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Nuggets report: Anthony, Karl differ

By Chris Tomasson, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published February 1, 2009 at 10:44 p.m.

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He said it

"There's four guys right now that I think are head and shoulders above everybody. . . . I don't think they give it to a low-statistical guy. If you're talking about value to the team, (Billups) would get votes. If you're talking about the combination of talented and value, I don't know."

George Karl, saying, that while he has great respect for Billups, his top four MVP candidates are Kobe Bryant, Dwight Howard, LeBron James and Chris Paul.

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It's hardly a disagreement of titanic proportions. But Anthony and Karl are looking a bit differently at the forward's return Friday after missing 10 games because of a broken right hand.

Anthony said he wasn't rusty. He disagreed with Karl that it could be several games before he's fully back in the groove.

"I'm great," said Anthony, who shot 5-for-12 against Charlotte for 19 points and had two rebounds, five assists and five turnovers. "I'm good, man. Did I have a bad game? . . . We won by 20-some points (actually 110-99)."

Karl, though, said Anthony showed some rust. He said that while Anthony started well and his defense and passing were solid, he had periods late of not running as well and having too many turnovers and a shot selection that "deteriorated a little bit."

"He and I are always going to have some disagreements," Karl said.

For Karl, it has been more difficult getting Anthony to be self-critical after a win. He's trying to change that.

"Conflict is when I'm pushing him to be better and you're winning," Karl said. "(Players) want to be happy about their win, and there's a degree that they should be happy. But there's always the window, that I think they're with me on, that we can be better.

"There's going to be a little more accountability. Even when we win, instead of being relaxed and happy, there's probably going to be a little more direction."

Ferocious February

February is the shortest month. The Nuggets might not mind getting it over quickly.

The schedule is not kind. Denver plays eight of 12 February games on the road, with the home games against San Antonio, Boston, Atlanta and the Lakers.

"This would be a danger area if we would get an injury or hit a spell where we kind of get off-track a little bit, because the schedule could beat us up a little bit," Karl said. "We're in a conference where a three- or four-game losing streak, you go from feeling good to panic city. But I like how we're playing."

Etc.

* Though center Nene was an All-Star long shot, at least he knows now a mad dash won't be needed from his Feb. 14 Colorado wedding to the game the next day in Phoenix. "I just want to enjoy my wedding," he said. "God will choose the best time (to make an All-Star Game). . . . Thank you, God, to make me surprise everybody (with his play this season), because a lot of people don't believe. My God quiets a lot of people's mouths."

* Billups unveiled a special pair of gold shoes at practice Sunday that he will don in the All-Star Game. "I don't want it to be the first time I wear them," Billups said of breaking in the adidas shoes with his name written on them. Billups claimed the shoes have no magical qualities, saying, "I'd wear them every night if I could get some hops."

* Anthony is playing with two middle fingers wrapped on his healing hand. "You got to get used to the tape," he said. "It's something that you got to keep changing every 10 minutes (because) it gets raggedy."

Comments

  • February 2, 2009

    9:07 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    lsider writes:

    i remember the great david robinson being labeled as soft. well i think carmelo has all the makings of another soft nba player. larry bird or magic were not soft. and nobody would ever say that about jordan especially his teammates. don't get me wrong though there's been great softies, like jason kidd, george gervin, robinson, domique wilkins and by soft i don't mean afraid to play the game but they were afraid to demand the most of other players and in melo's case of himself. i'm not saying carmelo's a bad guy or a bad player but he could be truly great, and i'm glad we got rid of iverson so now karl can challenge his team without a guaranteed hall of famer there to mislead the team and probably mutiny. i thought karl did a bad job last year and has done a poor job of developing anthony but with ai gone i see that he's now able to coach the team. carmelo, you need to buy in, if there's any doubt that you should be giving more, than there is no doubt. if melo prepared like bird and jordan did, with the team we have we would win at least one championship, probably many. at least with chauncy here if melo shows leadership it won't be second guessed. kudos to karl for having the minor disagreements and also for starting jr smith when melo went down.

  • February 2, 2009

    3:15 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    wharfratg writes:

    Don't get me wrong, I like Nene a lot, but can we ever read a quote without seventeen references to God? We understand that your god is important to you and that he guides you. How about throwing us a bone with respect to some basketball insight.

  • February 2, 2009

    5:27 p.m.

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    GOPteacher writes:

    I think Nene has become really spiritual after his cancer. I don't remember that he was this vocal about his beliefs before.

    I love Melo, but I agree that the one thing he's missing is that killer instinct. Jordan took any criticism and worked his butt off until it was a strength. When he came into the league, he wasn't a shooter, couldn't play D, and he turned into basically a shooter/post up guy who won 2 defensive POY awards. Melo has as much talent as anyone, but his biggest shortcoming is mental.

  • February 2, 2009

    6:49 p.m.

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    jersey writes:

    insider: Jason Kidd, great? Look up overrated in Webster's and you will see his photo. A story for another day. As for the question of Melo's toughness or lack of, if we were to ever win a championship during his tenure all that will be put to rest. I've been here for all five years with Melo and I don't seem to recall him having a propensity for injury. I could be wrong. However, just like "Air" before him, when you come in as the saviour to a team with many needs, your legacy be it just or unjust, will be based on winning it all or not. Guys like "Magic" and "Larry Legend" inherited teams that were on the cusp and they were just the final pieces to the puzzle which offered a much easier road to the promised land. Keep in mind this would only be his 2nd year if he had not left the "Cuse" after his freshman year. Still a Babe!

  • February 2, 2009

    6:55 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    jersey writes:

    GOPteacher: As for Nene I feel you nailed it. A scare such as the big "C" will do that. Can you blame him? If it were me as for the thanks, I would have the Good Lord's number on speed dial!

  • February 2, 2009

    9:11 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    wjrudy writes:

    I agree with Karl and GOP above - Anthony could be much better. He has improved some elements of his game this year - with rebounding, for example, and continues to be an excellent player - no doubt. But when we start to focus and compare with individuals like Jordan, we see the difference that all around game intensity can make. Jordan was fantastic not only in the clutch and scoring - but also on defense (with numerous selections to the "all defensive team" and a Defensive Player of the Year award). Of course, I'm not saying he'll ever be or could be another Jordan, but he could certainly turn up the level of self-criticism a notch (we all could - myself included:)

  • February 3, 2009

    12:35 p.m.

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    wharfratg writes:

    I understand one might get religious after beating cancer. But just attributing everything to God's will reveals nothing more than "whatever will be will be." How 'bout "I've been working on my footwork" or "Chauncey's been working to get me the ball on the block"? I'd even settle for "it's God's will that led me to work on taking charges." God didn't just wave His magic wand and turn you into a dominant inside presence. C'mon, Nene, give it up! Give us some of God's coaching techniques--He would want us to know....

  • February 6, 2009

    5:40 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    liam3323 writes:

    i agree with that so much isider, if D-Wade(when healthy) or Lebron or Kobe had this supporting cast that Carmelo has it would be championships, and Melo doesnt have to be Kobe or be Wade, he just has to be Melo, cuz he IS GOOD ENOUGH/TALENTED ENOUGH to get to that level as a player and this team could win championships as a result of it, all he has to do is put in the 110% work and effort day in and day out in all phases of the team and game...... if he does that (like Bird and MAgic and MJ did as you noted... and like Kobe and Wade and Garnett and Lebron do now-days) than we could head to greatness, only the spurs and lakers would be our competition in this conference.....

    That is the truth.