NBA Chat With Derek Page 11/10/12

1. LA in LA

   With Mike Brown gone, I have to wonder 2 things:
   1) Will Jodie Meeks be freed? He was apparently benched for being too short even though imo he’s a better player than Ebanks.
   2) Since Eddie ran the Princeton, he’s effectively gone too right?

   The final question has nothing to do with Brown:
   Is Pau Gasol’s decline the last few years due to having to play along a C unlike when he was playing along a PF in Odom? Or is he just falling off?

   • Derek Page

     Welcome to this weekend’s edition of my chat NBA fans. The season has finally gotten underway, a coach has already gotten the axe and the NY Knicks are 4-0 despite missing Amare Stoudemire. Plenty of questions on all of these topics to get to I’m sure so let’s get started.

     1. That depends on Meeks. Sure his minutes have been sporadic but the 25-year old also has done much with his opportunities to this point. I still see Meeks as a better option off the bench than Steve Blake though.
     2. It’s likely that the new head coach will bring in his own staff.

     In terms of Gasol, there’s only one basketball to go around. He’s still a double-double machine and one of the top PF in the game. I think both he and the rest of the Lakers will be fine when the dust settles.

2. Wil

   Hi Derek, you must be thrilled by the Dallas backcourt (the whole team) which has exceeded expectations. Can they keep this up or is this just an outlier and when is Dirk expected back? With all the change in the West, Dallas may have a shot to make some noise!

   • Derek Page

     It’s definitely a surprise. Both Darren Collison and OJ Mayo have plenty to prove this season and each has exceeded expectations exponentially to start the season. I think Nowitzki’s presence in the lineup will actually help both Collison and Mayo because of the sheer amount of attention the Mavs’ big man gets on the offensive end of the floor. So far, the depth in Dallas has allowed the Mavs to exceed expectations at 4-2 to start the year.

3. Alex in Burbank

   Dereck, with the recent news about Mike Brown I have a question regarding his salary. So he got fired…..will he get paid for the remainder of the contract?

   • Derek Page

     As far as I know, a fired NBA head coach gets paid the remainder of his contract upon termination.

4. LA in LA

   2 coaching questions:
   1) Could Sloan handle being in such a big market with superstar personalities?
   2) Considering the Lakers’ defensive struggles, and that’s putting it nicely, wouldn’t hiring No defense D’antoni be a bad move?

   • Derek Page

     1. I think he could but I’m not sure LA is the best landing spot for him. Seems like LA is willing to do whatever it takes to get Phil Jackson back at this point anyways though.
     2. LA just needs to gain cohesion on that end of the floor. Becoming a championship team takes time and that’s something the Lakers are going to have to get on the same page with and figure out – regardless of who the head coach is – by playoff time.

5. dennis

   Mayo has really put on a show. Right now I like him as the 4th-5th best starting shooting guard in the league. It was a great pickup for mavs. Thoughts?

   • Derek Page

     It’s hard to debate that at this point. Mayo has a lot to prove and a chip on his shoulder this season. He’s always had the talent, now he has a team willing to build on that with plenty of minutes to offer and one of the best coaches in the business in Rick Carlisle. To put it simply, the Mavs have set up a situation in Dallas for Mayo to succeed and he’s taking advantage.

6. dennis

   These are my early 6th man of the year candidates; k.martin, j.crawford, b.gordon, l.williams, r.andersen, jr. smith. Who else is on the mix? Thanks!

   • Derek Page

     Definitely throw Vince Carter from the Mavs in the mix, he’s looked good so far this season, and don’t forget about Ray Allen. Miami’s sixth man is averaging nearly 15 points and shooting nearly 60 percent from behind the arc to start the season. Allen is going to make a lot of 3′s this season and I believe he should be the favorite early on.

7. Jim in Cyber Space

   What is your favorite all-time NBA/ABA uniform…Alternate, Home or Away?

   • Derek Page

     That’s an interesting question. Of course the Lakers purple and gold is classic but I like the old green Mavs away jerseys from the late 80′s. Of course, I’m biased on that being from Dallas but I’ve always liked those old school Mavericks jerseys.

8. Tony

   What type of impact do you see Phil Jackson having on the Lakers and do you think being in the triangle will really hamper Nash’s game?

   • Derek Page

     Let’s remember that his return to LA is not set in stone but I think Jackson is a great head coach that knows how to get the most out of his roster and he’s going to need a stellar, play-making Steve Nash for the Lakers to win a championship. I’m betting Jackson would be able to find a way to make it work.

9. Cain

   The Pacers are below average, if out of playoff picture on Grangers return do they blow it up? Hibbert amnesty if he doesn’t significantly improve?

   • Derek Page

     We’re only six games in so I think it’s way too early to talk about blowing it up on the young Pacers. Paul George and Roy Hibbert are the future of this team and, with each player 25 and younger, there’s plenty of time both this season and in the future to turn this thing around a make a significant impact on the NBA.

10. Jeremy Wood

    With Damian Lilliard playing like he is, obviously he didn’t come into this league playing his best ball, what’s his ceiling?

    • Derek Page

      I think he’s an All Star-level talent, for sure. Tough to put on ceiling on him simply because of how young he is and how much he will likely grow after competing for the Rookie of the Year award this season.

11. Jeremy Wood

    Can Batum be a All-star this year or next? He is too inconsistent right now but he has a great game! Monster shot blocker, dunks with ease, shoot from anywhere on the floor. He’s so long and athletic, what is Batum’s ceiling?

    • Derek Page

      I don’t see it. I think Batum is a solid pro but not worth the max-deal he received this past summer. Solid, important cog for Portland but not an elite-level player.

12. Bryan

    When the Mavs get Dirk and Marion back do you see this team as a darkhorse contender for the tittle? Don’t forget about out deep bench and excellent head coach

    • Derek Page

      Well Bryan, it’s difficult not to after the depth I’ve seen on this team to start the season. Dallas might be the deepest team in basketball so, when fully healthy, I think the Mavs should be up there with the Spurs, Lakers, Thunder and Clippers as a Western Conference favorite.

13. SatBchMagicer

    Hi Derek, Having followed DAL ‘closer’ than most of us NBA fans, what is your ‘take’ on Lamar Odom’s ‘performing so far in 12/13 with LAC? I mean- show up to camp(3 full months after trade) overweight/not in ‘near’ NBA shape; then not in NBA shape for regular season start(still at least 10 lbs over); not NBA ‘ready’ for regular season start; tied for lowest total- mins/PG at 65; poor ‘stats’ then for mins you did play; leading team in TO per minute; etc.

    • Derek Page

      I think it’s just the natural progression of a washed up NBA player. Not only was Odom horrible on the court over the course of his half season stint in Dallas in 2012 but he was a terrible teammate as well. From what I’ve seen out of Odom (in my dealings with him at least), he still has the self entitlement of an NBA champion even though he lacks any of the skills that made him such a great player for the Lakers to back it up. I was honestly surprised he got another NBA shot after what he pulled with the Mavs last season.

14. Joe

    Is it now safe to say that the Cavs made the correct pick with Dion Waiters?

    • Derek Page

      It’s still early, but there’s no doubt Waiters has shown enough that Cleveland’s off the hook. Especially considering how well he and Kyrie Irving have looked playing off one another, the 20-year old has shown plenty of promise that he may have a lengthy and productive NBA career.

      Thanks for the time everyone. Let’s do this again next Saturday. Can’t wait til then? Hit me up on Twitter, @DPageHoopsWorld. Have a good weekend guys!