Boris Diaw

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Mike Bibby's veteran leadership has turned the young Hawks into contenders in the East • Making himself at home in Charlotte, Boris Diaw is taking advantage of mismatches at the four spot

His knees healthy and his attitude adjusted, Phoenix's Amaré Stoudemire is brilliantly blending his explosive skills into a well-stocked team that may finally be poised to win a title

MIKE D'ANTONI, Suns coach, upon hearing that French center Boris Diaw (below), who showed up at camp noticeably heavier, hadn't picked up a basketball for a month during the off-season:

Led by longtime pals Boris Diaw and Tony Parker, a young and colorful French team could deliver a surprise at next week's world championships