LOS ANGELES — For the third straight postseason, the Nuggets will enter Game 1 without a third prevalent post player.
“I doubt right now that Nene will play (in Game 1),” Nuggets coach George Karl said.
Last season, Kenyon Martin was out with a knee injury. Nene will miss today’s playoff opener with a groin injury. He also missed the 2006 series against the Los Angeles Clippers with a knee injury.
Nene has played in 16 games this season, averaging 5.3 points and 5.4 rebounds. He never got into a groove this season, missing time with a thumb injury, followed by the removal of a testicular tumor and then, following an eye-watering comeback, a strained right groin.
Last week, Karl said he was hopeful Nene could make an appearance later in the first round. Nene has participated in some practice drills. Game 2 is Wednesday at the Staples Center. Denver reserve Eduardo Najera will log minutes at power forward, and his defense has been superb of late, notably in the zone.
Bumps and bruises.
Denver all-star guard Allen Iverson continues to play with a broken right ring finger.
“Sometimes it feels better, sometimes it hurts worse,” Iverson said. “It’s just something I’ll have to deal with. Knowing what’s at stake (in the playoff push), that’s what helped me deal with it a lot better.”
Iverson averaged 26.4 points per game this season, 25.1 in the 21 games he played after the injury.
The gritty guard finished third in the NBA in scoring, as well as first in minutes (41.8), eighth in steals (1.95) and ninth in assists (7.1).
Another injured Nugget who will suit up is Bobby Jones (ankle).
Could Atkins play?
Karl said it’s possible that reserve Chucky Atkins, who has previous playoff experience, will make a mid-game appearance in this series. Atkins never got into the rotation this season because of groin and sports hernia injuries. He did take 17 shots during extended minutes in the finale against Memphis, making just five.
“I think he started to get a better rhythm toward the end of his minutes,” Karl said. “And the shots he missed, I think he’s made a lot in his career, and I think we know that. If the wild card happens for him, I think he’s ready to play.”
They said it.
“This is the most freedom I’ve ever seen Phil Jackson give to his team. They shoot 3s, they kind of have crazy shot selection at times, Kobe Bryant has a lot of freedom to do what he wants in the first 7-10 seconds of the shot clock.” — Karl on Jackson’s Lakers.
Benjamin Hochman, The Denver Post
