The decision by Denver Nuggets management to deal Allen Iverson to the Detroit Pistons early in the season could have resulted in catastrophe — especially considering that defensive leader Marcus Camby had previously been jettisoned in a salary dump. But thanks to a big assist from Chauncey Billups, who's proved to be the real answer for the team, coach George Karl managed to fuse the players at his disposal into a unit far more cohesive than the one that chalked up fifty wins the year before. Later in the season, when Carmelo Anthony refused to come out of a game, Karl didn't throw a fit; he simply benched him for the next one. He should get an award for that alone.