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A big part of the reason why is the deadline deal they made with the Houston Rockets, sending Hasheem Thabeet out and returning Shane Battier and Ishmael Smith. Battier’s playoff savvy and locker room leadership has already had an effect on his new team, which has won three out of four games while taking on Western powerhouses like San Antonio, Dallas and Oklahoma City. 

"Shane brings a lot," Zach Randolph tells HOOPSWORLD. "He brings a lot of veteran leadership, he’s been through the trenches, and he’s been in the playoffs. He’s a smart player, plays great defense, hits open shots, and takes his team to a new level."

"Obviously, the city loves him," adds Rudy Gay. "He’s going to be a big part of this playoff push and then in the playoffs, and he brings a lot of experience. He’s also just a good teammate, a good guy to have in the locker room."

As much as Battier’s on-court contributions will help the Grizzlies, the intangibles he brings to the locker room, which were incredibly instrumental in Houston getting back to postseason play, will greatly benefit his new teammates. 

"Well, it’s my tenth year, so I’ve seen a few things in my time," says Battier, smiling. "I’m thrilled to be around a young group that’s excited about playing basketball and excited about trying to get to the playoffs. It’s a cool experience, and I can be the old vet, the old man, and teach them about the daily preparation that you need to have, the focus and the discipline, especially in the last 20 games to make that playoff push. You don’t just wake up and saw ‘we’re in the playoffs’ one day. It takes discipline, it takes concentration and it’s tough. But it’s fun to see young guys who want to do that."

What’s been perhaps most impressive is that the Grizzlies rung up those three impressive wins while Rudy Gay was on the sideline nursing a shoulder injury. Gay is said to be weeks away from returning, but if his team can continue their strong playoff push his return could get them over the hump in April.

Indiana Pacers star Danny Granger talks about his new head coach and his team’s shot at making the playoffs, but also digs into some of the deeper issues behind what many will be a nasty lock-out between the NBA and its players starting this summer. Plenty of positives for the Pacers, but some real questions facing the league, and we discuss it all in this exclusive interview:

Chicago’s X-Factor?

For the majority of the 2010-11 campaign the Chicago Bulls have been a team looking for their missing piece. Even as they climbed to the East’s second seed and worked their way through injuries, there was a consistent feeling that the team really needed one more scorer, preferably a shooting guard. They had talks with teams across the league, considering deals for players like Houston’s Courtney Lee, Utah’s Raja Bell, and Indiana’s Brandon Rush, but ultimately it was not the trade deadline, but the waiver wire that brought the piece they lacked.

{AUTHOR_BOX}"This is a great team and a great organization that’s rich in tradition," says Rasual Butler, whom the Bulls picked up after he was waived by the Los Angeles Clippers. "We have a chance to do something really special this year like contending for a championship or possibly winning a championship. I really like the way the guys play – they play together and there are no agendas on this team. After talking with Gar Foreman and Coach Thibodeau it was a no-brainer. I felt like it was a good fit for me. Coach Tibs is an excellent coach, teaches defense first and sharing the ball and those are winning ingredients. I want to come and fit in with these guys any way that I can. Obviously, I’m a guy who is known for hitting open shots, and after talking to my previous organizations the Bulls felt I was their type of guy. I really felt like this organization was the type of team that fit me the best."

Butler’s not exactly a household name, but he did have a career year for the Clippers last season. He averaged 11.9 points on 41% shooting and connected on 34% of this threes, making his the kind of player the Bulls were looking for to round out their roster for what they hope will be a deep playoff run. Butler became available largely because the improved play of Eric Gordon and a glut of incoming swing players has limited his minutes. Once Randy Foye got healthy the Clippers really didn’t need Butler at all. They shopped him with limited results, but finally just cut him loose. Strangely enough, there was plenty of interest once he hit the waiver wire.

"I was surprised by how many teams were interested in me because when you’re not playing you’re not sure how people are viewing you," says Butler. "But the response was positive and that was really encouraging for me. I didn’t think teams wouldn’t be interested in me at all, but there were some good teams, some contenders, and I felt good about that. This was definitely the best spot for me."

One big draw for Butler, who spent four seasons playing with Chris Paul and the Hornets, was playing with another elite point guard in Derrick Rose.

"Chris and Derrick are both really good guys. I’ve been around Derrick quite a few times and he has a really humble spirit, and I knew from speaking to guys like Keith Bogans and Luol Deng that he was all about winning, so I wasn’t surprised at all at the way he accepted me."

Butler also welcomes the challenge of playing for a team that’s involved in an intense battle for playoff position.

"I don’t really think you change your approach that much, but being in this situation your focus and your intensity goes up just a touch just because I’m a guy who comes to work every day and I take the game seriously," Butler reveals. "I love to play the game and I take my preparation for the game very seriously. For me that doesn’t change very much, but knowing that there’s something at stake and what we’re playing for, it gives you that extra edge."

Of course, playing time is not guaranteed, and Butler will have to quickly pick up the game plan to steal minutes from veterans like Bogans and Kyle Korver. Still, he has the right attitude and is ready to put in his time.

"They’re already a great team, second in the East and not too far out of first. I just have to come to practice, work hard, and just fit in. I’ll be ready for my opportunity whenever that presents itself."