Kori Ellis
05-04-2005, 12:11 AM
Anthony has answer: Anthony
Web Posted: 05/04/2005 12:00 AM CDT
Mike Monroe
Express-News Staff Writer
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA050405.9C.BKNnuggets.anthony.23ccd8af0.html
DENVER Denver Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony watched, with admiration and envy, as the Spurs pounded the ball inside to Tim Duncan, play after play, during the critical stretches of the Spurs' 126-115 overtime victory Monday night.
As clearly as Duncan is the Spurs' "go-to" guy, Anthony deems he should be the player on whom the Nuggets lean when the game is on the line.
It is what he did for Syracuse when he led the Orangemen to the 2003 NCAA title. And while Anthony understands the NBA isn't college, it is what he believes he can do for the Nuggets in their Western Conference playoff series with the Spurs.
"I think San Antonio stuck to their game plan," Anthony said. "Every time down the court they went to their go-to guy. They went to Tim Duncan every time down the court. He was either going to create something or he was going to get fouled."
The Nuggets' pre-series game plan to fast break the Spurs into submission has been nullified by the Spurs' rigorous discipline. The Spurs have kept at least two defenders back around the half-court line every time a Spur drives to the basket or puts up a shot. Denver's fast-break opportunities have been severely curtailed.
Limited to a half-court attack, the Nuggets occasionally have seemed dazed and confused, able to score big only when one point guard or another Andre Miller or Earl Boykins has had a breakout performance.
Meanwhile, the Nuggets' most creative half-court scorer, Anthony, is growing increasingly frustrated by what he perceives is a relatively paltry number of crunch-time touches.
"What did they do (defensively)?" Anthony responded, when asked what had kept him from being more productive in the second half Monday after he scored 15 in the first half. "Or what did we do?
"They didn't do anything. I think we didn't get me the ball. I don't want to sound selfish, but I had something going and I don't think we took advantage of that."
Nuggets coach George Karl respectfully disagrees with his young star, who he says has not yet reached the same "go-to" status as a player like Duncan.
"I don't really think there's necessarily a need to think he deserved more touches, to be honest with you. I think he got great touches, great looks," Karl said. "We're not a team that's going to be one-dimensional at the end of the game, like Duncan. We're a team that's got to go to the situation or the hot hand.
"I'm happy he wants more," Karl said of Anthony, "but I'm not sure he deserves more."
Anthony scored a playoff career-best 28 points Monday, but not because he was the focus of the Nuggets' offense. Boykins assumed that role, in a 32-point outburst that had the Spurs shaking their heads at the audacity of the NBA's smallest player.
"San Antonio made us play a half-court game," Anthony said. "When we've got to play a half-court game, I don't think we've practiced that much all year, focused on a half-court offense. Our game was to get out in the open court. And every time we shoot the ball they're getting three guys back, so it was kind of hard to get out in transition."
Figuring out how to score in the half court won't be as important for Karl and his staff as picking up the spirits of players devastated by the disappointment of losing a game they fought hard enough to win.
"We're in the NCAA tournament now, men," Karl said. "Single elimination. You don't play well and you lose, you're going to sit down for a long time.
"It's not a fun place to be. You don't want to think about anything except bringing it back here (to Denver) for a Game 6 and have some fun. It's been done. The statistics are probably against us, but basketball has strange twists."
As for possible adjustments in the quick travel turnaround between games, Karl knows there are few adjustments for which the Spurs don't have answers.
"We're going to have to figure out how to do better," Karl said. "We're going to have to change up a little bit."
Anthony clearly believes there is an easy offensive adjustment the Nuggets can make: Give him the ball.
Web Posted: 05/04/2005 12:00 AM CDT
Mike Monroe
Express-News Staff Writer
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA050405.9C.BKNnuggets.anthony.23ccd8af0.html
DENVER Denver Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony watched, with admiration and envy, as the Spurs pounded the ball inside to Tim Duncan, play after play, during the critical stretches of the Spurs' 126-115 overtime victory Monday night.
As clearly as Duncan is the Spurs' "go-to" guy, Anthony deems he should be the player on whom the Nuggets lean when the game is on the line.
It is what he did for Syracuse when he led the Orangemen to the 2003 NCAA title. And while Anthony understands the NBA isn't college, it is what he believes he can do for the Nuggets in their Western Conference playoff series with the Spurs.
"I think San Antonio stuck to their game plan," Anthony said. "Every time down the court they went to their go-to guy. They went to Tim Duncan every time down the court. He was either going to create something or he was going to get fouled."
The Nuggets' pre-series game plan to fast break the Spurs into submission has been nullified by the Spurs' rigorous discipline. The Spurs have kept at least two defenders back around the half-court line every time a Spur drives to the basket or puts up a shot. Denver's fast-break opportunities have been severely curtailed.
Limited to a half-court attack, the Nuggets occasionally have seemed dazed and confused, able to score big only when one point guard or another Andre Miller or Earl Boykins has had a breakout performance.
Meanwhile, the Nuggets' most creative half-court scorer, Anthony, is growing increasingly frustrated by what he perceives is a relatively paltry number of crunch-time touches.
"What did they do (defensively)?" Anthony responded, when asked what had kept him from being more productive in the second half Monday after he scored 15 in the first half. "Or what did we do?
"They didn't do anything. I think we didn't get me the ball. I don't want to sound selfish, but I had something going and I don't think we took advantage of that."
Nuggets coach George Karl respectfully disagrees with his young star, who he says has not yet reached the same "go-to" status as a player like Duncan.
"I don't really think there's necessarily a need to think he deserved more touches, to be honest with you. I think he got great touches, great looks," Karl said. "We're not a team that's going to be one-dimensional at the end of the game, like Duncan. We're a team that's got to go to the situation or the hot hand.
"I'm happy he wants more," Karl said of Anthony, "but I'm not sure he deserves more."
Anthony scored a playoff career-best 28 points Monday, but not because he was the focus of the Nuggets' offense. Boykins assumed that role, in a 32-point outburst that had the Spurs shaking their heads at the audacity of the NBA's smallest player.
"San Antonio made us play a half-court game," Anthony said. "When we've got to play a half-court game, I don't think we've practiced that much all year, focused on a half-court offense. Our game was to get out in the open court. And every time we shoot the ball they're getting three guys back, so it was kind of hard to get out in transition."
Figuring out how to score in the half court won't be as important for Karl and his staff as picking up the spirits of players devastated by the disappointment of losing a game they fought hard enough to win.
"We're in the NCAA tournament now, men," Karl said. "Single elimination. You don't play well and you lose, you're going to sit down for a long time.
"It's not a fun place to be. You don't want to think about anything except bringing it back here (to Denver) for a Game 6 and have some fun. It's been done. The statistics are probably against us, but basketball has strange twists."
As for possible adjustments in the quick travel turnaround between games, Karl knows there are few adjustments for which the Spurs don't have answers.
"We're going to have to figure out how to do better," Karl said. "We're going to have to change up a little bit."
Anthony clearly believes there is an easy offensive adjustment the Nuggets can make: Give him the ball.