NBA Chat with Bill Ingram 8/27/12

Catch up on the latest news, rumors and predictions with HOOPSWORLD’s Bill Ingram every Monday at 11:00 AM Eastern.

Bill covers the entire NBA and is based in Dallas, Texas. He has been an NBA analyst since 1998, when he and Steve Kyler founded HOOPSWORLD. He can be heard on radio stations across the country and his work has also appeared in USA Today.

You can follow Bill on Twitter by linking here: @TheRocketGuy.

  1. asaf

    why is it when the c’s want to trade R. Allen to Memphis it’s just business but when he goes to Miami, he has no loyalty?

    • Bill Ingram

      Good Morning and welcome to the chat, everyone! Welcome to the world of spin. It’s like Mark Cuban saying he really didn’t want Deron Williams because it would have hurt the Mavs’ cap situation. It’s all about who is doing the talking and when.

  2. Peter

    Hey Bill! Can we safely say that this is Daryl Morey’s last season in charge of the rockets? He spent the last couple seasons trying extremely hard to land a superstar player and everytime he has come up short. I understand they are in a rebuilding mode, but he has consistenly failed to deliver. He is a very bright guy, but its time for him to move on.

    • Bill Ingram

      It’s easy to say yes, simply because mediocrity is not generally tolerated for very long in professional sports. At the same time, Rockets owner Les Alexander has tolerate it for quite a while and seems to support what Morey is doing. It’s interesting to see the different approached. The Pacers have made steady, measurable progress and are now one of the best teams in the East, yet GM David Morway is let go. The Rockets have been in NBA purgatory – too good to get a good lottery pick, not good enough to make the playoffs – for most of Morey’s tenure and yet he’s still in place.

  3. steven Chao

    I have no experience with this so I thought I’d ask you. How much of a difference does coaching really make? I understand that the players at the coach’s disposal is huge, but let’s say you have two exact same teams with the same exact talent and personnel but two different coaches. How much of a factor can the coach be in determining who wins a match up between the two teams?

    • Bill Ingram

      The right coach can make all the difference, as the coach sets the tone in the locker room as well as on the court. If you have a guy like Rick Adelman, who inspired loyalty in his players, they will work harder to execute his gameplans. To use a Pacers example, since they were the most recent to do this, Jim O’Brien was fired midseason and the team experienced a dramatic turnaround under Vogel. Indy went on to make the playoffs, after looking like a lottery team under O’Brien – with the same players.

  4. WIZARD

    do you agree that houston in this moment is worse then bobcats?What is rocket plan for next sesson?Going for most lottery balls seems most likely?

    • Bill Ingram

      It’s hard to say, with all of the roster turnover. Teams don’t usually do well after a complete roster shakeup, and add to that the “big” free agent acquisitions of Omer Asik and Jeremy Lin, who are not nearly as good as the player they are replacing – Marcus Camby and Kyle Lowry – and it looks like a lottery ball year, for sure. Charlotte, at least, has some continuity going for them.

  5. piston

    What season do you predict for pistons?Who could be gone?Are they playoff material?

    • Bill Ingram

      I’ll say this – the Pistons have certainly amassed significant front court talent . . .potentially. If Andre Drummond can live up to expectations and Monroe can take the next step, the Pistons should be very tough to contend with up front. If Will Bynum and Austin Daye can have strong seasons, the Pistons could be in the mix for the eighth seed, but I’m not sold either of those things happen. I think they’ve gone as far as they can go with Stuckey at point, and that’s not nearly far enough.

  6. will

    Are wall and cousins only 2010 draftees that will sign max deals next summer or is greg monroe in that category too?

    • Bill Ingram

      Well, Monroe seems to meet the new standard for max deals, doesn’t he? I mean, if JaVale McGee and Roy Hibbert are max players, why not Monroe? Ohhh to be 7’0″.

  7. Henry

    from best to worst name all rockets pf?

    • Bill Ingram

      Yeah . . .about that . . .why are they collecting so many 4s??? I’m guessing Motiejunas will be the best PF this season, with Patrick Patterson, Royce White, and Terrence Jones filling out the position. It’s interesting that the Rockets’ official roster page lists Patterson as a C/PF . . .as if he could hold his own at center. Maybe Motiejunas winds up playing center, making Patterson their best 4? Or will Sean Williams start? Too many questions . . .giving me a headache. LOL

  8. ivan

    What is the best young team in nba beside thunder?

    • Bill Ingram

      I’d have to look at average ages, which I don’t have time to do in a chat, but the Indiana Pacers are a young team, and one of the East’s top teams. The Kings have an outside shot at being the best young team behind OKC if they can get it together. They’re the youngest, agewise, I believe. Not sure they’re going to be able to make a serious run with Cousins disrupting things, but we’ll see. The talent is certainly there, and I like Keith Smart as the coach to help balance everything out.

  9. piston

    Pistons will have 20 mil in cap space next summer to spend.I know top agents don’t want to came here but what are realistic targets we can hope that will end up in motown next xear?

    • Bill Ingram

      Best-case would be to lure Chris Paul or Ty Lawson from their teams, but that seems incredibly unlikely. I’m targeting a PG upgrade before anything else, so maybe Jose Calderon or Darren Collison? That’s a good place to start.

  10. zoe

    What les alexandar think about this rocket team?I didnt think that he will tolerate failure so long?When will he do something?

    • Bill Ingram

      Yeah, that’s the question. Why is it OK to be mediocre for this long? I don’t understand it at all. Other teams clean house when the team doesn’t make the playoffs for years. Status quo continues in Houston.

  11. Lior

    I think the Rockets have a good chance of finishing last in the western conference. Too little talent and too many rookies.

  12. Gustavo A Thomas

    Best team in Los Angele right now is? a) Lakers b) Dodgers c) Angels. Why? It look like they compete to be the bigger spender in los Ángeles. What you think?

    • Bill Ingram

      Since I don’t watch baseball . . .Lakers! Steve Nash, Kobe Bryant, Dwight Howard. Seems like a no-brainer.

  13. Wil

    Hi Bill, question about Blazers. I agree that you shouldn’t use cap space just to use it and that they made a play for the player they wanted (Hibbert), but I was surprised that plan B seems to be to count on the rookies. With Kaman and Mayo in particular, who were available and could fill needs, why they didn’t make a push? Are they thinking one more trip to the lottery?

    • Bill Ingram

      I think if they had actually landed Hibbert we would have seen a more aggressive stance in other areas. When they missed out on Hibbert I think it became clear they were going to rebuild around Leonard and Lillard, with Aldridge and Batum holding down the veteran corners.

  14. Bugsy Mogues

    Hi Bill. I’m really interested to see how the Mavs play this year with a roster featuring such a distinct generation gap. Half the roster being under 25 and the rest 30 and over with West and James being the only age tweeners. How do you see this dynamic playing out this season and into the future?

    • Bill Ingram

      I don’t see it in the future at all, as most everyone signed one-year deals. This year will be interesting, you’re right. Guys like Brand, Mayo and Kaman have a lot to prove, and that could serve Dallas well. Has to be frustrating for Dirk, as the championship team is all but gone and the annual turnover rate is back up. About the time he learns this new roster it will be the end of the season and they’ll all be gone.

  15. Jeffrey

    Where do you see Kenyon Martin signing? Read he’s interested in the Lakers or Knicks, but it seems the interest isn’t mutual. Maybe a homecoming in Brooklyn with the Nets?

    • Bill Ingram

      I’m actually surprised no one has signed him. He can clearly still contribute in a limited role. Maybe Houston will sign him! They need another power forward (cough cough)

  16. Alex in Burbank

    Mr. Ingram, I was not aware that Howard was not going to be available at the start of the season according to numerous reports. Any idea how long he will be out?

    • Bill Ingram

      There isn’t a timetable, and i don’t think we know FOR SURE that he won’t be available to start the season. That’s the current thinking. My impression is that he won’t miss much time. Meanwhile, Pau Gasol and Antawn Jamison are more than capable of starting in the front court.

  17. michael

    Bill
    Do you think derrick favors will sign extention with jazz and with the team having alot to spend in 2013, will they be able to attract a top free agent? Utah is not as bad a place to live than san antonio or OKC…

    • Bill Ingram

      Someone was asking about the impact of coaching earlier, and this is part of it, too. A great coach can attract free agents, and I’m not sure if Ty Corbin is that kind of coach. It makes sense that Utah would ink Favors to the rookie extension.

  18. adobo nation

    Any chance the celtics add kenyon martin or the heat maybe?
    And okc keep saying they need a durant back up, why not terrence williams or pietrus?

    • Bill Ingram

      Pietrus makes a great deal of sense in OKC. Not so much Terrence Williams doesn’t fit the Thunder mindset of players who put team first. I don’t know if Miami needs one more older player, but the Celtics make sense for Martin.

  19. ????

    who’s do you think the next superstar in dallas if nowitzki’s retire

    • Bill Ingram

      I don’t think he’s currently on the roster, if that’s what you mean.

  20. LA Fans

    There Are Speculation on what Lakers will sign in 2013 free agency market ? Pick players that is Best for being a laker ?
    Tony Allen ,Chancey billups ,chris paul , mo williams , Nate Robinson , kyle krover

    • Bill Ingram

      Let’s not start the 2013 stuff before we have even played a preseason game in 2012. That’s just a headache waiting to happen.

  21. dub

    Calderon and Kleiza for andre miller and Wilson chandler around midseason. Gives the raps their starting sf and backup vet pg. Gives denver their stretch 4 and flexibility when calderons deal expires. What do you think?

  22. dub

    What do you think of Terrence Ross? I think that he will make derozan expendable and thus a good trade asset. They have a similar game except ross can shoot better already. I have him pegged as similar to a young caron butler. Fair comparison?

    • Bill Ingram

      I think that’s reasonable. I don’t believe the Raptors are putting all of their plans on DeRozan’s shoulders, and it’s always good to have a young player pushing the current starter to work harder and achieve more. It’s a win-win for Toronto, whether they wind up trading DeRozan, or whether he feels the pressure and ups his game.

  23. Will in Cincy

    Do you think media will ever re-evaluate the “old ” tag they place
    On players ? Ie. Kobe ,celtics former big 3, Nash, Duncan etc.
    It’s silly to keep saying they are falling off when they are clearly still
    All star caliber and all stars. Look at grant hill for instance
    I know a lot of gmail would rather have him then quite a few 20 year
    Olds right now.

    • Bill Ingram

      Are you really the class of 513??? Wow . . .you’re right – Duncan, Nash, Kobe are all spring chickens next to you! Seriously, though, it’s all about age. Casual media can sound smart by talking about the age factor, but you have to understand the game at a different level to talk about the impact that guys like the ones you mention have despite their age. As long as they are not legitimately injured in a way that prevents them from performing, Tim Duncan, for example, makes his team better just by being on the floor because of his extremely high basketball IQ. Tiago Splitter is younger and faster, but not nearly as smart, so he struggles to stay in the rotation. Age is one thing, but veteran savvy and basketball IQ trump the age discussion in many ways.

  24. iggydung

    your thoughts for the suns? most say they are bottom 5 in the nba. I think they are pretty good(in paper atleast), they have a solid bench. no superstar, but great role players.

    • Bill Ingram

      Glad you asked that. I’m thinking about writing a Suns piece about how the entire league seems to be underestimating them. Dragic is so much better now, and will be a great starting PG for them. Not to mention the potential if Beasley can relate to Alvin Gentry, which is likely. The Suns are younger and possibly better, though they will miss the veteran presence that Hill and Nash represented. (see the last question)

  25. TC

    Hey Bill,
    Do you forsee anymore pieces for the Lakers to reclaim dynasty status again?

    • Bill Ingram

      If they can’t do it with THAT roster, it must be impossible. LOL

  26. mario

    Morning bill tell why do you feel like the bulls will still be able to compete against miami, the knicks and other teams when derrick comes back when the bulls got worse and everyone else got better

    • Bill Ingram

      Not quite sure what you mean about the Bulls being worse and yet better when Rose came back. The reason I think they’ll be contenders is because they were successful without Rose last season and they have a better PG rotation this year. Rose comes back healthy, he’ll push them to the Eastern Conference Finals.

  27. Yong in LA

    Hi Bill,

    I still think there is a room for Lakers to improve their bench. If you were Lakers GM, which currently remaining FA player would you like to add to the Lakers roster?

    • Bill Ingram

      I know Kenyon Martin is a possibility, and someone fans would like to have.

  28. Bryan

    How do you see the Mavs doing this year? And also do you see the back court of Collison and Mayo breaking out?

    • Bill Ingram

      Interesting potential, for sure. Collison never really lived up to expectations in Indy, so maybe he’ll be able to find himself in Dallas. Mayo is a known quantity, likely filling the Jason Terry sixth-man role. I expect Vince Carter to start, but you never know.

  29. Jerry

    Outside of Lin, do the Rockets have a player they will not trade (short of it being for a superstar which we all know is not going to happen)?

    • Bill Ingram

      I’m told they will hold off on trading Kevin Martin until the trade deadline . . .beyond that, it seems they are resigned to this lineup.

  30. Matt

    If TMac had the work ethic of Michael Jordan or Kobe Bryant, with his talents could he have been better than either of those two?

    • Bill Ingram

      Alright, last question everyone! I’ve said this many times – Tracy McGrady is every bit as talented as Kobe Bryant, he simply lacks the heart. It takes both to be a championship player. I don’t know if he could have been better than Jordan, who was a freakish athlete, but he’s in the Kobe discussion, I believe, with a champion’s heart and desire. Thanks for spending part of your Monday with us here at HOOPSWORLD! Our next chat is later today with Stephen Brotherston – drop your questions in now!

  31. Steve O

    What is the upside for the wolves this season in the western conference?

    • Bill Ingram

      Ok . . haven’t had a Wolves question, so I’ll add one more. I think the Wolves are in the playoff mix . . .7-10 seed, in that pack of teams. If they can stay healthy, they could very well be in the playoffs.