If there’s one thing Los Angeles Clippers guard Corey Maggette knows about the Nuggets, it’s this:
“That team can’t beat us if we play the right way,” he said. “It’s obvious.”
And that’s with or without Kenyon Martin.
The Nuggets, down 2-0 in the playoff series, will be without their fiery forward after he was suspended for conduct detrimental to the team following his refusal to play in the second half of Monday night’s game. The Clippers filed away this news as interesting information, but insisted it will have no bearing on how they play tonight at the Pepsi Center.
“That’s not our concern, that’s their concern,” guard Sam Cassell said Wednesday after the team worked out at the University of Denver. “We understand the situation they’re in, but we also understand our situation.”
Cassell can draw on his own experience to understand Denver’s situation, having played under Nuggets coach George Karl in Milwaukee. One of the primary issues Karl has had with Martin is his reluctance to practice but still expect big minutes in games. Karl also feuded with Cassell about not practicing, then wanting to play a major role.
Cassell said that’s a good way to get on Karl’s bad side.
“I know how he feels about guys participating in practice,” Cassell said. “I had many a struggle with him. Not to the point where he had to suspend me for a game or something like that, but he likes practice.
“At the time, I preferred not to practice as much. But he always told me that you do in practice what you’re going to do in the game. That’s how it is. I don’t know the extent of him and Kenyon Martin’s relationship, but my relationship with George was fine.”
The Clippers, however, are aware of how the Nuggets fared without Martin this season. Officially, Denver was 19-6 when Martin wasn’t in the lineup, 24-26 when he started.
“I don’t look at it as a positive for us,” Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy said. “I look at it in terms that it could be a negative. It could be a point for them to unify a little bit better than they have as opposed to focusing in on the two losses.”
Still, Martin was the primary defender on Clippers forward Elton Brand, who is averaging 20.0 points and 9.5 rebounds this series. Those duties now have to be split among a number of players as the series wears on, with Eduardo Najera scheduled to get first shot tonight, and Reggie Evans and Francisco Elson in the mix.
Nuggets center Marcus Camby admitted Tuesday that the team had fared well without Martin in the lineup this season, but stopped short of saying they didn’t need him.
“He’s a valuable asset to what we do around here,” Camby said.
Martin averaged 12.9 points and 6.3 rebounds in the regular season. Those averages dropped to 4.5 points and 4.5 rebounds through the first two playoff games after playing seven minutes Monday.
Brand wasn’t surprised that the Nuggets suspended Martin, but said no adjustments would be necessary to face the Nuggets without him.
“We just have to keep bringing the ball inside and playing our style of basketball and doing the same things we’ve been doing,” Brand said. “Just like on our team, when guys are missing, other guys step up. I think they’re going to try to have guys step up.”
Footnotes
Clippers center Chris Kaman did not practice and is a game-time decision with a sprained right ankle. He injured it in Monday’s game. … Clippers general manager Elgin Baylor was named NBA executive of the year. The award is voted on by general managers around the league.
Staff writer Chris Dempsey can be reached at 303-820-5455 or cdempsey@denverpost.com.
