Sitting in a snowy traffic jam at 8:15 a.m., George Karl realized he probably wouldn’t be the only person dealing with Mother Nature’s mother of a snowstorm. And so, the Nuggets coach made this morning’s shootaround voluntary.
With an 8:30 p.m. game, Karl figured he’d have enough time to talk shop with his boys before the season opener against Utah.
But how about Anthony Carter? The reserve point guard, who lives about 15 minutes from the Pepsi Center, made the treacherous drive to the arena to work out. He said he was so pumped for the season opener, that he was up at 3 a.m. and wanted to get into the gym.
And Johan Petro, who likely won’t play much, was the only other Nuggets player to make it (though, full disclosure, the dude lives basically across the street from the arena).
As for opening night, Karl said: “There’s a childlike energy and enthusiasm and nervousness to opening night. It’s an 82 game season but the first one’s always a little more juiced. To throw Utah and Portland in front of us for the first two games is interesting scheduling.”
Karl hasn’t yet announced his shooting guard starter, though it’s likely to be Arron Afflalo or Joey Graham.
Benjamin Hochman: 303-954-1294 or bhochman@denverpost.com
