DENVER -- In his self-described warped, paranoid, pipe dream of a world, Denver Nuggets coach George Karl maintains hope that this could all somehow work out.

He believes Carmelo Anthony can still find peace and happiness here -- at least for a few more weeks.

He thinks the Nuggets, now the healthiest they've been all season, have the pieces in place to rekindle some of the chemistry that carried them to the Western Conference finals just two seasons ago.

He envisions a scenario in which the trade negotiations and speculation that stormed the franchise this week would all melt away like the snow that disappeared Thursday under 50-degree temperatures in the Mile High City.

In other words, Karl still believes in miracles.

And why shouldn't he? This is the same coach who bravely beat prostate (2005) and throat cancer (2010) to resume his coaching career this season. On Thursday night, Karl's "just hang in there" message resulted in yet another triumph amid all the recent turmoil.

The Nuggets have pieced together their two biggest victories of the season after following up Tuesday's 34-point victory over the Phoenix Suns with Thursday's 130-102 shellacking of the LeBron James-less Miami Heat at the Pepsi Center.

It's probably much too late to reverse course on Carmelo's all-but-imminent departure in a trade to either the New Jersey Nets or his more preferred New York Knicks. But performances like the past two Karl got from his team has at least fostered hope of delaying the inevitable.

"I think the chances of this team being somewhat what it is [without trading Anthony in season] is probably just as much as the possibility of it not being the same," Karl said before the Nuggets handed the Heat their worst loss of the season. "That's my reality. That's my thought process. I don't like the drama and I'm no expert on the drama. For me, coaches are paranoid. Coaches get total tunnel vision with 'what ifs.' It's just best for me to stay strong, that somehow, some way this could be our team. And I still think we can be a very good team."

Denver's destruction of the Heat, who were without James because of a sprained ankle, only underscored Karl's message. It's a message Karl has delivered to his players and wants to clearly send to the Nuggets front-office team that's contemplating the fate of the franchise.

But the only assurances anyone is getting around here right now are the veiled ones coming from Anthony. He's day-to-day -- and not in an injured sort of way.

"I'll be here against Cleveland, too," Anthony said regarding his availability for Saturday's home game against the Cavaliers.

"I'll be in San Antonio on Sunday," Anthony volunteered about the Nuggets' trip to play the Spurs on the second night of the weekend back-to-back set.

But beyond that?

"Just keep asking me after every game, and I'll let you know," Anthony said.

Operating amid all of that uncertainty isn't an ideal way to mount a playoff push in the Western Conference, where the Nuggets (22-16) are seventh behind the Spurs, Lakers, Mavericks, Thunder, Jazz and Hornets. But therein lies the conflicting paths the Nuggets are traveling on this season.

On one hand, Karl is riding the hope that this team might legitimately contend this season with Anthony and -- perhaps -- put off his departure until after the season, when Anthony could opt out of his contract and enter free agency.

On the other hand, Nuggets president Josh Kroenke and general manager Masai Ujiri must make the best deal they can to position the franchise for a stable transition in the post-Anthony era. And then there's Anthony's game plan. Caught in the crossfire is a team trying to build on the momentum of the moment despite the constant mood swings.

One option that might appease all sides would be for the Nuggets to play out the season with Melo, do the $65 million contract extension by June's closing window and then trade him on draft night.

"We're getting through it the best we can," guard Chauncey Billups said. "[We] go out, talk about the scouting report, come in and watch the film and try to stick to your regular routine. Any time, winning is always great. I've said this all year. Last game [Phoenix] was the first game that we all played together -- the first game all year. And I believe that. I do."

Billups said Anthony's teammates are beyond being distracted by the trade talk.

"I'm done talking about all that," Billups said. "It's nothing. It's regular. We don't talk to him more or less. It's been the same thing all year. We don't give it any extra energy, you know what I mean?"

Anthony doesn't buy it one bit. He knows the weight of his potential departure is weighing on this team -- even in the midst of the Nuggets' recent prosperity.

"I'm pretty sure they think about it," Anthony said. "If they tell you they don't, I'm pretty sure they'll be lying. We talk. We communicate. Whatever happens is going to happen. But as long as I'm here, I just want everybody to play and have fun."

And believe that anything's possible. That's what the coach is doing, at least.

Karl said he's already started the process of watching footage of forward Derrick Favors, the talented Nets rookie who would be the main piece Denver would acquire for trading Anthony.

But Karl's tone on the subject of change was shallow. His belief in this current team remains deep.

"I think there's a wind of 'What if we're all together?'" Karl said. "What if we become a really good team? And until that isn't in existence, I've got to keep the guys playing every game in that mentality. Get better, get smarter and do our job."

Dimes past: Dec. 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | Jan. 1-2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8-9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13

Zach Harper, TrueHoop Network bloggers and fans gave their in-game opinions throughout Thursday's slate of NBA games in Daily Dime Live.