NBA D League

A true minor league system, something similar to what has allowed Major League Baseball to thrive, has seemed a natural for the NBA for years.

Perhaps the league with the most underdeveloped young talent is on the brink of landmark movement.

The Houston Rockets announced Monday they are entering into a single-affiliation partnership with their NBA D-League squad, the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, making them the first such NBA team to do so. Under this agreement, the Rockets will take over the Vipers basketball operations, while Alonzo Cantu and his local ownership group in Rio Grande Valley will continue to oversee the business operation. Rockets GM Daryl Morey will oversee the Vipers basketball operations starting this upcoming season.

I am one of the countless lucky individuals who finds himself on the D-League's daily e-mail distribution list. Normally, this entitles me to receive such fascinating news alerts as (in all caps, mind you) "IOWA'S DEMETRIS NICHOLS CALLED UP TO NEW YORK KNICKS."

Not exactly breaking news, but you can't blame people for trying. So typically, I glance at the announcement, select the message, and hit the "archive" button. (Hey, GMail has a point: Who needs to delete when you have over 7303.442525 megabytes (and counting) of free storage?)

A message that came in Monday, however, immediately became required reading. Because it was an announcement that promised an "innovative 2009 playoff format," and the details definitely did not disappoint.

NBA Essentials provides the must-see links, quotes and videos of the day. Want to submit an item? Hit us up on Twitter (@NBAFanHouse, #essentials).

* "During a recent trip to Toronto earlier this month, Matt Bonner talked with the media about how the combination of his grandfather - a 'Newfie' as he affectionately referred to him - and his wife being from Canada has led him to feel a strong connection to this country. Bonner also recently discovered that he has some cousins who are Canadian. Because of these factors Bonner has decided to file the necessary paperwork to gain his Canadian citizenship. Not only that, but he's also expressed a strong desire to play the Canadian national team." -- Hoops Addict.

Saturday's Slam Dunk Contest was quite entertaining. Dwight Howard and Nate Robinson put on a great show with their Superman and Kyrpto-Nate act. However -- minus the comic book showmanship -- the dunks themselves might have been topped in another dunk contest earlier in the weekend.

In Friday's D-League Slam Dunk Contest, former first round pick James White put on a show that lived up to the folklore of his dunking ability. After the jump, take a look at some at the dunks White threw down during the D-League contest.

NBA Essentials ranks our six favorite stories of the day.

1. Basketball-Reference. What do the season-opening streaks by L.A., Atlanta and Washington mean? Less than you'd think.

2. Wages of Wins. Signing the song of Shareef Abdur-Rahim. Also, a reminder that Antoine Walker made three All-Star Games. (Shareef? One.)

3. Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Not only is Atlanta surprising at 5-0, but they seem completely different from the Hawks of last year.

4. Basketball Prospectus. A tremendous analysis of the Lakers defense, which reminds Kevin Pelton of George Karl's SOS Pressure defense from mid-90s Seattle.

5. Ridiculous Upside. If you want in depth D-League draft analysis ... you are in need of therapy. Also, you belong to Ridiculous Upside.

6. Mr. Irrelevant. JaVale McGee is looooooooong.

And on a non-NBA note, FanHouse alum Howie The Hype Guy has a new comedy project you should definitely check out.

NBA Essentials ranks our six favorite stories of the day.

1. Blog-a-Bull. All the evidence suggests Kirk Hinrich is locked in as Chicago's starting ... two-guard. Also: on Ben Gordon's leaping toe pain.

2. Ball Don't Lie. Another great comic from the Garbage Time All-Stars, this one featuring Thunder the Deposed Warriors Mascot's hit list.

3. Dime. On a TNT conference call, Marv Albert reveals other OKC team names he had to use in his audio work for NBA Live 09: Pioneers, Roughnecks, Sunset and Thundering Herd. !

4. Ridiculous Upside. GMs are surprisingly down on "upside" when it comes to keeping D-League alums versus old, old veterans.

5. Hardwood Paroxysm. The Spurs will never die.

6. SLAM. Mike D'Antoni and Jamal Crawford, translated.

NBA Essentials ranks our six favorite stories of the day.

1. Hoops Addict. Blogger tries out for D-League team. Blogger gets injured within 30 minutes. Blogger still gets a good story with great video out of it.

2. ESPN.com, via FD. Bill Simmons puts together a great Elgin Baylor column.

3. Rumors and Rants, via BDL. David West vs. a heckler at an Obama rally.

4. Nothing But Net. Our first "I should have stayed retired" joke from Larry Brown is in the books.

5. True Hoop. Abbott wonders, "If there were another Tim Donaghy, would the NBA catch him?" Terrific analys

6. SLAM. That epic Gilbert Arenas interview you've heard about.

NBA Essentials ranks our six favorite stories of the day.

1. ESPN The Magazine The Blog, via BDL. Investigating the birth of Nightmare Ant.

2. Third Quarter Collapse. Everyone thinks Hedo Turkoglu could be a great fit on the Lakers. Here's an exhaustive look at possibilities.

3. Chicago Tribune, via Blog-a-Bull. "[Derrick] Rose is having the best training camp of anybody on the team."

4. 48 Minutes of Hell. Joel Kimmel, the guy that does those awesome NBA portraits, has an art book coming out in a few weeks.

5. Ball Don't Lie. One-time European player Dominique Wilkins thinks Josh Childress made a bad move this summer. Of course, 'Nique works for the Hawks ...

6. The Blowtorch. More life lessons with Brad Miller.

NBA Essentials ranks our six favorite stories of the day.

1. The Oregonian. Rudy Fernandez has made landfall. Cheer appropriately, you lucky Blazers fans you.

2. SLC Dunk. A great Jazz blog interviews a Jazz great: Mark Eaton (Part II is here.)

3. The Blowtorch. Salim Stoudamire's open, man.

4. Upside and Motor, via TSB. Who will think of Boris Diaw? (Put your hand down, Miss G.)

5. Hoops Avenue. Carnival of the NBA #60.

6. Ridiculous Upside. Yep, even the D-League has an expansion draft!