LOS ANGELES — About two hours before standing for the national anthem, Denver center Marcus Camby was standing on the side of the Santa Monica Freeway.
A Nuggets team bus caught on fire on the way to Sunday’s Game 1 of the Lakers-Nuggets playoffs series. No one was hurt, but a tire pop and thick black smoke forced eight players and some staff members to the side of the highway, where they waited 30 minutes for the second team bus to rescue them.
“It was horrible,” Camby said. “We try to get up there early and get into our routine. We heard a pop, smelled smoke and heard fire. Everyone was running off the bus. We were on the shoulder, so we had cars coming in and guys lined up against the rails. It was real, real dangerous.”
Upon arrival to the Staples Center, some Nuggets joked that the Lakers might have had something to do with the accident.
“It was a heck of a preparation by the L.A. Lakers,” Denver coach George Karl said in jest before the game. “(General manager) Mitch Kupchak is better than I thought he was.
“But it’s probably a pressure release. You can laugh a little bit rather than worry and get nervous.”
Free-throw woes.
Of all the issues that derailed the Nuggets’ chances of winning Game 1, free throws were near the top of the list. The Nuggets made only 23-of-37 from the line, including a dismal 9-of-16 in the first half.
Allen Iverson was among the poorest Nuggets free-throw shooters, hitting just 7-of-13.
“We struggled,” Iverson said. “I struggled at the free-throw line. I made one, then missed one. I could never put two together. I concentrated, I was focused. They just didn’t go down. It’s unacceptable. They’re going to foul me. When we get into the penalty, I have got to be there to knock the shots down.”
Martin success.
Kenyon Martin had success guarding Kobe Bryant for much of the game. His length and tenacity bothered Bryant enough to hold the Lakers’ star guard to 2-of-10 shooting in the first half.
“I’m just trying to make it tough,” Martin said. “He’s a great player. I’m just trying to make it tough and force him to shoot jump shots and not let him get to the basket. He missed them early and made a few late.”
Bryant found scoring easier in the second half, when Martin left in the third quarter because of foul trouble.
“It’s something we’ve talked about,” Bryant said. “We played New Jersey in the Finals, (and) he was the one responsible for guarding me then.”
Lakers coach Phil Jackson downplayed Martin’s effectiveness.
“It’s not so much about (Martin) guarding Kobe, it’s about who they had to put on other people,” Jackson said. “They challenged us to make adjustments.”
Men of the night.
Jackson has not been a fan of early starts, mainly because his players liked to party into the night.
Now, he doesn’t mind as much. Why?
“Shaq’s in Phoenix now,” Jackson said, sparking laughter in the media room. “He’s not here. There’s some guys that just can’t get to bed at night. He was one of those kind of guys.”
Jackson conceded there are players like that on his current roster, but “I’m not naming names. I will say I did notice that during those years.”
Ring master.
When the playoffs hit, Jackson wears the ring of his last championship, which in this case was in 2002. For a man used to winning titles on a regular basis, wearing that ring is starting to get old.
“I hate wearing this thing,” Jackson quipped. “It’s been worn now too often. It’s been three years in a row now.”
Footnotes.
Nene (groin) suited up but did not play. He is expected to play at some point in the series. . . . Center Marcus Camby did not have a great game (four points, seven rebounds), but Karl was not concerned. “Marcus, I didn’t think played poorly. I just thought at the time the rhythm of the game was fast and aggressive to the rim.”
Benjamin Hochman and Chris Dempsey, The Denver Post
