Ball Don't Lie

Nothing you haven't figured out by now, but most NBA fans fall into one of two camps: those who love Kobe Bryant and those who absolutely detest him. So, after watching Beno Udrih cross-spin Kobe out of shorts this past weekend, you're probably going to say either, "Big deal, Beno pushed him, it happens to the best of 'em" or, "HA! KOBE SUX! HE'S SO OVERRATED! HE CAN'T PLAY DEFENSE!" Which camp do you belong to?

SLAM offers up a much closer view of the Udrih tornado here.

Every hero needs a theme song and Minnesota rookie Kevin Love is no exception. Late last week, Canis Hoopus asked readers what love-related songs they'd like the Wolves to play over the Target Center speakers whenever Mr. Love scores a bucket. The top eight tunes: Love Will Tear Us Apart, All You Need Is Love, Love Train, Feel Like Making Love, Everybody Needs Somebody To Love, Love TKO, Can't Get Enough of Your Love, Baby and Calling Dr. Love. I'm going to overlook the I Believe In A Thing Called Love omission and go with Joy Division. What says you? Rock the vote, folks.

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: Bullets Forever. The campaign to get Nick Young into the '09 Slam Dunk Contest has already started.
PF: Bend It Like Beckham. Breaking fake news: Reign Man Rain Man OKC Thunder jerseys available now!
SF: Bravo TV. Eric Snow's wife is one of the women on 'Real Housewives of ATL.' The more you know.
SG: Peninsula is Mightier. Is Jamaal Magloire the flukiest All-Star in recent NBA history? Vote away.
PG: All That Jazz. Jerry Sloan rips Morris Almond: "He's got to learn to compete."
6th: Game On. Stern says concerns about the U.S. economy will make the NBA lay off 9% of its staff.
7th: Denver Stiffs. A first hand account from the Nuggets-Suns outdoor preseason game.
8th: Blogtown PDX, via Blazer's Edge. Check out Travis Outlaw's Jolly Rancher-green '96 Impala.
9th: NBA FanHouse. ESPN has hired Magic Johnson for Christmas Day and postseason analysis.
10th: Lopez Blog. Brook — BROOK! — Lopez chimes in from across the pond with a review of the opener, thoughts on Paris and his love of Shakespeare.

As part of some bizarre promotion for the NBA Europe Live Tour, Hornets forward Morris Peterson took orders from hungry German fans at a Kentucky Fried Chicken "restaurant" in downtown Berlin on Sunday. Along with pushing tender all-white meat filets, slow roasted to juicy perfection, Mo signed 8x10 glossys and posed for photographs — at the same time!

Love him or hate him, Boston Celtics rookie Bill Walker sure is making a name for himself this October. Having already introduced himself to Theo Ratliff's head and LeBron James' chest, young 'Sky Walker' turned his attention (and biceps) to two-fifths of the Rockets starting line-up on Saturday. ClutchFans has the video.

The ill will between the two teams didn't stop there. Paul Pierce and Ron Artest also got into a little dance in the third quarter, when Artest fouled Pierce, prompting Pierce to flip Artest to the floor for a technical foul of his own. Apparently, someone forgot to tell these guys were still in the preseason. I like.

In case you haven't already got it circled, the C's travel to Houston on November 4th. Circle it. Now.

... except in the preseason. Below, sensitive Bucks forward Richard Jefferson argues a call, receives his second technical foul and is ejected by Ms. Violet Palmer during a game against the Pistons on Saturday. Best caption/imaginary conversation wins a box of Kleenex. Good luck, C-a-C'ers.

After the jump, don't cry for me Argentina Olympians.Read More >>

As the NBA preseason marches on, Ball Don't Lie looks at all 30 teams, outlining off-season transactions, projecting win totals, spinning tracks, and much, much more. It's a fun, hot mess. Today, the Charlotte Bobcats.Read More >>

Golden State Warriors president Robert Rowell suspended Monta Ellis for 30 games without pay Saturday for violating his new contract by crashing a mo-ped. His agent, Jeff Fried, hinted they will appeal the suspension that could cost Monta $3 million. Here's what they're saying out in the ether about this mess ...

Tim Kawakami, Mercury News: "They were not going to let this go, let it slide, let the whole thing pass with a sigh and a knowing chuckle. No, the Warriors' top brass was most assuredly not going to pardon Monta Ellis for his scooter-crash sins or exercise any amount of mercy that would leave the franchise vulnerable or looking weak. [...] It was about exacting punishment while maintaining leverage on Ellis as the Warriors' wayward star recuperates from his wrecked left ankle. It was about showing everybody who's boss, who's running things, who steers this ship. It was most definitely not about mercy. The suspension will cost Ellis about $3 million in salary. The new Warriors motto: Mercy is for chumps."

Hard for the Yard: "I expected something in the $250,000 to $500,000 range, definitely no more than a million. Rowell, your franchise has sucked pretty much forever. You've made the playoffs once in something like 13 years. You're looking forward to what could be, and probably will be, a rough season in the Western Conference. Monta is clearly the team's best player. He made a mistake, and he deserves to be punished, but he's a long-term investment. Three million and 30 games is too much. Way too much. The Mississippi Bullet will be the face of your franchise for at least the next six years. Start acting like it."

Hardwood Paroxysm: "... what exactly is the source of the suspension? The fact that Ellis was even riding a moped is definitely a cause of the team's frustrations, but for consequences this severe there have to be unique circumstances. Is the team taking Monta's dishonesty so seriously that they're going to charge him ... THREE MILLION DOLLARS for it? I understand where the Warriors feel wronged in this whole ordeal, both in terms of their star player being sidelined and, on top of it, lying straight to their faces. But three mil is a pretty penny. A chunk of change. I'm not saying he doesn't deserve punishment, but it just seems like an awful lot for a white lie."Read More >>

This one's from a preseason game last Thursday, but well worth a second slow-motion look. L.A. Clippers rookie DeAndre Jordan collects the fat rebound, URL posterizes Lakers big man Chris Mihm, and gets called for the quick taunting tech. Just a beautiful sequence, highlighted by DeAndre's passionate 300-like scream.

(via You Got Dunked On)