The hammer is going to be bigger

There's a different tone in Denver this season as George Karl and the Nuggets prepare to open camp.

Said Coach Karl, who's coached in the NBA for 20 years:

"I think they stepped on the coach a little bit too much last year. And that's easy to change.

From the first day, the culture is different, the rules are different, the rewards are different. You define the commitment differently. The hammer is going to be bigger.

Our concepts are going to have to be stronger. Our commitment at every position is going to have to be better focused. There's probably going to be more substitution for lack of focus and commitment than before."