That sound you just heard was George Karl checking his locks

So Larry Brown has resigned in his barely-there VP role with the Sixers, because he wants another crack at coaching.

And the Nuggets will soon find themselves swept out of the playoffs due to their utter lack of defense, with a veteran team that did win 50 games in the hyper-competitive West, with a still frisky Allen Iverson, and a freshly chastened Carmelo Anthony...

Well, if you are the Nuggets, what other options do you have, other than to toss the Asking To Be Killed Karl, and bring in a proven winner / defense guy? Sure, Brown and Anthony didn't get along at all in the USA Basketball team, and Iverson, even while older and wiser, is a soap opera waiting to happen. Brown, even with all of the faculties that he brings to the table, can't disguise the fact that his top scorers are defensive sieves even when motivated. AI's always been small, and Melo's always saved it for offense and had bad technique. He got away with it thanks to the Syracuse zone and Hakim Warrick being a great college shot blocker. In the pros, he scores 25 to 30 a game, and gives up 18 to 22. You live with it, but only just.

At least with Larry, you get the chance in hell that JR Smith learns some defense, Nene getting run off for some Theo Ratliff-esque retread, Anthony Carter getting told to play more like Eric Snow, and a disastrous personnel move or three. Heck, Dikembe Mutumbo's got roots in the area, along with actual roots coming out of his shoes... and Camby needs a backup, right?

So no, this won't work, but short of finding a GM that's willing to give up Pau Gasol for turds and tears, what else are you going to do? It'll sell tickets...