The Nuggets Beat -- April 2010 Entries

Series could take U-turn in Utah
submitted by Aaron Lopez 4-29-2010

The pressure is rising in Utah.

At least that’s what the Nuggets are hoping as they try to rally in their first-round playoff series against the Jazz.

Though trailing the best-of-seven series 3-2, the Nuggets would be in the driver’s seat if they can win Game 6 in Salt Lake City on Friday night, setting up a Game 7 showdown back in Denver on Sunday.

The Nuggets are 36-8 at the Pepsi Center this year, including 4-1 against the Jazz.

“There’s some pressure on them, for sure, to try to win and try to close the series out at home,” Denver point guard Chauncey Billups said before leaving for Utah on Thursday. “They know if they come back here, it’s going to be a madhouse, man, and we’re not going let them get out of here with a win.”

The Nuggets avoided elimination Wednesday in Game 5, reducing Utah’s margin for error, but the Jazz have the luxury of returning to EnergySolutions Arena, where they won Game 3 and 4 by double-figures.

Since the 1996-97 season, the Nuggets are 4-25 in Salt Lake City.

“The importance of Game 6? That’s pretty much self-explanatory,” Utah point guard Deron Williams said. “It’s very important we get this over with. But it’s not going to be easy.”

Nuggets rookie Ty Lawson is new to the NBA playoffs, but he has won seven straight elimination games. In the spotlight of the one-and-done NCAA Tournament, Lawson steered North Carolina to the six wins necessary for capturing the 2009 national championship.

“They need to close it out when they get to their place,” Lawson said of the Jazz. “To come back here, it’s going to be a tough game. There’s a lot of pressure on them right now.”

Petro ready to step in for injured Nene
submitted by Aaron Lopez 4-29-2010

The Utah Jazz refused to let injuries stop them from pushing the Nuggets within one game of elimination.

It might be Denver’s turn to rally around a fallen teammate.

The Nuggets could be without starting center Nene for Game 6 of their first-round playoff series Friday night. Nene sprained his left knee in the second quarter of Game 5 Wednesday night and will be re-evaluated Thursday.

“As I’ve been playing all series, it’s mind over matter. We’ve got to go out and play,” Denver forward Kenyon Martin said. “Of course we’re going to miss Nene if he’s not able to go. Guys are going to have to step up like they did all season long.”

Seven-foot center Johan Petro played significant minutes when Martin missed 18 games late in the regular-season, and the experience could prove invaluable as the Nuggets try to stay alive against Utah, which is playing without starting big men Andrei Kirilenko and Mehmet Okur.

Petro started the second half Wednesday night and finished with four points and six rebounds in nearly 20 minutes. His tip-in midway through the fourth quarter was a key play as the Nuggets pulled away late for a 116-102 win.

“I’m a pretty confident guy,” Petro said. “I don’t get down on myself too much. I know what I have to do now. I’m not going to try to replace Nene because he’s a big asset for us. I want to keep it simple.

“(I’ll) try to use my legs as much as possible, try to use what my mama gave me, try to use my length, and hopefully it’s going to help the team win those two games that we need.”

Denver seeks to end dubious elimination streak
submitted by Aaron Lopez 4-26-2010

Extending a playoff series has been problematic for the Nuggets during the Carmelo Anthony era.

Since Anthony helped end Denver’s nine-year postseason drought in 2004, the Nuggets are 0-6 in elimination games. They will try to end that streak Wednesday in Game 5 of their first-round series against the Utah Jazz.

Though history isn’t on their side – only eight teams in 189 playoff series have overcome a 3-1 deficit – playing at the Pepsi Center should give the Nuggets reason for optimism as they try to send the series back to Utah for Game 6.

Including the playoffs, Denver is 35-8 at home this season and has won five of the last six games against Utah at the Pepsi Center.

Those stats will be irrelevant if the Nuggets can’t provide some resistance defensively. Moving the ball and attacking the rim, Utah is averaging 112.3 points on 51.8 percent shooting in four games. Denver allowed 102.4 points on 45.6 percent shooting during the regular season.

The Nuggets also need to show that they’re not allergic to hardwood. Utah has been more inclined to dive on the floor for loose balls, earning extra possessions that tend to deflate an opponent over the course of 48 minutes.

For whatever reason, Denver just doesn’t seem to have the same bravado it had during its playoff run a year ago.

Missing coach George Karl is an obvious difference, but you would think the Nuggets would draw motivation from his absence. There is a chance Karl could return from his cancer treatment if Denver can get out of the first round.

For that to happen, the Nuggets will have to shake their recent history and stave off elimination three times in the next six days.

Key questions entering Game 3
submitted by Aaron Lopez 4-22-2010

The Nuggets and Utah Jazz have spent three days analyzing, critiquing, discussing and dissecting every aspect of the first two games of their first-round playoff series.

The results of those study sessions will be on display Friday night when the best-of-seven series resumes at EnergySolutions Arena in Salt Lake City.

Since it's Game 3, here are three questions that are sure to be answered.

1. Can the Nuggets contain Jazz point guard Deron Williams?
With D-Will, it’s the old SportsCenter adage: “You can’t stop Deron Williams; you can only hope to contain him.” Williams has played nearly 85 of 96 minutes and accounted for 111 of Utah’s 227 points. Much of his success has been a result of attacking before the defense can set up, so the Nuggets need to do a better job picking him up in transition and keeping him out of the paint. Once in the half-court set, Denver might trap Williams out of the pick-and-roll, forcing him to make a quick decision away from the basket. Once the ball out is out his hands, the Nuggets must make sure they rotate defensively to prevent layups or open shots on the perimeter.

2. How will Carmelo Anthony bounce back from a 9-for-25 shooting performance in Game 2?
With seven NBA seasons and 41 playoff games under his belt, a poor shooting night isn’t going to rattle Anthony. After torching the Jazz for 42 points on 18-of-25 shooting in Game 1, he struggled to find a rhythm against defenders C.J. Miles and Wesley Matthews in Game 2. Anthony was whistled for four offensive fouls, so he will have to be cognizant of how the game is being officiated and adjust accordingly. One thing Melo won’t do is exaggerate the level of contact by flopping and flailing while establishing position on the wing or near the low block. “I don’t know how to do that,” he said. “I don’t know how to play like that.”

3. What kind of reception will the Utah fans give Nuggets acting coach Adrian Dantley, who spent seven years of his Hall of Fame career playing for the Jazz?
Dantley’s No. 4 hangs from the roof of EnergySolutions Arena, but he hardly expects a warm welcome home. “They’re going to boo me a little bit,” he predicted, “but that don’t mean they don’t like me. You’ve got different generations, too. Utah fans, they want the Utah Jazz to win. I know that for a fact.” Including the playoffs, Dantley is 12-9 while filling in for coach George Karl. He has done an admirable job in a difficult situation, and winning at least one of two games in Salt Lake City would be another important step in his on-the-job education.

Carter could be Denver's defensive ace
submitted by Aaron Lopez 4-21-2010

It’s always nice to have an Ace in the hole.

For the Nuggets, that would be Anthony Carter – known to his teammates as Ace.

Given the fact that Utah Jazz point guard Deron Williams is probably going to play 45 to 48 minutes a game and have the ball in his hands 95 percent of the time, the Nuggets might opt to wear him down with multiple defenders over the course of four quarters.

Starting guards Arron Afflalo and Chauncey Billups alternately have tried to slow Williams in the first two games of their first-round playoff series, with rookie Ty Lawson coming off the bench. Williams is averaging 29.5 points and 12.5 assists and has made 25 of 31 free throws.

The Nuggets would prefer not to risk Billups running into foul trouble while guarding Williams, and Lawson gives up about four inches and 10 pounds. At 6-2, Carter is only an inch shorter than Williams and has 34 games of playoff experience.

“I’ve played Tracy McGrady, Vince Carter, all those guys – Kobe (Bryant),” Carter said. “D-Will, he’s a big guy and a great player. I think my size and my ability to play defense will make an impact.”

Carter averaged 14.3 minutes and nearly a steal per game in during Denver’s playoff run last year. Lawson replaced him in the rotation out of training camp, but Carter was a valuable contributor when the rookie missed 13 games due to ankle and shoulder injuries.

“A.C. is a guy that I think we could use, with his experience and his defense,” Billups said. “He’s a good help-side defender, he’s a good on-the-ball defender. That’s what he does. That’s who he is.”

Carter isn’t lobbying for playing time. That’s not his style. But he’s ready to go to work if acting coach Adrian Dantley needs him.

“Whenever my number’s called, I kind of got the advantage because these guys are out there from the beginning,” he said. “I see what’s going on and I know the adjustments I need to make. When I’m in the game, I can make those adjustments.”

Endurance could be key for Jazz stars
submitted by Aaron Lopez 4-20-2010

As an All-Star and Olympic champion, Deron Williams qualifies as a thoroughbred. In the first two games of the Western Conference playoffs, he also has been a workhorse.

The Utah point guard played nearly 85 of a possible 96 minutes while guiding the Jazz to a 1-1 split in the best-of-7 series against the Nuggets.

No one will dispute Williams’ effectiveness (59 points and 25 assists), but you have to wonder if his heavy workload will start to take a toll should the series go six or seven games.

“It’s going to be a long series. It absolutely can wear you down and catch up to you,” said Nuggets point guard Chauncey Billups, who has made seven consecutive trips to the conference finals. “The more the series goes along, the more you find out about their team. It’s like a boxing match.”

While Round 1 went to the Nuggets, the Jazz scored a win in Round 2 with a 1-2 punch of Williams and power forward Carlos Boozer. In Game 2, Utah coach Jerry Sloan had either Boozer or Williams – primarily both – on the floor for 46 of 48 minutes.

The Nuggets, meanwhile, have been in foul trouble in each of the first two games, with the silver lining being manageable minutes for stars Billups (33.5 mpg) and Carmelo Anthony (40 mpg).

Boozer, 28, and Williams, 25, have young legs, but their ability to play big minutes and perform at a high level for a short-handed Jazz team will be something to keep an eye on as the series continues.

Trial by fire for Denver coaching staff
submitted by Aaron Lopez 4-20-2010

The highs and lows of a young coaching staff were bundled into a 25-second package Monday night.

With the Nuggets trailing by three points against the Utah Jazz, assistant coach John Welch drew up a play for forward Nene. It worked to perfection as point guard Chauncey Billups found the big man all alone under the basket for a dunk within 2.8 seconds.

Not much went according to plan after that.

The Nuggets allowed the Jazz to burn more than 10 seconds off the clock before fouling Deron Williams on the ensuing possession, and Kenyon Martin then scored on a putback to get Denver back within a point with 7.4 seconds to go.

After two more Utah free throws, the Nuggets were in a tough position because they were out of timeouts. Acting coach Adrian Dantley inserted speedy rookie Ty Lawson with six seconds remaining, with the intention of having Lawson push the ball up the floor and create an open shot for Billups or J.R. Smith.

Instead, the veteran Billups took the inbounds pass, dribbled across midcourt and missed a potential game-tying 3-pointer on the run.

“We wanted Ty to bring the ball up,” Dantley said. “He just didn’t bring the ball up.”

Billups, who has played more playoff games (135) than any of his teammates, said he wasn’t aware of Dantley’s instructions. Even if he had been, he probably still would have called an audible.

“We don’t have a timeout; we can’t draw a play up,” he said. “In that position, you want your best player to have the ball and make the decision, so there was no way I wasn’t going to get that ball.”

It didn’t help that leading scorer Carmelo Anthony was on the bench, having fouled out with 25.4 seconds to play. Anthony has 13 game-winning shots to his credit, including a 3-pointer to beat Dallas in Game 3 of the Western Conference semifinals last spring.

“(Fouling out) is not a good feeling,” Anthony said. “It’s going to wear on me tonight. Tomorrow is a different story. I get a chance to analyze the game, go back and see what happened, see what they did and see the adjustments they made. Now it’s time for us to make our adjustments.”

Jazz lose another big man for series
submitted by Aaron Lopez 4-18-2010

Mehmet Okur’s 2010 playoff stat line will forever remain unblemished: 2-for-2 from the field, including one 3-pointer, and 2-for-2 from the free throw line.

It’s symbolic of the bar that has been set for Okur’s replacement.

An MRI confirmed the worst for the Utah Jazz on Sunday. They will be without their starting center and third-leading scorer (13.5 ppg) for the remainder of the playoffs after Okur ruptured his left Achilles’ tendon against the Nuggets in Game 1 of their Western Conference playoff series.

“When somebody gets hurt, it’s kind of a sick feeling, but you’ve got to get over that from our standpoint and get ready to play basketball,” Utah coach Jerry Sloan said. “There's not anything you can do about it. We still have to play and we just wish him the best trying to recover.”

Not only is the Jazz down 1-0 in the best-of-7 series, but they are down two starters in the frontcourt. Forward Andrei Kirilenko is expected to miss two weeks with a strained calf, leaving Sloan with few options on the bench.

The Nuggets and their fans soon could be familiar with the names Kyrylo Fesenko and Kosta Koufos.

“I don’t mean this to sound bad, but I really don’t worry about who’s in there or who’s not in there,” Denver power forward Kenyon Martin said. “You never want to see anyone go down with an injury. (Okur’s) an excellent outside shooter and you’ve got to know where he is at all times.”

The absence of Kirilenko and Okur was reflected in the Game 1 box score. The Nuggets outscored Utah 52-34 on points in the paint and held a 42-31 rebounding edge.

Martin grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds and said his sore left knee felt fine after playing nearly 35 minutes – the most action he had seen since Feb. 28.

“They tried to put me back out there (late in the fourth quarter),” Martin said with a smile. “I was like, ‘I ain’t going back out there.’ Chauncey hit that 3 (to put Denver up 14), and I was like, ‘That’s a wrap.’ ”

If Utah’s pool of healthy players keeps shrinking, the same soon might be said about the series.

Dantley's playoff debut a dandy
submitted by Aaron Lopez 4-18-2010

On the eve of his first playoff game as a head coach, Nuggets assistant Adrian Dantley spent about an hour with a guy who knows a few things about playoff basketball.

The advice from George Karl was beautifully straightforward.

“He just said to go out and have fun,” Dantley said. “That was it. We went over a couple of plays, but that’s it.”

Dantley certainly enjoyed himself Saturday night as the Nuggets beat the Utah Jazz 126-113 in Game 1 of their Western Conference playoff series.

The victory came against Utah coach Jerry Sloan, whose career playoff record fell to 94-99. Dantley is now 3-0 against Sloan and Los Angeles Lakers coach Phil Jackson, who have combined for more than 2,500 career regular-season and playoff wins.

After going 11-8 while Karl went through cancer treatments over the final two months of the season, Dantley is becoming more confident and comfortable in the lead role. He was relaxed before Saturday’s game; his schedule included a haircut and an afternoon nap.

“I wasn’t nervous,” he said. “I know if we lose the game, it was on me anyway. I’m comfortable now. I’m learning more and more, getting better. The nervousness is over with. That was during the regular season.”

Karl, closing in on 1,000 career regular-season wins, is recovering well after radiation and chemotherapy treatment for throat and neck cancer. He is hoping to return if the Nuggets advance past the first round.

In the meantime, Dantley will try to keep having fun.

Kirilenko injury should benefit Nuggets
submitted by Aaron Lopez 4-16-2010

The news of Utah Jazz forward Andrei Kirilenko likely to miss the first round of the playoffs with a calf injury was met without much reaction from the Nuggets on Friday.

Denver power forward Kenyon Martin simply shrugged, while teammate Carmelo Anthony addressed the development with only a passing interest.

“People are always going to need something to talk about. I guess that’s the topic now,” Anthony said. “It is what it is. I hope he gets better soon.”

Anthony would figure to benefit the most from Kirilenko’s absence because the versatile Russian would have drawn the defensive against the Nuggets’ leading scorer. Without Kirilenko out, the Jazz could turn to C.J. Miles or Paul Millsap against Denver's All-Star forward. Either way, expect Utah coach Jerry Sloan to throw more double-teams at Anthony when the Western Conference playoff series starts Saturday at the Pepsi Center.

“We’ll find out,” Anthony said. “Ain’t no telling what coach Sloan will do.”

Even with Kirilenko in the lineup, the Jazz struggled to contain Anthony during the regular season. He scored 67 points on 24-of-44 shooting in two games against Utah, while sitting out two others because of injuries.

Nuggets assistant coach Adrian Dantley called Kirilenko a “very valuable” player for the Jazz but disagreed with the notion that Denver would try to exploit his absence.

“We just want to play good basketball,” Dantley said. “I assume when you say ‘exploit’ it means ‘shoot more.’ I think Melo gets enough shots already. Just play basketball the right way.”

Kirilenko is not the only banged up Jazz player. Power forward Carlos Boozer (strained oblique) is a game-time decision, while center Mehmet Okur is expected to play with a sore left Achilles’ tendon.

For the Nuggets, Martin (left knee tendinitis) was a limited participant in practice Friday but plans to play in Game 1.

Martin ready for playoff spotlight
submitted by Aaron Lopez 4-15-2010

When Nuggets power forward Kenyon Martin didn’t return after the first half of Denver’s regular-season finale in Phoenix on Tuesday, you could almost hear the concerned whispers back in Colorado.

What’s wrong with K-Mart? Is his knee going to be OK for the playoffs?

Martin did his best to put Nuggets fans at ease Thursday, saying he will be ready to go when Denver opens the Western Conference playoffs Saturday against the Utah Jazz.

“I felt good today,” Martin said after working on his free-throw shooting. “I’ll do a little more tomorrow and get ready for Saturday. I know my body better than anybody, so I know what I can do and what I need to do in order to be ready to play. That’s what the team wants me to do. That’s the game plan right now.”

Martin missed 18 straight games with patella tendinitis in his left knee before returning for the final three games of the regular season. His minutes were limited in each of the first two games, and he removed himself from Tuesday’s blowout loss at Phoenix as a precaution.

“I only played 20-some minutes each game. I’m expecting to play more than that,” Martin said. “We’ll see. It’s mind over matter at this point.”

No one really knows what to expect from Martin as the playoffs approach, but his teammates are hoping to see the same player who was a double-double threat and a defensive stopper for much of the season. He will probably be asked to shadow Utah's leading scorer and rebounder Carlos Boozer for much of the series.

“Everybody knows the presence that he has,” point guard Chauncey Billups said. “When he’s not out there, we miss it. His defensive capabilities and rebounding the ball and just him knowing the game of basketball is one thing we really missed. I’m happy he’s back.”

Storylines a plenty in Denver-Utah series
submitted by Aaron Lopez 4-15-2010

Jerry Sloan vs. Adrian Dantley and the George Karl disciples. Dueling point guards. Melo vs. AK 47.

Those are some of the early storylines to watch when the Nuggets open the 2010 playoffs Saturday night against the Utah Jazz.

It’s uncertain if Karl can return to the bench during the first round as he recovers from throat and neck cancer, leaving assistant coach Dantley to match wits with Sloan, the fourth-winningest coach in NBA history. It’s a clear advantage for the Jazz, but Dantley will get plenty of support from the entire Denver coaching staff.

Nuggets point guard Chauncey Billups is basically a player-coach, and he will be looking to extend his streak of seven straight trips to the conference finals. Billups will be matched up against fellow All-Star Deron Williams, who averaged 18.5 points and 10.7 assists in just his fifth NBA season. No clear advantage for either team.

Another matchup to watch will be Denver small forward Carmelo Anthony and Utah’s Andrei Kirilenko. Anthony averaged 33.5 points on 54.5 percent shooting in four games against the Jazz during the regular season. Kirilenko’s long arms help make him a disruptive defender, but he missed 15 of Utah’s final 17 games with a strained calf. Chasing Anthony on the perimeter and defending him in the paint is not the ideal way to return from an injury.

For Kirilenko and everyone else involved, it promises to be an entertaining and interesting series over the next 10 days to two weeks.

Denver's destiny now rests with Suns
submitted by Aaron Lopez 4-14-2010

The Nuggets are the newest members of the Phoenix Suns Fan Club.

That might sound strange after the Suns ended Denver's chances of landing the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference with a 123-101 thumping in Phoenix on Tuesday, but home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs remains a possibility for the Nuggets.

Because the Nuggets (53-29) own the tiebreaker over Utah (53-28), they will be the No. 4 seed and open the playoffs at home Saturday against the Jazz if the Suns (53-28) can somehow get a road win Wednesday night in Salt Lake City.

If the Jazz beats the Suns, the Nuggets will be the fifth-seed and must start the playoffs on the road in Phoenix, where they have lost 11 straight games.

The bad news in either case is that the Nuggets now will be on the same side of the playoff bracket as the top-seeded Los Angeles Lakers, meaning they likely would face the defending NBA champs if they can survive the first round.

It wasn’t long ago that Denver had the inside track on the No. 2 seed, but a knee injury to power forward Kenyon Martin and the prolonged absence of coach George Karl took a toll down the stretch as the Nuggets went 6-7 to close the season.

In a playoff race where every game was crucial, Denver lost regular-season games to lottery-bound Detroit, the L.A. Clippers, Minnesota, New York, Philadelphia, Sacramento (twice) and Washington. The Nuggets hoped the losses wouldn’t come back to haunt them, but that's exactly what happened.

They Nuggets no longer can look back at opportunities lost. The playoffs are approaching. They now must cheer for the Suns and hope that the sins of the past don’t ultimately spell doom in the near future.

Nuggets, Martin facing decision in Phoenix
submitted by Aaron Lopez 4-13-2010

Two plays in the first half of Denver’s win over Memphis on Monday night were vintage Kenyon Martin.

In the first quarter, he rose up and swatted a shot attempt by Memphis 7-foot center Hamed Haddadi. The ball landed in the row of seats behind the Grizzlies bench.

In the second quarter, he rose up to convert an alley-oop pass from Nuggets teammate Chauncey Billups.

The highlight reel plays seemed to be positive signs as Martin continues to regain strength in his left knee, but the Denver power forward remained cautious about his progress as the season draws to a close.

“That was early in the game,” he said. “It was early, so we’ll see.”

The Nuggets and Martin will have an important decision to make heading into Tuesday’s season finale against the Phoenix Suns. Denver needs a victory to clinch the No. 3 seed in the West, but Martin has not played on back-to-back nights since Feb. 18 and 19.

Martin missed 18 straight games with patella tendinitis before returning Saturday against San Antonio. Because the Nuggets pounded the Grizzlies, he did not have to play in the fourth quarter and finished with just 25 minutes.

“That’s what we talked about at halftime, (getting some rest),” Martin said. “We did an excellent job coming out and focusing on the defensive end.”

The Nuggets held Memphis to 17 points in the third quarter en route to their 34th home win of the season. Denver played in front of 22 sellouts at Pepsi Center, including seven straight to end the season.

Nene poised to go the distance
submitted by Aaron Lopez 4-11-2010

The durability of Nene should no longer be questioned.

Playing the most physical position in basketball, the 6-foot-11 center leads Denver in total minutes and is one of two Nuggets who have played in all 80 games this season (guard Arron Afflalo is the other).

Nene played in 157 of 162 games in his first two NBA seasons, but then ran into health issues that kept him out 192 games over the next four years. Among the more serious problems were a torn knee ligament and testicular cancer.

Nene returned to health in 2008-09 and hasn’t slowed since.

“That’s not luck. That is the promise of God in my life,” he said. “He promised I would be healthy and that has happened. Then I take care of myself. I don’t drink. I don’t go out. When I have energy, I come in here and lift and do what I’m supposed to do. That helps a lot.”

Nene would have welcomed a night off in the regular-season finale at Phoenix, but that's no longer an option after Denver lost to San Antonio at home Saturday. The earliest the Nuggets can clinch their playoff seeding is Tuesday against the Suns.

Martin could return as early as Saturday
submitted by Aaron Lopez 4-8-2010

When Kenyon Martin put on his No. 4 Nuggets jersey for the team picture last week, he had to keep his emotions in check.

“I almost teared-up a little bit,” he said.

The tough-minded power forward might not have to wait for the real deal much longer.

Martin missed his 18th straight game Thursday night as he recovers from patella tendinitis in his left knee, but he is optimistic about returning to the lineup for at least one of Denver’s final three games of the regular season. It could be as early as Saturday against San Antonio.

“Any of the last three games are a possibility,” he said. “It depends on how I feel. If I’m in any pain, then no. But as of right now, I don’t have any pain, so I don’t know.”

Martin, averaging 11.8 points and 9.6 rebounds, has increased his activity over the past week, riding a stationary bike, lifting weights and playing 1-on-1 against assistant coach Jamahl Mosley. The next step will be scrimmaging against his teammates in practice.

“Definitely made a lot of progress – a lot of progress,” he said. “Definitely looking good for the playoffs. I want to play one of these last few games or a couple of these last few games because I don’t want to go out there and have total rust.”

Despite the recent progress, Nuggets equipment manager Sparky Gonzales hasn’t been hanging Martin’s jersey in his locker before each game.

“They don’t want me to even be tempted,” Martin said. “He probably got some orders not to put that thing in my locker because they know me. If they put in my locker, I’m going to put it on.”

That moment should come soon.

Countdown to history continues for Smith
submitted by Aaron Lopez 4-5-2010

With each made 3-pointer, Nuggets guard J.R. Smith moves one step closer to franchise history.

Even Smith admits he’s getting caught up in the countdown – perhaps to a fault.

“I think it is playing with my head,” he said Monday. “I’m definitely not shooting well. Just trying to keep getting reps up, and whenever I’m out there just trying to play normal.”

In just his fourth season with the Nuggets, Smith has made 627 career 3-pointers and is within three of tying Michael Adams for the franchise record, but he is just 3-for-22 from long range after going 0-for-5 in Wednesday's victory at Oklahoma City.

The next chance to tie or break the record will come on national television Thursdasy against the Los Angeles Lakers. Smith has four games remaining to catch Adams.

“Hopefully by the end of this year, I’ll have (the record),” he said. “It’s definitely an honor to be No. 1 in something, especially for a franchise like Denver.”

After making a career-high 180 3-pointers last season, Smith entered 2009-10 needing 145 to tie Adams, who played four seasons with the Nuggets from 1987-91. His pursuit of the record was delayed after Smith served a seven-game suspension to start the year.

“I thought it was going to be at least early next year,” Smith said of moving past Adams. “I didn’t think it was going to be this year. I’m just blessed, I guess.”

Balkman gets rare playing opportunity
submitted by Aaron Lopez 4-4-2010

Birdman wasn’t available, so Balkman helped fill the void.

Sidelined by a balky back for much of the past two months, Renaldo Balkman came off the Nuggets bench for his first meaningful minutes of 2010 Saturday night against the Los Angeles Clippers.

Balkman, whose only other appearance this calendar year came in garbage time of a blowout of Oklahoma City on March 3, received a big ovation when he entered the game late in the third quarter.

It was a crowd reaction normally reserved for Chris “Birdman” Andersen, who sat out because of a sprained left ankle.

“I feel so good,” Balkman said. “The guys have faith in me to go out there and do what I do. The couple minutes I did play, I felt good.”

Balkman played sparingly in the season’s first three months, and he was out of the picture completely after his back gave out during practice on Feb. 4. He’s not quite 100 percent but could be a wild-card contributor if the Nuggets continue to deal with injuries in the frontcourt over the final five games of the season.

Against the Clippers, he grabbed one rebound in three minutes of playing time.

“I told Renaldo, it looked like he was tired playing just one minute,” assistant coach Adrian Dantley said. “But he gave us a good effort.”

Balkman’s season started off on a high note after receiving a three-year contract extension, but he never found his way into coach George Karl’s playing rotation even before the back injury.

“It’s been real tough,” he said. “Everybody’s got a wall they hit sometimes in life. I think I hit it, but I overcame it.”

With three days off, Andersen could be back for Wednesday's game at Oklahoma City. Kenyon Martin (left knee), meanwhile, did some light running and shooting Saturday and is hoping to return for one of the final two games of the season.

K-Mart eyeing regular-season return
submitted by Aaron Lopez 4-1-2010

A month ago, Nuggets power forward Kenyon Martin couldn’t have outleaped a parking meter because of the pain in his left knee.

Running, jumping and any other strenuous activity were prohibited as he dealt with chronic patella tendinitis, but small measures of progress are starting to take shape.

Martin, Denver’s defensive leader and top rebounder, started riding a stationary bike last week and took another step in his recovery Thursday when he did some light running on the Nuggets’ practice court.

“Today was a good day,” he said. “It’s looking positive, but I still haven’t played any basketball yet, so I don’t know how it’s going to react in a game. Staying positive, for the most part.”

In lieu of surgery, Martin is going through platelet-rich plasma (PRP) treatment under the guidance of renowned Vail surgeon Richard Steadman. While his knee is feeling better, he is scheduled to consult with the team’s athletic training staff and Steadman next week to help determine the next step.

Martin remains cautiously optimistic that he can return when the playoffs begin in about two weeks.

“Actually, I’m shooting to see if I can get back before (the playoffs start) because I don’t think it’s going to be good for me to come out for a playoff game as my first game back in a month and a half,” he said.

“We all know playoff basketball is a little different than regular-season basketball. I’ll probably need a game or two under my belt, if that’s possible. But if not, then I’ve just got do what I can do.”

The Nuggets could use Martin’s leadership, defensive skills and rebounding. He is averaging 11.8 points and a team-leading 9.6 rebounds.

“That’s a big part of them,” Portland coach Nate McMillan said. “He’s a guy that they feed off.”

Martin’s hunger for competition only grew as the Nuggets lost five of six games at the end of March.

“It’s kind of speeding my recovery up a little bit,” he said. “But still I’ve got to look at the situation for what it is and not rush or risk anything.”