At the shootaround Karl, defended Martin, whose knockdown of Mavericks star Dirk Nowitzki led to the fine. Martin had received a technical foul for the play, but that was rescinded and now he has only two in the postseason (seven would lead to a one-

game postseason suspension).

"I'm confused. I saw some hits in Chicago-Boston, Atlanta-Miami, and this was not on top of the list from my observation," Karl said. "It's amazing to me. ? The rules are changing and their interpretation, I think, is in a good place. They're trying to make the game a Basketball game and not a wrestling match or boxing match. The consistency of what we're trying to figure out is, as a coach, I got to help Kenyon through this, and I'm having trouble doing it."

Karl said the officiating in the postseason has had a "consistent rhythm" but said the "blips have been these interpretations. ? it seems like the interpretation has been on past history, and I'm not sure that's the way it should be. ? Kenyon is a tough defender that, at times, gets the wrong interpretation because he's so tough."

Some in the Nuggets organization suggested Nowitzki fell harder than he should have, to get the attention of the officials. Nuggets vice president of player personnel Rex Chapman said Monday: "Dirk is one of the greatest players ever in the NBA. And he's a good actor, too."

At the Mavericks' shootaround, Nowitzki said with a slight smile about Chapman, a former NBA guard, "I didn't know Rex Chapman was still alive. I don't think I really acted on that play. I drove baseline, got bumped and fouled and kept on driving, but sometimes with the continuation in the league I guess they didn't want to make sure I didn't lay it in and get a chance to count the basket. I don't think I acted on that play. ?

``I've never had acting lessons.''