NBA Chat With Derek Page 10/6/12

Covering all things NBA from the city of Dallas, join HOOPSWORLD NBA Writer Derek Page for his weekly chat this Saturday at 5:00 pm EST. Shoot your questions in now.

  1. steppxxxxz

    you wrote the battle for 8th seed. How can you be so sure its not even for a five or six seed? Clips arent a lock at all. Nobody mentions age. With lakers, boston, and spurs…age is a huge factor. Older teams historically have more injuries.

    • Derek Page

      Welcome to the chat once again my friends. It’s a chilly, rainy day here in Dallas so I’m cooped up in the house and ready to roll for this chat. Let’s do this!

      I disagree. The Clippers are a team on the rise and both the Lakers and Spurs have the depth behind their older superstars and all-around talent to at least finish in the top-6 in the West. It would be a huge shock if either LA team or San Antonio finished lower than sixth in the conference.

  2. Sweet Dee

    My current all flop team PG – JJ Barea SG – Manu Ginobli SF- Lebron James PF- Dirk Nowitzki C- Anderson Varejao. Who’s on team Derek Page (can only use current players)?

    • Derek Page

      Can I suit up the entire NBA? Because EVERYBODY flops. Kobe flops. Wade flops. Bynum flops. Players complain about flopping and then turn around and do the same thing on the next play. It’s the culture of the NBA to try to entice officials to make the call… The league is obviously trying to crack down on this but it’s going to be tough sledding.

  3. Charlie

    What type of role do you think Alexi Shved will have with the Timberwolves this year? Primary back-up to Brandon Roy? He looked good in the Olympics this year. What are you expectations and how many minutes per game do you think Adelman will play him.

    • Derek Page

      I think that’s the plan, Charlie. Ridnour or Barea could also see some time if the T-Wolves want to go small but I can see Shved getting some quality minutes this season. This is true especially considering Roy’s dicey injury history.

  4. T.J. Wilson

    How will Benard James fit in with the Mavs this season? Will he get decent minutes and How will his military experience influence the team and possibly make him a good role player in the future? Secondly, what does Ty Lawson need to work on in order for him to be a better PG and possibly be a future All-star in years to come? Thanks for your time Derek!!!!!!!

    • Derek Page

      I think he’ll get some time but it’s going to be difficult as he’s going to be fighting for minutes behind Elton Brand with the supremely athletic Brandan Wright. James is penciled in as the Mavs only true center behind Kaman, but he’ll be fighting with Tweeners for court time. In terms of his future, he’s certainly a born leader and his military experience is proof of that. If he can develop any kind of offensive game, his stout D will help him to remain in the NBA for years to come.
      I think Lawson has already come a long way and natural NBA progression suggests an All Star berth is right around the corner. Despite his size, Lawson can penetrate and finish around the basket on a consistent basis and his shot continues to improve.

  5. Willy

    Hey Derek! Hows it going? I know that I am one of many fans that love your chats! So I was wondering-I am a Knicks fan am I think we aged but improved. I am much more worried about the celtics then the nets. With Bradley out the celts lineup looks like this
    PG: rondo
    SG lee-Terry
    Sf pierce-green-Joseph
    PF bass sully Wilcox
    C kg melo Collins
    Who Is the backup? When AB Returns will he become rondos backup or will he start and Te jet will move over to the 1? Will they sign anyone because if they do wouldny they have done. It all ready? Please answer I wanna know how I can expect a fully healthy nyk team matches up against a fully healthy celtics team
    Ps will jr start over shumpert ?

    • Derek Page

      I would have to assume they would start Bradley at the 2, keep Terry at sixth man and let Lee scour minutes at both the two and the three. Avery Bradley is much too talented to come off the bench and he spearheaded the C’s resurgence this past season. In my opinion, if Bradley would’ve been healthy, Boston would’ve beat the HEAT in the ECF.
      In terms of JR Smith starting over Iman Shumpert, that’s a difficult question to answer at this junction. Shumpert is still rehabbing and Smith is penciled in to start the season, but that could change once Shumpert is fully healthy and back on the court. Smith is better suited as a sixth man in my view.

  6. Mac

    Are the Lakers too old to beat a team like okc? LA has alot of talent sure but young legs and close talent could = championship

    • Derek Page

      That’s what Thunder fans are banking on, for sure. Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook are only continuing to get better and we still haven’t seen their best basketball. That being said, the Lakers are absolutely stacked. If healthy, which is likely given the sparse injury history of their main guys, LA is clearly the team to beat this season.

  7. barbie

    can my Mavericks hope 2 break through with all the talent with heat, thunder and lakers?

    • Derek Page

      That’s going to be difficult. Dallas has plenty of talent to compete with the big boys, sure but winning is another matter. The Mavericks won’t be an easy out by any means though so you never know. Anything could happen but I wouldn’t bet on it that it will.

  8. Confuscious

    Confuscious say Lakers one key injury away from missing playoffs. Agree?

    • Derek Page

      Disagree Confucius*. Lakers have plenty of talent around the roster to pick up the slack. But if Nash goes down that would be the most difficult cog to replace and the team would look completely different.

  9. timmy T

    Will allen really make that big of a impact with miami? Sure he shoot 3′s but what else?

    • Derek Page

      Ray Allen is the reason people shouldn’t sleep on Miami as a championship contender once again in 2013. We all know the HEAT were already likely to advance to the Finals once again this year but the addition of a marksman like Allen – who will have an unbelievable amount of open looks this season with LBJ and Wade attacking the basket and collapsing defenses – this team is stacked.

  10. Phil Jack-zen

    Why am I not a head coach in the NBA?? Not enough fingers for anymore rings?

    • Derek Page

      Because you’re getting older and the brutal 82-game NBA schedule wreaks havoc on your 67-year old body. Oh, and yes you’ve already accomplished everything you’ve wanted to as a professional head coach. Enjoy retirement Zen-master!

  11. Voice O'Reason

    Curious to get your opinion on the Royce White situation with Houston. Excellent article from Beer recently but too sympathetic to White imo. We all have issues dude. Get on a plane and go make your millions.

    • Derek Page

      Let me just preface this by saying, I HATE flying. There’s nothing worse for me because I can’t control the situation and I just panic – sometimes to the point of even getting physically ill. Sitting in the airplane on the runway, being taxied, taking off, flying: I hate everything about the process. BUT if I was getting paid a lot of cheddar to be on an NBA team and go from place to place, I would have to make it work. I imagine Royce might be worse off than me in terms of the anxiety he gets before and during a flight, but sometimes you just have to man up.

  12. Redar Ibrahim

    Hey Derek! greetings from Canada. Do you think kyle lowry can change the raptors organization around? and do you think demars ready for a huge year to prove the critics wrong?

    • Derek Page

      I think that’s the goal, sure. Lowry has proven to be an excellent all-around point guard throughout his NBA career and that level of play should translate to a better Raptors squad in 2013. I agree with you on DeRozan as well. I think the 23-year old is on the verge of breaking out in a big way this season.

  13. Andrew johnson

    will josh smith be an all star this season? and who do you think will start for atl at point? teague or harris

    • Derek Page

      He better be. It was ridiculous the he didn’t make the team this past season but I can’t imagine, if he continues to excel (which he will), that the EC team coach can justify leaving him off the roster. ATL fans need to get out there and vote as well!
      In terms of the starter at point, I think the plan is to start Devin Harris but, if Harris is slow to perform out of the gate, Teague has proven that he has all the tools to lead this team. Atlanta is banking on a new change of scenery to allow Harris to shake off poor all-around performance over the last few seasons.

  14. Laurent

    You think the Lakers will put of retiring Shaq number ceremony on hold especially since he’s beefing with Dwight?

    • Derek Page

      That would be childish. I guarantee every time these two guys see each other it’s hugs and handshakes. Shaq just loves to stir the pot.

  15. Laurent

    I respect Shaq and still do. I got to say his feud with Dwight is stupid. This “superman” thing is making him look foolish and jealous. What is your thought on this?

    • Derek Page

      If it’s for real, which I truly doubt, then yes Shaq is a big baby and needs professional counseling. But, like I side in your previous question, Shaq is the ultimate showman. He loves to get everybody all riled up and create headlines and think this is just par for the course in the long line of Shaq-bating.

  16. Chris

    What can you say about the “Positionless” of the Heat? Can they match up well against the lakers with that?
    Lebron at 1 on offense, 4 on defense. wow, that can spell doom on the opponent? thoughts? Thanks Derek.

    • Derek Page

      Actually, I’d prefer James at the 4 on both ends of the court. LBJ is simply unstoppable as a power forward in today’s NBA and the 2012 postseason is direct evidence of that. To your point, yes I think the HEAT match up very will with just about anybody but there’s simply no answer for Dwight Howard in the post… even LeBron can’t guard him. That’s a huge problem for both the HEAT and the rest of the NBA: If you can manage to contain Gasol, Nash and Kobe; how do you prevent Howard from dominating inside?

  17. anthony

    right now is wade a HOF & top 50 alltime

    • Derek Page

      He did win an NBA Finals championship without LeBron or Bosh and MVP so definitely a Hall-of-Famer. Top-50 all time? Tap the brakes.

  18. bob

    DO you see the nuggets trading off some of their depth for an all star player around trade deadline? WHo do you think they could target?

    • Derek Page

      I think they might be better off going to war with what they have. This Denver team is stacked across the board and have had issues with some of their players (Gallinari for instance) staying on the court. Obviously this stance could change immensely if they’re struggling at the deadline but I highly doubt that and my expectations are for this team to be at least a top-5 squad of not top-4 in the West as presently constructed.

      We’re out of time for today guys. Hit me up on Twitter (@DPageHOOPSWORLD) or shoot me an email if I missed you. Have a good weekend and be safe my friends.