Rocky starts have slowed the Nuggets

Denver Nuggets coach George Karl had nothing else to say to his team. So before last night's game against the Celtics, he chose to show the Nuggets what is driving him crazy.

Karl showed a film of lowlights from the first quarter of the last three Nuggets' games. The nine-minute film was littered with bad possessions and everything a player would not want to see to boost his confidence.

Karl told the group, "I know this is going to embarrass you. This is made to embarrass you."

And with that he walked out, with no interest to sit and watch for a reaction.

"I didn't sit in there because if I would have been there, I would have yelled at them," Karl said.

It was no different last night. The Celtics broke out to a 31-17 lead en route to a 119-114 victory that dropped the Nuggets to 1-3 on the trip, which includes a 120-91 debacle against Washington Wednesday that Karl referred to as the team's worst game of the season.

Opponents are taking advantage of Denver's early struggles. The Nuggets have been outscored, 140-90 , in the first quarter of the first four games of the trip.

In the first game of the trip Dec. 9, Dallas pulled away with a 41-25 lead after one quarter. The Mavericks went on to a 105-90 victory. On Tuesday, Atlanta took a 29-22 lead after 12 minutes and led by 11 at halftime, but the Nuggets were able to come back for a 100-87 victory.

Then there was Washington. The Wizards led, 39-26, and continued to drain shots en route to the 29-point victory. Last night, the Celtics led, 31-17, after one.

Before the trip, the Nuggets had not trailed at the end of the first quarter.

The Nuggets are benefiting from a prolific offense led by forward Carmelo Anthony, who entered last night averaging 31 points, second in the league.

The Nuggets were averaging 107.4 points, second only to Phoenix (111.1). But Denver was allowing opponents 104.8 points a game, second worst in the league. Golden State entered last night allowing 105.8 points.

Nuggets forward Reggie Evans said the team is more than aware of its need to improve defensively.

"[Karl's] been preaching it a lot, but he doesn't have to preach it," Evans said. "It's obvious. Defense wins games. One thing we have no problem with is offense. Defense is the only way we're going to win games."

The film was the visual the Nuggets needed to see before playing the Celtics, forward Eduardo Najera said.

"I understand [Karl's] frustration. We definitely looked really bad on film and everybody realized it," Najera said. "We are not playing good defensively. And we have to pick it up."

Monique Walker can be reached at mwalker@globe.com