As the Nuggets bolted toward a fast-break basket Wednesday night, referee Olandis Poole blew his whistle to stop play. A frustrated Nuggets coach George Karl immediately ran toward Poole to complain, not realizing a shot-clock malfunction led to the stoppage in play.
Considering the importance of fast breaks to the Nuggets’ success this season, it was understandable why Karl was so perturbed.
“It’s symbolic, probably,” Karl said after Thursday’s practice.
Fast-break points have basically determined whether the Nuggets win or lose. Denver (28-28) is 19-3 when it scores at least 110 points and 0-18 when scoring fewer than 100, and the NBA’s lone team not to win when failing to reach triple digits. Denver had 22 fast-break points in a 111-101 victory over Orlando on Wednesday but hasn’t been able to consistently run as well as Karl had hoped.
The coach instituted a new, up-tempo offense in the offseason. His goal was to have a shot up within 14 seconds and to constantly attack the basket. The Nuggets rank second in the NBA in fast-break points (18.4) and second in scoring (105.1), but have lacked consistency in their running game.
“We want to get 30 layups a game,” Nuggets guard Allen Iverson said. “Just get out and run.”
Said Denver forward Carmelo Anthony: “When we are running, nobody can beat us. We have some of the best open-court players on this team.”
Before the Iverson trade Dec. 19, the Nuggets, at 14-9, had lost six games when not reaching 100. Since the Iverson trade, the Nuggets have had 12 more games when not reaching 100, all losses.
“It’s a balance of philosophies, egos, defense, offense,” Karl said of being able to run all-out. “It’s a combination of a lot of things on any given night.”
One reason for the team’s struggle to get out and run has been the adjustment period needed because of the trade of two point guards during the season. When Iverson came over, the Nuggets dealt Andre Miller to Philadelphia. On Jan. 11, the Nuggets shipped backup point guard Earl Boykins to Milwaukee for Steve Blake.
Trades, injuries and suspensions have all made it tough for Denver to jell.
“It’s a headache of many sorts,” Karl said. “Even when we got A.I., Earl was here for two weeks. And A.I. went away for two weeks (because of an ankle injury). So we had another four to six weeks of what are we? Who are we? That’s not the easiest thing to do trying to win games.”
The Nuggets’ most noticeable offensive struggles have come in their half-court offense.
“I don’t think we’re the best 5-on-5 half-court team,” Anthony said. “We kind of depend on the open court.”
And if they’re not getting into the open court, they’re usually not winning. Denver entered play Thursday as the fourth-worst defensive team in the league (104.1). Without defensive stops, fast breaks are rare. Against Orlando, the Nuggets had 15 steals, allowed 11 second- chance points and scored 32 points off 25 turnovers.
“With stops, you’re able to run,” center Marcus Camby said. “It’s really hard to run when you’re taking the ball out every time.”
Karl said Miller’s contributions were often overlooked, too. He averaged 9.1 assists in 23 games with Denver this season and was known as one of the NBA’s best alley-oop passers and best long-distance passers on breaks.
“Andre had a distinct ability to get five to six baskets a game that no one else could get,” Karl said. “How do we make up for those 10-15 points? We basically have to create some offense and some defense.”
Staff writer Marc J. Spears can be reached at 303-954-1098 or mspears@denverpost.com.
