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: San Antonio Express-News. With the San Antonio Spurs headed to Oracle Arena tied with the Golden State Warriors at one game apiece, and only a miraculous comeback away from an 0-2 hole, Buck Harvey looks back at the last time the Spurs found themselves in a similar predicament ... back in 1991, against Chris Mullin, Tim Hardaway, Mitch Richmond and these self-same Dubs. A fun read and a sharp examination of the shift in culture that's helped make the Spurs so good for so many years.
PF: Grantland. OK, if Zach Lowe doesn't know how the hell you stop Stephen Curry and this Warriors offense, then I don't feel so bad about coming to a similarly stumped conclusion the other day. The Warriors have become a very scary problem for opposing defenses, even ones as good as San Antonio's.
SF: Memphis Flyer. Chris Herrington offers the first half of his customarily detailed, smart breakdown of a Memphis Grizzlies game ... in this case, a pretty important Game 3 set for Saturday at the Grindhouse.
SG: SB Nation. A strong pre-Game 3 read by Paul Flannery on how the best Kevin Durant we've ever seen still might not be enough for the Oklahoma City Thunder.
PG: Indianapolis Star. Which is more important: elite interior defense or elite perimeter defense? Luckily, with Paul George outside and Roy Hibbert inside, the Indiana Pacers don't have to choose, as Mike Wells writes.
6th: Hickory High. Ian Levy mines through information on the "expected value" of the shots NBA players take, the actual point value they create, the difference between the two and how individual players rank in that metric to tease out some interesting conclusions about shot selection, decision-making and which players seem to have a firm grasp of how to maximize their offensive contributions. It's a bit stat-wonky, but it's really cool stuff, I think.
7th: FilmDrunk. "Space Jam is a movie about a group of evil space aliens who want to enslave the Looney Tunes." And with that sentence, my man Danger Guerrero begins fulfilling his destiny.
8th: Magic.com. Hedo Turkoglu sounds like he expects to be cut loose by the Orlando Magic this offseason, but he also sounds at peace with it: "I'm happy I got to be a part of some of the great, great moments here in Orlando and no one can ever change history. Those moments will always be there for me, and I'll always consider myself a lucky guy."
9th: CelticsHub. Brian Robb plays a little "fact or fiction" with Paul Pierce's contract, the Boston Celtics' options as to what to do about it next year and the likeliest scenarios for both the team and its captain moving forward.
10th: Miami Herald. Barry Jackson reports that longtime NBA coach, announcer and Hall of Famer Jack Ramsay needs to begin immediate medical treatment and that Dr. Jack's broadcasting career "is likely over." That Ramsay would retire isn't a shock — he said last month he suspected this was his last trip through the Association — but the need for immediate treatment is, obviously, upsetting. Keep a good thought for Dr. Jack, one of the great coaches and broadcasters the NBA's ever seen. Get well soon, sir.
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