The 10-man rotation, starring Kawhi Leonard, who talks now
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: Sunday Shootaround. Paul Flannery on Kawhi Leonard, whose continued evolution into one of the game’s most fearsome two-way forces and the leader of the San Antonio Spurs has this season included the development of a new skill set: talking.
PF: Silver Screen and Roll. Amid a new round of rumors suggesting Phil Jackson might find his way out of the New York Knicks’ front office and back into the Los Angeles Lakers’ power structure, Daman Rangoola takes a look at the reborn Lakers and wonders … well … why would the Lakers bring him back? “What would the organization be signalling to fans, prospective free agents, and the current roster by making a huge change like that amidst one of the more impressive young teams in the league?”
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SF: ESPN Insider ($). As we near the quarter-pole of the 2016-17 season, Kevin Pelton investigates whether the roaring Golden State Warriors can already lay claim to having the best offense in NBA history.
SG: Bay Area News Group. Anthony Slater looks at how the Warriors have used JaVale McGee’s athleticism and “vertical spacing” to help create even more wide-open looks for the game’s most monstrous offense.
PG: Deadspin. Chris Thompson on the awkward position in which the Minnesota Timberwolves find themselves — teeming with young talent, but still really struggling with the whole “how do we actually win games?” thing.
6th: Give Me Sport. Mark Deeks looks at the struggling Portland Trail Blazers and wonders: in thinking about the big picture, did personnel boss Neil Olshey go too small?
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7th: Sports on Earth. Michael Pina on Mike Conley, who has responded to shock and criticism from many casual observers at his receiving the richest contract in league history this summer by playing well enough for the Memphis Grizzlies to maaaaaybe be underrated again.
8th: Bourbon Street Shots and The Bird Writes. Before a pair of losses over the holiday weekend, the New Orleans Pelicans had been on a bit of a roll. Mason Ginsberg and David Fisher take a look at what besides the return of point guard Jrue Holiday has been going right for Anthony Davis and company.
9th: Bullets Forever. It’s been a rough start to the season for the Washington Wizards, but Jake Whitacre finds some reason for hope, at least, in Scott Brooks’ willingness to call out John Wall for defensive lapses.
10th: ESPN.com. Brett Brown is here for Sixers fans’ “Trust The Process” chants when Joel “The Process” Embiid steps to the free-throw line: “You know, I think we need something like that in this city and I’m not frowning upon that. We want to have some fun.”
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Dan Devine is an editor for Ball Don’t Lie on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at devine@yahoo-inc.com or follow him on Twitter!
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