KRIEGER: Zookeeper Karl isn't the problem

By Dave Krieger, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Monday, April 28, 2008

David Zalubowski / Associated Press

Assistant coaches Mike Dunlap, center, and Adrian Dantley, right, are part of a well-respected coaching staff, but NBA observers look at Carmelo Anthony and his teammates as a difficult group to coach despite the obvious talent.

Let's start at the top: George Karl is not getting fired. Not now, not at the end of the season, which could be tonight, not this summer. Not happening.

If you're out there chasing him with a pitchfork in one hand and a torch in the other, you might wonder why this is. After all, the Nuggets are doing their postseason el foldo for the fifth consecutive year and fourth under Karl. Why wouldn't management blame the coach for that?

Here's why: Between the perception of the Nuggets from fans and the perception of the Nuggets from pros inside the NBA lies a chasm wider than the gulf between Kobe Bryant's current maturity level and Carmelo Anthony's.

Within the association, the Nuggets are viewed as a zoo, a kindergarten run amok, a coaching nightmare. That they won 50 games is considered vaguely miraculous, their obvious offensive talent notwithstanding.

One former player whose name you would recognize says not only has he never seen such a combination of talent and dysfunction in the NBA, he's never heard of one.

Consider the leadership on other Western Conference contenders. Think of Chris Paul in New Orleans, Deron Williams in Utah, Steve Nash in Phoenix, Jason Kidd in Dallas, Tony Parker and Tim Duncan in San Antonio, even Bryant in Los Angeles and Tracy McGrady in Houston these days. Guys who give it all every night, who strive to play the right way, guys with whom other players want to play.

Now find a player like that on the Nuggets. Go down the list. You probably don't stop until you come to Eduardo Najera, who would be, what, their seventh-best player? Eighth?

Bryant's development into such a player should actually be somewhat encouraging to the Nuggets because he was once as self-centered as a young player can be. At 29, he's grown up.

The Nuggets' best players have earned an image as hearty partiers with chips on their shoulders against authority. They disrespect their coaches every day. When Anthony has a simply dreadful game, as he did in Game 3 on Saturday, he passes blame on to the coach, because you can be sure it's not his responsibility.

This contagious egocentrism has produced a team-wide persecution complex. It's the coaches. It's the media. It's the refs. Somebody is always out to get them.

They are constantly complaining about not getting calls. They're even right sometimes. You know why? Because referees are sick to death of being shown up by the Nuggets' prima donnas every time they are whistled for a foul.

The responsibility for the composition of the roster, of course, belongs to the front office, which tends to evade accountability because no one knows exactly who's in charge. I'm operating on the assumption that vice president of player personnel Rex Chapman and adviser Bret Bearup aren't around enough to be in charge on a daily basis.

That leaves vice president of basketball operations Mark Warkentien, whose reputation, ever since his days at UNLV, has been a guy who recruits talent and lets the coaches worry about character and chemistry. Dr. Frankenstein, meet your monster.

The question now is whether there's anything to be done about it. The Nuggets aren't quite the Knicks, but they have a payroll over $80 million with few movable parts. Given their health histories, the big contracts of Kenyon Martin and Nene are probably not tradeable. The Nuggets could move Marcus Camby, but he's arguably the only adult in the starting five. They could move Anthony, but it's unlikely they're ready to give up on him at 23.

That leaves Iverson, who wants a contract extension that would make the payroll even more inflexible than it is now. If Iverson opts out of the final year of his contract this summer, I think it's even money the Nuggets would let him walk. That would shave $20 million off the payroll and drop the team below the luxury-tax threshold in one fell swoop, relieving the financial pressure on Silent Stanley Kroenke, the owner.

If Iverson plays out the final year, the Nuggets might find a trade partner looking to clear cap space at the end of the season and draw a few fans in the meantime. Although Anthony's poor postseason has gotten much of the attention, Iverson had the opportunity to lead this team up the mountain, especially when matchups forced Karl to put him at the point.

Even when his team so clearly needs him to be a playmaker, Iverson cannot think like one. All he wants to do is shoot. Bryant has been not only the better scorer in the series, he's been the better facilitator, too.

Karl's coaching staff has wide respect around the NBA. Tim Grgurich is considered something of a wizard as a player development coach.

Mike Dunlap is an innovative game planner. Adrian Dantley brings the credibility of a 2008 Pro Basketball Hall of Famer. Doug Moe has about 150 years of experience. Karl hasn't had a losing season in 20 years.

You think if somebody else tells Anthony to play defense or Iverson to pass the ball, they'll suddenly start doing it? No one I know in the NBA thinks that.

That's why Karl isn't going anywhere unless he gets fed up, which strikes me as unlikely because, like many of us, he's figured out Colorado is a great place to live, even if you have a stressful job. So it is up to the players to grow up or the front office to change the mix. And those are the good options.

• April 28, 2008

  2:16 a.m.

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  flybys writes:

  Exactly -- it's the mix that's bad.

  If a Bill Parcells' type was hired as coach or GM, he'd start going mob boss and figuratively speaking, whack people to get the right attitudes in town.

  This group is about woofing more than playing.

  It's been proven it will never win anything in the postseason.

  I truly believe ownership will expect changes this offseason.

  Significant ones.

  What should be done is find who's marketable and then find a "sale price" the organization can feel good about.

  Marcus Camby has value. Kenyon Martin has to be at least somewhat desirable again, if the Nuggets want to eat someone else's bad contracts. Allen Iverson has value. J.R. Smith has value. And so does Carmelo. Dangle the bait and go for what makes sense talent and chemistry wise.

• April 28, 2008

  9:19 a.m.

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  Hutch writes:

  I agree with everything in the column except the premise that there is a "chasm" between the perception of Nuggets fans and NBA insiders. Krieger takes his broad brush and basically says Nuggets fans are a bunch of screaming idiots. No doubt you can find idiots among the faithful here, like anywhere else. Andrew Feinstein has certainly given voice to the blame-it-on-George crowd. But at least among the fans I talk to, both at the arena and around the water cooler, it is painfully apparent -- and has been for a long time -- that these players ignore the coach.

• April 28, 2008

  9:30 a.m.

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  DeimosJB writes:

  Laying out a coach's past victories makes very little difference in the here and now. Karl hasn't been the same coach since his and his son's cancer bouts. Karl doesn't have the fire anymore.
  That being said, Karl is only a small part of the problem. Melo is immature, and I've ripped him, but I think in the next couple years he'll grow up. J.R. is growing up some as well, though he still has a lot of ground to cover. Kleiza made big strides this year, and has a bright future ahead. Camby and Martin cannot bring good value in a trade, which leaves A.I. He's got skills, he's got heart, he's a great player. He certainly helps our team, but I think the value he can bring in return can help our team more by being traded than by remaining. The best solution I can see is to trade AI, or if he opts out of his contract, try to sign a true point guard for good value.

• April 28, 2008

  10:57 a.m.

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  jmacjo writes:

  I couldn't disagree more. It smacks of the typical logic of 'blame-the-black-guys' rather than the apathetic, moribund coach who, for four years now, has tried to implement an asinine system of run-and-gun basketball that is annually refuted by the defensive minded teams that takes home the championship trophy. It seems that Karl got jealous of D'Antoni's success a few years ago, and he just became a pathetic similacrum of what they were doing in Phoenix, never mind that we've never had a point guard like Nash. You cannot tell me that if we brought in an old-school coach like Van Gundy, that there would not be an increase in defensive awareness. Whenever Karl is asked what he is going to do to shore up the defense after giving up 60 points in the second half he answers something like, "We just need to make more layups, that will slow them down." I am convinced he has lost his basketball mind. I think it would be crazy to disband that talent on that roster before giving another coach the opportunity to harness them in a disciplined, professional, half-court system. And don't tell me that the players are just intrinsically undisciplined and unprofessional; the coach is the one who designs the system, and Karl's run and chuck philosophy belongs in junior-high.

• April 28, 2008

  11:57 a.m.

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  cap writes:

  Don't try and compare Iverson's passing to his team against Bryant's passing to his. Kobe has an offense to pass to. They
  have a system and a coach that follows a system. We the Nuggets don't run one! Allen tries, but very little movement prevents any flow. Hopefully, by training camp, we will have an OFFENSIVE SYSTEM and stick to it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Every other team in the NBA runs a system-you see movement- not just a few set plays!!!
  GO GET THEM TONIGHT NUGGETS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

• April 28, 2008

  noon

  Suggest removal

  wilson writes:

  Two problems with the article, in my opinion.

  1. The "chasm" issue spotted by Hutch. I, for one, think Karl should be coach of the year. This team's effort is non-existent on a consistent basis. The article nails the problem with the team but unfairly characterizes all nugget fans.

  2. Citing Kobe Bryant as the yardstick of maturity against which all others should be measured, or at least Carmelo Anthony, is a preposterous assertion. Granted, Anthony is immature. Extremely immature, even. But Bryant has had his problems, too (sex assault charge, for example- cheating on his wife at the very least), demanding trades, ripping teammates.

  On the court Bryant gets into a trash talking competition with J.R. Smith and pouts more than anyone when he doesn't get calls (see, 15 technical fouls this season alone- one away from a suspension. Oh, if Carmelo would only whine as often as Kobe does, eh?)

  Give me a break.

• April 28, 2008

  12:20 p.m.

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  Spider writes:

  If this article is semi correct It sounds like Karl has the support of management to bench anyone he feels that is not listening to him. It's too late to do that this season but, if I were coach I'd take control of the funny farm beginning the first day of training camp. Anyone not wanting to play defense or not wanting to give his all can use their high salaries to hire someone to pull splinters from their backside.

• April 28, 2008

  12:30 p.m.

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  bronxs136 writes:

  WHO CARES ABOUT THE NUGGETS. QUITERS NEVER WIN. Good ridence and i hope they can most of the team and the head coach. What a bunch of totally disfunctional (supposedly) talentled players.

• April 28, 2008

  1:07 p.m.

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  OhBrother writes:

  I agree that the team has problems. I disagree with the fact that Karl shouldn't equaly share the blame if not take majority. Ummm, isn't he the coach? He is responsible if we don't win and almost everyone is healthy. Melo, by far isn't the most mature but does he really control enough to dictate to karl who puts on a nuggets jersy every night? does he tell Karl what plays we will run and what type of offense we should use?

  I do place blame on Melo and AI mainly as they are stars and need to play like it. But getting bounced from the playoff 4 years in a row in the first round means everybody (melo is right) has a hand in them losing year after year

• April 28, 2008

  1:30 p.m.

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  blm69 writes:

  I knew it was a mistake to bring in Iverson. I'd take Andre Miller back in a heartbeat. The dribbling in circles is getting old -- very old. Melo is still a kid and I'm not ready to give up on him. He needs a mentor, Iverson is a bad influence.

• April 28, 2008

  1:59 p.m.

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  sickandtired writes:

  "I couldn't disagree more. It smacks of the typical logic of 'blame-the-black-guys' rather than the apathetic, moribund coach who, for four years now, has tried to implement an asinine system of run-and-gun basketball that is annually refuted by the defensive minded teams that takes home the championship trophy. It seems that Karl got jealous of D'Antoni's success a few years ago, and he just became a pathetic similacrum of what they were doing in Phoenix, never mind that we've never had a point guard like Nash. You cannot tell me that if we brought in an old-school coach like Van Gundy, that there would not be an increase in defensive awareness. Whenever Karl is asked what he is going to do to shore up the defense after giving up 60 points in the second half he answers something like, "We just need to make more layups, that will slow them down." I am convinced he has lost his basketball mind. I think it would be crazy to disband that talent on that roster before giving another coach the opportunity to harness them in a disciplined, professional, half-court system. And don't tell me that the players are just intrinsically undisciplined and unprofessional; the coach is the one who designs the system, and Karl's run and chuck philosophy belongs in junior-high."

  Why does everyone continually make excuses for the way this team plays on the court? Your comments smack of the typical "A black superstar can do no wrong. His behavior and play must be the white coach's fault".

  And I WILL tell you that too many Nuggets players are "just intrinsically undisciplined and unprofessional" - the proof is on the court every time they play! I'm not trying to be sarcastic here, but it IS the players who actually play the games, not the coaches.

  You're completely right about one thing - the Nuggets play in a junior high system. I think Karl's done exactly what a coach is supposed to do - employ the system best-suited to them. You called it - junior high. Funny you should say that, I mentioned that Anthony's lack of defensive awareness is something that is taught in junior high. Seems like half the Nuggets players missed that day in the gym.

  What no one here who wants to immediately fire Karl probably hasn't looked at, is how sure are you that any of your preferred hires would even want to coach here? No one in their right mind, that's who.

• April 28, 2008

  2:05 p.m.

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  notknowitall writes:

  I have been saying this all along. Iverson is not a team player, nor does he play defense. You see it night after night - Iverson gets ahold of the ball, dribbles around for 20 seconds, throws the ball out of his *%# (gets lucky alot) and cries for a foul (which he creates) and thus instead of playing defense is back somewhere yelling at the officials. Does Denver need someone like him or should they get a LEADER? I for one think very much so...

• April 28, 2008

  2:52 p.m.

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  paguy1955 writes:

  For the last three seasons i have been at more than 30 games per seasons.. On saturday I could not take it any more.. I left at the end of the third quarter after watching the team AND THE COACH quit on themselves, their teammates and the loyal fans. I am done! I worked hard to get those tickets and the least I would ask for is to play heard and leave it on the floor.. But it dosen't look like we will get that this season... So i guess I will have to find somewhere else to spend my hard earned money with.

• April 28, 2008

  4:02 p.m.

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  kmeissner writes:

  blm69 is a MORON! Iverson HAS to dribble around in circles and take a lot of shots. Have you EVER seen any players cut to the rim when he has the ball? That's why his assists aren't up. If Denver players cut once in a while, he'd have 15 assists per game. AI AND Melo have showed that they will pass if someone is open. The rest of the team waits at the 3-point line while AI and Melo get manhandled in the paint, trying to make plays themselves.

  Denver needs to find a way to keep AI. We have a good group but they need to find a way to cut to the basket and play defense.

• April 28, 2008

  6:23 p.m.

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  glassguy writes:

  who is say the current system does not work. maybe the number of wins was the system, maybe it was luck, maybe both.you can point fingers all you want,there is plenty to go around. i feel that coming home to the can being down 0-2 should have been a wake-up call.a sense of urgency as reggie miller eluded to several the other night. does karl really need to motivate these guys to play. all the talk about a new coach, get whoever you want but when that does not work, who will you look around for to point a finger instead of looking in the mirror.

• April 28, 2008

  6:57 p.m.

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  happymike44 writes:

  All I know is why should some guy make millions for dribbling a ball around a room.These guys should be paying the fans for coming to the game.I stopped watching sports a few years back during the strikes.Now I don't even stop the channel on sunday for any sports.I feel when everybody went on strike they really did not care if I got to see them.

• April 28, 2008

  9:48 p.m.

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  den2mke writes:

  There should be no better example than this series of the difference between a good and lax coach. Was a day not long ago the Lakers were dysfunctional around their one superstar. But in a matter of a couple of seasons, Phil was able to get all involved to buy into the system. At least their offense moves the ball around and Kobe has learned to share the ball as much as score it.

  It's Karl's responsibility to make that happen here...I will say this though, unless it can change very quickly next year, the Iverson experiment needs to end. Great player, tremendous talent, but shoot-first guard that dominates the ball...

• April 29, 2008

  6:46 a.m.

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  Xray writes:

  Ultimately it does n`t matter what you do your still a small market team that will never get past a team like the lakers. the worm stern will see to that.With the nba referee corruption trial being white washed we`ll never know how corrupt stern is. the worm has never played basketball in his life and he has watched market share shrink.
  The nba finals will have ratings along side don`t forget the lyrics.
  fire stern time to restore some credibility to this once great sport.

• April 29, 2008

  11:22 a.m.

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  PurpleFox writes:

  I am really sick and tired of everybody absolving the coach and his entire staff of any blame whatsoever! It's true, it's the players that play the game. And the Nugget players are a bunch of primadonnas that have no concept of team play, or how to play defense. But who's fault is that? It's the coach and his staff that are responsible for getting the team to play....if they can't do that, then what the hell are they getting paid for?? It's the coach that determines the offense and defense, and the players that play, not the players themselves. George Karl and his entire staff of over-priced, non performing coaches should be dumped someplace deep and dark!

• April 29, 2008

  2:50 p.m.

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  Disgusted_in_Denver writes:

  jmacjo makes some interesting points that I agree with to a point but disagree with as well. Bottom line, of course the players are the ones who take the majority of the blame, they are the ones who participate in the games. You cannot tell me that Karl's system is to have a single player dribble around and take a shot without even looking to distribute to another player and start the offense. AI and Melo are huge offenders who regularly do this. Yes, the running style play is not a championship brand of basketball, ask the 06-07 Suns. But you cannot tell me that this is all that Karl preaches to these knuckleheads! At times throughout this season we saw them play a more complete game. When they did, typically the results were good. Point is, the strategy does not vastly differ from night to night, run and play a little defense. AI and Melo as captains need to take pride in winning and losing, like a LeBron, Kobe or any of the Spurs. In the NBA, contracts are guaranteed, why would a player listen to a coach, right? That is exactly how AI and Melo among others feel. I am not absolving Karl but putting the majority of the blame where it rightfully should be, the players. Would Sloan or Popovich put up with these ridiculous antics? No way! But have they ever had to deal with chuckleheads like AI and Melo? The single problem is that these are your premier franchise players and they just don’t get it!

• April 29, 2008

  7:40 p.m.

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  droctopus writes:

  Honestly, the only thing the nuggets need is a defense minded point guard that make an open shot and can orchestrate the team. All of the other pieces would fall together. Me thinks.