"It has become fashionable to rip the quality of basketball being played as NBA teams squeeze in their 66-game seasons.

TNT's Charles Barkley has been the most vocal critic, calling the quality of play "an embarrassment."

"I can't believe how bad the NBA is right now," Barkley said. "I feel bad for the fans."

Barkley considers the Nuggets and Portland Trail Blazers two of the better teams in the Western Conference. So he probably was willing to give them a pass Saturday night, when the Nuggets played their third game in three nights and Portland — the "well-rested" team — played its third game in four nights.

"I don't think about that stuff, man. Get that out of your head," said Nuggets coach George Karl, referring to the fatigue factor.

"We're playing basketball, and none of that matters. Your body will follow your heart and your head," Karl said. "Fatigue is my job to figure out, not their job. ... Everybody's going to have to be ready to play extra minutes. If you think you're tired, you'll be tired. If you think you're going to be OK, you'll be OK."

Karl shook his head at Barkley's scathing review of the league.

"I don't agree with that. I know Barkley threw it out there, but I think it's an overreaction," Karl said."