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: Willamette Week. Suggestions for some Rudy-fied dunkage.
PF: Hoopsaddict. An interview with RMJ, and one with George Hill. Matt Bonner’s media boycott continues
SF: SuperSonicsSoul. Can’t say I agree to affixing your nephew up to fandom at that early an age without his express written consent , much less the content of the sign, but here’s the story of Matt Heuer, former SuperSonics fan.
SG: Philadelphia City Paper. Should the 76ers trade Andre Miller?
PG: Third Quarter Collapse. Attacking Orlando’s point guard problem. H/T: Mattus Mooreus.
6th: Can’t Stop the Bleeding. Now we’re fooling the semi-mainstream media? You incorrigible bloggers!
7th: Pete Marasmitch. Chattin’ it up with the gang behind GTAS.
8th: NBA.com. David Aldridge is reporting that stress concerns are the main motivation for John Paxson’s apparent impending resignation.
9th: ClutchFans.net. One Rockets fan needs to spend less time at the Toyota Center, and more time at IMDB.
10th: Digital Sports Daily. Shoes make the All-Star.

Read full article…

The Basketball Jones
are on the loose in Phoenix. They’ll be posting various NBA All-Star
‘09 videos here on Ball Don’t Lie, all weekend long. Stay tuned.

Well, The Jones came to Phoenix to talk to an NBA player … and that’s exactly what we did. Friday morning, Spurs All-Star guard Tony Parker dropped by a Subway restaurant to shoot some hoops with kids and field a few questions. We showed up … with poor mic technique.

Subscribe to the video show on iTunes | Download the .m4v directly

Read full article…

Dwight Howard’s Superman cape has a charger.

At least that’s what he told reporters after the Magic lost to the Nuggets on Wednesday night.

Although Howard had 16 points and 15 rebounds, the running joke in the locker room after the game was that he left the cape at home. A few media members wanted to know if he would have it by the time he got to Phoenix this weekend. "See, I had the cape at home charging," Howard explained. "The "S" on the cape has a charger; I gotta make sure I put it on the charger every night, make sure that it’s ready to go, ’cause it’s got a mind of it’s own."

"I was telling the guys earlier, I’ve got to keep it on a leash, and have it keep charging, ’cause the cape get crazy. With the cape on you never know what can happen."

NBA fans everywhere are hoping that Superman and his cape make a return appearance during the dunk contest tomorrow night.

"I’m just ready to go and have fun," Howard said when asked about his plans for All-Star Weekend. "Whatever happens, happens, you know? Just like with anything, I’m looking forward to try and win, that’s my whole goal is to go out there and be the best, and try to defend my title. It’s hard to try to come back with something after last year’s dunk contest. I know that and I realize it … I’m just gonna do what I can to make the fans proud."

Just remember the cape and its charger, Dwight — then everybody will be happy.

Smith gets the nod

The Orlando big man wasn’t the only person thinking about Phoenix on Wednesday night. Denver’s J.R. Smith, who was recently added to the Dunk Contest, admitted that he and Howard discussed the finer points of dunking during the game.

"Dwight knows what he’s going to do already," Smith said. "He asked me what I was gonna do, but I told him I don’t even know because I just found out [I was in the Dunk Contest on Tuesday]. It’s a slight disadvantage but it shouldn’t be a problem."

"Why don’t you dunk on Mark Cuban or have him pass you a ball or something?" I asked Smith after the game.

"Nah," he said of his verbal sparring partner. "That was the last thing on my mind."

As Smith headed for the exit, he started to warm up to the idea. "That would be good though," he told me. "I might think of something like that."

If you see Cuban being used as a prop tomorrow night, now you’ll why …

Karl is no fan of All Star Weekend

When I asked Nuggets coach George Karl if he was going to watch J.R. Smith in the Dunk Contest, I was kind of surprised how honest he was with his response. Let’s just say Karl could care less about the festivities in Phoenix …

"You know, I normally don’t make it [a point] to watch [the Dunk Contest]," Karl said. "I’m going to ask Chauncey [Billups] maybe [for] permission not even to watch the All Star Game, I think. It’s not my favorite weekend. It’s not basketball … it’s a party of entertainment."

Read full article…

By now you know about the deal, and surely by now you are
used to the idea of it. Jermaine O’Neal has
been sent to the Heat from the Raptors for Shawn Marion’s expiring
contract. The Raptors also take on Marcus Banks and cash considerations, while
the Heat get a true SF in Jamario Moon. A truly below-average small forward,
but a true one.

We’ve
already gone over this. Though O’Neal has improved his play of late, he’s
still a bit of a shell of his former self, he’s not the low post offensive
presence that some parties make him out to be, and though he can still block
shots, he’s far from the defensive powerhouse we saw a few years ago.

Worse, taking on O’Neal scuttles any hope of having cap
space this summer for Miami.
Though you always want to value a B+ center over an A+ power forward, because
the pivot is so hard to fill, you have to wonder if this could have cost the
Heat a chance at Carlos Boozer. Miami
could have added another big free agent this summer while still preparing for oodles
of cap space in 2010.

Toronto has it a little better, sooner.

The Raptors will have quite a bit of cap
space this summer, even with what would be a lower rung lottery pick (they’re
currently slated for the 8^th spot, so mark that down for about $2.5
million next season), and assuming Joey Graham plays for the Qualifying Offer.
If he doesn’t, and the Raptors let Shawn Marion walk, Toronto could be looking at about $44.5
million on the books for 2009-10, with a cap that will likely be around the $60
million mark.

That’s good news for a team still struggling to find its
way.

The Heat? They’ll be well over the cap, and in win-now mode.
But in the summer of 2010? Pat Riley will have only $12 million dollars on the
books, Dwyane Wade to re-sign, and a host of options. Assuming they play out
the string. Riles has always been a win-now guy, so who’s to say he won’t turn
over those expiring deals for longer contracts this time next year?

That’s part of the fun, I guess.

Read full article…