Used to be, Nuggets coach George Karl didn’t feel very comfortable in big road games, even with a lead.
But thanks in large part to the arrival of point guard Chauncey Billups, Karl’s trepidation is being replaced by confidence.
Tangible evidence arrived Friday night when the Nuggets took control in the fourth quarter to beat the defending champion Celtics 94-85 in Boston.
“In games like that last year, I had fear, a little bit,” Karl said this morning after the Nuggets’ shootaround. “I had a fear that we weren’t going to get where we had to go. I don’t think I have that fear right now.”
The Nuggets (5-4) host the struggling Minnesota Timberwolves (1-7) tonight at the Pepsi Center.
Karl put his feelings in perspective, but made it clear that he likes the direction of his team.
“It’s only nine games to go, so don’t get crazy on me,” he said. “But I think I trust my team a lot more than I did last year. I don’t know if it’s training camp, or the Chauncey trade, or all the guys here making a serious focus on what we’ve asked them to do. But watching our team play, I think even fans know it’s a different team and I think it’s probably a more enjoyable team to watch.”
Since Billups was traded for Allen Iverson, the Nuggets are 4-1, with Billups averaging 18.2 points and 6.2 assists per game.
Patrick Saunders: 303-954-1428 or psaunders@denverpost.com
