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: Style Points. There are reasons we don't remember Stephon Marbury as being great, but that doesn't mean he wasn't. This is a fun read and a cool little bit of re-revisionist history. (Or maybe that's just called "a corrective.")
PF: Eye on Basketball. Matt Moore breaks down how the Oklahoma City Thunder ravage opponents in the pick-and-roll, how the New York Knicks barely ever defend it well, and oh crap those two teams play one another tonight and I root for one of them and it's the "barely ever defend" one and I'm going to be sick.
SF: Red94. Michael Pina loves watching James Harden throw the pocket pass in the pick-and-roll. As all right-thinking humans should.
SG: Wages of Wins Journal. I dug this post from Andres Alvarez looking at the pedigrees of NBA coaches, wondering whether or not NBA teams are casting a wide enough net in the hiring pool and whether they're asking the right questions when they seek a new leader. (I wish Dre would lay off George Karl, though.)
PG: Sportsnet.ca. Holly MacKenzie's great, and a friend of the program, but the star of her story about the Toronto Raptors' struggles is Gary Payton, who offers really great insight on the problems facing young players trying to be leaders in today's NBA. (This feels especially relevant in the context of the Raps' new leader, Rudy Gay, seemingly arguing that three seasons wasn't enough time for him to prove that he was worth $18 million a year to lead a team by shooting 40 percent from the floor.)
6th: Truth About It. "Who should shoulder the blame for unrealized potential?" Conor Dirks gets detailed about how "the [Washington] Wizards under Ernie Grunfeld have shown a complete lack of ability to develop and retain valuable players," and in the process suggests a reasonable — and in a lot of fans' and observers' minds, pretty obvious — answer.
7th: The Basketball Jones. Trey Kerby does not believe that was the first layup you've ever missed, Mo Williams. You need more people (who can corroborate your "never missed a layup" story).
8th: Fox Sports North. A good read from Joan Niesen on the improving consistency of Minnesota Timberwolves forward Derrick Williams, who may finally be starting to earn some trust and a place in Rick Adelman's scheme of things after a year and a half or so.
9th: The (Springfield, Ill.) State Journal-Register. The trip from holding a clipboard in D-III to serving as one of Doc Rivers' lieutenants apparently takes about a baker's dozen years (give or take). A fun look at the path to the NBA for Boston Celtics assistant Jamie Young.
10th: Wall Street Journal. Jason Gay went to a Brooklyn Nets game with Larry King, and boy, is that a fun thing to get to type.
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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