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: Interbasket. A list of the NBA’s Top 30 international scorers. That’s right; foreign born, baby.
PF: Dallas Basketball. Six videos of raw-and-real behind-the-scenes Maverick Media Day footage.
SF: WFNY. I had no idea the Cavs made Shaq a cheat sheet to help remember his offensive duties.
SG: State Farm. LeBron drains half-court shot, and then, as promised, buys hundreds of kids new shoes.
PG: SMW. Deals with cable and satellite providers has pushed NBA TV’s distribution to 45 million homes.
6th: Empty The Bench. The NBA’s Most Depressing Players of 2009 list is mildly depressing.
7th: Salt City Hoops. Mad Dog Mark Madsen(notes) has joined the D-League Utah Flash.
8th: SLAM. It’s not official yet, but it looks like the Hawks have some new alternate unis on the way.
9th: SI.com. What players, teams and coaches will shape the season ahead? Mark Montieth knows.
10th: From Deep. The NBA’s failed foray into Vancouver can be, at the very least, partially attributed to the lack of star power coming through the draft at that time.

Got a tip or link for Ball Don’t Lie? Hit me up at jeskeets (at) yahoo.ca or follow me on Twitter.

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Getty captions this one: "Patrick Mills of the Portland Trail Blazers and Jason Richardson(notes) of the Phoenix Suns get tied up together under the basket during their pre-season game at General Motors Place on October 22, 2009 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada." Yup. Juwan Howard(notes) and Patty Mills — identical twins those two. Best caption wins this Macho Man Randy Savage music video. Dig it.

After the jump, Mike James would like to take your order.

Winner, jonomike13:
Sensing his contract is about to end, Mike James(notes) raises his average to 20 glasses filled per table.

Co-runner-up, JM:
Woman: "It’s so admirable that you’re volunteering here today."
MJ: "Yes … volunteering."

Co-runner-up, curtis:
The best assist James has made in years.

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All right, I cave. I cannot, in good conscience, sit here any longer and watch this go on without at least trying to help.

Here’s the situation: Flash Fox, a mascot for the NBA D-League’s Utah Flash, is currently living atop a billboard along southbound I-15 in American Fork in order to boost ticket sales.

He needs our help.

The Fox took residence on the billboard last Friday and refuses to come down until 500 additional Utah Flash season tickets are sold. At last count, he has about 120 tickets to go.

Despite the slow sales, the stubborn mammal appears to be in good spirits. With a small rocking chair, a tent and a laptop, he’s stayed busy by chatting with fans online and broadcasting his day-to-day actions over UStream.

I’ve been watching him on and off all week, and, well, I’m happy to report that not once have I seen him eat any Vaseline ala Stephon Marbury. Thumbs up!

According to the Flash’s official website, this is the first time a mascot has taken up temporary residence on a billboard.

Of course, once the desperate Nets’ marketing department hears of this we’ll have Sly, Brook Lopez(notes) and Devin Harris(notes) up on billboards all over the Garden State Parkway, which is why it’s imperative we bring Fox down now!

Buy some tickets, Utah.

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From the same group that brought you the hit "Notorious Cavs" comes this new club banger set to the tune of Cleveland’s own Bone Thugs-n-Harmony’s "Ghetto Cowboy" — "A Ring For The King." Enjoy. 

As Waiting For Next Year said last season, fan videos are a dangerous thing. "Sometimes, they’re very creative and humorous. Other times, they can be downright awful and then stuck on the Internet forever for all to dig up when needed." We’ll let you decide where this one falls on the ol’ fan rap scale.

Cheers, Stepien Rules.

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There’s no real reason for this, other than the fact that it’s Friday and numbers are fun to look at, but here, courtesy of Bodog, are some updated 2009-10 NBA odds to chew on, digest AND THEN IMMEDIATELY FLUSH FROM YOUR SYSTEM BECAUSE GAMBLING IS ADDICTIVE AND DANGEROUS!

Yeah, you heard me. If you’re not careful, gambling will kill your dog and embarrass your good name. I mean, why do you think I changed mine to Skeets? Because I wanted to? Please. I used to be a Kennedy, dammit! A Kennedy! With a dog! A nice, happy, golden retriev— I’ve said too much.

After the jump, odds to win the NBA championship, odds to win the conferences, award odds, which coach will get fired first odds, where LeBron will end up next summer odds and a few more.

Odds to win the 2010 NBA Championship
Lakers — 2/1
Cavaliers — 10/3
Celtics — 4/1
Spurs — 15/2
Magic — 8/1
Nuggets — 15/1
Trail Blazers — 20/1
Jazz — 25/1
Mavericks — 30/1
Hornets — 35/1

Odds to win the 2010 Western Conference
Lakers — 2/3
Spurs — 3/1
Nuggets — 7/1
Trail Blazers — 8/1
Jazz — 12/1

Odds to win the 2010 Eastern Conference
Cavaliers — 5/4
Celtics — 2/1
Magic — 3/1
Pistons — 20/1
Hawks — 20/1
Bulls — 20/1
Heat — 20/1

What team will improve the most in number of regular season wins from 08/09?
Wizards — 3/2
Clippers — 2/1
Thunder — 5/2
Field (Any Other Team) — 9/5

What team will have the biggest drop off in regular season wins from 08/09 total?
Rockets — -130
Field — Even

Odds to win the 2009-2010 NBA Regular Season MVP
LeBron James(notes) — 11/4
Kobe Bryant(notes) — 3/1
Dwyane Wade(notes) — 5/1
Dwight Howard(notes) — 9/1
Chris Paul(notes) — 10/1
Carmelo Anthony(notes) — 15/1
Dirk Nowitzki(notes) — 16/1
Brandon Roy(notes) — 18/1
Tim Duncan(notes) — 20/1
Tony Parker(notes) — 20/1
Deron Williams(notes) — 20/1
[more]

Odds to win the 2009-2010 NBA Rookie of the Year award
Blake Griffin(notes) — 5/6
Stephen Curry(notes) — 5/1
Jonny Flynn(notes) — 6/1
Tyreke Evans(notes) — 6/1
James Harden(notes) — 7/1

Who will be the first coach fired?
Mike Woodson — 3/1
Vinny Del Negro — 3/1
Don Nelson — 4/1
Mike Dunleavy — 5/1
Lawrence Frank — 9/5

What team will LeBron James be on at the start of the 2010-2011 NBA season?
Cavaliers — 2/5
Knicks —  9/4
Field (Any Other Team) —  3/1

Shaquille O’Neal(notes)
Over/Under — 14.4 PPG
Over/Under — 8.5 RPG
Total Games Played Over/Under — 60

Greg Oden(notes)
Over/Under — 10.3 PPG
Over/Under — 8.4 RPG

Allen Iverson(notes)
Over/Under — 17.0 PPG
Over/Under — 4.6 APG

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