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In response to Faried receiving a humanitarian award Wednesday, Jackson added, "Congratulations to him. Well deserved. I will not allow one action or one moment to define who he is as a person or a basketball player. I will not call one of his players an elbow-throwing blank. That won't happen." Contra Costa Times

Denver Nuggets, Golden State Warriors, Mark Jackson, Kenneth Faried 

Mark Jackson wasn't quite ready to let go of the rough treatment Curry received in Game 5 in Denver on Tuesday, specifically what he viewed as an intentional attempt by Nuggets big man Kenneth Faried to kick his star guard's ankle. "I can live with physical basketball. Taking a stab at Steph Curry's ankle is not physical basketball," Jackson said, picking up where he left off in the immediate aftermath after Game 5. "You can hit him. I was even caught on tape being asked what would happen if I played against him and he heated up. I'd be physical with him. So that's understandable. It's not hypocritical. But there's no part of me that says I'd be dirty with him. If you attempt to kick him with your foot on his foot, that's not a basketball play. That's a cheap shot." Contra Costa Times

Denver Nuggets, Golden State Warriors, Mark Jackson, Kenneth Faried 

In addition to revisiting the Faried play, Jackson also sounded like coach sending a message to the league and Game 6 referees that they need to be doing a better job protecting one of the NBA's premier players. "Steph Curry is a star basketball player, some would say he's a superstar basketball player," Jackson said. "He's on the floor for 42 minutes against a team whose game plan is to be physical with him, and he does not get to the foul line. Unheard of. That needs to be looked at." Contra Costa Times

Denver Nuggets, Golden State Warriors, Mark Jackson, Kenneth Faried 

In the aftermath of Mark Jackson's volatile postgame accusations that the Nuggets are "dirty" and put "hit men" out on guard Stephen Curry, Denver coach George Karl responded Wednesday by saying, "My basic reaction is — he's watching a different movie than I'm watching." Denver Post

Denver Nuggets, Golden State Warriors, George Karl, Mark Jackson 

George Karl: "We don't like each other, we shouldn't like each other, there's pain and anguish to every win and loss. Competitive spirit. I'm just trying to figure out what movie he's watching, because it's not the one I'm watching." Denver Post

Denver Nuggets, Golden State Warriors, George Karl, Mark Jackson 

The Warriors and Nuggets series has been extremely competitive, and extremely entertaining. But it might be headed to new levels of intensity for Game 6. Because following Denver's Game 5 win, Warriors coach Mark Jackson lobbed some serious accusations at the Nuggets. "They were the more physical team, the aggressor," Warriors coach Mark Jackson said. "They hurt us in the first half scoring the basketball in the paint, made us pay for our turnovers. They tried to send hit men on Steph Curry." CBSSports.com

Denver Nuggets, Golden State Warriors, Mark Jackson 

David Baumann: I love GSW G Jarrett Jack's rebuttal about Mark Jackson's comments about the Nuggets' "dirty play:" Reporter: Was it dirty? Jack: Nope. Twitter @DavidBaumann33

Denver Nuggets, Golden State Warriors, Mark Jackson, Jarrett Jack 

Zach Lowe: Those who missed it: Mark Jackson accused DEN of taking cheap shots at Steph, hinted DEN people came to him and warned him with "inside info." Twitter @ZachLowe_NBA

Denver Nuggets, Golden State Warriors, Mark Jackson, Stephen Curry 

Warriors coach Mark Jackson, a former teammate of Amaechi, is familiar with Collins. He spent three years on the New Jersey broadcast team while Collins was with the Nets and even knows Jason's parents through Southern California connections. "I know Jason Collins. I know his family," said Jackson, an ordained minister. "I'm certainly praying for them at this time. "He comes from a great family. He's a great guy." Contra Costa Times

Mark Jackson, Jason Collins 

With so many players to praise after the Warriors' Game 4 playoff victory over Denver on Sunday night, coach Mark Jackson neglected to critique the performance of his wife, Desiree Coleman Jackson, who sang the national anthem at Oracle Arena. He was asked about her performance Monday, however. "It was great, I thought the crowd was incredible and I think the cat is out of the bag that I'm the second-most talented person in my family," Jackson said. Contra Costa Times

Golden State Warriors, Mark Jackson, Desiree Coleman Jackson 

Marcus Thompson: Mark Jackson on his rookies: "We drafted three grown men. ... We drafted three pros. ... We got three home runs in the draft." Twitter @gswscribe

Golden State Warriors, Mark Jackson, Harrison Barnes, Draymond Green, Festus Ezeli 

Curry's 22-point third quarter blew open a close game and gift-wrapped a stirring 115-101 Game 4 victory, delighting 19,596 full-throated human beings and putting the underdog Warriors one victory away from taking this first-round Western Conference playoff series. "It was almost like he had been waiting for this for his entire career, and he wasn't going to allow his body to tell him it was too hurt to match the moment," Warriors coach Mark Jackson said. "It was an incredible, incredible performance by him once again." Contra Costa Times

Golden State Warriors, Mark Jackson, Stephen Curry 

When the pregame stuff settled and all his attention turned to the court, coach Mark Jackson noticed something that had him shaking his head. Unbeknownst to him, point guard Stephen Curry had taken off the brace protecting his sprained left ankle. "I've learned very early, he's very slick. So he picks and chooses the time in which he thinks I'm not looking. So when I found out, he was already running up and down the court," Jackson said. Contra Costa Times

Golden State Warriors, Mark Jackson, Injuries, Stephen Curry 

Ethan Strauss: MJax on whether he treats non Christian players equally: "{Jesus} didn't just hang around a bunch of Christians. He hung around everybody." Twitter

Golden State Warriors, Mark Jackson 

I asked Phil Jackson about Mark Jackson. I again expected a cliche answer about what a swell job Mark Jackson is doing. Instead: "I have some problems with guys going directly from the (television) booth to coaching, without any preparation," said Phil Jackson, who worked his way up from coaching in minor-league outposts like Albany and Puerto Rico. "It's not that easy. Doc Rivers did it, and other guys have done it, and I think Mark was prepared to do that, but it's still a shock, so to speak - the practice, preparation and the whole nine yards, when you've been sitting on the observing end of it. ... "But I hold nothing against Mark for having the opportunity." San Francisco Chronicle

Doc Rivers, Phil Jackson, Coaching, Mark Jackson, Puerto Rico 

Jackson has been coy about how he'll replace Lee in the starting lineup and overall, but I've got to believe the Warriors are leaning towards going small (with Harrison Barnes moving to the 4 and Jarrett Jack into the starting lineup) for most of the game, whether that's to start the game or not. It's just the best way to get his better, faster players on the floor at the same time, and then Jackson can pinpoint when he wants to get Carl Landry in for some post scoring... and I'd think Jackson will have a quick trigger on Landry and Bogut playing together, since they don't seem like a real fit and they didn't play much in tandem this season. Contra Costa Times

Golden State Warriors, Mark Jackson, Jarrett Jack, Carl Landry, Harrison Barnes 

Rusty Simmons: Mark Jackson on David Lee: "We can’t replace him. We know that. That’s the thing we have to know right away." Twitter @Rusty_SFChron

New York Knicks, Mark Jackson, David Lee, Injuries 

Mark Jackson, for the first time, downplayed Bogut's impact vs. DEN. But Ezeli is wearing a bulky right knee brace because he sprained his right knee last game. He said it's fine, but he doesn't know how much the brace will slow him up. Still, Biedrins said he can help in this series. Sulia

Golden State Warriors, Mark Jackson, Injuries, Festus Ezeli 

Marcus Thompson: Jackson said Denver had the coaching advantage. Karl's response: "Pile on the expectations, why don't ya. I've been the underdog before." Twitter @gswscribe

Denver Nuggets, Golden State Warriors, George Karl, Mark Jackson 

Tom Withers: #Warriors coach Mark Jackson said he has not heard if #Cavs have contacted Golden State assistant Mike Malone. "He deserves a chance." Twitter @twithersAP

Cleveland Cavaliers, Golden State Warriors, Coaching, Mark Jackson, Mike Malone