Nuggets coach George Karl sat courtside for about 15 minutes Thursday during his Nuggets team’s last practice before leaving for Utah and Game 3 of its NBA playoff series against the Jazz.
Karl, who has been away from the team’s bench since mid-March as he receives treatment for throat and neck cancer, was largely just an observer on Thursday; the day before he gave his thoughts on Denver’s performance thus far in the best-of-seven series to acting coach Adrian Dantley.
“It was good,” Dantley said. “He talked some basketball and gave some opinions.”
Asked if there were anything specific that Karl focused on, Dantley didn’t hesitate.
“Deron Williams,” Dantley said of the Jazz guard who scored 33 points with 14 assists in Utah’s 114-111 victory. “George said we can’t let him hurt us, we have to take the ball out of his hands … if he comes down on the left side of the court, we can’t have three guys hugging someone on the right side.
“We have to tilt the floor towards him — make someone else be the one to score 30 points.”
There has been no specific timetable for Karl’s return to the Nuggets’ bench, although it has been thought that he would not be able to coach during the opening round series.
Anthony Cotton: 303-954-1292 or acotton@denverpost.com
