Links of the Day (October 29, 2010)

• The Celtics aren't cutting Delonte West. If you're at all interested in the Von Wafer-West stuff, read this excellent post from Jay King at Celtics Town. I agree with just about everything in there, and would also have no problem if the Cs decided to get rid of Wafer instead.
• I only caught a few moments of Miami's big win over Orlando tonight, but it was enough to notice that there was something funky going on with LeBron James' mouthguard. I couldn't quite tell at the time, but it appears that James was simply getting into the Halloween, uh, spirit.
• Speaking of the Magic and the Heat, something of a statement by Miami, no? I'm not surprised they won, even as well as Orlando had played in the preseason, because the Magic were on the second game of a back-to-back, having destroyed Washington in the season-opener the night before. But win by 26 while holding Orlando to just 70 points? Can't say I expected that. I'm not ready to say it tells us anything new about either team, though. This was a close game at halftime, with Miami up just six points. That changed quickly in the third quarter, during which period Orlando made two of 20 shots. We knew that Miami was a good defensive team, but no defense is ever completely responsible for 2-for-20 in the NBA. Part of this was Orlando having one of the games they have occasionally had over the last few seasons, where they can't throw it into the ocean. That's a risk you run as a jumpshooting team.
• I don't know if the game eventually sold out, but the morning of the Heat's home opener (against in-state rival and co-title contender Orlando), tickets were still available. More fuel for the argument that the Miami fans don't deserve the caliber of team they've been given. Laker fans might show up to games late, but at least they sell out their games.
• Free agent center Erick Dampier has chosen to sign a one-year deal with the Rockets. Houston already has Yao Ming, Brad Miller, and Chuck Hayes at center. Yao's limited to 24 minutes per game, and he's not playing back-to-backs this year, so they certainly can use the depth. The Celtics were never in the conversation for Dampier's services as far as I know, but the Houston situation is a good illustration of the value of frontcourt depth. When Boston signed Shaquille O'Neal and Jermaine O'Neal this offseason, there was a lot of talk about how deep they had gotten in the post. But with Kendrick Perkins out for several months and both O'Neals already hampered by nagging injuries, we're reminded how easily a point of strength can become a point of weakness.