The Nuggets (Still) Have George Karl Disease

Karl, Denver’s coach, started his postgame press conference relatively calm, saying he wouldn’t “overreact to a loss.’’ By the end, though, he got heated.

“The play-hard thing is driving me crazy,‘’ Karl said. “Tell me my play-hard team. Tell me the five guys I put out there on the court to play hard every possession. Tell me it. I had it last year. I had a play-hard team last year. I don’t have a play-hard team this year. And it’s making me very angry.’’

Indeed, it’s becoming increasingly apparent that the Denver Nuggets are, uh, energetically challenged. After the Minnesota loss, even T’Wolves players, who at 2-15 really have no room to judge anyone else, found themselves questioning Denver’s mettle:

“Denver is a type of team that will let you back into the ballgame, and they did,’’ said center Al Jefferson.

“They’re known as a team that will relax sometimes,‘’ said forward Damien Wilkins. “They did just that. They relaxed just enough and we played hard enough.’’

All of which leads to a question that’s been plaguing Denver all season long. Why does this group keep playing down to its competition? Even on Friday, they needed 50 points from Carmelo Anthony to beat a terrible Knicks team by just 3 points. So far, they’ve got losses to the Clippers, a 25-point drubbing at the hands of the Hawks, a loss to the Bucks, and now, a defeat at the hands of maybe the worst team in the league. At least the Nets have injuries to excuse their absurd record.

And yet, a team that absolutely outclassed the Lakers a few weeks ago at home gets beaten down the stretch by Jonny Flynn, Al Jefferson, and Damien Wilkens. What gives?

A few weeks ago, I mentioned that the Nuggets have “George Karl Disease”: “Who’s to blame when a supremely talented group of players can’t seem to find the motivation to beat up on lesser teams? Hmm….” And it’s still true. In fact, Karl indirectly makes my point.

He doesn’t know how to motivate this team, and where Chauncey Billups was enough to catapult this team into the upper echelons toward the end of the last season, if they want to stay there, the Nuggets have to beat teams like the Timberwolves. Maybe it’s not George Karl’s fault, but before long, he’s going to be held responsible. When your team’s as talented as Denver, you have to win the games you’re “supposed to win.” It’s a maddening cliche, but it’s also part of what defines the best teams in the league.

Can they do it with George Karl as their head coach?