The 10-man rotation, starring things falling apart in the playoffs
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: ESPN.com. Zach Lowe on why the absence of Avery Bradley caused so many problems for the Boston Celtics in their Game 2 loss to the Atlanta Hawks, and figures to continue doing so moving forward.
PF: CelticsBlog. Blogging godfather Jeff Clark sounds a similar note: “[…] it seems like the rotation is a fragile ecosystem where each piece depends upon and strengthens the pieces around it. Upset the balance by removing a couple of components, and the whole thing falls apart.”
SF: TrueHoop. Kevin Arnovitz on how “Grit ‘n’ Grind” became the Memphis Grizzlies’ wildly successful operating identity, how that identity limits them in the 2016 NBA, and the central question of a team, a market, and a situation like this: “Is there anything wrong with being very good for a very long time, even if it means only an outside shot for a title in any given season?”
SG: The Oklahoman. Anthony Slater with a good look at how Russell Westbrook’s largely effort-based defensive breakdowns in the closing stages of Game 2 helped sow the seeds of the Dallas Mavericks’ series-evening upset win, and how badly the Oklahoma City Thunder need the All-Star point guard to take accountability for his defense — privately, if not publicly.
PG: Heat.com, twice. The great Couper Moorhead breaks down how the Miami Heat have limited the Charlotte Hornets’ bombs-away 3-point shooting attack, and how Miami’s unbelievable shooting through two games has forced a Hornets defense that finished in the top 10 in points allowed per possession this year to fight with changing things up on the fly.
6th: ESPN.com. Ramona Shelburne with a fascinating read on what preceded and followed Kobe Bryant’s finale.
7th: The Nation. Dave Zirin revisits the largely forgotten apology that Kobe wrote and read after the rape charges against him in Eagle, Colo., in 2003 were dismissed.
8th: Deadspin. This ongoing series revisiting the 10 losses suffered by the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls is very good, and very worth your time.
9th: The Wall Street Journal. Chris Herring on the “half-measures” that might be hamstringing Phil Jackson’s efforts to rebuild the New York Knicks.
10th: The New York TImes. Andrew Keh talks with Jeremy Lin about moving past the hype and headaches of yesteryear to thrive in his new role as simply a solid complementary basketball player for the Charlotte Hornets.
More NBA coverage:
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Dan Devine is an editor for Ball Don’t Lie on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter!
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