George Karl wants the Nuggets to play with more of an edge.

"One of my angry points right now is I think we're playing too much of a finesse game and not an aggressive game and not an angry game," Karl said.

The Nuggets are 3-7 over their last ten games and are looking for a leader to guide them through a rough patch of the season.

"You know how in China, it's the year of the tiger? It's the year of the excuse in the NBA," said Karl, his raspy voice rising with passion to shout his displeasure about a team that headed into the season's toughest stretch on cruise control.

"I hear guys say they're tired. You're playing basketball! It's two hours! You get 97 timeouts! How in the heck can you be tired?

"I think there was a period of cruise control a little bit in our approach. And that's where leadership comes in. I think leadership is not in words, it's in approach and attitude and action."