Here is our regular look around the NBA — links to stories worth reading and notes to check out (stuff that did not get its own post here at PBT) — done in bullet point form. Because bloggers love bullet points.
• Carmelo Anthony told the Sacramento Bee he wants to help mentor DeMarcus Cousins.
• Why we should place more value on creating steals (this is a fantastic post at the new 538 blog, go read it).
• Here is a fantastic look at the complexities of the Golden State situation with Mark Jackson. The situation is not simple, and it involves how the current ownership group is impatient and hands on, and how Stephen Curry is a Jackson fan.
• Mark Cuban clarified his stance on the NFL and potentially expanding its television package, and he makes a lot of sense.
• This is a great look by Chris Ballard at Sports Illustrated about how Doc Rivers has worked to build up in DeAndre Jordan what Vinny Del Negro just tore down. Watch the Clippers play now and you see the dividends of Rivers’ work — when he was saying earlier this year Jordan should be considered for Defensive Player of the Year that was all about building up Jordan, not reality. Smart man, that Doc.
• Roy Hibbert is not showing any concussion symptoms after the elbow from LeBron James and can play in the Pacers’ next game. Also, LeBron will not be fined by the league for the contact.
• The virus that sidelined Ray Allen Wednesday night against the Pacers will have him out Friday as well.
• Check out the graphic evidence of how Monta Ellis is playing differently this season — he’s gotten to the elbow a lot more and knocked those shots down, plus he’s got the left corner three down.
• Nate Wolters had a surprisingly good rookie season for the Bucks, but he is done for the year now with a broken hand. After a recent game Bucks coach Larry Drew said had it not been for the rash of injuries that hit the Bucks this year Wolters would not have gotten many minutes but a year like this where he is thrown into the fire can help speed his development.
• Charlotte isn’t tanking, rather they are building a winner (and are playoff bound this season).
• A lot of states — where lawmakers are looking for extra revenue but without taxing their constituents — have turned to a “jock tax” where professional athletes have to pay an extra tax for coming into their state and playing. It happens all over. Tennessee is doing away with theirs.
• Hedo Turkoglu is no longer going to play international ball for his native Turkey.
• Jahlil Okafor is maybe the most recruited player in next year’s freshmen class and is the projected 2015 No. 1 pick (as much as you can do that this far out). Not surprisingly, he’s not a fan of the 20-year-old age limit.
• My daily Snopes imitation: No, the rumor Michael Jordan is walking away from the Jordan Brand is not true.
