 | Butler's Impactful Start In Dallas
Truth be told, the defensive-minded Brendan Haywood is probably the piece the Mavs needed most. Caron Butler, however, gives the team a guard that can go out and make guys like Carmelo, Kobe and Roy work extra hard on both ends of the floor, something they haven’t had in past years.
|  |
|
 | Context In Statistics: Pace Factor
Monta Ellis shoots 22.1 shots per game on a team that averages 102.7 possessions. That works out to 21.5% of possessions ending in Monta shots, which is less than both Carmelo Anthony and Kobe Bryant, while just slightly ahead of Kevin Durant.
|  |
|
 | Iverson Finds The Answer
It's like the giant elephant in the room, only we're talking about a future Hall of Fame guard and the NBA.
|  |
|
 | The NBA's Most Valuable Auxiliary Weapon
There have been a number of changes for the Lakers since winning the 2009 NBA Finals. They have dropped to 10th in offensive efficiency, while climbing to first in defense. And they still need an engaged Lamar Odom to beat the NBA's best.
|  |
|
 | More Help Needed To Get 4th Seed
Chris Bosh, Andrea Bargnani and Jarrett Jack are key contributors and for the most part have been there on a game-to-game basis, but the Raptors will need contributions from Hedo Turkoglu, Antonie Wright and Reggie Evans to get homecourt in the first round.
|  |
|
 | Picking At Washington’s Bones
The Wizards have altered their roster drastically, and necessarily, regardless of if the return was sufficient. They have also changed the scenery of the NBA's highest echelon in the process.
|  |
|
 | Grading The Deal: Rockets Win Big By Unloading McGrady
Even though all three teams win, the Rockets safely made out very well with Kevin Martin, Jordan Hill, the right to switch picks with New York in 2011 and a first rounder in 2012.
|  |
|
 | Grading The Deal: Celtics Make Nate Lone Deadline Acquisition
Nate Robinson makes the Celtics better, but marginally and not nearly enough to win their second title in three seasons unless multiple 30-somethings all of a sudden get younger and healthy.
|  |
|
 | A Risk Of A Lifetime
The Knicks would have had more cap room than any other team in 2011, which makes the potential of striking out in 2010 following their deadline deal are the more risky.
|  |
|
 | Grading The Deal: Bobcats, Bulls Agree To Win-Win Deal
The Bobcats have been dreaming of their first-ever playoff appearance and the addition of Tyrus Thomas could help make that a reality.
|  |
|
 | Grading The Deal: Blazers Get Camby
While giving up virtually nothing, the Blazers improved their playoff chances by acquiring Marcus Camby. Camby will immediately stop Portland from getting killed up front by reducing the minutes of Juwan Howard.
|  |
|
 | Grading The Deal: Bucks Make Bold Move For Salmons
Barring another move, the Bulls may have given the Bucks an advantage in the playoff race to be eliminated by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first round, but they have positioned themselves exactly where they want to be this summer.
|  |
|
 | Upgrading Cleveland's Title Chances
When looking at Cleveland's trade options, it is equally important to examine how the team can upgrade the minutes filled by current players as much as it is looking at the back of a few different basketball cards and deciding who is most impressive.
|  |
|
 | Pacers Unlikely To Swing Deal
Troy Murphy, Mike Dunleavy, T.J. Ford and Jeff Foster all have significant contracts that expire after the 2010-11 season, meaning Indiana could be incredibly active next February.
|  |
|
 | The Annual Amare Trade Rumors Of February
The Suns are once again attempting to deal Amare Stoudemire, a strategy that can only make sense financially.
|  |
|
 | Short Love With A Long Divorce
Tyrus Thomas was the unproven 'fall in love with his potential' guy in the first year the NBA banned high school players from the draft.
| |
|
 | Barnes Outworks Peers, Defies Odds
Matt Barnes isn’t as glamorous as LeBron James, Kobe Bryant or Dwight Howard, but his journey represents one of the truest beliefs in sports and life – hard work pays off. Barnes and several of his teammates discussed his journey with RealGM.
|  |
|
 | It Was Time For Change
With or without Blake Griffin, the Clippers have too much talent to be so far under .500 and some Clippers weren't even aware they just went 2-6 on their eight-game road trip until RealGM informed them.
|  |
|
 | South Beach Quiet: Miami’s Mediocrity
Kobe, LeBron, and Wade… The order of their “best player in the league” ranking is debatable, but the fact that Miami is a mediocre team is not.
|  |
|
 | Crawford Finds His Niche
Prior to joining the Hawks, Jamal Crawford had started in his previous 145 games. Now, he is flourishing as the main man off the bench and will appropriately receive serious Sixth Man of the Year consideration.
|  |
|
 | Royally Impressive
Behind Tyreke Evans and the coaching of Paul Westphal, the Kings are defying expectations and are proving to be much more competitive than any expert would have predicted.
|  |
|
 | Sam Young’s Journey Is A Remarkable One
Sam Young was the third pick by the Grizzlies in the 2009 NBA Draft, but he's easily had the biggest impact. RealGM caught up with Young after he scored a career high 20 points.
|  |
|
 | Maynor Using Utah’s Resources
Eric Maynor is an increasingly rare four-year, small college rookie. He sat down with RealGM to discuss how his first few weeks of NBA life has gone and what he has learned from Deron Williams and Jerry Sloan.
|  |
|
 | Hornets Trying To Adjust To Life After Scott
For a team that has every reason to question the direction of the franchise, the New Orleans Hornets are actually saying all the right things.
|  |
|
 | Afflalo Impresses While J.R. Sits
Arron Afflalo spoke to RealGM about how he is making the most of his new opportunity with the Denver Nuggets.
|  |
|
 | 2009-10 Season Preview: Oklahoma City Thunder
The Thunder could find a way into the playoffs, but Sam Presti's refusal to deviate from his long term plans when he had cap space to utilize this past summer makes that an order too tall for the impressively rapid development of their core.
|  |
|
 | 2009-10 Season Preview: San Antonio Spurs
Assuming Manu Ginobili is healthy, along with the additions of Antonio McDyess and Richard Jefferson, San Antonio shouldn’t have a problem posting a win total in the mid-50s once again.
|  |
|
