Defense is big part of George Karl's demands

Tuesday morning, Nuggets coach George Karl made good on a preseason promise: Defense was the name of the game.

The Nuggets kicked off training camp to the yells and whistles of defensive concepts because that's how Karl wants it to be, and because the Nuggets' spotty play on the defensive end last season dictates this is how it should be.

"The camp is going to be underlined, capital letters, defense first," Karl said. "If we're going to be a championship-caliber team, statistically defense is where we can improve and where we have to improve."

Denver ranked 26th in the NBA in average points allowed (103.7) and tied for 15th in field-goal percentage allowed (.460). Both numbers were comparable to what Denver averaged on offense, which kept opponents in games and allowed many to steal wins when they shouldn't have.

"The things that come to my mind are basically layups in transition and statistically we can't let guys shoot a high percentage on us," Karl said. "You're going to see a lot of individual challenge."

In the defensive categories of rebounds, steals and blocked shots, the Nuggets were among the league's best, thanks in large part to center Marcus Camby, who led the NBA in blocks (3.3) and was fifth in rebounds (11.7).

As a team, the Nuggets ranked third in the NBA in rebounds (43.4), eighth in blocked shots (5.3) and second in steals (8.26).

Nuggets guard Allen Iverson always has been known as a defender who plays the passing lanes, swiping lackluster and errant passes and taking them the length of the court for layups.

Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony showed improved intensity and competence on the defensive end during his run with Team USA this summer. His defensive effort was so good, it prompted Team USA coach Mike Krzyzewski to tell Karl he believed Anthony had the potential to be an all-NBA defensive player.

Anthony didn't disagree.

"That's my goal," Anthony said. "I've showed bits and pieces of me playing defense. But I think this year I'm going to put a little more effort and focus into playing defense and becoming a better defensive player. Once my teammates see me doing that, that will give the opportunity to step up and motivate them to play 'D,' too."

The addition of guard Anthony Carter should help the Nuggets' perimeter defense, as will the acquisition of shot-blocking center Steven Hunter. The team already has the reigning NBA defensive player of the year in Camby, who downplays defending that crown.

"I mean, if it happens it happens," Camby said. "That's not something I'm going to really push for. I'm just going to try to let my play do the talking for me."

That fits the team concept.

"I think last season, toward the end of the season we showed that we could be a good defensive team," Anthony said. "So if we can start off like we ended last season, I think we'll be pretty good."

Footnotes: As expected, Nene (calf) did not participate in practice. He did some light shooting and stretching on the side. ... Karl was satisfied with his team's first morning practice of the 2007-08 season. "Guys had great attitudes," he said. "The maturity team very much was on the court." ... Nuggets single-game season tickets go on sale Saturday at 10 a.m. Prices range from $10 to $110 per seat. Tickets can be bought a variety of ways, including at Ticketmaster locations and at the Pepsi Center box office.

Defense: Is the Key to Nuggets open camp

With an emphasis on defense first, the Nuggets opening training camp today at the Pepsi Center.

Coach George Karl, who this season is focusing on improving the team's defense from the start of camp, was satisfied with the first morning practice of the 2007-08 season.

"Guys had great attitudes," he said. "The maturity team very much was on the court."

Denver ranked 26th in average points allowed (103.73) and tied for 15th in field-goal percentage allowed (.460).

"The things that come to my mind are basically layups in transition and statistically we can't let guys shoot a high percentage on us," Karl said. "You're going to see a lot of individual challenge."

Said Carmelo Anthony: "I think last season, toward the end of the season we showed that we could be a good defensive team. So if we can start off like we ended last season, I think we'll be pretty good."

Footnotes

Nuggets single-game season tickets go on sale on Saturday at 10 a.m. Prices range from $10-$110 per seat. Tickets can be bought a variety of ways, including at Ticketmaster locations and the Pepsi Center box office. ...

As expected, Nene (calf) did not participate in practice. He did do some light shooting on and stretching on the side.

Chucky Atkins excited to backup Allen Iverson

DENVER — Chucky Atkins is used to playing behind All-Star point guards. That's just the way he likes it.

Atkins was signed by the Denver Nuggets in July to back up perennial MVP candidate Allen Iverson but he doesn't mind not starting. In fact, the primary reason he came to Denver is to play with A.I.

"The same thing that burns inside him, burns inside me," Atkins said. "The will to win, the will to leave it all out on the court. If it kills me, that's just the way it is."

Playing for his seventh NBA team and entering his ninth season, Atkins has played with All-Stars Chauncey Billups and Gilbert Arenas and he has has been a starter — but it's the sixth man role he seems to relish.

He finished eighth for the Sixth Man of the Year award last season with the Memphis Grizzlies, averaging 13.2 points and 4.6 assists per game even though Memphis had the league's worst record. He also played on the best team in 2003-04 with the Detroit Pistons, though he just missed a championship when he was traded to Boston midseason.

Atkins said coming off the bench is easy for him. "You come off the bench, you don't have any pressure," he said. "If you've got it going, you've got it. If you don't, you go back and sit."

The veteran player said he has never seen a team as intense as the Nuggets are early in the preseason.

"Just seeing 12-year veterans like Marcus Camby and Allen Iverson working as hard as they are working in training camp, shows me these are guys that really and truly want to win," he said.

Even Kenyon Martin, who has played in just 58 games over the past two seasons because of a knee injury, has been working out with his surgically repaired right knee wrapped tight and occasionally iced.

Martin is only able to practice for about 45 minutes each day but it's a testament to the team's dedication, Atkins said. "Kenyon's not able to go for the whole time, but guys see Kenyon and he's on one-and-a-half legs, but he's coming out there and giving us everything. There ain't no slacking," Atkins said.

On paper, the Nuggets are one of the league's most talented teams. Carmelo Anthony and A.I. finished second and eighth in the NBA scoring race last year; Marcus Camby won the Defensive Player of the Year award and Nene averaged career highs in points and rebounds. Atkins is coming off one of his best seasons as a pro.

But it's still a team that was bounced rather unceremoniously from the playoffs, beaten by the San Antonio Spurs in five games in the first round.

What's the key to avoiding a fifth straight early exit?

"Getting off to a good start," Camby said. "Solidifying our home court. The last couple of years we always talked about playing here in Denver should be to our advantage. But we haven't been getting the job done at our home court, especially last year."

Augmon signed

The Nuggets signed veteran forward Stacey Augmon on Wednesday. Augmon, 6-8, 213, has played 15 NBA seasons with Atlanta, Detroit, Portland, Charlotte/New Orleans and Orlando. Most recently, he averaged 2.0 ppg and 1.5 rpg in 36 games with Orlando during the 2005-06 season.

Iverson sued

A lawsuit has been filed in Douglas County (Neb.) District Court against Iverson, claiming he did not show up at a weekend of booked appearances in Omaha in early August.

Kermit Brashear, the lawyer for the promotion company that booked Iverson for the events, said Wednesday they know nothing more than what Iverson's representatives told HYB Entertainment promoter Dave Chambers: that Iverson had a family emergency.

The lawsuit seeks $44,000 in damages.

Iverson was unavailable to comment Wednesday after the Nuggets' morning practice. A call to his manager, Gary Moore, by The Associated Press was not immediately returned. Moore is also the president of Crossover Promotions, Iverson's promotions company.

The company's Web site still listed the three Omaha events on its schedule.