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Nuggets report: Dig-dug

Aaron J. Lopez

Published February 8, 2008 at 12:45 a.m.

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The pickax logo at center court certainly is appropriate for the Nuggets this season. More often than not, they find themselves trying to dig their way out of trouble.

Through 48 games, the Nuggets have trailed by at least 10 points 26 times. Such was the case again Wednesday night, when they fell behind by 15 points at halftime before eventually losing to the Utah Jazz in overtime.

"I think we're going to go for the record for how many double-digit deficits we can come back from," coach George Karl said Thursday. "What's the record? Let's check the record. We're heading there."

To their credit, the Nuggets have won nine games in which they trailed by double figures. Only the Golden State Warriors have been more Houdini-like, winning 11 times when trailing by 10 points or more.

"I can't really pinpoint or give you a definitive answer why we start games the way we do and tend to wait until we're down to start playing basketball," center Marcus Camby said. "It's definitely been talked about."

Karl said the answer to the problem is simple.

"You play with more passion, play harder, play more together," he said. "I think we at times have an NBA cruise control rather than putting the pedal down and trying to play aggressive early. If you play well early, sometimes you don't have to play late."

Better late than never

Of the nine games in which the Nuggets have gone on to win after trailing by double figures, seven have been against sub-.500 teams:

Largest final Date Opp. (Rec.) deficit score

Nov. 2 Minnesota (10-37) 13 99-91

Nov. 10 Indiana (20-30) 25 113-106

Nov. 23 Minnesota (10-37) 12 99-93

Nov. 30 L.A. Clippers (15-31) 10 123-107

Dec. 12 New Orleans (33-15) 14 105-99

Dec. 23 Sacramento (22-25) 16 106-105

Jan. 11 Orlando (32-19) 11 113-103

Jan. 30 Memphis (13-35) 11 106-102

Feb. 2 Charlotte (18-31) 12 117-101

Flagrantly cautious

Given the t ooth-and-nail intensity of Wednesday night's game between division rivals Denver and Utah, it was surprising to see Nuggets forward Kenyon Martin concede a layup to Jazz guard Deron Williams in overtime.

Martin said he was hesitant to foul Williams as he drove to the basket because he already had been whistled for a flagrant foul that knocked Jazz guard Ronnie Brewer from the game in the third quarter.

"You can't be sometimes as aggressive as you want to be," Martin said. "I don't want to get caught up in the referee things, but I had a flagrant 1. The way the game was going, I didn't want to take that chance."

No letdown

After two high-intensity games, the Nuggets might feel like a roller-coaster addict forced to find thrills riding an elevator.

They will try to avoid a letdown tonight against the Washington Wizards, a .500 team that has lost five games in a row and is without starters Gilbert Arenas (knee surgery) and Caron Butler (hip).

"We can't take that team lightly," Camby said. "We understand they're missing some key players. We just have to find a way to get this win. We want to finish up going into the All-Star break playing at a high level."

After tonight, the Nuggets go on a three-game trip leading into the All-Star break.

Numbers game

43minutes played by Martin against Utah on Wednesday. It marked the second game in a row Martin eclipsed the 40-minute mark, indicating he is back to full strength after microfracture right knee surgery Nov. 15, 2006.

"I'm healthy," he said. "The more minutes I get, the more productive I can be."

Before this week, Martin had not played 40 minutes in a game since Jan. 23, 2006.

Etc.

* After missing two games with a bruised left knee, Camby felt the effects of playing more than 41 minutes against Utah. "It held up, for the most part," he said. "I was pretty sore (Thursday) morning, but I'll be out there (tonight)."

* Because of injuries and the game schedule, Karl estimates the Nuggets have practiced fewer than five times since Jan. 1. "Around Feb. 1, you cut back on practices anyways," he said. "I think we've cut back probably a little bit more than normal, but I'm not saying we're missing 15 practices. We've probably missed five or six days of practice."

He said it

"Every time we play Utah, it always seems to be physical. Matt Harpring's in there throwing his body around, throwing his weight around. He's hacking, he's pushing, doing all the dirty stuff out there that doesn't get called."

Camby, on Wednesday night's game, which featured 62 fouls and 81 free-throw attempts.

lopezaa@RockyMountainNews.com

Wizards at Nuggets

* When: 8:30 tonight.

* Where: Pepsi Center.

* TV/radio: ESPN, Altitude; KKFN-AM (950).

* Probable starting lineups

Washington (24-24) Pos. Ht. Pts.

32 Andray Blatche F 6-11 6.9

4 Antawn Jamison F 6-9 21.2

33 Brendan Haywood C 7-0 10.3

4 Antonio Daniels G 6-4 8.9

2 DeShawn Stevenson G 6-5 10.0

Coach:

Eddie Jordan

Denver (29-19) Pos. Ht. Pts.

15 Carmelo Anthony F 6-8 25.7

4 Kenyon Martin F 6-9 10.7

23 Marcus Camby C 6-11 9.3

3 Allen Iverson G 6-0 27.1

25 Anthony Carter G 6-2 8.4

Coach:

George Karl * Injuries: Washington - G Gilbert Arenas (knee surgery) and C Etan Thomas (heart surgery) are out; F Caron Butler (left hip flexor strain) is day to day. Denver - G Chucky Atkins (sports hernia) and F Nene (testicular tumor) are out; Camby (left knee) is probable.

* Notes: Martin scored 18 points and added 10 rebounds Wednesday for his second consecutive double-double. He is averaging 13 points and 8.8 rebounds in the past five games. . . . Denver is 10-1 against Eastern Conference teams at the Pepsi Center, with the only home loss coming against Indiana on Nov. 27. . . . The Nuggets outscored the Wizards 33-11 in the third quarter of a 26-point victory at Washington on Nov. 9. . . . Iverson has recorded at least three steals in eight straight games, the longest such streak of his career. . . . Jamison is one of only five players averaging at least 20 points and 10 rebounds. . . . Blatche is averaging 15.6 points and 11.2 rebounds in five games as a fill-in starter for Butler.

Comments

  • February 8, 2008

    12:37 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    notknowitall writes:

    The problem with the nuggets? They don't play as a team!
    Pass the ball to either AI or Mello and then stand around and
    watch. Basketball employs 5 as a team plus help off the bench.
    I enjoy basketball, but when only two players-sometimes three,
    shoot the ball 90 percent of the time, it becomes very boring
    PLEASE Coach Karl do your job and involve the entire team!!!!

  • February 8, 2008

    3:30 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    beece writes:

    Why the Nuggets can't get over the hump:

    www.mountainhoops.blogspot.com

  • February 8, 2008

    5:09 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    BalltownIA7 writes:

    As a Nuggets fan, I want the Nuggets to get drilled by the Wizards by 20 or 30 at home so that organization can see that this isn't a championship team and start cleaning house, starting with the Head Coach.
    Get a real center or Power forward, ANYONE that can play with their back to the basket and work an inside out game with Melo, Kleiza and/or JR. Get rid of AI and get a PASS FIRST PG, a true floor leader that makes his team better and controls tempo, knowing when to run and when to run the half court. This has to be one of the most frustrating teams in the NBA. AI is one of the most incredible competitors in the league but he doesn't play a team game and he's the one with the ball in his hand all the time. AI had a few good games last week but that was against the bottom of the league, we shouldn't be proud of that, we should be winning those by 15-20, not glad, "AI was clutch". Start rebuilding with a few key core players, Melo, Camby, Kleiza, JR and you have to include Martin because no one will take him with his contact.

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