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Nuggets report: Smith seeks talk with Karl

By Chris Tomasson, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published December 1, 2008 at 8:43 a.m.

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Guard J.R. Smith, who recently has been benched and barely played in another game, wants to talk with Karl, but he isn't optimistic.

"We never talk. . . . You never want to not even talk to your coach," he said of their relationship.

Smith said Karl didn't talk to him after his benching Wednesday for being late for practice or after he played only seven minutes Saturday. Karl wouldn't discuss Saturday, saying, "I'll let you interpret that one."

Karl said Smith sometimes doesn't have a "positive, good attitude."

"He's going to think what he wants to think," Smith said.

Smith disagreed with Karl calling him "extremely late" to the practice.

"It was only five minutes (late)," Smith said. "He's always going to say something like that."

SILENT ARTEST

Houston's Ron Artest faced the Nuggets for the first time since they considered trading in February for the forward, then with Sacramento.

In an e-mail in July to the Rocky, Artest wrote he "cannot play in Denver because they question my drive to finish my career off strong and not embarrass my family." Artest was asked Sunday to elaborate.

"I can't talk about it right now because I'm on a silent treatment," said Artest, saying his agent, Mark Stevens, has requested he not talk about some past things.

NUMBERS GAME

1.94 steals average for Nuggets forward Kenyon Martin, which ranks 10th in the NBA. "I'm trying to be first," he said. Coach George Karl said Martin has "great defensive hands."

HE SAID IT

"We don't want to talk about that. The league has a way of reacting the wrong way."

Karl, on Denver's NBA-best average of 31.6 free throws per game.

Comments

  • December 1, 2008

    9:58 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    Coltgm56 writes:

    Karl, our win streak has nothing to do with you!! Chauncy is our coach on the floor, that is the difference in our team. I don't mind the discipline, and benching JR for being late has my support. What I do question is...WHAT KIND OF LEADER DOES NOT TALK TO HIS PEOPLE??? It is your responsibility to make your team successfull. You have to not just listen to them you have to understand what they are saying. Look up COACH in the dictionary!!

  • December 1, 2008

    11:03 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    chizman69 writes:

    JR Smith is thespark plug, off the bench. He, usually looks great in games. Last night was a great example. I think JR, should, gt more playing time than Jones or Carter.

  • December 1, 2008

    11:26 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    ramAZ writes:

    Whatever Colt.

    The Nuggets just had their best November in over 2 decades. Why don't YOU look up coach in the dictionary.

    JR has a world of potential, but he's also shown to be immature and lacking in discipline. That didn't start with George Karl. While you're looking things up, take a look at the relationship he had with Byron Scott.

    The Nuggets... with Karl as the coach... are one of the hottest teams in the NBA. Why don't you save your whining for when they are losing. Right now, things are clicking. If JR wants to talk, maybe he should approach the coach. He certainly is around him on a freaking daily basis. Maybe he shouldn't be whining to the media. All that does is stir up "fans" like you.

  • December 1, 2008

    11:33 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    denversportsfan writes:

    It's time for George to get over himself and talk to the young Smith. I like the tougher rules by Karl, but not talking to one of his players is just stupid. JR is the most athletic player on the team and is probably the best finisher around the basket we have. I'm not saying he is our best player, but his potential is enormous. As with the previous posts, I agree the winning has really nothing to what George is doing, but what Chauncey brings to the table. Overall, I don't think the players really respect George that much. His lack of passion and fire since he's gotten here has rubbed off on the players and now that's different since Chauncey arrived. I've never liked George and never will. I loved it when the #8 Nuggs beat his #1 Sonics. Greatest Nugget games I've ever had the privilege of attending. If they don't make it out of the 1st round of the playoffs this year, then the only solace will be if George gets fired, but Chauncey will lead them past the 1st round and George will get all the credit.

  • December 1, 2008

    2:12 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    NuggetsFan94 writes:

    Mr. denversportsfan, you didn't like coach Karl even when we had 24W-2L run right after he took the Nubbets over in 2005?
    http://www.basketball-reference.com/t...

  • December 1, 2008

    2:17 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    NuggetsFan94 writes:

    But seriously J.R., what did you do?
    Did you insult any family member of coach Karl or something?

  • December 1, 2008

    2:39 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Bigg_Nuggets writes:

    J.R. needs to play. That is the bottom line. He makes defenses nervous. There will be growing pains, but let Chauncey takethe role of disciplinarian and mentor and George step back. J.R. will listen to Chauncey, and if he doesn't then it's time to go. No one individual is bigger than the team, but the team is much more dangerous with J.R. on the floor. I don't understand why George has to get in pissing matches with his players. Rule are good. Added discipline is good, and the results so far have been good, but if you destroy relationships the discipline won't matter in the end. Firm but fair furious george. Play the kid.

  • December 1, 2008

    3:12 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    lynnie62 writes:

    Man I love the Nuggets with Chauncy! I'm a JR fan too but I know he has a 1 million dollar head with a 10 cent head at times. I don't know about George Karl, I have my ups and downs with him. I agree he doesn't show a lot of passion.

  • December 1, 2008

    3:29 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    denversportsfan writes:

    Nuggsfan94....you're right I might have liked George a bit when they went on that amazing run. I just don't think he is a good fit with a young Nuggets team. He is showing more passion this year and is protecting his players this year more than ever. Sometimes old school doesn't mix well with new school players.

    Anyone else think think that Nene is a beast in the paint? You have to like our two players in Melo and Nene that can't be stopped when single covered.

  • December 1, 2008

    4:15 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    tbane writes:

    ramAZ needs to stay in Arizona. Who cares about a record in November. IT'S NOVEMBER. Remember the Nuggets record last year. It was a fantastic record with 50 wins. Yet, they didn't win a single playoff game. And ol' Georgie has only won 4 playoff games in 5 YEARS. Not that great of a record. A record of 4-20 in the playoffs? Sure his regular season coaching record is 891-620 but in the playoffs his record is 62-83. That's pathetic. He simply can't win in the playoffs. And not talking to your players? What is this? Middle school? Come on. FIRE GEORGE!!!! and release/trade Kleiza!!!!

  • December 1, 2008

    5:09 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    nbafreak35 writes:

    tbane... i agree FIRE KARL hes a horrible coach. but why trade kleiza? his number are down this year but hes been playing better recently then in the beginning of the year

  • December 1, 2008

    8:38 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    gonugs writes:

    good call colt your so right george is not a smart guy

  • December 2, 2008

    9:35 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    jbowen43 writes:

    Admit it folks. J R is erratic in more ways than one and Kleiza is a disappointment. This team is a lot better because they are tougher and they are tougher because Camby is gone and K-Mart, and Nene are healthy and they are bigger and tougher at guard with Billups and Dahntay Jones. I like A C. He is much better than you guys give him credit for being. With these bigs they can run the pick and roll, something they could never do with Marcus.