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: Grantland, SB Nation and The Point Forward. Zach Lowe, Paul Flannery and Rob Mahoney take different approaches to previewing the Miami Heat-San Antonio Spurs NBA Finals, but damn, are they all exquisite.
PF: Sports on Earth. I really enjoyed this Colin McGowan story about the genesis of "The Positional Revolution," a term crafted and nurtured by friends of the program Bethlehem Shoals and Tom Ziller back in the heady days of FreeDarko and The Works, and how this year's Heat serve as "something like a realization of the idea."
SF: For the Win. For your consideration: The flopping styles of each of the principal players on the Heat and Spurs. Also, a note: If we spend the next two weeks talking about flopping, I might set the entire Internet on fire, because oh boy, is that just the most tedious thing!
SG: Believe the Hype NBA Podcast. Tom and Benyam chat with fellow Aussie Andrew Bogut about the Golden State Warriors' awesome playoff run, the awful things he and his teammates did to the cars of rookies Kent Bazemore and Festus Ezeli, and plenty more.
PG: Jack McCallum. If this behind-the-scenes look at the reporting of a forthcoming Sports Illustrated oral history celebrating the 20th anniversary of the 1993 NBA finals between the Chicago Bulls and Phoenix Suns doesn't whet your appetite for the finished product, then man, you and I just have different taste buds, I guess.
6th: Specter. I also thought this poem (kind of) about the ending of the '93 Bulls-Suns series by José Olivarez was pretty neat.
7th: The Brooklyn Game. Devin Kharpertian offers a tale-of-the-tape-style breakdown of the backgrounds and resumes of the two reported top choices for the Brooklyn Nets' head coaching job, Indiana Pacers associate head coach Brian Shaw and Memphis Grizzlies head coach Lionel Hollins.
8th: Memphis Flyer. More smart, even-keeled, in-context analysis of the ongoing Hollins-Grizzlies saga from Chris Herrington, who rewards diligent and patient readers not only with cogent points, but also with a surprise "Listen, trick" drop. Why? Because Memphis, that's why.
9th: ESPN.com. Marc Stein goes way, way in-depth on something we highlighted in Tuesday's 10-man — the challenge and experiencing of interviewing Spurs coach Gregg Popovich on live television during a game, as related by people who've been Pop'd plenty in the past.
10th: CSNNW.com. A job as Steve Clifford's lead assistant with the Charlotte Bobcats is reportedly Patrick "Ewing's job for the taking." This feels like another one of Michael Jordan's tricks. Be careful of getting dunked on, Patrick. Remain eternally vigilant.
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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