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Karl jumps to Nuggets' defense

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

Published April 28, 2008 at 5:23 p.m.
Updated April 28, 2008 at 5:23 p.m.

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With his team under criticism for a perceived -- and admitted -- lack of passion in its first-round playoff series against the Los Angeles Lakers, Nuggets coach George Karl came to the defense of his players before Game 4 on Monday.

"Our personality is, we’re an explosive offensive machine at times that can play some good defense at times, but we’re not an intense, hard-working, get-in-your-face defensive team. We never have been. So now we’re supposed to be that?" Karl said, his voice rising an octave.

"I’m frustrated as hell. . . . But my team isn’t that far from playing the hardest and they’re being maligned as a bunch of non-committed athletes. That’s a bunch of (bleep)."

Regardless of how the series against the Lakers turns out, Karl said he was proud of his players and coaching staff for winning 50 games, despite major injuries to point guard Chucky Atkins and power forward Nene.

"I know you guys don’t want to hear this, but I have a feeling in July, I’m going to think this is one of the best years in coaching I’ve ever had,’’ he said. "Fifty wins in a season? I think my coaching staff should get bonuses (for) holding the frustration level of this team under control."

The frustration boiled over in Game 3 when forward Carmelo Anthony shouted at Karl while sitting on the bench. After the game, he said the whole team -- himself included -- had quit.

"That’s a young kid figuring out the stress and pressure of playoff basketball,’’ Karl said of his 23-year-old star. "You probably go back with me and when I got my (butt) kicked in the playoffs when I was a young coach, I probably did some stupid things."

Not everyone shared Karl’s opinion that the Nuggets should be commended for a 50-win season followed by a fifth consecutive playoff exit.

"Fifty (wins) don’t matter," forward Kenyon Martin said. "Everybody forgets about that. They remember those four games that you won in that series or those four games that you lost. That’s what people judge you on."

Comments

  • April 28, 2008

    9:29 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    kmeissner writes:

    I agree with George. The Nuggets play how they play. Enough said... They are an offensive team but that doesn't excuse the fact that they need to be able to defend. They don't have to block a bunch of shots and get a ton of steals as long as they can rebound and at least get the fundamentals down.

    WIth that being said, I can see how they are upset that they aren't getting foul calls. I was at game 3 and it seemed that everytime the Lakers had the ball, they got calls. But the Refs don't make the same calls on both sides of the court. Fact is the Lakers are more marketable and everyone wants to see them do well this year so they are getting calls that teams don't usually get (except for San Antonio, who gets calls when the other team coughs on them)

    GO Nuggets! AI don't leave! Help is on the way. We're getting better each year and next year will be even better. Don't give up on us now. The REAL fans in Denver love to watch you play. You are the biggest competitor on the team and we need that. Re-sign him DENVER!

  • April 29, 2008

    10:03 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    jbowen43 writes:

    I have to agree with kmeissner on almost all of the points above. I just don't like the way they run away from offensive rebounds and I don't like the way they set up their half court offense. Someone needs to show this team the value of setting screens and how to do it right. Diawarra should have had a chance to defend Kobe.