Denver Nuggets Preseason Notes: Sept. 29 Edition with Breaking News!

Kenyon Martin speaks his mind about replacement refs

Just in (11:00 p.m.) from Fanhouse and Denver Post writer Chris Tomasson, Kenyon Martin voiced his displeasure in the seemingly inevitable reality that is the replacement referees in the NBA this upcoming 2009-10 season.

Martin believes the replacement refs will be “terrible” reportedly. He said, "I'm going to get suspended in the first month of the season. I'm going to have 15 technicals in the first month just for the simple fact (replacement officials) don't know how I run my mouth. They don't know how I approach the game.''

K-Mart continued, “It will be terrible. I believe guys will get more technicals. There are going to be more ejections. Tempers are going to be even worse. Attitudes are going to be even worse. They know how we can talk to certain refs. Certain guys know me. I don't mean no harm sometimes. I might get out of line sometimes.

But, for the most part, I get a little leeway. But with the [replacement officials], I don't have that leeway...You know how you can approach certain refs, what you can say to certain refs.''

He has a decent point too, as I have been more and more surprised while watching NBA contests the last few years how much the referees have been letting go in the way of complaining. Players can yell, and they run around, throw their hands in the air and usually refs will let it go.

Backup point guard Anthony Carter chimed in on the subject, “It's always going to be tough when you have a whole new set of refs. The other refs kind of know what other players do and what their moves are. Who's flopping? It's going to be a big challenge for them...They're going to be cursed out a little bit. They just have to have thick skin. They're going to miss calls, and we're going to be complaining. But that's part of the job.''

A.C. might have the best point about flops and other plays that are special to a certain player, like LeBron’s “crabwalk,” or A.I.’s crossovers, or really any player in today’s NBA palming the ball almost every time they dribble. And, if players are cussing out these new refs, likely the replacements will not be ready for these high-profile players getting all over them with dirty language mixed in, and more players will be ejected on average probably.

Head coach George Karl had the best quote of the day saying, "I think there will be just more emotion in the game, more verbal confrontation of calls. To me, I think the players should just, at least in the first four to six games, not worry about it and just play through it. Understand we'll get good whistles and we'll probably get some bad whistles”

“Coaches think refereeing is bad no matter how good it is.''

Anthony Carter accepts role as backup point guard, sharing minutes with Ty Lawson

George Karl is still apparently still high on Anthony Carter even though retired coach Dug Moe and many Denver fans are low on the veteran guard. Moe called Carter the “worst player he’s ever seen” in his 35 years of basketball experience. Many Nuggets fans complain he’s over the hill and remember the two in-bounds passes against the Lakers that partially lost two games for the Nuggets.

Karl said, “Carter sometimes isn’t pretty, and statistically he doesn’t deliver, but when you coach him you have all the confidence in the world you’re going to win the game.”

“A.C. is one if the best backup point guards in the NBA.”

Karl has repeatedly said that Carter is the best perimeter defenders on the Nuggets and he regularly puts him in at key points in games. And as a backup with lots of experience, Carter usually makes great decisions with the ball, and has great energy on the defensive end as well.

Carter explained his situation sharing minutes now that Denver drafted Ty Lawson from North Carolina in this year’s draft, “It’s not even about minutes with me. Whatever my role is going to be, I’m embracing it, whether it’s five, 10, 15, 20 minutes. I just want to make a difference when I’m out there.”

A.C. shows in this quote that he is the quintessential team player, willing to sacrifice his own stats and minutes for the better of the team. He also knows his time in the NBA is growing short and that Lawson is the future of the point guard position in Denver. But, at least for the 2009-10 season, the Nuggets bench will be in good hands with Carter as the ball handler and leader.

Aaron Afflalo shows signs of progress and will help secure Nuggets bench

According to the Denver Post’s Chris Dempsey, “Afflalo was one of the brightest stars in the September workouts and has kept the momentum going through the first three days of camp.”

This offseason has seen some Nuggets leave, including starting shooting guard and defensive specialist Dahntay Jones and shooting threat Linas Kleiza. Denver and coach Karl are hoping he can fill both voids. Afflalo, a third-year, 6’5” 215 shooting guard acquired from Detroit, hopes to be a major role player for the Nuggets this year.

Karl raved about the young guard saying, “He’s been tremendous. He’s been in the gym many, many hours already. The coaching staff loves him. Hopefully the fans will love him too.” He also calls Afflalo the most organized and regimented young player he’s ever met.

If he can defend with the intensity of Jones, and shoot with great touch like L.K., Afflalo should have no problem winning the fans over in the Mile High City.

Chauncey Billups was Afflalo teammate in Detroit from 2007-08 and his experience with the youngster leaves “Mr. Big Shot” a mile high on Afflalo as well.

“He’s already a really, really good defender…And he studies the game. It’s going to be a great, great move for us…I think he’s really gained their (coaches) respect with just how serious he is about the game.”

After learning of the high praise by the team’s captain and coach Afflalo commented, “…you can’t make excuses. You have to continue to work on your game and when you get your opportunity, be your best.”

Those are very veteran words from such a young player.

The Nuggets begin their preseason this Thursday at Utah in their NBA preseason opener and their first experience with the replacement referees.