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05-01-2005, 04:29 AM
link (http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,1413,36~107~2846003,00.html)
Article Published: Sunday, May 01, 2005
mark kiszla
Edge in coaching looks obvious
By Mark Kiszla
Denver Post Staff Columnist
Ask anyone in Denver. In the NBA, the coach of the year is George Karl of the Nuggets. No doubt. He's the answer man.
So here's a real shocker. So far, Karl has not been the best coach in this series between Denver and San Antonio. The answer man is clueless.
During San Antonio's 86-78 victory Saturday night, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich schooled Karl. Again.
San Antonio has taken a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series because all the shrewdest moves have been devised by Popovich.
This is upsetting to folks in Denver, but of absolutely no surprise to any keen observer of the league.
Playoff basketball is a battle of willpower, and Popovich can stare down anybody, including our local coaching legend of the moment.
Karl has been reduced to the oldest, weakest ploy in the book of coaching clichés.
He is bickering and moaning about the referees.
"I just don't think we got a very good whistle, and I was really disappointed in some of the calls," Karl said.
His list of gripes could fill a bucket of tears. He hates the aggressive style of San Antonio all-star Manu Ginobili. He thinks small people such as Denver guard Earl Boykins are given no reason to live. He seems to believe the Spurs receive favorable calls because they are winners.
Karl should not be surprised when the league fines him for whining.
Karl insulted Ginobili, dismissing his game-high 32 points for a style dissed as "Just put your head down and run into people. ... It's very difficult to defend, to referee or watch, unless you are the San Antonio Spurs."
In Colorado, Karl is regarded as more than a coach. He has become King George. Larger than life. All rise.
Hard to believe a year ago this was a man who went begging in vain to land an interview for a college coaching job.
The Nuggets would not have been here without him. The crowd gave Karl a rousing standing ovation as he marched on the court before the opening tip.
So what happened once the game began? Reality clashed with the perception of Karl as a genius like a laundry pile of socks sorted in the dark.
If Karl made any meaningful adjustments after the Nuggets were run out of San Antonio in Game 2, none was readily apparent.
Although foul trouble forced San Antonio forward Tim Duncan to spend all but five minutes of the first half on the bench, the Spurs took a nine-point lead to intermission.
After forward Kenyon Martin incited hometown passion with bullish drives in the early going, Denver soon began settling for jump shots.
Ever since Popovich decided to make Ginobili a substitute after one game of this series, Denver has made Manu look like Balki but play like Mike. As far as the Nuggets are concerned, Ginobili is Argentinian for Michael Jordan.
This was not the party anyone in Colorado intended.
The playoff vibe was hot, hot, hot, with the big room so full of energy that one match could have blown off the roof.
From Gov. Bill Owens to retired broadcaster Aimee Sporer, all the A-list names were seen in the arena. And they all rose to clap and scream when Karl took a regal stroll from the tunnel to the Nuggets' bench.
If the applause had been one decibel louder, Karl would have been asked to give a State of the Union speech.
By the time the scoreboard clock struck 1 minute, 50 seconds remaining in the second quarter, however, the noise made by 19,913 spectators for Karl's team took an ugly turn. The boos were born of frustration and the shock of seeing Karl stumped.
Karl must find a way to stop Ginobili other than whining. Karl must design a way to get Anthony easy hoops.
After winning 19 of 20 home games before the Spurs hit town, Karl must pick up the pace of Denver's attack.
If not for the Spurs missing 17 straight shots during the fourth quarter of Game 1, this series would be four quarters away from ending in a sweep.
All is not lost for the Nuggets.
But first Karl must get a clue.
Staff writer Mark Kiszla can be reached at 303-820-5438 or [email protected].
Article Published: Sunday, May 01, 2005
mark kiszla
Edge in coaching looks obvious
By Mark Kiszla
Denver Post Staff Columnist
Ask anyone in Denver. In the NBA, the coach of the year is George Karl of the Nuggets. No doubt. He's the answer man.
So here's a real shocker. So far, Karl has not been the best coach in this series between Denver and San Antonio. The answer man is clueless.
During San Antonio's 86-78 victory Saturday night, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich schooled Karl. Again.
San Antonio has taken a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series because all the shrewdest moves have been devised by Popovich.
This is upsetting to folks in Denver, but of absolutely no surprise to any keen observer of the league.
Playoff basketball is a battle of willpower, and Popovich can stare down anybody, including our local coaching legend of the moment.
Karl has been reduced to the oldest, weakest ploy in the book of coaching clichés.
He is bickering and moaning about the referees.
"I just don't think we got a very good whistle, and I was really disappointed in some of the calls," Karl said.
His list of gripes could fill a bucket of tears. He hates the aggressive style of San Antonio all-star Manu Ginobili. He thinks small people such as Denver guard Earl Boykins are given no reason to live. He seems to believe the Spurs receive favorable calls because they are winners.
Karl should not be surprised when the league fines him for whining.
Karl insulted Ginobili, dismissing his game-high 32 points for a style dissed as "Just put your head down and run into people. ... It's very difficult to defend, to referee or watch, unless you are the San Antonio Spurs."
In Colorado, Karl is regarded as more than a coach. He has become King George. Larger than life. All rise.
Hard to believe a year ago this was a man who went begging in vain to land an interview for a college coaching job.
The Nuggets would not have been here without him. The crowd gave Karl a rousing standing ovation as he marched on the court before the opening tip.
So what happened once the game began? Reality clashed with the perception of Karl as a genius like a laundry pile of socks sorted in the dark.
If Karl made any meaningful adjustments after the Nuggets were run out of San Antonio in Game 2, none was readily apparent.
Although foul trouble forced San Antonio forward Tim Duncan to spend all but five minutes of the first half on the bench, the Spurs took a nine-point lead to intermission.
After forward Kenyon Martin incited hometown passion with bullish drives in the early going, Denver soon began settling for jump shots.
Ever since Popovich decided to make Ginobili a substitute after one game of this series, Denver has made Manu look like Balki but play like Mike. As far as the Nuggets are concerned, Ginobili is Argentinian for Michael Jordan.
This was not the party anyone in Colorado intended.
The playoff vibe was hot, hot, hot, with the big room so full of energy that one match could have blown off the roof.
From Gov. Bill Owens to retired broadcaster Aimee Sporer, all the A-list names were seen in the arena. And they all rose to clap and scream when Karl took a regal stroll from the tunnel to the Nuggets' bench.
If the applause had been one decibel louder, Karl would have been asked to give a State of the Union speech.
By the time the scoreboard clock struck 1 minute, 50 seconds remaining in the second quarter, however, the noise made by 19,913 spectators for Karl's team took an ugly turn. The boos were born of frustration and the shock of seeing Karl stumped.
Karl must find a way to stop Ginobili other than whining. Karl must design a way to get Anthony easy hoops.
After winning 19 of 20 home games before the Spurs hit town, Karl must pick up the pace of Denver's attack.
If not for the Spurs missing 17 straight shots during the fourth quarter of Game 1, this series would be four quarters away from ending in a sweep.
All is not lost for the Nuggets.
But first Karl must get a clue.
Staff writer Mark Kiszla can be reached at 303-820-5438 or [email protected].