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Since trading Carmelo Anthony last month, the Denver Nuggets have emerged as one of the hottest teams in the NBA. They are 10-4 since the trade and they’re not just beating teams, but rather blowing them out with an average margin of victory of 18.7 points during this stretch. The Nuggets have climbed to the fifth seed in the Western Conference and nobody wants to see them in the first round of the playoffs.

Denver’s attack is scarier than it ever was with Anthony because they don’t have to get a superstar a certain amount of touches and they feature a revolving door of scorers that can lead the way on any given night. Their offense has become less predictable and reliant on one person, and their team defense has been phenomenal as well.

"We all know Melo is a great player, but I don’t think one player has ever won a championship in this league," Kenyon Martin told HOOPSWORLD. "He’s a great player, but it’s all about us playing together right now. That’s what we’re trying to do."

"We’re just going out and playing basketball," he continued. "Everyone here knows how to play and we’re competing every single night. When you compete, you put yourself in position to win. It’s just playing basketball. Once you know how to play this game the right way, you can really fit into any system."

The team’s new acquisitions have adjusted very quickly, and the thought of Denver blowing up the roster even more by trading Nene, Al Harrington and others seems absurd despite the fact that it was seriously considered several weeks ago.

But how long can the Nuggets sustain this level of play? With the San Antonio Spurs, Los Angeles Lakers, Dallas Mavericks and two dates with the Oklahoma City Thunder on the schedule, the team will be able to see where they stand against the elite teams in the conference.

But even if they finish the season strong and make their first round series competitive, this summer could be when the honeymoon comes to an end.

Raymond Felton and his camp have made it very clear that he’s not happy coming off of the bench, and he would likely be voicing his displeasure more if it weren’t for the team’s success.

"It’s working so far. It’s something that I can’t say I’m comfortable with, but at the same time, we’re winning so why say anything? Why complain? Just play ball," Felton told HOOPSWORLD.

The veteran point guard has even hinted that he’ll force a trade out of Denver this offseason, saying that the situation will be resolved this summer despite the fact that he has one more year on his contract. He feels like this is Ty Lawson’s team and he’s not ready to become a reserve.

"It’s just one of those things where if this is where he’s going to be [long term], then we’ll see this summer where I might be," Felton said.

Wilson Chandler could also be gone this summer when he becomes a restricted free agent. Chandler has chosen not to discuss his upcoming free agency, but sources close to the forward say that he’s looking forward to being one of the better players in a weak pool of available talent. He’s expected a big payday and the Nuggets will likely have to match a large offer sheet in order to keep him around.

J.R. Smith, Aaron Afflalo and Kenyon Martin will also become free agents in July. Denver is playing well now, but there is a good chance that their roster will look radically different next season. But for now, the Nuggets will continue as one of the league’s pleasant surprises.

When the blockbuster trade was finalized, nobody expected Denver to be the world-beaters while New York plummeted in the standings. The Nuggets have avoided joining the company of the Utah Jazz, Cleveland Cavaliers and Toronto Raptors, who have all become bottom feeders since trading a superstar. The Nuggets are certainly the exception and they have all the pieces to be a scary team. For now.

Pondexter Couldn’t Be Happier: Quincy Pondexter understands that being a rookie on a playoff team means more cheering than playing, but he wouldn’t have it any other way. While the rookies at the top of his draft class such as John Wall, DeMarcus Cousins and Wesley Johnson are playing more than Pondexter, he feels that being around veterans and waiting for his turn will help his development.

"I love it," Pondexter told HOOPSWORLD. "We have great veteran leaders and they’re really helping me every step of the way. To be on a team that’s contending for a playoff berth, it’s really great.  Being on a winning team, you have to compete for minutes and cheer a lot, but its part of basketball and you have to embrace it. I love it and I wouldn’t want it any other way. I’m a winner. I hate losing so going to a team that wasn’t contending or wasn’t in the position that we’re in right now, I don’t think I would have been able to handle it."

The 26th pick in last year’s draft hasn’t had to lose nearly as much as his peers, but he realizes that losing throughout the course of an 82 game season is just as difficult as it was at every other level he’s played on.

"You definitely take it seriously," he said. "Some people might say it doesn’t bug professional athletes because their salaries or whatever, but I’m going home thinking about every game. It doesn’t change. If you love competing, it’s always going to bug you. I think everyone in this locker room has that same feeling."

{AUTHOR_BOX}That’s because head coach Monty Williams and general manager Dell Demps have raised expectations, which put an emphasis on winning and returned this team to contender status.

"They’ve created a winning atmosphere here," Pondexter said. "They really want to win games and you can tell that by how competitive Coach Monty is and by the moves that Dell is making because he sees a bright future for this organization. They’re all about winning and that’s what we’re all here for."

Pondexter has had a difficult time adjusting to the packed schedule and rigorous travel, but he knows that all players go through the same thing during their first year in the league.

"There’s really no preparing someone for this level of basketball," Pondexter said. "Every player that’s in their first year in the league, it’s kind of a reality check. There’s so many games that you’re going to play, so many practices and it’s such a long season. You really have to give your whole life to the game and you have to give your body to it. There have been plenty of wakeup calls out there."

Because he doesn’t always get on the court during games, he has worked harder behind the scenes to develop his game and make sure he’s ready when his number is eventually called.

"You have to do what you’ve been doing all season, which is working hard. That means being the first one into the gym, and the last one to leave. I know it sounds cliché, but that’s what you have to do. You have to really dedicate yourself to this game and then it’ll all work out for the best. At the end of the day, it’s always good to be part of a winning team. That’s what matters the most," Pondexter said.

The rookie has learned a lot from the Hornets’ veterans, especially Chris Paul.

"He’s special," Pondexter said. "He’s really special. I’ve played with a lot of great players, but none of them have been special like he is. You can tell why he’s one of the greatest players to play the point guard position because all of things that he does night in, night out and even in practice. He’s just such a great leader. He leads by example, he leads in the locker room and he leads in every other way possible. He’s mastered a lot of the game."

Being around so many veterans has kept Pondexter on the bench at times this season, but he’s also been able to learn from players that have a much greater knowledge of the game. Being around experienced players has made him realize just how hard he has to work to achieve his goals and eventually be in their shoes.

"I have a lot of respect for those guys," Pondexter said. "It’s great for me to be a rookie and on a team like this because hopefully when it’s my time, I can look at those guys, really appreciate what they’ve done and continue to respect the game of basketball. That’s what it’s really all about; continuing to respect the game of basketball. It’s something that we all grew up loving it and it’s something you always have to cherish. It’s provided so much for me and my family. I have to put all I have into it."

Pondexter is mature well beyond his years and his work ethic will ensure that he’s ready developmentally when his time comes.

NBA News and Notes: Here are some items from this week’s news and notes bin.

• Yesterday, the Tennessee Volunteers fired head coach Bruce Pearl, who has been charged by the NCAA with unethical conduct for a number of off court transgressions. Sources close to the situation said that had Tennessee stood by Pearl, the school would have lost up to two scholarships for two to three years and would have had to work around major recruiting restrictions. Also, Pearl would have received a two year show-cause. The program would have also had a postseason ban that lasted at least one season. With Pearl fired, he’ll still get his show-cause, but the university will likely only lose one scholarship and have minor recruiting restrictions that would limit campus visits among other things. Many candidates have already surfaced to replace Pearl including Lawrence Frank, Shaka Smart, Chris Mooney, Anthony Grant, Buzz Williams, Gregg Marshall, Mark Turgeon and Chris Mack.

• In 2009, Kelenna Azubuike underwent surgery to repair a torn patellar tendon in his left knee. He was expecting to miss the remainder of that season and be ready for training camp this year. But his recovery took much longer than expected and he was never able to get on the court, which is why the New York Knicks waived him last month. Now, Azubuike is going back under the knife today because he says the first surgery "wasn’t done right," which is why he wasn’t able to get his knee back to full strength. After undergoing this second surgery, Azubuike will complete another rehab stint and then try to resume his career.

• The Milwaukee Bucks decided not to extend Earl Barron’s second 10-day contract yesterday so the center is once again on the market. Several teams, including the Portland Trail Blazers and New York Knicks, have expressed interest in the seven-footer that has career averages of 5.2 points and 3.6 rebounds.

• Da’Sean Butler hasn’t played basketball since tearing his ACL in West Virginia’s loss to Duke in the last April’s national semifinals. But that could change soon because last year’s second-round pick has been cleared to play, and is looking to sign with a team before the regular season comes to an end. Several teams are intrigued by Butler and feel he’s a low-risk, high-reward project that could ultimately pan out and become a contributor in the future.