At 32, Udonis Haslem understands this postseason – this Eastern Conference finals series, in particular – has tested his body. Roy Hibbert and David West will continue trying to impose their physicality on the Heat, a tiring challenge Haslem has embraced. Read more »

Shooting hasn’t always been pretty for Paul George in these playoffs, but he’s already rivaling LeBron James as one of the game’s most prolific, complete players. On those terrible shooting nights, George is all over the place – defending the opponent’s best, rebounding and disrupting passes. On offense, he doesn’t need solacing. Read more »

J.R. Smith had gotten a virus on Friday night and sat for dinner here, wondering how worse it would get, wondering if he’d play. Sure enough, there was no flu game out of Smith on Saturday – just shots going awry, shots falling short, and a teetering, welcomed walk out of the Fieldhouse and into recovery time to find any resemblance of the Sixth Man. Read more »

George Karl has immense trust in Ty Lawson, a relationship that has constantly tightened. They know it had to be this way once Chauncey Billups left in the Carmelo Anthony trade. Ultimately, Karl understood the Nuggets’ future rested on giving Lawson freedom, and in turn rested on his ability to blossom with it. Read more »

The Lakers have tried to force-feed Pau Gasol at times since his return last week from a torn plantar fascia, but it has been superficial faith. Gasol has admitted his benching out of Mike D’Antoni earlier in the season affected him, and why should anyone – much less the Lakers – be surprised? Read more »

As much as Mickael Pietrus acknowledges the transition phase that the Raptors are undergoing, he still hopes that the team trusts his ability to produce on the court when needed. In his mind, a strong push to close out the season will help players enter the offseason with a more positive outlook. Read more »

As Andrew Bynum is lost for the season with surgery on both knees, Nikola Vucevic continues piling up double-doubles, tied for fifth-most in the league. Maybe the 76ers indeed understood Vucevic’s capabilities, and yet leaving has released some tension, allowing him to play and learn through his mistakes, develop and focus on his game. Read more »

The Heat held extensive searches as far back as last offseason to add an athletic frontcourt player, bringing in big man after big man for workouts. No one’s upside with the team intrigued Miami management as much as Chris Andersen. Read more »

The Hawks had sought trade offers for Josh Smith, and a deal seemed inevitable. Their decision to keep Smith in the end resonated with him, but both sides know the flexibility that awaits now. Read more »

For his part, Derrick Rose was an advocate of Kyle Korver over the past two seasons, both guards benefiting from the facets of their repertories that capitalizes each other best – dribble penetration and outside shooting. As much as anyone, Rose would have loved for Korver to stay with the Bulls. Read more »

For all his immense talent, the forming of Paul George’s mindset was outlined in high school and college, back when the tireless work wasn’t matched with accolades and attention. Read more »

In a lot of ways, the Clippers haven’t even revealed their true identity. They will always go as far as Chris Paul can lead them, but the depth of their roster has yet to take form. Read more »

It’s always going to be a make-or-miss league, Doc Rivers repeated late Saturday, and the void left in these Celtics by losing the greatest shooter of his era in Ray Allen is becoming more and more revealing. Read more »

Larry Sanders is no longer hastily scanning the stat sheet for his numbers. Now, he has fully embraced the role of bringing energy off the bench and changing the complexion of games with his feistiness, blocks and versatile defense. Read more »

As much as Derrick Rose talks about wanting to stay out of the front office’s personnel moves, he reinforced a clear message on Monday afternoon: Bring me players who are immensely passionate to join the Bulls, not through trade but through desire, and we’ll deal with whatever outcome. Read more »

In 13 seasons in the NBA, Isiah Thomas won two championships – back-to-back titles in 1989 and 1990 – but had to battle those old rivals, Magic Johnson’s Los Angeles Lakers, Larry Bird’s Boston Celtics and Michael Jordan's Chicago Bulls. Read more »

Derrick Rose has maintained for years that he’s 100 percent behind his front office. He understands his role is to produce on the court, and he has the ultimate faith in Bulls management and its decision-making. Mostly, Rose has been loyal to the Bulls while reaping rewards out of the third-largest market in the nation to grow his brand. Read more »

After a trying offseason that had the Bulls ducking from committing to contracts they could get rid of, nothing but signing Tom Thibodeau and Taj Gibson to extensions will allow the organization to save face and end on a high note. Read more »

Dwyane Wade spoke to RealGM about his recovery from knee surgery, Derrick Rose's comeback, what he expects from the Bulls and whether the Heat enter 12-13 as the NBA's favorites. Read more »

Derrick Rose’s combative fury could have had a role in the overcompensation he has placed on his body and the overexertion he has endured both physically and mentally. Read more »