Nuggets Struggling With George Karl’s Absence

With their coaching having to miss numerous games due to cancer treatment, the Denver Nuggets are having a tough time adjusting. From the Denver Post: “But as the Nuggets embark on a five-game road trip starting Tuesday in New York, you start to wonder how long things can be held together while Karl is gone. Karl won’t be on this road trip, which will run his total up to missing 12 of 13 games. Currently, the Nuggets are 5-2 in his absence. ‘It’s tough just not hearing his voice. He’s our leader,’ guard Anthony Carter said. ‘(Adrian Dantley) and the assistant coaches are doing a great job. But it’s still not the same without George, because George can get his point across a little bit more vocally than A.D. But A.D.’s doing a great job. But we miss George and hopefully he’ll be back soon.’ ‘It’s really hard,’ guard Chauncey Billups said. ‘You lose your leader on team in George. You lose his voice, you lose his presence. A.D. and those guys are doing a wonderful job, but it’s just different.’ Karl has had five weeks of treatment for throat cancer, and time has gone on he’s missed more and more practice and game time, which was expected to happen. He’s still hopeful of being back with the team full-time in April in advance of the playoffs.”