While it’s easy to look at the obvious elements such as statistics and overall history in assessing Butler and Haywood, I think it’s also imperative to look at the intangibles here. We’ve all heard the opinions that coaches and analysts have offered about how they both bring that “gritty” and “tough” attitude to the Mavs, which is something that many critics have always questioned with their team. Let’s not forget WHERE Butler and Haywood are just coming from as well.
The long term benefit that Caron and Brendan will likely experience can be likened to that of the lifetime jackpot that K-Fed hit when he impregnated Britney Spears, seriously. We’re talking about a leap from an utterly dismal out-of-whack franchise that signed Gilbert Arenas to a $111 million dollar extension after he had undergone multiple knee surgeries in two forgettable seasons.
Sure, no one could have foreseen him playing cops and robbers in the locker room, but still, I think there’s something to be said about the team giving him such an incredible contract for having proven nothing of worth since his time there.
What I’m getting at is that the Mavs’ two new faces are highly motivated to WIN and WIN NOW. They’ve been playing on a team that’s won 122 regular season games combined in the last three and a half seasons and the only noise they’ve made in the playoffs of recent memory have been two quick first-round knockouts at the hands of their so-called “rivals”, the Cleveland Cavaliers.
And making the playoffs is not an annual thing for them.
I think Caron Butler, more so than Haywood, has immeasurable motivation to make a strong impact on a winning team. This guy came into the league with a lot of controversy surrounding him, but since his time as a professional baller, and please do correct me if I’m wrong, the only nonsensical thing I’ve ever heard about him is that he is as infatuated with Mountain Dew as LO is with candy (I can only wonder how they manage to stay in such great shape).
Butler has been nothing but a consummate professional, even earning nothing but praise from his former teammate, our very own Kobe Bryant, from his all too short stint with the Lakers. There is absolutely no doubt that Caron is dangerous against any team and against any opposing player at his position.
Ironically enough, he is now starting at shooting guard for the Mavs meaning that he will be guarding who? Yes yes, the Mamba. Should be quite fun to watch.
Next: But what does it mean for the Lakers?
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