Byline: Aaron J. Lopez, Rocky Mountain News
To see the playoffs clearly, Nuggets coach George Karl would like his team to have 2 0/30 vision.
Karl told his players as much Tuesday, giving them a basic prescription for a 50-win season.
'I'd like to set a Denver Nugget record for most road wins this year. I think that's 21 or 22,' he said. 'I think 30's the minimum we should expect at home.'
Never in 30 NBA seasons have the Nuggets won 20 road games. They were 19-22 under coach Doug Moe in 1987-88 and have managed 18 wins away from the Pepsi Center each of the past two seasons.
The Nuggets have won at least 30 home games seven times, most recently in 2004-05 after Karl took over in midseason and helped them finish 31-10 at home.
'George always got different numbers, depending on the day,' forward Carmelo Anthony said. 'Today is Tuesday. He said he needs 30 home games. Tomorrow it might be 33, so you never know.'
For the fifth year in a row, the Nuggets will open the season on the road as they travel to Los Angeles to face the Clippers on Thursday night.
The Clippers won three or four regular-season games against the Nuggets last season, and then dispatched them 4-1 in the first round of the playoffs.
'They had their way with us the whole season,' Nuggets center Marcus Camby said. 'It was just one of those teams we didn't seem to match up well against. But it's a new year.'
STILL HURTING: Nuggets forward Nene said he plans to play against the Clippers, but he expects to be limited by pain in his surgically repaired right knee.
'Still hurt a little bit,' he said Tuesday. 'We'll see about how much (playing time). I'll see in a day.'
Nene, who tore his anterior cruciate ligament in the 2005-06 opener, averaged 9.2 points 6.4 rebounds and 18.4 minutes in five preseason games.
He was bothered by tendinitis during training camp but said the pain has moved to the front and sides of his knee.
ZERO TOLERANCE: Karl will have a short leash when it comes to anyone he sees walking, jogging or generally lollygagging on the court.
'We're going to play fast and if we don't play fast, I'm going to play someone that's going to play fast,' Karl said. 'I'm not going to be very diplomatic in accepting anything except fast.'
ETC.: Forward Kenyon Martin wore a small bandage during practice to protect a laceration on his right ring finger. He said his stitches will be removed before Thursday's game . . . Nuggets guard Earl Boykins had a photo shoot with KeyBank. Life- sized photos of the 5-foot-5 Boykins soon will be on display in lobbies around Colorado.
