"Pass the ball more."

"You don't need to score 30 all the time."

Then a funny thing happened on the way through five straight first-round playoff exits, four under Karl, the Nuggets coach since January 2005. Anthony started to listen.

"I got tired of him talking about that," the Nuggets forward said. "So I can deliver now."

While much has been made of point guard Chauncey Billups' arrival from Detroit and an improved defense, just as important to the Nuggets' solid start has been Anthony becoming a better all-around player.

Anthony is averaging 20.8 points and shooting 40.3 percent, both of which would be career lows. But he's on pace to shatter his career bests with averages of 8.6 rebounds and 4.2 assists.

"Melo, I think in time, should try to move toward being a triple-double guy, more creative in being a playmaker than a scorer," said Karl, whose Nuggets (10-6) play at Minnesota tonight. "I think he's done well so far this year. . . . We don't need him to be a 30-point scorer."

Anthony has stepped up his game in other areas out of necessity. When rebounding standout Marcus Camby was dealt during the summer to the Los Angeles Clippers, Anthony knew he had to grab more boards.

Then came the Nov. 3 deal in which high-scoring teammate Allen Iverson was shipped to the Pistons in the move that netted Billups.

While the Nuggets got a playmaker to find better ways to get the ball to Anthony, the tradeoff was opponents coming up with more junk defenses designed to stop Anthony.

"Any time you have someone like A.I. across from me, it's going to come a lot easier (on offense)," said Anthony, who averaged 28.9 points in 2006-07 while playing much of the season with Iverson and 25.7 spending all of last season with him. "But now they're saying, 'Beat us with the pass.'

"But that's good, because it makes me better and the team better. It's good and it's not good. But I'm seeing now that I can make my teammates better. . . . And I'm putting a major effort into knowing I've got to rebound and play defense for us to get better."

Nuggets assistant Adrian Dantley said it's simply a matter of the talented Anthony wanting to improve his all- around game. Dantley said it hasn't bothered Anthony that his scoring average has fallen, because the Nuggets are winning, having gone 9-3 since Billups put on a Denver uniform.

With defenses employing various zones against Anthony, he still sometimes forces shots, as evidenced by his less-than-stellar shooting percentage. Still, Anthony is averaging 16.9 field- goal attempts per game, down from 19.2 last season.

"He's trusting everybody," Nuggets point guard Anthony Carter said. "He's getting double-teamed and triple-teamed, and he knows, if we're going to win, he's got to have to trust everybody on the weak side and just move the ball. And I think he's making a more conscious effort to get more rebounds since we lost (Camby)."

Indeed, Anthony has.

In 2005-06, Karl's first full Denver season, the 6-foot-8, 230-pound Anthony averaged 4.9 rebounds, a rather embarrassing figure for someone of his size and strength. But with Karl constantly on him, Anthony increased his rebounding to 6.0 in 2006-07 and 7.4 last season.

"Melo had his moments last year," Karl said. "I think this spurt started somewhere last year. His focus, his discipline for staying in his rebounding slot and rebounding the ball (have improved)."

During his past eight games, Anthony has averaged 9.9 boards, including two games in which he grabbed 13.

"I'd say double digits," Anthony said of how many rebounds he wants to average this season.

Clippers assistant Kim Hughes, who served as interim coach Wednesday when Anthony totaled 30 points and 11 rebounds in Denver's 106-105 win in Los Angeles, believes that's doable.

"Have you seen the size of him? He's huge," Hughes said. "He's making the effort (to rebound more)."

Of course, it's not Hughes' job to get in Anthony's ear. That belongs to Karl.

After several years, it looks as if the message is arriving.

INFOBOX

Nuggets at Timberwolves

* When: 6 MST tonight.

* Where: Target Center, Minneapolis.

* TV/radio: Altitude 2; KTNI-FM (101.5).

* Probable starting lineups

Denver (10-6) Pos. Ht. Pts.

15 Carmelo Anthony F 6-8 20.8

4 Kenyon Martin F 6-9 13.5

31 Nene C 6-11 15.1

30 Dahntay Jones G 6-6 5.6

7 Chauncey Billups G 6-3 16.4

Coach:George Karl

Minnesota (4-10) Pos. Ht. Pts.

8 Ryan Gomes F 6-10 10.6

25 Al Jefferson F 6-10 22.5

34 Jason Collins C 7-0 2.1

33 Mike Miller G 6-8 12.1

4 Randy Foye G 6-4 11.1

Coach:Randy Wittman

* Injuries: Denver - C Steven Hunter (right knee surgery) is out. Minnesota - G Kevin Ollie (strained right calf) is doubtful.

* Notes: After being benched Wednesday against the Clippers for being late to a practice, Nuggets reserve guard J.R. Smith bounced back Thursday against New Orleans. He scored 32 points as Denver lost 105-101. . . . After missing nine games because of a broken rib, Nuggets forward Chris Andersen returned Thursday, providing much energy while totaling six points and eight rebounds in 23 minutes. . . . Nene scored nine points Thursday, ending a streak of 12 straight games in double figures. . . . The Nuggets have won six straight against Minnesota, including 90-84 on Nov. 16 at the Pepsi Center.