"At the end of the worst season in the NBA, playing for one of the worst teams in the league, with his ankles and feet in a tub of ice, Ben Gordon said: "It might sound funny, but I think I'm getting better."

It doesn't sound funny. It sounds wacko, crazy, like Gordon leaves the Palace after Pistons games and flies to his home on Neptune. But to understand the comment, you have to understand Gordon. He has a reputation as the ultimate professional, a guy who can walk on a tightrope through a tornado and say it's all part of the job.

Remember: This is a guy who signed a contract for almost $60 million last summer with the understanding that he probably would come off the bench. He won't complain. He won't get defensive about his performance. What he will do is ... try to learn."