Upon returning home with an Olympic gold medal three months ago, Anthony talked about being a more well-rounded player in 2008-09, and his versatility has helped the Nuggets to a 9-5 record.

Though his 19.8 points per game and 39.1 percent shooting are pedestrian by his standards, his 8.7 rebounds, 4.5 assists and willingness to play defense have been critical to Denver's early-season success.

"My whole thing with Melo is just be relaxed on your scoring. Don't force your scoring. The scoring will happen," Nuggets coach George Karl said. "Get excited about executing plays, get excited about the little things in the game and become a complete player.

"Melo can do almost anything at an All-Star level, and I think sometimes he is a little too possessed by, 'I've got to score to be a success.' "

True to his mellow nature, Anthony rarely looks like a man possessed on or off the court, and he seems to have no problem sacrificing his personal stats for team success.

"I'm enjoying everything right now, just from how we're playing as the team to how everybody has come together," he said. "We still have room for improvement, and that's a good thing."

Anthony certainly has improved his work on the boards, pulling down at least 10 in four of the past six games, and believes he can average double figures this season.

"Rebounding's a big key for me and the team," he said. "After the (starting) five, we're a small team. If I can go out there and help in that category, I think we have a chance to win a Basketball game."

At 6-foot-8, Anthony always has been capable of helping out on the glass, but former teammate Marcus Camby often got to the ball first.

Camby now plays for the Los Angeles Clippers, leaving Anthony as the Nuggets' leading rebounder and leading scorer.

With eight wins in their past 10 games, the Nuggets simply will continue to play follow the leader.

Early bird

Chris Andersen, who has missed the past eight games because of a broken rib, said he hopes to return to the lineup Saturday at Minnesota, one day earlier than originally planned.

"I'm just doing everything to prepare for that - running through the plays, getting up and down the floor," Andersen said after going through noncontact drills Monday.

Karl said Andersen looked like a "first-round draft pick" during practice but took a cautious approach regarding the pending return of "Birdman."

"Getting him into defensive situations and reads and getting him caught up on the changes that we've made . . . that'll take some time," Karl said.

Andersen, injured Nov. 9 against Memphis, plans to wear protective padding around his ribs and joked he might lobby for extra equipment.

"I'm going to go out there in full pads," he said. "Any given Sunday."

Masking the pain

Forward Kenyon Martin said his sprained left wrist still is bothering him, though it was hard to tell from his 10-of-10 shooting performance Sunday night against Chicago.

"If it was my right hand, I'd be in trouble," he said after sitting out practice.

Martin missed two games earlier this month but is playing with the pain because the Nuggets lack depth in the frontcourt.

Numbers game

28.8 percent three-point shooting for Nuggets guard J.R. Smith, who missed all five of his long-range attempts Sunday night against the Chicago Bulls. Smith entered the season shooting 39.6 percent from beyond the arc. "I think he's become a higher priority on other teams' scouting reports," Karl said. "Instead of 'not on the scouting report', you probably have Melo as 1 and J.R. and Nene might be 2."

He said it

"I'm everything, man. I'm one through five right now."

Anthony, on playing multiple positions through the first month of the season.