Let’s try it again.
Last Wednesday in Los Angeles, there was a minor hullabaloo — all of the Nuggets were available to play for the first time this season. It hadn’t been since Jan. 23, 2010, that all of the players and coach George Karl were available. But by the second quarter, Ty Lawson was out of the game because of an injury.
At the Pepsi Center on Tuesday, Karl again entered a game with a full complement of players. Lawson (knee), Al Harrington (back), Kenyon Martin (knee) and Chris Andersen (knee) were all back, though Karl monitored the playing time of Martin, whose knee rehab is progressing slowly.
Karl wasn’t sure Monday whether all four — or any of the four — would have been able to play.
As for coaching strategy, Karl said: “It’s easier to coach everyone if you’re playing well. It’s harder to coach if you don’t have the ability to change your personality and make a maneuver to help your team, if you have limited pieces.”
Wake-up call.
The Pepsi Center has been extremely quiet in the first half of games this season. Perhaps no first half was quieter than Tuesday’s.
But at the 6:24 mark of the second quarter, the fans woke up. Lawson launched an alley-oop pass to J.R. Smith, whose two-handed slam dunk got the fans out of their seats.
He said it.
In reference to Auburn’s 22-19 win over Oregon in the BCS title game: “I was happy watching that game, seeing No. 90 (Nick Fairley). Hopefully, he’ll be a Bronco.” — Denver guard (and Denver native) Chauncey Billups
