The lack of full dedication to good defense has been exposed on the Nuggets and efforts are being made to deal with it. The first step in dealing with any problem is to accept that the problem exists. The second step is to propose solutions and to try various things to see if the problem is reduced. The third step is to fully implement the solutions that will go the farthest in solving the problem. And the fourth step is to continue to monitor the solutions to make sure the problem does not come back again. The Nuggets are on step two right now. Patience is a virtue. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Portland, Ore. - The frustration cut so deep that Carmelo Anthony finally had to talk. So after Vince Carter's 40-point carve job on the Nuggets' defense in Saturday's loss to New Jersey, Anthony and Marcus Camby met specifically to talk about why on earth things have gotten so rotten on that end of the court. They thought they had answers. Then Charlotte sliced-and-diced the Nuggets some more Monday night. It won't be any easier tonight as the Nuggets face Portland without Allen Iverson, who didn't make the trip because of a sprained ankle. Denver's defensive issues run much deeper than effort, the players and coach George Karl say. Players simply aren't always aware of where to be in certain situations. Rotations are shoddy in man and zone, and that, combined with an in-and-out focus, has doomed the Nuggets during a three-game losing streak in which they have allowed an average of 111 points per game. "It's positioning yourself," guard J.R. Smith said. "Knowing where to be at the right time. Knowing what our team is going to do on the defensive end. We really don't know what's going to happen out there. As long as the five on the court know, we're all right." Added guard Steve Blake: "We all have to be on the same page, and understand our rotations, things like that. Take the defensive end more personal, as far as wanting to get stops." Denver has devoted additional time to defense in practice recently, but nothing has yielded results. Karl wants more accountability from an individual standpoint and has openly talked about Anthony stepping up his defensive effort. Anthony says he accepts the criticism. "I think I need a little more focus," Anthony said. "I think the last game, particularly the (New Jersey) game, I just lost focus. I don't know if it was tired, fatigue or what it was. But I can tell you that a game like that will never happen again." Denver's defensive problems aren't necessarily new. They've always bubbled under the surface. No team has scored fewer than 87 points on the Nuggets (22-20) and opponents have hit the century mark in 27 games (Denver is 14-13 in those games). Wins covered the Nuggets' inability to defend. During the five-game winning streak that preceded the current losing skid, big plays were being made late in games that put the Nuggets on top. Lately, though, those late-game heroics have swung to the opponents' side. Blake, who has hit critical 3-pointers late in games, missed a big shot as the Nuggets tried to rally late against New Jersey. An Anthony layup that would have given the Nuggets a one-point lead with 41.9 seconds left was blocked by Charlotte's Gerald Wallace. Denver lost both. Iverson has talked about the team's need to improve defensively almost since the first day he arrived in town in late December. "You can't just let guys come in your own building and just score on you like that," Iverson said after Monday's game. "You can make excuses all you want. We've had enough time to play with each other. We've been with each other. We've played different games. "We got to stop people. That's it. You've got to buckle down and take the individual challenge first. You have to take that individual challenge. And then you build team defense in there." Outside of public moments of frustration, Karl said he isn't quite ready to press the alarm just yet. "I don't think we're a bad defensive team," Karl said. "I think we have bad defensive moments. The commitment just goes on and off. And as a coach you have to figure out how to plug the holes. "We were trying everything against New Jersey, and nothing was working. It's easier when you're within a solid, committed philosophy. Most of that commitment comes first with individual pride in covering your own man." </div> Source
