Justise Winslow wasn't the top-five pick that many projected him to be, but he won the night and could win a lot more as a member of the Heat. Read more »

If LeBron James plays team basketball on offense, the Cavaliers still have a chance to win the title without Kyrie Irving. Read more »

J.R. Smith is rejuvenated because his talents and production mean something again. It seems new, it feels fresh, but this version of Smith has been around for a while, the losing with the Knicks just made it harder to see. Read more »

From Tyler Junior College to Marquette to becoming a late first rounder for the Bulls, Jimmy Butler has shown the ability and willingness to grow, develop and contribute every place he’s played. Read more »

In a league where reputations are born due in large part to gaudy averages, Kyle Korver reminds us that a player’s impact is so much more than numbers. Read more »

There’s a maturity that goes with a top-tier game for Damian Lillard. He understands that his success is attached to the team and anything spectacular that he does needs to be in the framework of the team’s plans. Read more »

J.J. Redick has come a long way since his rookie year when then coach Brian Hill wouldn’t give him a consistent chance to play. He’s now a valued NBA commodity and a central part of Orlando's transition period. Read more »

Kemba Walker has become the go-to guy for the Bobcats and quickly gained the trust and respect of his coaches and teammates. Read more »

While there are many things guys like Josh Smith and Al Horford would like to prove personally, they’ve led a team-first approach that has positioned the Hawks near the top of the conference standings. Everything is about team this season, especially the motivation to prove they’re more than a one-man show. Read more »

The Clippers needed a guy that could provide them instant firepower without disrupting their talented core. Crawford was looking for a winning team that would let him contribute without striping him of his ability. It was a perfect marriage and both sides are benefiting. Read more »

The things Raymond Felton can do have made people forget about Jeremy Lin and the hysteria that surrounded his rise to fame last season. Still, the pressure of being the Knicks’ starting point guard in a year they’re expected to win at least one playoff series comes with lofty expectations. Read more »

The Pacers won't get caught up in the dismissal of their championship chances. In fact, they're pretty confident in Indiana. The media may not be talking about them, but they're sure the elite teams in the league know they're a team on the rise. Read more »

Glen Davis will be one of the Magic's go-to guys, a challenge he has wanted for many years. The spotlight, and everything that comes along with it, will be on him this season. He can't wait to get started and is eager to prove he can handle the responsibility of being in a featured role. Read more »

The Magic are positioned to lose Dwight Howard and come out looking like they did everything in their power to keep him. In the meantime, Howard’s image will take another hit. Read more »

Dwight Howard realizes the impact that his indecision has caused and wants to make things right in the city that has watched him grow both professionally and personally since he came into the NBA in 2004 as the first overall pick. Read more »

The biggest part of the weekend for LaMarcus Aldridge was the time he had around the other players. He learned a lot from the guys and plans on taking his lessons back to Portland for the season's stretch run. Read more »

Sources say the Nets are the only team Dwight Howard is truly interested in joining, which incentivizes the option to wait for him to come as a free agent. Read more »