When coach George Karl’s Nuggets take the court for their 41st game Wednesday night at Golden State, they will do so as a team encouraged by what they are and can be.
“I think our power of perseverance has been good,” Karl said. “We haven’t been dealt the kindest injuries, the kindest scheduling. There’s been some frustration that we’ve had to fight through.”
And yet, the Nuggets are 26-14, good for third in the Western Conference entering Monday’s games.
“Record-wise, we’re in a good place,” forward Carmelo Anthony said. “We’ll take that right now. As far as executing and playing the way we know how to play, we’re starting to come around. We’re starting to play the basketball that we played last season.”
That brand of basketball carried the Nuggets all the way to the Western Conference finals. But before they can think about that, the Nuggets must smooth out the rough edges.
“My greatest improvement would be defense, trying to get a more consistent defensive energy and demand on an every-game, everyday basis,” Karl said. “Offensively, the same thing as always, passing the ball, finding the open man on a more consistent basis and kind of take out the tough shots that we throw into the equation on the offensive end of the court.”
Karl said he has seen some improvement in those areas.
“I think defensively in some of the game plans — against (Cleveland’s) LeBron (James), against Orlando — there was more of a seriousness that I think showed in the result of the performance,” he said. “These are two wins that are just as important, just as valuable as beating a Utah or beating a Cleveland.”
The Nuggets are 11-7 against teams with losing records and 15-7 against those with winning records.
“We’ve had some ups and downs,” guard Chauncey Billups said. “We’re going to try to minimize those ups and downs in the second half of the season, as best we can. I think if we do that, we’ll be right where we need to be going into the playoffs.”
Footnotes.
One day after playing for the first time since spraining his left ankle, guard Ty Lawson said he had no setbacks. “It’s good,” Lawson said. “It’s all good.” . . . Anthony was named MVP of the first half of the season by Sporting News. “I would hope so. I’ve been doing this for a long time,” Anthony said. “If they want to rate me that high, I’ll take it. But it’s only the first half. I’ve still got a long way to go.”
Chris Dempsey: 303-954-1279 or cdempsey@denverpost.com
