When the jump shots and the free throws can’t quite make it over the front of the rim, chances are the team is tired.
After a six-game road trip, it appeared the Nuggets were tired in a 116-110 loss to Washington on Wednesday at the Pepsi Center.
But with seven of their next eight games at home, the Nuggets cannot afford to stay tired against Tracy McGrady and the Houston Rockets (10-14) tonight unless the Nuggets (12-14) want to dig a deeper hole, coach George Karl said.
“I don’t think we’re tired for the Denver Nuggets because I don’t think we’re playing with the pace and the intensity and the energy (of a running team),” Karl said Thursday. “If we wanted to slow it down, we probably wouldn’t be as tired a team. But I don’t think that’s our personality.”
Running out of gas in strange places is not uncommon in the NBA, especially for a team playing short-handed because of injuries.
“That happens in the NBA,” Karl said. “You know, long road trip. Coming back to altitude. Christmas. There’s all types of things. You can’t play 82 full-tank, (all) out, energy games.”
Tired or not, distracted or not, the Nuggets are just going to have “fight through it” to get on a roll during a long home stretch, Karl said.
Houston comes into town without 7-foot-6 center Yao Ming (toe). The Rockets have been among the NBA’s most disappointing teams this season. They do have McGrady in full stride, however, and he’s helped the Rockets win six of their past eight games after returning from a back injury. That makes them every bit as dangerous as Washington. The Wizards’ Gilbert Arenas torched Denver for 36 points and 11 assists.
“I think (the Rockets) personality is they’re still a (coach Jeff) Van Gundy-type team,” Karl said. “Very defensive-oriented, very tough-minded. Now, without Yao, McGrady gets 60, 70-percent (of the touches).”
Karl said slowing McGrady will be a similar challenge to facing Arenas.
“One thing that worries me is we didn’t do a very good job on Arenas and this is a similar type of player. I think you’re going to see us in more double teams,” Karl said. “Last night, we did more zoning and more switching and it didn’t work, so we’re going to try something else.”
A significant part of that something else will be Carmelo Anthony matched against McGrady.
“I think he’s going to have to play some minutes on him, and I think that’s great because that’s where Melo’s come to (in his development),” Karl said. “I don’t know whether it’s 10 minutes or 15 minutes. But any time there’s a great player against us, everybody’s going to have to share (defensive) responsibility.”
HOUSTON AT DENVER
7 p.m. tonight, ALT, KCUV 1510 AM
SPOTLIGHT ON TRACY McGRADY
Rockets wing Tracy McGrady, a five-time NBA all-star, has led Houston to a 6-2 record since coming back from a back injury. “T-Mac’s the kind of player that it’s not going to take one just guy, it’s going to take the whole team to try to slow him down,” Nuggets center Marcus Camby said.
NOTEBOOK
* OFF LIMITS: The Nuggets’ practice Thursday was televised live on NBA TV. In an interview, Kiki Vandeweghe was asked about the team’s interest in trading for controversial Indianapolis guard Ron Artest, but the general manager avoided the question. Trade talk is “fun for the fans,” Vandeweghe said. But when teams talk about it, “it’s very difficult for a player to put it out of his mind. I think it does affect players a lot, and I think it sometimes affects teams in a negative way. So, although it’s fun to talk about and everything, I really avoid talking about it. I’m always happier when the trade deadline passes.”
* FOOTNOTES: Nuggets power forward Kenyon Martin (knee) did not practice, but is expected to play tonight against the Houston Rockets at the Pepsi Center. Guard Greg Buckner (groin) is listed as doubtful and point guard Earl Boykins (hamstring) is out. … Nuggets coach George Karl wants Martin and his other “bigs” to start running the floor better. In a running game, Karl said, “You want your bigs ahead of the ball a lot, and we’re not getting that. Marcus (Camby) is more our trail guy, and Kenyon and Eddie (Najera) and (Linas) Kleiza, we need them ahead of the ball. Not every possession, but as many possessions as possible, because the big guy takes the defense with him and that has a tendency of opening up the perimeter. It’s kind of a thankless job, but we still need that.” … Camby hosted his third annual Cambyland Christmas party at Cherry Creek Shopping Center for 15 children from the Glenarm Recreation Center.
Joseph Sanchez can be reached at 303 820-5458 or jsanchez@denverpost.com.
