Just as Utah coach Jerry Sloan said he would not hold Denver forward Carmelo Anthony’s 15-game suspension against him in any All-Star Game voting scenario, San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich said the same Wednesday.
If Anthony is not voted a starter by the fans for next month’s All-Star Game in Las Vegas, Popovich would not take the punishment into account on his ballot.
“I think you look more at how a guy’s played,” Popovich said. “If he missed most of the season, what kind of season he was having? I don’t think it will affect him that much.
“He regrets what he did more than anybody. He made a mistake. It’s over. He moves on. He’ll be fine because he’s a smart young man and he understands what happened and he knows how he wants to conduct himself. I think you’ve got to put that away and move forward.”
J.R. wants to dunk
Guard J.R. Smith is holding out hope, but not holding his breath.
He wants to be named to this year’s all-star dunk or 3-point contest, but he isn’t optimistic it will happen because of his 10-game suspension for fighting Dec. 16.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if they didn’t put me in it,” Smith said. “I was suspended for 10 games. I don’t think they are going to reward me with a 3-point or dunk contest. I hope (they will). If they ask me I’ll be in it.”
Kick the hitch
Nuggets guard Julius Hodge is undergoing a makeover – a shooting makeover. The second-year player is trying to eliminate a hitch in his jump shot that figures to improve his accuracy and make him more of a perimeter threat.
It isn’t the first time he has tried to alter his shot. Hodge has been working with Nuggets assistant Mike Dunlap to get it right this time.
“I’m just pretty much trying to keep my elbow stationary with my 3-point and jump shot,” Hodge said. “They’ve tried to change it twice, but it’s getting better.”
In the lineup
Both Nene (knee) and Eduardo Najera (shoulder, hamstring) played Wednesday. It was questionable whether one or both would play because of injuries.
Staff writer Marc J. Spears contributed to this report.
