Coaches overlook Billups as All-Star reserve
submitted by Aaron Lopez 1-28-2010

Chauncey Billups prepared himself for an All-Star snub a full week before the news became official Thursday night.

Sitting in front of his locker after an easy victory on Jan. 21, the Nuggets point guard remained cautious about his chances of being selected by rival coaches as a reserve for the Western Conference All-Star team.

“There’s always some deserving guys out there that don’t make it,” he said. “I’ve been there before. I’ve been off (the team) when I felt I should have been on it. If I don’t make it, it won’t be because I wasn’t playing good enough or I didn’t deserve it. It’s deep over here in the West. This is the point-guard conference over here, baby.”

Barring an injury over the next two weeks, Steve Nash, Chris Paul and Deron Williams will be the three point guards who suit up for the Western Conference at the Feb. 14 NBA All-Star Game in Dallas. It’s an worthy trio, to be sure, but they all have one very important thing in common: They are all looking up at Billups in the standings.

Without Billups, the Nuggets would not have the second-best record in the Western Conference. The numbers say as much. In the eight games he missed with a groin injury, Denver went 3-5, compared to 28-9 when Billups is in the lineup.

No, an All-Star invitation is not an honor to be treated in the manner of an MVP award, going in favor of players from successful teams. Individual stats count for something. But even by that criteria, Billups stands tall.

He is averaging a career-high 19.2 points and 5.9 assists, while shooting 89.5 percent from the free-throw line and 41.4 percent from three-point range. His ability to make timely shots is immeasurable.

Billups still could extend his streak of All-Star appearances to five if Portland shooting guard Brandon Roy continues to be hobbled by a bad hamstring. He has missed six of the last seven games because of the injury.

Knowing Billups, he would graciously accept an invite as an injury replacement. But, all things considered, he should've been invited in to Dallas in the first place.

Smith ready to improve attitude, outlook
submitted by Aaron Lopez 1-26-2010

Deluged with criticism over the past few days, Nuggets shooting guard J.R. Smith acknowledged Tuesday that he has to improve his attitude and do a better job controlling his emotions in the face of adversity.

Smith, who was among the last few players off the practice court, was in the media – and management – crosshairs after acting defiantly on the bench during Denver’s game against New Orleans on Saturday night.

The behavior led to internal discipline and a meeting with coach George Karl.

“We got a lot of things off our chest,” Smith said. “I’m just glad we’re on the same page . . . We’ve been through this stuff before, and we’ve always came back and got the best out of both of us, so it’s not a big deal.”

Asked what needs to change to avoid problems in the future, Smith said: “Just my attitude towards the game. I’ve got to control my body language and just stay focused.”

The 24-year-old Smith let his frustration get to him in the midst of a 1-for-5 shooting performance against New Orleans. He bounced back with 12 points, six rebounds and three assists Monday night in a win over the Charlotte Bobcats, but he continues to battle a shooting slump.

Smith is 17-for-53 from the field in the last five games, including 7-for-29 from three-point range. Going back further, he is shooting 35.5 percent overall (71-for-200) and 25.3 percent (21-for-83) from long distance in 15 games since Christmas.

“I know it’s going to fall,” Smith said. “I’ve had streaks where I was hot as hell and then streaks where I was cold as ice, so it's not that bad.”

Karl and Nuggets point guard Chauncey Billups have been trying to emphasize that Smith doesn’t have to be a volume scorer to be a key contributor. Hustle, good defense and unselfish play can be as important as a three-point binge.

“He made some good plays (against Charlotte),” Billups said after the game. “He’s got to get to a point where people can see 2-for-9 (three-point shooting) and still say he made a big impact on the game.”

Smith received a nice ovation from the crowd Monday night, with one of the biggest cheers coming after he stole the ball from Bobcats forward Gerald Wallace and converted a fast-break layup on a pass from Arron Afflalo.

“(The fans) know my heart,” Smith said. “They know how hard I play when I get out there, and they know I’m a great person no matter what people say.” Smith also remains a great talent who can help the Nuggets if he can show consistency in both his play and demeanor.

“J.R. is one of the most explosive players for a five- or six-minute or 10-possession time period,” Karl said before Monday’s game. “He can just light at team up. He can take a game that is a two-point to a 12-point game. He can do things on the court, from the bench, that very few teams have – that talented, skilled player. The Catch-22 of J.R. is his bad play, his negative play. It’s a youthful player trying to understand the game of basketball.”

Elbow to the face latest hit absorbed by Smith
submitted by Aaron Lopez 1-26-2010

The shiner below J.R. Smith’s right eye was symbolic.

For the previous 36 hours, he had taken shots from critics for his demeanor during a game against the New Orleans Hornets. Now he had taken a literal hit from Charlotte Bobcats forward Gerald Wallace, who caught him with a flying elbow.

“I came over to help (on defense) and I just caught the worst of it,” Smith said.

Nuggets fans have seen the best and worst of Smith during his four years in Denver. With seemingly unlimited shooting range and undeniable athletic talent, the 24-year-old is a marvel to behold when everything is going his way.

Smith also remains an unfinished product whose questionable decisions on and off the court can cause fans, coaches and front-office executives to scratch their heads in bewilderment.

The latest drama involving Smith came after he acted out in defiance after being removed from the game against New Orleans. There was speculation Smith would be suspended, but he was back on the court Monday versus the Bobcats.

“I can’t deny that how we handle J.R. has been discussed extensively, and it’s all based on how we get him out of this funk, how we get him better,” Nuggets coach George Karl said.

Asked about being criticized on talk-radio, on the Internet, on television and in the newspaper, Smith described it as “nothing unusual.”

“I don’t worry about that stuff no more,” he said after recording 12 points, six rebounds and three assists in a 104-93 victory. “They out there just trying to sell newspapers, so they can say what they want.”

When Smith and Karl talked before the game, the message was simple.

“I said: 'J.R, great players make the simple play 100 percent of the time. That’s what great players do,' ” Karl said. “I think J.R. sometimes thinks great players (only) make great plays. Great players do make great plays, but their greatness is in the consistency of their game.”

Smith’s quick-strike ability from anywhere on the court is one of his biggest strengths, but he has been fighting a month-long shooting slump since making 10-of-17 three-pointers on Dec. 23. It continued Monday as Smith made just 2-of-9 threes, but he came up with a big steal against Wallace and made a point of looking for his teammates in the half-court offense.

“I still wish he’d shoot the ball a little better,” Karl said, “but in general he played with a focus and an intensity that I think he knew it had to be a serious game, and he gave us a serious game.”

Intermittently putting an ice bag over his eye, Smith was able to finish the game. That same couldn't be said for forward Chris Andersen, who did not return after spraining his left ankle early in the fourth quarter. Andersen is listed as day-to-day and will be re-evaluated Tuesday.

Starting forward Carmelo Anthony also has a sprained left ankle, but he is expected to return Wednesday against Houston after sitting out Monday versus Charlotte.

Melo might miss Monday's matchup
submitted by Aaron Lopez 1-24-2010

Carmelo Anthony described the walking boot on his foot as more of a “fashion statement” than an indicator of the severity of his sprained left ankle, but the All-Star forward still doesn’t expect to play Monday when the Nuggets face the Charlotte Bobcats.

“I think the best bet is probably to wait until Wednesday,” Anthony said after receiving treatment Sunday. “That’s three days to get it better.”

Anthony, averaging 29.7 points and 6.5 rebounds, sprained the ankle with 1:04 remaining in overtime of Denver’s 116-110 win over the New Orleans Hornets on Saturday night. No X-rays were taken, and Anthony was optimistic he could return when the Nuggets open a three-game road trip at Houston.

“I’ve had ankle injuries before, but this one is nowhere near (as serious as) the other ones,” he said.

Anthony’s injury was one of many notable things to happen during Saturday night’s overtime thriller. Here are a few others:

Four Nuggets – Anthony, Chris Andersen, Kenyon Martin and Nene – grabbed at least 10 rebounds, marking the first time that’s happened for Denver since Raef LaFrentz, Robert Pack, James Posey and Kevin Willis all reached double-figure boards on April 13, 2001. Posey now plays for the Hornets, while Pack is a New Orleans assistant coach.

Exactly five years to the day after playing a career-high 47 minutes, 19 seconds in a non-overtime game against the Dallas Mavericks, Martin played 47:19 against the Hornets.

Finally, the Nuggets went to overtime for the second time in three games. They had gone 82 games between OT contests before this week.

Afflalo now a legit triple-threat
submitted by Aaron Lopez 1-24-2010

It was an obscure milestone that passed without fanfare, but one worth mentioning as Arron Afflalo became a shooting star Saturday night.

When Afflalo drilled his second three-pointer in a 77-second span of overtime, it was his 54th triple of 2009-10, surpassing his combined total from his first two NBA seasons. The production can be attributed to increased minutes on the court and countless hours in the practice gym.

“Obviously my minutes (25 per game) are a little bit higher than they’ve been my first two years, but I’ve been working on my shot a lot,” he said after scoring a season-high 19 points in a 116-110 win over the New Orleans Hornets. “The guys, they trust me. They continue to throw me the ball and it’s my job to knock it down.”

With opposing defenses focusing on Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups in early-game, mid-game and late-game situations, Afflalo often is left alone on the perimeter. Shooting at a 42.9 percent clip from behind the arc, he consistently is making them pay.

“Arron’s been great,’’ Billups said. “He works so hard. I just tell him, ‘Have your feet set and be ready to shoot the ball. The ball’s going to come to you. Teams are going to make you prove that you can beat ‘em. They know I can beat ‘em. They know Melo can beat ‘em. You’re going to have plenty of opportunities.’ ”

Afflalo’s steady hand has helped offset a tough season for reserve guard J.R. Smith, who is shooting 32.3 percent from three-point range. Afflalo also brings a defensive dimension that makes it tough for coach George Karl to keep him off the court.

“He’s a little bit of a problem for me because I think I like him even when he’s boring,” Karl said. “Sometimes minute-wise, I go, ‘I shouldn’t have played him that long. He wasn’t playing that good.’ But I do have a tendency to keep him on the court because he’s fundamentally sound and he’s very hard-working.”

Billups makes case for All-Star spot
submitted by Aaron Lopez 1-22-2010

Given Carmelo Anthony’s status as the runaway leader among Western Conference forwards throughout the balloting process, it was no surprise when he was officially named as an All-Star starter.

Now comes the suspense.

With the voting now in the hands of the coaches, will Nuggets point guard Chauncey Billups land one of seven reserve spots and join Anthony on the West roster for the Feb. 14 game in Dallas?

“It’s always a great honor to be an All-Star. I’ve been there (four) times now. That never gets old,” Billups said. “If I do make it, I’ll definitely be honored. And if I don’t, it won’t be because I’m not playing at an All-Star level. There might be some very deserving guys that don’t make it. We’ll see what happens.”

Extending his streak of four straight All-Star appearances won’t be easy. Billups is averaging a career-high 18.9 points, along with 5.7 assists, but the backcourt competition in the West is stiff.

New Orleans point guard Chris Paul, who leads the NBA in assists (11.6 per game), and Portland guard Brandon Roy, who has carried the Trail Blazers on his back, are considered the frontrunners to be named as reserves. Utah point guard Deron Williams and Houston speedster Aaron Brooks are very much in the mix, while Golden State gunner Monta Ellis is a longshot scoring big points on a bad team.

Playing fewer minutes, Billups’ primary numbers certainly measure up against both Brooks (18.6 ppg, 5.1 apg) and Williams (19.3 ppg, 9.6 apg). He’s also better from the free-throw line and from three-point range.

Perhaps more importantly, Billups has the edge when discussing team success – something that always seems to play a factor when coaches are comparing similar candidates. Though Houston and Utah are in playoff contention, the Nuggets (28-14) are tied with Dallas for the No. 2 seed in the West.

“Chauncey is probably respected and loved by coaches more than fans,” said Nuggets coach George Karl, who plans to make some phone calls on behalf of Billups and Denver center Nene. “He’s a guy that coaches are going to see and value what he does out there because he’s not a stat guy.”

Billups’ value to Denver was evident when he missed eight games with a groin injury. The Nuggets were 3-5 during that stretch, but are 6-1 since his return. Billups is averaging 25.4 points in those seven games.

“I haven’t came out and said, ‘I just want to bump up my scoring,’ ” he said. “It’s a feel thing. When I came back from the injury, I knew the team needed a big lift. I wanted to come in and affect the team however I could.”

If Billups can continue the heavy lifting for a few more days, he might just earn himself a trip to Dallas.

Nuggets see room for improvement in 2nd half
submitted by Aaron Lopez 1-19-2010

Winning at a 65 percent clip normally is reason to celebrate in the NBA. It equates to a 53-win season and most likely home-court advantage for at least one round of the playoffs.

In some corners of the Nuggets’ locker room, a .650 winning percentage through 40 games is considered underachieving.

“We know we should have single-digit losses,” power forward Kenyon Martin said. “We let some games go that we shouldn’t have. We got exactly what we deserved them games we didn’t play. If a team comes in and just outplays us and we lose, we can live with that. But we gave games away.

“It’s time for us to get better. Forty games in, I’m pretty sure everybody’s not satisfied with 14 losses. All we can do is get better for the rest of the season.”

The Nuggets (26-14) will reach the season’s midway point Wednesday night at Golden State. They are just a half-game behind Dallas for the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference, but they could be competing for the league’s best record if not for missteps against Detroit (14-26), Minnesota (9-33), Philadelphia (13-27), Milwaukee (16-23) and Sacramento (15-25).

“Everybody’s hearing the message and everybody knows the message,” coach George Karl said. “What’s good about this team is they probably know the message before I talk about it. We’ve stubbed out toe in certain situations, but we’ve also played very well in other situations.”

The Nuggets are 15-7 against teams currently above .500, including signature wins against the Los Angeles Lakers, Cleveland Cavaliers and Orlando Magic – the other three conference finalists from last season.

The second half of the season promises to be more challenging than the first. Of Denver’s 42 remaining games, 30 are against teams that currently have winning records and 17 of those games will be played on the road.

“That might be a little scary,” Karl said.

If the Nuggets can stay healthy – they are 22-5 when starters Martin, Nene, Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups all play – and fine-tune some things defensively, particularly in transition, there’s reason to believe Denver can put a scare into the competition – even the big, bad Lakers.

Rookie point guard Ty Lawson is among the reasons for optimism. He proved himself capable of running the offense when Billups missed eight games with a groin injury, and Karl likes him playing alongside Billups when the game calls for a quicker pace.

“That would be my No. 1 thought on putting Ty in – maybe he’ll make Melo and Nene and Kenyon and Chauncey run a little faster,” Karl said. “They have a lot of confidence in playing half-court. I think they would even be better if they played a little faster.”

Add that to the list of things Denver will try to improve upon in the season’s final three months. It might not always mean victory, but the Nuggets will at least know they did everything to maximize their potential.

“That’s what it’s about , man – strive for perfection,” Martin said. “It’s not going to always happen, but that’s what you have to do in order to be great. We’re not satisfied with being good. The opportunity is there for us to go out and win the championship. That’s what we’re trying to do.”

K-Mart making case for defensive honor
submitted by Aaron Lopez 1-18-2010

With quick feet, a chiseled body and the temperament of a junkyard dog, Nuggets forward Kenyon Martin never met a defensive assignment he didn’t welcome with open arms and a bring-it-on attitude.

In his 10th NBA season, the 6-foot-9, 230-pound power forward has guarded All-Stars ranging from point guards Chris Paul and Steve Nash to shooting guard Kobe Bryant to big men Dirk Nowitzki, Tim Duncan and LeBron James.

Rarely is he out of his element.

“He can guard 1s, 2s, 3s, 4s, and 5s. It makes no difference who he’s guarding,” Golden State assistant coach Keith Smart said when the Warriors came through Denver last month. “So when you’re dealing with trying to go at a mismatch, he’s not the guy you want to go at. “

Martin’s signature moment of the first half of 2009-10 came when he stopped James on back-to-back possessions in the final minute of Denver’s two-point win over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Jan. 8.

With the game televised nationally on ESPN, it was an impromptu campaign of sorts. Though opposing coaches publicly praise Martin’s defensive versatility, he’s never received enough votes to land on an NBA All-Defensive first or second team.

“I look at myself as one of the better defenders in this league,” Martin said Monday. “Not too many guys in this league can guard 1 through 5 on any given night. It hasn’t stopped me from doing my job. I’m always going to play hard, always going to defend.”

Asked if he thinks his hard work will be recognized this year, Martin just shakes his head.

“I don’t get caught up in it, man,” he said. “It’s 10 years in, so it ain’t gonna happen.”

Nuggets coach George Karl said he is “shocked” that Martin has never been an All-Defensive selection. K-Mart hasn’t received a single vote from the panel of the league’s 30 coaches since 2004-05.

“Since Marcus (Camby) has been gone, a lot of people think we’ve improved defensively – me being one of them,” Karl said. “Marcus got all the defensive attention. Marcus is a protector of the basket, which is good, but having a defensive quarterback on the court is pretty fun, too.”

Martin often shouts defensive instructions to his teammates during timeouts before Karl joins the huddle, and he wants the Nuggets can find some defensive consistency in the second half of the season.

If he needs any statistical evidence to help make his point, Martin can remind his teammates that they’re 0-3 in the games he has missed due to injury.

“It’s about us learning how to play better throughout the entire season, treating each and every game the same, not taking games off – especially on the defensive end,” Martin said. “Offense comes and goes, but we need to learn that we need to defend every single game to be successful.”

Anyone who thinks otherwise will have to answer to K-Mart. Wouldn't that be fun?

Lawson eager to return against Utah
submitted by Aaron Lopez 1-15-2010

In his NBA debut, Ty Lawson scored 17 points and added six assists in a season-opening win against the Utah Jazz.

Two months later, the rookie point guard had 23 points, nine assists and three steals to lead an undermanned Nuggets team to another victory over the Jazz – this time in Salt Lake City.

A sprained left ankle has kept Lawson sidelined for the past four games, but he appears to be on schedule to return when the Jazz visit the Pepsi Center for an important Northwest Division game Sunday.

“Ty’s important,” coach George Karl said after practice Friday. “I’m sure because he played so well against Utah, if he’s healthy, he’s going to get some opportunity to play against Utah again.”

Lawson, averaging 9.5 points and 3.9 assists in 22.6 minutes, reported no problems after going through his first full practice since rolling his ankle Jan. 5.

“It feels good,” he said. “Can’t wait ‘til Sunday to get my feet wet and get back out there.”

With 35 NBA games under his belt, Lawson is approaching uncharted territory. He never played more than 38 games in season during his three years at the University of North Carolina.

“Everybody was saying that I already played a college season,” Lawson said. “But there’s more rest time in the NBA because you don’t got school work and stuff like that, so I feel like it’s a lot better.”

Nuggets point guard Chauncey Billups, in the midst of his 13th NBA season, is doing his best to help Lawson avoid slamming into the proverbial “rookie wall.” He counsels the 22-year-old on having good practice habits and staying mentally tough.

“There’s two times every year when I go through a stretch where I just can’t make shots,” Billups explained. “I’m playing good, but shots aren’t there. It’s just how the long the season is. For me it’s just a regular little 10-day slump. For (Lawson), it’s a ‘rookie wall.’ The wording is just different. As a rookie you just haven’t been through that before. He’ll be fine.”

Before Lawson got hurt, Billups missed eight of nine games while recovering from a groin strain. The injuries gave veteran Anthony Carter an opportunity to play, and it will be interesting to see how Karl handles his three point guards as everyone returns to health.

Melo finally ready to tie the knot
submitted by Aaron Lopez 1-14-2010

Carmelo Anthony is on the verge of adding another title to a biography that includes father, All-Star, Olympic gold medalist, NCAA champion and movie producer.

Husband.

Nuggets fans who happened to be watching the Wendy Williams Show on Wednesday learned that the Nuggets forward and his fiancée La La Vazquez plan to hold their long-awaited wedding this summer.

Vazquez made the announcement on the show and Anthony, who proposed on Christmas 2004, celebrated by scoring 27 points in a 115-97 win over the Orlando Magic.

“I’ve probably got the longest engagement ever,” Anthony said with a smile. “People said, ‘I can’t believe you made it this long.’”

To say Anthony and Vazquez have a lot going on would be an understatement. They are the parents of a 2-year-old son, Kiyan, and they also have an entertainment company, Krossover Productions, which produced the highly acclaimed biopic Tyson in 2008. A movie about Hall of Fame outfielder Roberto Clemente is currently in the works.

The exact wedding date hasn’t been set, but you can be sure it won’t be in early June. Anthony and the Nuggets hope to be playing in the NBA Finals at that time.

“We’re excited,” Anthony said. “We’re looking forward to this summer.”

Dwight Howard presents true body of work
submitted by Aaron Lopez 1-12-2010

After a run to the 2009 Western Conference finals, Carmelo Anthony enjoyed the Summer of Slim.

He worked out with a celebrity trainer in Los Angeles and resumed his daily routine under the guidance of Nuggets strength-and-conditioning coach Steve Hess at the start of training camp.

By most accounts, the 2009-10 Melo was the sleekest model to roll out of the showroom yet.

Even so, Anthony knows better than to get in a tank-top contest with Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard.

“My body don’t look nothing like that,” Anthony said on the eve of Wednesday’s showdown with Howard and the Magic.

At 6-foot-11, 265 pounds, Howard carries about 5 percent body fat. He often goes through pregame warm-ups wearing a padded undershirt that accentuates the tone of his arms, chest and abs.

“If you look at any bodybuilder, they always walk around with wife-beaters and no shirts on,” Anthony said. “They’re proud of their bodies. Dwight’s proud of his body.”

So proud that Howard appeared on the cover of ESPN The Magazine’s “Body Issue.”

“I’m not the one to judge another man,” said Anthony, who became friends with Howard while playing for Team USA. “That’s his personality – fun, outgoing. He knows he’s strong.”

As for Anthony’s body, his bruised right knee felt no residual affects from playing 34 minutes Monday night against Minnesota, and he went through a full practice Tuesday.

“I’m normal, man, “Anthony said. “I’m back.”

The same can’t be said for rookie guard Ty Lawson, who didn’t do much Tuesday and could miss his fourth straight game with a sprained left ankle.

Nene turning into an ironman
submitted by Aaron Lopez 1-12-2010

Before the season started, if someone asked which Nuggets player had the best chance of playing each of the first 38 games, some obvious names would come to mind.

Carmelo Anthony, Chauncey Billups, J.R. Smith – three rotation players without a history of injury problems.

Nene probably wouldn’t have been in the top-five.

After missing 165 of a possible 246 games from 2005-08, the power forward out of Brazil quietly has emerged as Denver’s ironman, joining Arron Afflalo as the only two Nuggets to appear in every game this season.

“There’s no question that he’s been more demanding of being in every game than he’s ever been,” coach George Karl said.

Nene, who blew out his right knee to start the 2005-06 season and then battled to overcome cancer in 2007-08, has shown an ability to play through pain this year. He sprained his right ankle in back-to-back games last week but refused to miss any time, and his hands are constantly aching from taking a pounding in the paint.

“I think anytime that you’re in that painted area most of your possessions, you’re going to get hit,” Karl said. “He’s a guy that plays in the paint, physical contact on both ends of the court most possessions, and there’s no way those guys don’t get sore and beat up a little bit.”

Wearing an ice bag on both knees and another on his left hand after Monday night’s win against Minnesota, Nene shook his head when asked if he could play in all 82 games this season. The beating is taking its toll and the Nuggets still could use another big man in the rotation.

“Every day, I ask God for patience,” Nene said.

Patience might be a work in progress, but Denver's newest ironman seems to have the market cornered on perseverance.

Cavs coach has high praise for Coby Karl
submitted by Aaron Lopez 1-9-2010

Not that it’s much consolation for Coby Karl, but Cleveland Cavaliers coach Mike Brown clearly has tremendous respect for the second-year guard.

Karl, the son of Nuggets coach George Karl, was waived by Cleveland on Wednesday – roughly 48 hours before the Cavaliers played at the Pepsi Center. Speaking before Friday night’s game, Brown said Coby Karl made him change a longtime practice philosophy.

“At the beginning of this year, if you were going to be on the inactive list or if you weren’t getting much time at all, whenever we scrimmaged in practice, or even went through our plays, I very seldom allowed those guys to get playing time because we couldn’t be on the floor long enough for everybody to get reps,” Brown said.

Determined to make an impact, Coby started subbing himself in during practices early in the season, and it was only a matter of time before Brown would send him back to the sideline.

“Coby’s a little ornery guy – in a good way,” Brown said. “After a play or two, I’d catch him and I’d tell whoever was out to go back in and get Coby. It was kind of an unspoken game I played with him."

As the season went along, Karl’s practice reps increased to the point where Brown stopped kicking him off the court.

“He plays so hard and pushes the guys in front of him so well that he started to make plays on both ends of the floor,” Brown said. “And you kind of sit back and say, ‘Hmm, OK, I’m going to let him stay out there for a couple of plays.’ He was definitely an integral part of what we did during practice days and shootaround days.”

Though disappointed that Coby was waived before his contract became guaranteed for the remainder of the season, George Karl was proud of his son for making Cleveland’s roster out of training camp and said a handful of teams remain interest in signing him. Brown said Coby could return to Cleveland on a 10-day contract.

“He definitely is a player that, as a coach, I’d always have around if I could,” Brown said. “He just elevates your practice. Having said that, I don’t know if he can play in a game quite yet because we hadn’t given him much of an opportunity. But if we don’t give him an opportunity, he should get one someplace else.”

With its roster holding firm at 13 players, Denver is probably not a likely landing spot for Karl.

“I think there’s still one, two, three, four teams in the league that like him,” George Karl said. “Because of managing the roster at 13 men, we’re not one of those teams. But I think he’s an NBA player searching for an opportunity.”

Denver training staff in overdrive
submitted by ALopez 1-7-2010

Behind every banged-up basketball team, there’s an indefatigable training staff.

At one point earlier this week, the Nuggets training room was standing-room-only. Three players occupied tables, while two others waited like patrons at the DMV.

All the while, athletic trainer Jim Gillen, strength-and-conditioning coach Steve Hess and assistants Matt Friia and Dan Shimensky didn’t miss a beat. Their behind-the-scenes work could pay off under the bright lights Friday night when the Nuggets face the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Starting point guard Chauncey Billups is expected to return after missing eight of nine games with a groin strain, while rookie guard Ty Lawson (ankle) and forwards Carmelo Anthony (knee), Chris Andersen (ankle) and Nene (ankle) are game-time decisions.

Andersen, whose sprained left ankle was in a walking boot just two days ago, had been listed as “doubtful” but felt better than expected Thursday after running the court for the first time since leaving Sunday’s game against Philadelphia.

“I feel pretty good,” Andersen said. “Jim Gillen’s taking care of me. Steve Hess is doing a great job. Dan and Matt, they’re doing an excellent job with their expertise in doing everything to get the process speeded up . . . I would love to play.”

Anthony, who has missed three games with a bruised right knee, and Lawson, who turned his left ankle Tuesday night against Golden State, also have made strides in the past two days, but coach George Karl has been around long enough to know not to predict when someone will be ready to play.

“It’s something Steve Hess doesn’t get a lot of credit for. I think Steve does a great job of talking a guy through what’s going to happen, where he’s at, what he’s going to feel,” Karl said. “Jimmy and he work well as a team. I’m just an assistant coach in that situation.

“I stay away from any pressure, or any guilt trip, or any judgment that can add negative energy to the decision-making process. Trust your people, trust your doctors, trust your players.”

The Nuggets will need every able body against the Cavs, who have won 13 of 15 games and seem to be finding their stride after some early season inconsistency.

Containing LeBron James, pushing the pace and minimizing turnovers are among Karl’s keys to the game. Having Billups back in the lineup should help in two of those areas. Slowing down James is a trickier proposition.

“I don’t know if there’s a more dominant personality on the offensive end of the court than this guy,” Karl said. “Melo’s a dominant personality, but this guy, he makes 15 to 20 passing decisions. He makes 20 to 25 defensive decisions. He rebounds. He’s a tremendous triple-double threat. And he has a passion and a zip to him that’s contagious. That’s probably his No. 1 asset: He kind of makes everyone on his team play hard.”

Billups eyeing Friday return; Melo still unsure
submitted by ALopez 1-6-2010

Talking trash and directing the offense, veteran point guard Chauncey Billups brought energy and spirit to practice Wednesday as he moved a step closer to returning to the Nuggets lineup.

After missing eight of nine games with a strained left groin, Billups said he felt good running the floor and – barring a setback – expects to play in Friday’s home game against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Billups, averaging 17.1 points and 5.7 assists, initially suffered the injury against Houston on Dec. 16 and missed three games before aggravating the injury against Portland on Christmas. He has missed the last five games.

“I made a point to definitely be smart with this one,” he said. “I came back a little premature on Christmas, thought it felt good, but obviously it wasn’t ready. I took it a lot more serious this time.”

Teammate Carmelo Anthony also is taking a cautious approach to his recovery from a bruised right knee. Anthony practiced for the first time Wednesday since banging into Sacramento Kings forward Donte Greene on Dec. 28.

As he exited the training room, Anthony smiled and jokingly told teammates: “I got good news and bad news. I’m coming back, but I don’t know when.”

Anthony, the NBA’s leading scorer at 30 points per game, did some light running and half-court drills. He also was able to get some shots up at the end of practice.

“I don’t think it’s affecting my shooting or anything. It’s just more my explosiveness, pushing off on my first step,” he said. “It’s something that’s a key part of my game, that first step. When I can’t do that, it’s kind of difficult.”

With the Cavs coming to town, the Nuggets are a banged-up bunch. Anthony, Billups, Nene (sprained ankle) and Ty Lawson (sprained ankle) all are listed as game-time decisions, while Chris Andersen (sprained ankle) is listed as doubtful.

Anthony Carter (hip) and Kenyon Martin (knee) also are dealing with some aches and pains, but Martin wasn’t ready to say it’s the worst rash of injuries he’s seen during his 10 NBA seasons.

“My rookie year (in New Jersey), we had 20 guys in the team picture,” he said. “This ain’t nothing.”

Lawson, who rolled his ankle in the fourth quarter of Tuesday’s game against Golden State, limped through the locker room but remained optimistic that he could play Friday.

“I can play through pain,” he said. “It’s still up in the air. I think I can get it done.”

The more, the merrier for coach George Karl, who received solid contributions from reserves Joey Graham and Malik Allen on Tuesday.

“You never like this amount of injuries, but I’m a big believer that injuries – if you continue to win and survive – it can make your team better and stronger,” Karl said. “We’re seeing some of that, but we need everybody to get healthy, too.”

Graham proving value in Melo's absence
submitted by ALopez 1-6-2010

Joey Graham arrived in Denver on the eve of training camp with the intent of proving himself worthy of a roster spot that few teams were willing to offer.

Three months later, he finally will get rewarded with a small – but meaningful – measure of security.

Graham’s one-year, $884,881 contract will be guaranteed for the remainder of the season after Wednesday – the NBA deadline for waiving players with non-guaranteed deals. He had reason to celebrate after scoring a season-high 20 points and grabbing eight rebounds in Tuesday night’s win over the Golden State Warriors.

“I know that I’m an NBA player,” Graham said. “I came in here with a confidence and a swagger knowing that I was going to be a Denver Nugget. I kept that mentality the whole time. My mindset wasn’t about guaranteed or non-guaranteed. My mindset was coming in here and playing hard.”

Graham, the 16th overall pick of the 2005 NBA draft, spent four seasons with Toronto, but the Raptors didn’t re-sign him last summer. By the time training camp rolled around, Denver offered the best opportunity, but Graham played sparingly in the first 32 games and was a DNP-CD 12 times.

Instead of complaining or sulking, he continued to practice hard, and he was ready to go when starting forward Carmelo Anthony suffered a bruised knee on Dec. 28. In three starts since then, Graham is averaging a respectable 10.3 points and five rebounds.

“That’s all about being a professional,” he said. “Wait until your opportunity’s called and when it is called, you’ve got to show up. There’s no excuses. I come in to practice and work hard every day. It was about going out there and doing the things I know I can do.”

Even when Anthony returns, coach George Karl now has reason to trust Graham to play meaningful minutes, which could help reduce the wear-and-tear on Anthony’s body over the course of a long season.

“Guys can play or they wouldn’t be here,” Kenyon Martin said. “Getting them on the court is good for them. I’ve been preaching that all season. Joey, he’s a true professional. He comes in early and works hard every day. Glad he can get on the court and help us.”

Lawson finding comfort zone as starter
submitted by ALopez 1-4-2010

Nuggets rookie Ty Lawsonis a pretty cool cat who carries himself with a quiet confidence befitting an NCAA champion.

Some might find it surprising to learn that the 22-year-old point guard battled some butterflies in his first month in the NBA.

“I’m not going to lie. My first 15 games, I’d probably get nervous coming off the bench,” he said. “I’d be nervous to take the first shot, stuff like that. My nerves are pretty much gone. I’m playing my regular game.”

Lawson’s definition of regular must be different than the one found on Dictionary.com.

In six starts in place of injured veteran Chauncey Billups, Lawson is averaging 15 points and 5.8 assists while shooting 53.8 percent from the field. Those numbers would be even better if not for a scoreless performance in his first career start on Dec. 20.

Lawson said the early jitters are reminiscent of his experience at North Carolina. After coming off the bench for his first five games as a freshman, he entrenched himself in the starting lineup after an injury to Bobby Frasor. Lawson went on to win the 2009 NCAA championship during his junior year, but the NBA has presented another mental challenge.

“It’s a different atmosphere,” he said. “I’m playing against people that I have been watching for years.”

Allen Iverson was among those who left Lawson a little starstruck when the Nuggets played the Sixers for the first time Dec. 7. “I was doing his moves (as a kid) and bought his shoes,” he said.

Lawson outperformed Iverson on Sunday night, scoring 23 points and handing out nine assists without a turnover in 31 minutes. He likely will get another start Tuesday against Golden State as Billups continues to recover from a strained left groin.

Billups and forward Chris Andersen (sprained left ankle) have been ruled out against the Warriors, while forward Carmelo Anthony (bruised right knee) is questionable.

Andersen said he heard a “pop” when he landed awkwardly on the ankle in the second quarter Sunday. X-rays were negative, but Birdman is wearing a walking boot and said he’s unsure when he will be able to play.

Injuries continue to mount for Nuggets
submitted by ALopez 1-4-2010

It’s starting to be a battle of attrition for the Nuggets in 2010.

With starting point guard Chauncey Billups and leading scorer Carmelo Anthony already out with injuries, backup forward Chris Andersen left Sunday night’s game against the Philadelphia 76ers with a sprained left ankle.

Andersen hobbled off the court with 7:33 left in the second quarter and did not return. X-rays were negative, but coach George Karl wasn’t optimistic about having Andersen available Tuesday against Golden State or Friday against Cleveland.

“I just briefly talked to (athletic trainer) Jim (Gillen) and he said it was a decent sprain and he felt he would probably be out all week,” Karl said after a tough 108-105 loss to the Sixers. “That’s kind of the interpretation I got.”

Billups has missed seven of eight games since straining his left groin, while Anthony missed his second game in a row with a bruised right knee. Anthony banged knees with Sacramento forward Donte Greene a week ago.

“I think it was worse than everybody expected,” Anthony said. “We had a lot of time off to practice. Take that week off and get ready for (Saturday) night (at Utah). It didn’t work like that. It was worse than people thought.

Anthony, who is second in the NBA in scoring at 30 points per game, emphasized that there’s no structural damage.

“It’s still a bruise,” he said. “The pain is a little bit different. I think it was more of a deeper bruise than just right there at the tip of the bone.

As for Billups, he hasn’t been able to take part in a full practice since aggravating his injury on Christmas.

“I think Chauncey’s searching for the head to go, ‘Let’s go.’ It’s close,” Karl said. “Practice, a shootaround … I think he wants to play a little bit before he says he wants to play in a game.”

The Nuggets are 2-6 since Billups was initially injured Dec. 16, but the production at the point hasn’t dropped much with rookie Ty Lawson running the offense. After going scoreless in his first career start two weeks ago, Lawson is averaging 18 points and 6.6 assists in the last five games.

“I’m happy, but I’m not ready to jump totally on the bandwagon,” Karl said. “He’s still a young player . . . I think he’s important to us, and how we manage him and how we manage each other is very important to how we’re going to do this year.”