Schedule isn't an ally to struggling Nuggets
The Nuggets already have lost to the Kings, the Hornets and the 76ers, who have a combined winning percentage of .380. So what does that say about life during the second half of Carmelo Anthony's suspension?
It might not bode well.
On the docket are the Lakers, Utah, San Antonio, Cleveland and Houston twice.
Ouch.
"I've been looking at the schedule," Nuggets center Marcus Camby said. "It's not in our favor. . . . The suspensions have really set us back."
The Nuggets learned Dec. 18 that Anthony must sit out 15 games and J.R. Smith 10 for their roles in a Dec. 16 brawl. The period began that night with an emotional win against Washington, and guard Allen Iverson arrived the next day in a trade.
Since then, though, it has mostly been a struggle. The Nuggets (16- 13), who have lost three straight, are 3-4 since the suspensions were handed out, including 2-4 with Iverson.
Most distressing was their 108-97 loss Tuesday to Iverson's former team, Philadelphia, which entered 8-22. A 99-89 loss to New Orleans/ Oklahoma City on Friday, which came in 11-17 and was without its top three scorers, wasn't too good, either.
"Now we got a really difficult schedule," said Nuggets coach George Karl, whose team faces the Lakers on the road Friday and Northwest Division leader Utah at home Saturday. "We need the fans with us. We need to regain some confidence and get Nene (expected back Friday after missing four games because of a sore right knee) back on the court and, in a couple of games, get J.R. back on the court and slowly but surely move in another direction."
Karl's goal has been to go 8-7 before Anthony's Jan. 22 return. But looking at the next eight games Anthony will miss, the Nuggets face only one losing team (Portland), and the combined winning percentages of all the opponents (with Houston counted twice) is .602.
"I feel bad," said Anthony, who said the team's "confidence is down" and that Iverson is getting double- and triple-teamed. "I feel like it's my fault out there. Even though we might not win every game when I'm here, I feel bad when I'm watching the games. . . . My days are long. . . . It's 50 hours."
During the absence of Anthony and Smith, who were combining to average 48.3 points, Iverson has averaged 28.8 and point guard Earl Boykins 23.6. But that might not be as good as it seems.
"We've got to find a way to get other guys involved," Camby said. "If A.I. and Earl are going to be taking the majority of the shots, defense is going to be focusing on those guys. And coach has to do a better job of getting everybody else involved. . . . Spreading the wealth and be more committed on the defensive end (is what we must do)."
One can't fault Camby's defense. While he has been rusty offensively since missing four games because of a broken right ring finger, he has averaged 14.5 rebounds and 5.0 blocked shots in two games since returning.
While the 6-foot Iverson and the 5- 5 Boykins have put up big numbers offensively, Karl admits their height can be a drawback.
"The size of our guards have trouble passing into the zone," said Karl, who is considering using 6-7 Julius Hodge for some stretches at the point. "The one thing with Andre (Miller, a 6-2 point guard dispatched in the Iverson trade) is, he was really good over the top in the middle of the zone."
Iverson and Boykins aren't going to grow any time soon, so the Nuggets must look for other ways. There would seem to be a sense of urgency.
The Nuggets are 5 1/2 games behind Utah (23-9) in the Northwest. If the Nuggets can't catch the Jazz and do make the playoffs, they'd probably be staring at Dallas, Phoenix, San Antonio or Utah in the first round.
"We're depleted and we're shorthanded," Boykins said. "But that's still no excuse for losing games and not being able to finish (games)."
But it is reality.
The Nuggets already have lost to the Kings, the Hornets and the 76ers, who have a combined winning percentage of .380. So what does that say about life during the second half of Carmelo Anthony's suspension?
It might not bode well.
On the docket are the Lakers, Utah, San Antonio, Cleveland and Houston twice.
Ouch.
"I've been looking at the schedule," Nuggets center Marcus Camby said. "It's not in our favor. . . . The suspensions have really set us back."
The Nuggets learned Dec. 18 that Anthony must sit out 15 games and J.R. Smith 10 for their roles in a Dec. 16 brawl. The period began that night with an emotional win against Washington, and guard Allen Iverson arrived the next day in a trade.
Since then, though, it has mostly been a struggle. The Nuggets (16- 13), who have lost three straight, are 3-4 since the suspensions were handed out, including 2-4 with Iverson.
Most distressing was their 108-97 loss Tuesday to Iverson's former team, Philadelphia, which entered 8-22. A 99-89 loss to New Orleans/ Oklahoma City on Friday, which came in 11-17 and was without its top three scorers, wasn't too good, either.
"Now we got a really difficult schedule," said Nuggets coach George Karl, whose team faces the Lakers on the road Friday and Northwest Division leader Utah at home Saturday. "We need the fans with us. We need to regain some confidence and get Nene (expected back Friday after missing four games because of a sore right knee) back on the court and, in a couple of games, get J.R. back on the court and slowly but surely move in another direction."
Karl's goal has been to go 8-7 before Anthony's Jan. 22 return. But looking at the next eight games Anthony will miss, the Nuggets face only one losing team (Portland), and the combined winning percentages of all the opponents (with Houston counted twice) is .602.
"I feel bad," said Anthony, who said the team's "confidence is down" and that Iverson is getting double- and triple-teamed. "I feel like it's my fault out there. Even though we might not win every game when I'm here, I feel bad when I'm watching the games. . . . My days are long. . . . It's 50 hours."
During the absence of Anthony and Smith, who were combining to average 48.3 points, Iverson has averaged 28.8 and point guard Earl Boykins 23.6. But that might not be as good as it seems.
"We've got to find a way to get other guys involved," Camby said. "If A.I. and Earl are going to be taking the majority of the shots, defense is going to be focusing on those guys. And coach has to do a better job of getting everybody else involved. . . . Spreading the wealth and be more committed on the defensive end (is what we must do)."
One can't fault Camby's defense. While he has been rusty offensively since missing four games because of a broken right ring finger, he has averaged 14.5 rebounds and 5.0 blocked shots in two games since returning.
While the 6-foot Iverson and the 5- 5 Boykins have put up big numbers offensively, Karl admits their height can be a drawback.
"The size of our guards have trouble passing into the zone," said Karl, who is considering using 6-7 Julius Hodge for some stretches at the point. "The one thing with Andre (Miller, a 6-2 point guard dispatched in the Iverson trade) is, he was really good over the top in the middle of the zone."
Iverson and Boykins aren't going to grow any time soon, so the Nuggets must look for other ways. There would seem to be a sense of urgency.
The Nuggets are 5 1/2 games behind Utah (23-9) in the Northwest. If the Nuggets can't catch the Jazz and do make the playoffs, they'd probably be staring at Dallas, Phoenix, San Antonio or Utah in the first round.
"We're depleted and we're shorthanded," Boykins said. "But that's still no excuse for losing games and not being able to finish (games)."
But it is reality.
