Denver Nuggets head coach George Karl has missed a number of his squad's games since March 16 after being diagnosed with treatable neck and throat cancer.

Prior to Karl leaving the bench, Denver had been one of the hottest teams in the NBA, winning 11 or 14 games coming out of the All-Star break. Following Karl's diagnosis, the Nuggets finished the regular season 7-7, losing out on a shot at a high playoff seed and settling for fourth in the tough Western Conference.

Now Denver is on the brink of elimination after falling behind, 3 games to 1, in a best-of-seven first round series with a Utah Jazz squad that's missing two starters (Andrei Kirilenko and Mehmet Okur). Outside of Carmelo Anthony (41 minutes, 34.5 points, 7 boards, 52 percent from the field, 46 percent from three, 94 percent from the line for the series), no one on the Nuggets roster has played with much fire.

Some of that can be attributed to Karl's absence (And the absolute joke of a coaching job Adrian Dantley has done. I have a better shot at becoming Grand Wizard of the Klan than he does at being offered a full-time coaching job.). But not all the blame can be placed on Dantley's shoulders, since anyone with any knowledge of the NBA will tell you it's a "player's league" and that coaches are kept around mostly to manage egos.

If that is the case, some of the blame for Denver's lack of urgency has to go to former NBA Finals MVP Chauncey Billups. Last season, Billups' first in his hometown, saw the Denver product lead the Nuggets to within two wins of the NBA Finals. This season, Denver had been talked about as a legitimate championship contender up until running into Utah's Deron Williams in the playoffs. Williams has torched the Nuggets this series to the tune of 26.8 points and 12 assists/game. Williams is also shooting 50 percent from the field and in three pointers.

Billups' numbers have been steady, as usual, for the series. The former Piston has netted 17.8 points and 6.5 assists/game, while shooting 45 percent from the field. But his impact should be felt in more than just the box score. His wealth of big-game experience and knowledge of the game should resonate on the court, in the locker room and in the huddle. Not once this series have I seen him get in a guy's face or attempt to take a more vocal approach during a time-out or a stoppage of play. At 33, Billups should be a coach on the floor. He is, for the most part, but coaching your guys up is more than telling them what spot to go to in a halfcourt set.

I don't see Denver climbing out of its 3-1 hole, but if that is to happen, Billups has to be more of a vocal leader.