Frustration comes in different packages this postseason for Denver. For some players, it was because of what they did on the court. For guard Chucky Atkins, signed to be a potential starter, it was what he hadn’t been able to do on the court.
Atkins, who was injured for much of the season, entered Monday with just three minutes logged in three postseason games.
“Do I want to play? Would I love to be out there in a playoff series? Of course I would,” Atkins said. “But George (Karl) knew what he was getting from A.C. (Anthony Carter) and J.R. (Smith), because they’re playing every day. He didn’t know what he was going to get from me, he didn’t know if I was healthy or not. . . . I’m not going to go in there and get mad at him, because I’d be stupid for doing that.”
Free agent to be.
Denver reserve Yakhouba Diawara, who doesn’t play much but usually provides good defense when he does, will become an unrestricted free agent.
“I’ll look for the best opportunity — but I like Denver a lot,” said Diawara, who averaged 2.8 points per game during the regular season.
Melo-ing out.
Slowing down Carmelo Anthony has been a combined effort between Vladimir Radmanovic and Luke Walton.
Lakers coach Phil Jackson said his forwards understand their role in guarding the Nuggets star, who dropped from 30 points in the series opener to 23 and then to 16 in Game 3 at the Pepsi Center heading into Game 4.
“Both have done a good job tag-teaming Melo,” Jackson said before Monday’s game. “Luke does well in the low post, and Vlad understands, ‘Don’t let him receive the ball. Don’t allow the touches to come easily.’ ”
Footnotes.
When asked what a sweep of the Nuggets would mean, Jackson said it would mean the team is ready to make a long run in the playoffs. “It would say we’re ready to take care of business,” Jackson said. . . . The Nuggets needed four minutes to get their first field goal, that coming on a Kenyon Martin dunk after the Lakers had established a 6-2 lead.
Benjamin Hochman, Irv Moss and Chris Dempsey, The Denver Post
