A look around the league and the Web that covers it. It's also important to note that the rotation order and starting nods aren't always listed in order of importance. That's for you, dear reader, to figure out.
C: Pacers.com. We've spent a decade getting to know David West's game — the bruising post play, the high-low acumen, the soft touch on that 16-footer, the fact that no person in their right mind wants any quarrel with this grown-ass man — but, if you're like me, you don't know a whole lot about how the Indiana Pacers' probably-should-be-All-Star power forward got to where he is today. For tramps like us, Mark Montieth's got a damn fine two-part profile of Indy's steady-as-she-goes leader.
PF: CSNNE.com. Another outstanding profile, this one from Boston Celtics beat writer Jessica Camerato, of West's former Pacers teammate, guard Leandro Barbosa. When you think of the Brazilian shooting guard, you probably think of speed, high-octane offense, those "Seven Seconds or Less" Phoenix Suns teams and generally happy, positive things ... but as Barbosa tells Camerato, that's not how his story started, and, unfortunately, not necessarily where he finds himself now. There are some gut punches here.
SF: TrueHoop and TrueHoop again. There is a RIDICULOUS amount to learn in these two posts about the coaching histories, philosophies and pedagogies of Chicago Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau (by Beckley Mason) and Dallas Mavericks head coach Rick Carlisle (by Kevin Arnovitz). A RIDICULOUS amount.
SG: Liberty Ballers and Orlando Pinstriped Post. Two blogs vie for the high ground in an argument over just how good a player Nikola Vucevic is. This is so Internet it burns.
PG: HoopsHype. Former BDL contributor Rod Benson offers his theories on why it wouldn't make sense for basketball players to use performance enhancing drugs. I'm not sure I buy it, but it also feels weird to oppose theories proposed by the man behind "Boom Got Them Dos." I feel very conflicted.
6th: Alamo City Beat. Oh, man, could this "the Spurs are jerks for sitting their starters" lawsuit actually open up a legitimate can of worms for the NBA? Please say no. Please say no.
7th: The Brooklyn Game. Devin Kharpertian chats with Brooklyn Nets reserve guard Keith Bogans, who's the kind of guy that no reporter ever talks to, to find out how a guy who seems so eminently expendable can find himself considered totally indispensable by multiple head coaches across the NBA. A neat little inside look about figuring out a lane and skating the hell out of it.
8th: Bright Side of the Sun. After parting ways with Alvin Gentry — a parting that, we suspect, is such sweet sorrow — should the Phoenix Suns set about the business of tanking? Only the Bard knows for sure.
9th: SB Nation. You're not going to believe this, but one of Amar'e Stoudemire's former coaches and several of his former teammates aren't really buying the whole "I was never taught defense" thing.
10th: Hoopism. An illustrated history of this week in NBA history. I can't think of a better way to cap it.
Got a link or tip for Ball Don't Lie? Give me a shout at devine (at) yahoo-inc.com, or follow me on Twitter.
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