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The 10-man rotation, starring the 'new' DeMarcus Cousins

The 10-man rotation, starring the 'new' DeMarcus Cousins

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: GQ. Bethlehem Shoals on the question of whether DeMarcus Cousins, no-kidding early season MVP candidate and leader of the resurgent Sacramento Kings, has really "grown up" and "put it all together" or whether changes (and, apparently, improvements) in virtually every other variable around him have simply forced us all to see the greatness that's been there all along.

PF: Magic Basketball. Joe Atmonavage on how Nikola Vucevic's advancing low-post game is giving the Orlando Magic's offense something to hang its hat on.

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SF: Pounding the Rock. Despite getting just 10 minutes of playing time from stalwart center Tiago Splitter thus far this season, the San Antonio Spurs have put the clamps on opponents, ranking third in the NBA in points allowed per possession. Jesus Gomez takes a closer look at how they're doing it, and whether the Spurs' elite early-season defense is sustainable.

SG: Bourbon Street Shots. Mason Ginsberg with a quick statistical reminder that, thus far this season, Anthony Davis has been all-time, historic, Hall-of-Fame-company-level great.

PG: SB Nation. A good read from Mirin Fader on Kemba Walker and the Charlotte Hornets, who can both "vacillate between fun and flat," and who both need to take a step forward this season if they want to be considered serious players on the NBA's main stage.

6th: CelticsBlog. Wait a second — are the Boston Celtics really fun?

7th: The Oklahoman. Darnell Mayberry on an eight-game stretch that could determine the course of the rest of the season for the 3-10 Oklahoma City Thunder: "Will this be a team that splinters and flies in the face of the fabled fabric of the organization, or will it be a team that rallies, comes together and turns all those trite clichés into a season-saving battle cry?"

8th: BBallBreakdown. Ben Dowsett on how a very simple philosophy — shoot open shots and don't allow open shots — has turned the Portland Trail Blazers into a top-10 team on both sides of the ball. (Speaking of the Blazers and open shots, here's LaMarcus Aldridge breaking down his signature and nearly-unblockable fadeaway jumper in his own words.)

9th: Nylon Calculus. Sorry, Stan Van Gundy, but Nick Restifo ran the numbers, and it turns out "the altitude effect" is very, very real: "Denver and Utah enjoy a 31% stronger than normal home court advantage, even after accounting for the strength of teams and their rest coming into the game."

10th: BDCWire. Ananth Pandian brings us inside NBA Nerd Night, am inclusive weekly gathering of hoops-loving folk of all stripes in Somerville, Mass., that gives "smart NBA fans […] a common place to rave about the uniqueness of the league" over a few adult beverages.

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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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