NBA Chat with Bill Ingram 3/18/13

1. Peter

   Hey Bill! How was weekend? 22 in a row for the HEAT! It seems like the HEAT’s winning streak wasn’t as shocking as the rocket’s 22 game winning streak. Is it because the rockets were considered a mediocre team, which makes it more shocking.

   • Bill Ingram

     Good Morning, everyone, and welcome to the chat! You’re exactly right . . .the Rockets were not close to being the deep, All-Star-laden team that Miami is. There aren’t many nights where I feel like the HEAT have even a small chance of losing, whereas the Rockets did it largely due to the wizardry of Rick Adelman, who made the absolute most out of his roster.

2. J.P.

   Fantasy question for you:

   who do I play? I have John Wall, Ricky Rubio, and Deron Williams, who have all been putting up serious fantasy points. I only have two spots for the PG position. DWill has those bad ankles, but is that enough to sit him for a week? Thanks B.I.

   • Bill Ingram

     Wall is my first pick, no question. The issue with Rubio is that his efficiency is an issue more often than not. I’d go with D-Will.

3. Dave

   Bill, how much of Adreian Payne (Mich St) have you seen? On another site’s mock draft (pretty reliable site), they have Payne fairly deep into the second round, and I can’t understand it. He plays D, plays hard, can run, can shoot, jams easily, passes the ball (unlike Shabazz Muhammed), rebounds. Payne looks like a lottery pick to me. How about you?

   • Bill Ingram

     I haven’t seen him, but Draft Express is as plugged in as anyone when it comes to talent evaluation. They have him going 23rd overall . . .experience will tell you that guys who are projected in the first round can easily jump if they blow teams away in workouts. Nothing is set in stone, especially in this injury-riddled draft class.

4. eastsider

   yo bill i seen enough trob needs to go to the dleague. t jones can do all the ppat was doing then some.. also its time for brooks to be the back up..

   • Bill Ingram

     Robinson has looked good at times, though obviously the entire team took it in the teeth last night. You know Mark Jackson has that date circled on the calendar after the way Houston ran up the score last time they hosted Golden State. Aaron told me he’s not sure what his role is yet, which doesn’t surprise me since he doesn’t have a coach like Adelman any more. With McHale it’s basically fend for yourself. Keep in mind, the Rockets are not a playoff team if the Lakers and Mavs have their expected seasons . . .so it’s important to remember they are very much a work in progress.

5. Cain

   Who has a brighter future between Beal and Waiters? Beal reminds me of Mitch Richmond and Waiters more Dwyane Wade.

   • Bill Ingram

     You’re not far off, honestly. Waiters has the mentality of Wade, who believes he can dominate every time out. That mentality is often the difference. I haven’t seen that from Beal yet, and I’m not sure it’s something that can develop or be taught. You have it or you don’t. Waiters has it.

6. Cain

   Paul george is still very raw, at what point in his career do you think he will “get it”? He really holds the future of Indiana in his game.

   • Bill Ingram

     He has taken HUGE strides this season with Granger out. Look at his November numbers versus the rest of the season. He struggled at first, then started just taking over every night. He hasn’t reached his full potential, but he is well on his way.

7. APHX10

   Bill Hello

   Is Hoopsworld arranging a 2013 NCAA March Madness Pickem Game like you have the NBA Pickem Game?

   If not, might be an idea for next season…

   • Bill Ingram

     That is an interesting idea. I’ll drop it to our team . . .

8. APHX10

   Bill Hello

   If Miami were to become back to back NBA Champions, when the taxes start to hit the organisation do you think they will pay it to keep the team and ride the Big Three until they can’t challenge or do you see Bosh being the first out? I’m guessing LeBron will be able to be given a max deal by Miami on his next contract (the one thing he mentioned he never got as yet due to sacrificing).

   • Bill Ingram

     I don’t see how Miami will be able to keep all three, so yes, I see Bosh as trade bait when it comes times to crunch numbers. When LeBron’s contract comes up Wade will be past his prime, so the assumption is that Miami will make LeBron the star and see if Wade wants to take less to shoot for another title or two.

9. LA in LA

   So many analysts are predicting that the Lakers are toast in the first round! Why? Why don’t the Lakers get more respect? Why are people so jealous?

   • Bill Ingram

     Is it jealousy, or sound analysis? If any other team were to sneak into the playoff at the last minute because some other playoff team fell apart down the stretch we’d be talking about the top seed sweeping them. The Lakers are peaking at the right time, but do you really think they could take out San Antonio or OKC? I don’t . . .

10. JP

    So Bill following the last chat topic, if you have to fill this roster: who would be in and/or who would you replace:

    Rubio – Oladipo – Kirilenko – Love – Pek. Barea – Shved – Bjelica – Dwill – XXXXX. XXX- XXXXX-XXXX- XXXX –XXXX.

    You may choose Malcolm Lee, Ridnour, Budinger, Gelabale, Hummel, Dante, Stiemsma, Johnson, P.Prestes or any other player from this draft as we are going to have 3 first picks and 3 second round picks.

    Thanks for your guidance!!!

    • Bill Ingram

      I’d go Budinger (highly underrated), Stiemsma (you can’t coach size), and draft Ben McLemore as the answer at the two.

11. SatBchMagicer

    Good morning Bill, in East 8 playoff teams virtually set(not seedings though, except #1-MIA); at this point do you also see West 8 playoff teams ‘set’(again not seedings yet)?

    • Bill Ingram

      Almost, but not quite. Dallas has an outside chance, though losses to San Antonio and OKC make it increasingly unlikely. Kobe’s ankle injury makes LA a question mark. The Jazz look completely lost, so a rebound from them seems unlikely, but it’s possible. Looks like Spurs, Thunder, Clippers, Grizzlies, Nuggets, Warriors, Rockets and Lakers.

12. I hate LA in LA

    Whats the deal with Bynum? Doesnt look like he’ll play this season and he might walk away this summer. Sixers gave up iggy for nothing? thats gotta hurt. What are the chances of Bynum resigning in philly? If he leaves, whats a likely destination?

    • Bill Ingram

      I think it would take an entire team of psychiatrists to answer that question. Does Philly put max money on the table for him? If not, does someone else put that kind of deal on the table? If Bynum is truly healthy, or as close as he gets, someone is going to pay him. I promise. Look at the contracts signed by Roy Hibbert and JaVale McGee and you’ll see that Bynum is about to get paid whether he plays at all this season or not. The Sixers are clearly not very good as constructed and there isn’t a key free agent who makes them markedly better. I think they sign Bynum and pray he lives up to the hype.

13. SatBchMagicer

    Hi Bill, as of today, Royce White has played 12 D’League games, with decent but not indicating ready for NBA yet numbers; do you think HOU will bring him back for last 2 weeks regular season/playoffs when D’League ends or will they hold him for 13/14 summer leagues/pre-season camp?

    • Bill Ingram

      You never know with McHale. You’re right – White has been good, not great. It doesn’t make much sense to throw a new body in for the stretch run, but we’ve seen McHale do that repeatedly just to see what happens. He might do with with White. If Adelman were still coach, the next time we would see White would be the LV summer league.

14. HOTSAUCE

    Bill, do you think the lakers will make the playoffs? If they do, is there any way they can beat the spurs in a 7 game series?

    • Bill Ingram

      Let’s take a look. Kobe or no Kobe, the Lakers are in good shape as we head towards the end of March. They’re @ PHX tonight, and the Suns beat themselves these days. They host Washington, which might be a tough game, but it’s very winnable. Then it’s a road trip starting @ GSW (probably loss), and then easy stops in Minnesota, Milwaukee and Sacramento. April is very difficult, but assuming Kobe is back by then LA has a good shot. They play five playoff teams down the stretch, and how they fare against the Grizzlies, Clippers, Warriors, Spurs and Rockets will likely determine their postseason fate. I think they make it, then lose to either the Thunder or Spurs.

15. phil

    do you think some package involving eric gordon can land the pelicans rondo if not witha year coming off his max what are you hearing is his value around theleague

    • Bill Ingram

      If the Hornets (let’s not jump ahead … LOL) trade Gordon that could do better than Rondo. Vaquez has proven he belongs in the starting lineup. If they trade Gordon they had better get an elite two back in the deal.

16. Timo

    Hello, is Maurice Harkless the.best rookie on the magic roster?

    • Bill Ingram

      Statistically, that would be Andrew Nicholson, but not by much.

17. Jeff

    How would you fix the Raptors?

    • Bill Ingram

      That’s a great question. They finally got the star small forward they needed and they can’t win a game. It doesn’t help that Lowry is nursing a variety of injuries, so they aren’t getting much from the PG spot. They obviously need more from the bench, and I’m not sold that Amir Johnson is the starting four they need. They need to move Bargs and get 2-3 promising players in return to complement the starting lineup.

18. Mac - Los Angeles

    I see you think Lakers would lose to Spurs or OKC. I think Lakers get to 6th spot – what do you think chances are if they get to 6th?

    • Bill Ingram

      I think the Lakers can take the Clippers . . .I’m not sold on Vinny D, no matter how deep and talented that roster is. The Clippers would love a chance to silence the Lakers fans, obviously, but I think the motivation from Kobe would be too much for the Clips to overcome. Put someone else on their bench in place of Vinny and there’s no way the Lakers should beat that team. But Vinny it is.

19. cole

    Damian Lillard or Anthony Davis? Who would you rather build your team around?

    • Bill Ingram

      Alright, last question, everyone. From what we’ve seen so far, Lillard is clearly the better player of the two. He has put the Blazers on his back down the stretch of games and had huge moments already, plus his all-around game is something to see. I’ll go Lillard without a second thought. Thanks for hanging with us here at HOOPSWORLD as part of your Monday!