No, not one Nugget averages more than 18 points per game.
But coach George Karl is pumped up about the challenge of his new-look roster, saying Thursday: “I think it’s the deepest team I’ve ever had here. I have 12 guys who can play basketball, maybe 14. That’s usually too many, but that’s a nice problem to have.”
The NBA’s teams are curious to see what their opponent in powder blue will look like — and how it will (or won’t) mesh.
“There’s no question,” Karl said, “that the next five, 10, 15 games we will have as much of a surprise . . . We won’t know how it’ll all work, but (the opposing teams) won’t know how it will work either. Sometimes that works to your advantage.”
New York state of mind.
Perhaps more than anyone outside of the Knicks organization, Karl has the keenest perspective on the new Knicks, since so many of his players now play in New York.
“They’re going to win games and they’re going to be better,” Karl said. “I always think all trades and signings, everyone creates hype. They’re going to be better, but they’ve lost some good young players.
“Are they going to be as deep? Are they going to have a good enough bench to beat the good teams? But they’ll have three guys out there who know how to win.”
Kind words.
Leon Rose seldom talks on the record, but the NBA power agent did Thursday, praising Nuggets executives Josh Kroenke and Masai Ujiri for handling the trade.
“On a personal note, I feel fortunate to have worked with them, and I think that if it was with others, I don’t know if this would have gotten done,” said Rose, who helped get his client Carmelo Anthony to the Knicks. “I can tell you, he totally appreciates everything. I thought Josh and Masai did a great job, and (Anthony) really does appreciate the fact they allowed him to go to a place that he wanted. . . . Josh and Masai did a tremendous job under very difficult circumstances.”
