Nuggets coach George Karl had a long wish list after his team’s practice Friday. But the bottom line is he would settle for 25 assists and 10 steals when the first-round playoff series between Denver and San Antonio continues Saturday night at the Pepsi Center.
“I know playoff basketball isn’t a tempo game and I know San Antonio doesn’t want us to play fast,” Karl said. “But if you give me 25 assists and 10 steals, I think we’ll have some tempo. We have to do some things to create the pace.”
The Nuggets braced themselves for the quick dip in the roller-coaster ride that has been their first two playoff games against the Spurs. They were at the top after winning the first game 93-87, but were hurtling downward after a 104-76 loss.
After Game 1, “we got happy and not better,” Karl said. “San Antonio got angry and better. But I believe we haven’t played our ‘A’ game, and we’re 1-1. It’s not time to panic. We can win different ways.”
Much of the talk after Friday’s practice centered on the benefits of picking up the pace, better defensive play on Spurs guards Tony Parker, Brent Barry and Manu Ginobili and better team play.
“We’re a team that has won because of making great plays,” Karl said. “We haven’t won because of great individual skills. We’re playing a team that has a history of playing together and has won a championship because of playing together. We have to become a better defensive team with Parker and Ginobili. They were playing out of our control. We have to figure out how to play them.”
Parker and Ginobili accounted for eight assists in their Game 2 victory, and Parker, after five turnovers in Game 1, had just one miscue in Game 2.
Karl said lineup changes are a factor in the playoffs, and he probably will have a change for Game 3. Speculation centers on defensive stopper getting the call at guard in front of in order to help shut down Barry or Ginobili, whomever San Antonio starts.
“We have to figure it out,” Buckner said of slowing down the Spurs’ guards. “When our running game is going, our defense is going to work.
“The key is the running game. You can’t get the running game going if you’re taking the ball out under the basket all the time.”
The Spurs shot 47.9 percent from the floor in Game 2, including 10-of-18 3-point range.
Nuggets guard said the energy of playing at home helps create a faster pace.
“We don’t like to play slow-down basketball. The altitude and fans are a factor here,” Miller said. “We played decent in the first game, but we lost control in the second game.”
Nuggets guard could be the key to getting Denver’s running game going. Karl said San Antonio will do everything it can to slow down and Boykins.
“I think Carmelo is first on their priority list and Earl is second,” Karl said. “I would love to have 10 possessions, maybe 20, when their big guys don’t get back on defense. In a regular- season game, we’d get as many as 25 when their big guys weren’t getting back to the paint. But we’re in the playoffs.”
Anthony understands he’s a target.
“I’m not going to get any better shots,” Anthony said. “Every time I touch the ball, they’re sending two, three people at me. It’s going to be a pride game. We have to see how much pride we have.”
Anthony spent time Friday watching film of the second game when the Nuggets shot 36 percent. Anthony was 5-for-14 for 10 points.
“After a loss like that, we want to get our swagger back,” Anthony said. “It looked like we were a little too relaxed after winning Game 1. We just have to keep shooting, but at the same time doing other things like playing defense.”
Staff writer Irv Moss can be reached at 303-820-1296 or imoss@denverpost.com.
