sure he improved here. it's hard to adjust mid-season, especially when you're going to a team with a completely different system. then he had injuries that had him in-and-out in 2011, interrupting his progress. this year he started slow for whatever reason (we could blame the no fall camp or whatever, but it doesn't matter) but he really did start looking better -- both measurably and intangibly -- from late february on.
i really think devin is a player who has bene a victim of circumstance throughout his whole career. as was pointed out, he has been asked three times to fill the shoes of a probably future hall of famer, and he went from being the pet project of an NBA finalist to being on one of the perennial joke franchises. i don't blame him for admitting that NJ took some passion out of his game. it would take the passion out of mine, too.