NBA Chat with Bill Ingram 12/10/12

1. IzakDavid13

   What do you see as the Rockets biggest weakness at the moment, and do you see any possible trades coming before the deadline to help my beloved Rockets get over the hump?

   Also how soon before Jeremy Lin rediscovers his shot?

   • Bill Ingram

     Good Morning, Everyone, and welcome to the chat! Well, the biggest glaring weakness from Houston is turnovers, where they lead the NBA with 16.63 per game. As a direct result, they are also leading the league in points allowed . . .turnovers create easy baskets for the opposition. The Rockets are always looking to deal, and as always, they have plenty of assets to offer. They’re just waiting for the right situation to implode and create an opportunity to grab the front court player they need . . .like Pau Gasol. It seems less likely that they deal for Stoudemire, though they did acquire him in a deal that missed the trade deadline by a matter or minutes a couple of years ago. Amar’e has a lot more miles on him now. As for Lin, it’s a matter of him staying out of foul trouble and learning to adjust when the scouting report takes away his first two or three options. In the mean time, the Rockets look better with Toney Douglas running the point.

2. Jim in CyberSpace

   http://blog.newsok.com/thunderrumblings/2012/12/08/san-antonios-stephen-jackson-calls-out-serge-ibaka-on-twitter/

   Have you seen this crap? Considering Meeta World Chaos and SJ’s history together…why am I surprised? A kindred spirit… as toxic as it is. Artest’s They are both obviously not the “textbook” examples of a model Citizen/Athlete? The Polar opposite of Tim Duncan and the Spur’s way of thinking? Apparently the Spurs selling out to this cancer? Pop run’s a tight ship…normally.
   It’s none of Jackson’s business. The league should ban twitter…that stuff “hangs” around.

   • Bill Ingram

     Well, Jax and MWP are similar in that they both tell it as they see it without filtering. The reason Jax was successful in San Antonio before was because Pop kept him under control. It will be interesting to see if the extremely media-conscious Spurs fine or penalize Jax for his ongoing twitter banter. He really just needs to shut up . . .and I mean that in the best way possible. It’s in his best interest to just let bygones be bygones. The league could never ban twitter . . .what players do on their own time is on them.

3. Aristotle

   Heya Bill

   So Harden has stated it’s up to him to recruit players to Houston. Out of those to be free agents, who’d be the best fit for Houston, and hypothetically speaking could Houston trade Lin or Asik if they werent happy with them inside the first year and tried to acquire a Jefferson, Howard, or Chris Paul? Just asking because I’m not sure if you can trade a player you’ve signed in their first year.

   • Bill Ingram

     A team can trade a player either 90 days after they sign him or after December 15th, whichever is longest. They also can’t be traded back to their previous teams. I can’t see the Rockets trading Asik, who has been much better than anyone envisioned, and Lin has yet to prove he’s worth the $8.6 cap hit he would incur. Jefferson is a player of interest, but don’t expect to see Dwight Howard or Chris Paul traded any time soon. CP3 will likely remain a Clipper, just as D12 is almost certain to remain a Laker.

4. john

   Hello from Greece!!!
   1) If Lakers have a bad record(outside playoff run) in February, what about trading Dwight for other pieces, instead of losing him?

   2) What about FA Delonte West? I think Lakers need a bad boy on the team

   • Bill Ingram

     Ahhhh . . .Greece. One of my favorite places to visit . . .Santorini may actually be Heaven. 1) I think it’s far more likely they trade Gasol for multiple pieces, but don’t expect to see them make a move before Nash has been back on the court for a while and they see how good that lineup is with an actual starting PG. 2) What do you call MWP? You seriously want him AND West on the team? Ouch!

5. Aristotle

   Can somebody PLEASE tell the Bobcats that 7-75 is worse than 7-59? Congratulations on reaching last season’s amount of wins in the first month, but they do realise the season goes on right?

   • Bill Ingram

     Well, they’re still a very young team with a new coach and a new system. Those early wins came against bad team, for the most part, and the schedule gets tougher. It’s funny – when they were through Dallas in early November I was talking to Rick Bonnell and he said the team was fooling people with some tricky college plays early on, but that likely wouldn’t last as teams began preparing for those plays. His words were prophetic . . .

6. Joe Shafer

   Jeremy Lin has to go. Could the rockets look at packaging him and Patterson with extra parts for Monte Ellis? He and harden would be a great back court (with harden generating offense and Ellis playing off ball.) Then make a huge run at Josh Smith in the offseason? Ellis, Harden and Smith sounds like a good core.

   • Bill Ingram

     I’d be surprised to see the Bucks make a move like that . . .they don’t need Lin next to Jennings. Also, the Hawks currently believe Josh will stay, and he’s saying all the right things. What the Rockets need to do is stop blowing up the team and stick to one plan. Draft well, which they do, develop those players, which they’re not as good at right now, and let them grow together the way OKC and San Antonio do it.

7. simon

   Magic aren’t that bad this year, yeah they lost a lot of games but they arent dead last! what are your thoughts on them?

   • Bill Ingram

     Yeah, I think everyone panicked a little early in Orlando. Before judging the Dwight trade we have to wait and see what those pieces turn into. I think they have a solid young foundation . . .just need two or three top picks to add to the mix for the long-term rebuild. I wouldn’t be surprised to see them deal Harrington for more assets before the deadline.

8. Steve

   Is steve nash’s condition for not trading pau legit? And if it is, then what happens if they trade him at this point anyways?

   • Bill Ingram

     We’ve been told the Lakers are not listening to offer for Pau yet because they want to see how he looks with Steve Nash, and I can’t blame them. What if Nash helps Pau regain All-Star form? They already jumped the gun once with Mike Brown . . .don’t compound things with another move made too early.

9. Christopher

   Hi Bill, I love your chats. Do you think the Jazz could have two future all stars in Derrick Favors and Gordon Hayward? I especially like Hayward, Kobe has compared him to Jeff Hornaceck except with more of an ability to create off the dribble. Also, is it a given that Utah will trade Millsap and/or Jefferson this season? If so, what will they look for in return? Thanks.

   • Bill Ingram

     Thanks! I appreciate you taking the time to check in. Not a bad comparison . . .good spot-up shooter like Jeff was, but with an extra dimension to his game. I have to believe that Jefferson and Millsap have to be on the block before the trade deadline, just because the Jazz have great depth in the front court and can afford to cash in one of those guys. Millsap is an underrated player, for sure, and could draw some nice pieces in return from a team that understands what he brings. Jefferson is a stats guy, but he’s not a winner, strictly speaking. He doesn’t do the intangibles, so moving him might be less advantageous. I guess my issue would be that breaking up the veteran front court would mean losing games as young players make mistakes, and there are a number of vets on the team who would probably take exception to that. . . starting with Mo Williams.

10. John

    Hi, thanks for chat

    Whats the latest news on Nash and dirk?

    How will kobe adjust his game when nash returns? WOuld kobe start spotting up more or will nash and kobe split the ball handling duties?

    What inspired you to be a writer and how did you come across hoopsworld?

    • Bill Ingram

      Nash and Dirk are kind of in the same situation . . .status TBD. Neither team wants to rush their injured star back because a long-term setback would kill the team’s chances. I think Kobe and Nash will share . . .Kobe is not a one-dimensional player. My love for the NBA and for writing inspired me to be a writer, and I came across HOOPSWORLD when Steve Kyler and I started it some 15 years ago.

11. banana chronicles

    R u with me bill when i say that the biggest reason okc can win it all is westB? Yes i know durant is the man and he is the best player not only in okc but almost in the league but teams can guard him,in the other hand westB after drose went down is the number one unguardable pg in the league,he is like shaq that if he starts aggressive,he will get all those lebrons and kobes in foul trouble and will make it easy for kd and the thunder. WestB for mvp????

    • Bill Ingram

      I think the best way to go about winning a title is to have two players who can’t be guarded who will take and make big shots at big times in games, and the Thunder have that in Durant and Westbrook. I think you’re discounting Durant, the league’s best scorer, in propping up Westbrook, but neither wins a championship without the other. They’re as close to Malone/Stockton as the modern NBA has . . .only they are a more prolific duo.

12. steve

    Do you think Cole Aldrich will ever make a meaningful contribution either to the Rockets, or ever in the NBA? His (granted, limited) per-48 numbers don’t seem terrible … .

    • Bill Ingram

      The less he plays, the less terrible his 48-min numbers look. That’s a draft mistake the Thunder unloaded on Houston.

13. Kid

    Hey Bill! who would you take in a best two out of three 2 on 2 tournament, 01 iverson and 09kobe, or westbrook and lebron, and why?

    • Bill Ingram

      I’ll take Westbrook and LeBron because both can physically overwhelm the opposition in this scenario. Kobe would have to literally carry Iverson . . .

14. Trevor

    Do you think the LAL have replaced the Heat of a couple years ago as most hated, it just seems people want them to fail, or maybe just because I am a magic fan? Also by far Philly got the worse end of the dwight deal essentially getting JRich for Iggy/Harkless/Vucci/1st, Henny seems to be doing much better that Otis up to this point.

    • Bill Ingram

      Considering Otis’ claim to fame is blowing up a championship team, I expect Henny to continue looking like a VAST improvement. The HEAT seem to be completely under the radar now … after they were shoved down our throats for the last two years. Did people just get tired of them? I do think there is a natural tendency to dislike a bully, and the Lakers are the Yankees of the NBA . . .using their large market income to buy championships where teams that can’t afford to break all the rules sit and watch the playoffs from home year after year.

15. brandon

    James harden said he has been recruiting players to play with him in Houston. Do you know of any names? Who do you the rockets will go after in the trade deadline? Do you think they willing to go after amare stoudemire?

    • Bill Ingram

      James said it’s his job . . .I don’t know that he’s already talking to certain players . . .I think they go after Pau Gasol . . .Amar’e's contract and his oft-injured status make him unlikely.

16. terry

    i havent lost hope that raptors can claw there way back into the playoff picture,but watching games andrea barngani looks lost out there he takes alot of critiscm and i think he is a good player but maybe a change of scenery would be best for him,other then maybe la which seems to be the biggest rumour floating out there what other teams you think might take on the bigman,and there are some notabl;e free agents out there that might help raptors one comes to my mind is kenyon martin he would bring toughness which o think raptors lack

    • Bill Ingram

      Exactly. Kenyon Martin is just the kind of player the Raptors need, and would cost a tiny fraction of that Gasol would. That’s assuming he can stay healthy and produce at a high level . . .if he can’t, that’s a non-starter. To be effective, Bargs really needs to be paired with a good defensive center who can both compensate for his defensive weakness but also feed him on the perimeter when double-teams come. There are very few of those kinds of centers around, and the ones that are out there are on teams that don’t really seem likely for Bargs other than the Lakers. The Bulls don’t have the pieces to make a deal and Boozer and Gibson have the four spot covered. The Knicks don’t need a huge change like that. Brooklyn, perhaps, but first Lopez needs to get and stay healthy. Utah maybe . . .but I don’t see a natural fit for him unless he’s part of a bigger deal that radically changes the look of a franchise.

17. dub

    Please tell me the raps wont trade bargs and calderon for an aged, worn gasol. I agree that the two need to be traded but this deal smells so much like the jermaine oneil/hedo turkoglu acquisitions that haunted the raps before

    • Bill Ingram

      I suspect that’s what they have in mind, yes. I also think Gasol would be a better fit in TOR than Bargs, which is surprising given Barg’s similarity to Nowitzki and Casey’s success with Dirk in Dallas. Granted, Dirk is better, but they are similar enough. But you’re right . . .there is a bust potential for sure.

18. Eric

    Do you think the w.matthews will be missing games or benched anytime soon due to various injuries?or will portland make him play through it?

    • Bill Ingram

      I don’t think Portland has to “make him” play through . . .Wes hates to miss games. He has NEVER missed a game in three-plus seasons.

19. Bryan

    How do you think the Mavs are doing? 10-10 with dirk being out and Marion and kaman missing a decent amount of games it doesn’t seem bad at all, also how bout the Juiceman he’s looking like a star

    • Bill Ingram

      So far they’re winning games against bad teams, and there is something to be said for that. I was talking to Eddie Sefko the other night and we agreed that there is no predicting how Dallas will be when Dirk returns. I can see them making a deep playoff run, but I can also see them losing in the first round. They are very inconsistent, and their sloppy play has Rick Carlisle pulling out his stubbly little hairs at times. Mayo has been fantastic . . .he struggled when he had two sprained ankles, but he’s basically healthy again and killing everybody. He will only be that much better when Dirk is distracting the defense away from him.

20. the wonderer

    As a NY Knicker for life, I tell you this L.A. – Have fun with D’Antoni. He’ll start talking about his system, spacing, and excuses. It’s NOT fun basketball to watch.
    I SWEAR! You have been warned…thoughts?

    • Bill Ingram

      If you enjoy watching a team win games with defense . . .it’s not going to happen. We all know defense wins championships, and the Lakers are currently 13th in the league in defense, even with the NBA’s best shot-blocker in the post, an elite defender in Kobe, and a good defender in Peace.

21. Billy M

    I think there are two things you are over-looking when you say the Rockets need to “let them grow together”. The first is that they can’t and haven’t drafted a KD. Second, they don’t have Greg Popavich. Asik and Parsons have tons of potential but there is a great chance that most of the roster has peaked skills wise(Patterson? Lin?)

    • Bill Ingram

      Oh trust me . . .I’m not overlooking the coaching issue. I don’t want to pile on the man while he is mourning the tragic loss of his daughter, so let’s leave it at that for now. I do think Patterson is what he’s going to be. Lin has more potential, but not All-Star potential, as I’ve been saying ever since the Rockets landed him and raised ticket prices. They will only draft a KD by losing enough to get a top 2-3 draft pick. They just aren’t quite bad enough to do that.

22. steppxxxxz

    agree about jefferson. I too love hayward…he does ALL the little thing and even if his shot is off on a given night, his hoop IQ never is. Jeff is the opposite. Do you think Corbin is playing the right guys the right way? Seems too much foye, and too much Jeff and its time to run with kanter and favors (hurt i know) and GH. And Burks. Jazz arent going to win anything, Id rather see them work toward the future because they have real talent on that team.

    • Bill Ingram

      That’s the dilemma . . .and I’m with you on Corbin. Not sure he’s the right guy. But you have a lot of older vets on the team who want to win now, so turning the team over to the kids would mean you have to start trading off vets fairly quickly before an air of negativity sets in. On paper they’re not a bad team . . .I thought they “might” be in the playoff mix . . .and so far that’s playing out. So better to make the playoffs, even to lose early, and give the younger players that experience, than to blow it up and lose out.

23. Sacked n Sac

    Hey Bill! Love your chats. Do you think the Kings will hold onto their glut at the guard spots?

    • Bill Ingram

      Last question, everyone! No, I do expect the Kings to be active in trade talks as the deadline nears, and we all know Jimmer is already on the block. There don’t appear to be takers. I do believe in Keith Smart, and the team is starting to turn a corner. It will be interesting to see who they might look to package with Jimmer to unload him, and that might depend on which teams wind up needing a PG due to injury. As always, thanks for spending some of your Monday with us here at HOOPSWORLD. Don’t miss Stephen Brotherston’s chat this afternoon . . .drop those questions in now!