Hard decisions are upon Nuggets coach George Karl.
His team is intact. So who plays?
Guys who have helped keep the team afloat in an injury-plagued season figure to give way to veteran stalwarts. Gary Forbes has already seen a reduction in playing time; Shelden Williams could be next. Williams had started all of the Nuggets’ first 26 games, averaging 20 minutes per contest, but took his first “did not play-coach’s decision” on Wednesday at San Antonio.
“Some guys, you’re going to step on their toes a little bit,” Karl said. “Shelden Williams is probably going to be cut, minutes-wise. I think I just gotta find out how to play the team. Some guys are just going to have to understand that we think Kenyon (Martin) and (Chris Andersen) are a big part of our team and we might have to shift some things to get them some minutes early, to see what contribution they can make to us. But it’s a long season, 82 games.”
The Nuggets were without Carmelo Anthony on Wednesday and will be again Saturday (at Oklahoma City) as he grieves for his sister, who passed away this week. But there’s no wondering where Anthony fits on the playing- time scale when he is available. The Nuggets play at home Sunday night against Philadelphia.
Though some players are asked to be patient while Karl determines how the team fits together, overall the Nuggets will enjoy the benefits of a bench that is arguably the deepest in the league. Every player has made a solid contribution to winning a game this season, and Karl will have no problems putting any of them in at a moment’s notice.
“I’ve told Shelden not to worry about what happens in the next two or three weeks, just stay with us and we’ll keep communicating with (him),” Karl said. “But I think we need to get Kenyon and Bird on the court as fast as possible.”
On the attack.
Ty Lawson has rarely felt as good in his short NBA career from an effectiveness standpoint as he has lately.
His game against the Spurs — 22 points on 8-of-12 shooting — was peppered with several examples of aggressive play.
In his last seven games — some as a starter replacing the injured Chauncey Billups — Lawson is averaging 18 points and 5.1 assists.
“Coach told me to attack more, so that’s what I’m doing,” Lawson said. “My confidence is sky-high.
“I’m just trying to attack and get to the basket and find somebody open.”
Chris Dempsey: 303-954-1279 or cdempsey@denverpost.com
