DENVER — Thunder in downtown Denver.

George Karl stood, hands in pockets, just off the stage. Fans were roaring and stomping and celebrating the feats of Carmelo Anthony, Chauncey Billups and company.
Karl watched with the slightest of grins. This is the team he designed. This is the team he has long awaited. This is a team that may have only begun its march.
In the game’s final seconds, thousands of fans at Pepsi Center shouted in unison, “Beat LA!”
Give Karl credit. He’s the man who delivered hope to this team and this state. Can the Nuggets topple the Lakers?
Sure, they can.
The tendency is to hand almost all the credit for the Denver Nuggets transformation to Billups. He’s the Colorado kid who came home to revive his favorite team. It’s a great story.
But it’s not the only story.
Somehow, Karl has faded into the shadows. It says much about him that he’s comfortable there. He doesn’t demand the spotlight. He points to his players, gives them credit. He’s the team’s calm, mature king.
This maturity has been a long time coming. For decades, Karl was the coach who refused to grow up. He tangled, endlessly and needlessly, with his stars in Cleveland, Golden State, Seattle and Milwaukee. He was fired four times.
Don’t get me wrong. Karl hasn’t completely changed. He still confronts players, but now he takes his challenges to the edge and stops there.
Karl chuckled while describing himself after Wednesday night’s 124-110 smackdown of the Dallas Mavericks. He had plenty to laugh about. The Nuggets have roared to eight playoff wins by an average of 20 points. They’ve lost twice by a total of four points.
“I’m stubborn,” Karl said. “Eccentric. Goofy, at times.”
And effective.
Karl remains relentless. He demanded more — more defending, more passing, more caring — from Anthony, and he got it.
Three years ago, Karl clashed with Kenyon Martin. It was ugly, and a basketball divorce seemed inevitable. In Karl’s past, there was no way he would have made peace with Martin.
But this is the new, improved Karl.
“In my old age, I don’t want to be a dictator,” Karl said.
The former dictator has converted to a man who believes in cooperation and collaboration. Under Karl’s direction, the Nuggets are playing basketball at its purest, highest level.
Their defense verges on stalking. The Hornets and Mavericks moaned about the Denver’s rough stuff, but the Nuggets seldom stepped over the line. They played fiercely, but not with evil intent.
The Nuggets play with generosity. Karl played for North Carolina’s Dean Smith, emperor of the extra pass. Anthony and Billups are, despite their gifts, always looking for teammates.
Most important, the Nuggets believe. All season, Karl has declined to bow down to the Lakers. He’s said, politely but firmly, the Lakers can be toppled. Of course, the Lakers still have to conquer the Houston Rockets to set up a clash with the Nuggets.
Earlier this season, Karl’s optimistic words seemed outrageous.
On Wednesday, “Beat LA!” thundered through a packed, thrilled arena.
And everything about the chant sounded possible.