodbye, the Nuggets will continue to say goodbye to any playoff wins.

  • April 27, 2008

    8:04 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    dano writes:

    The Nugs aren't as good as LA. Red Auerbach couldn't take da Nugs past the first round. It's not Karl's fault. Would you have taken Doc Rivers over George Karl last year? No.

  • April 27, 2008

    12:48 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    duboisb writes:

    George Karl is awful.

    Everywhere the Nuggest went, the Lakers were already at their spots. Phil Jackson makes adjustments. That's what the playoffs are all about. As Iverson said in the postgame interview, Denver hasn't made any adjustments the entire series. George Karl is a non-coach. He's not doing his job.

  • April 27, 2008

    3:49 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    cap writes:

    No offensive plays-just one on ones-passing doesn't help when you only have 2 or 3 offensive players in the game. It ends up being the same. Coaches need an actual OFFENSIVE PLAN. That is their RESPONSIBLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Not players trying to find their own. Jump shots off of screens or double screens, screens for back cuts, actual pick and rolls--SOMETHING actually planned would be great!!!!!!!!!! Maybe something organized on the offensive end would create a better Defensive effort!!!!!!!!!!!!! I know better defense leads to better offense, but with the Nuggets, I think it would work the other way around!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!