Around The Rim

Players warned Brian Grant two years ago that he would break down under Pat Riley, but the 6'9" Heat center has found the opposite to be true. "He gets you in better shape, not only physically but mentally, and that discipline is what I needed," says Grant, who at week's end was third in the NBA with 12.2 rebounds per game....

Shooting percentages and scoring are down slightly from this time last year, which may be attributable to the increased deployment of zone defenses. "I have yet to see a game this season when zone wasn't played," says Rockets coach Rudy Tomjanovich....

Faced with the prospect of paying the luxury tax for a .500 team, Suns G.M. Bryan Colangelo is looking to unload a salary or two, though league sources say that Stephon Marbury isn't on the block—yet.