Karl disses 'Melo's defense

CLEVELAND - Carmelo Anthony hasn't been out of Denver a week and already his poor relationship with Nuggets coach George Karl has come to the surface.

Karl took a shot at his former star player during an interview on TNT Thursday night when he talked about a commitment to defense.

"The system sometimes ties you up from getting the commitment," Karl said. "You have to handle what Melo gives you. I'm not knocking Melo; he is a great offensive player. Melo is the best offensive player I've ever coached, but his defensive focus, his demand of himself, is what frustrated us more than anything."

Anthony was watching the game, and he responded on his Twitter account. "Damn, are u serious," he wrote. "Some people never [cease] to amaze me. Unbelievable." He then said, "When the grass is cut, the snakes will show."

Friday at the shootaround, Anthony said: "That's him, that's George Karl. I don't know, I try not to pay too much attention to that. I know what I've done there in the 71/2 years I was there, going to the Western Conference finals. I know last year as a team, we were top five in a lot of categories on the defensive end. So all that stuff, I don't know where it's coming from, but I try not to pay too much attention to it."

Azubuike sighting?

Inactive shooting guard Kelenna Azubuike has been told by coaches to get mentally prepared for game action. His 6-5 frame would be ideal to defend against big guards such as Dwyane Wade if the Knicks meet the Heat in the playoffs. Azubuike says he is "about 80 percent" recovered from a ruptured patella tendon in his right knee.