NBA Chat With Derek Page 11/24/12

1. Deven

   When do you expect Dirk to be back?

   • Derek Page

     Welcome to another edition of my weekly chat NBA fans. Plenty to get to today and I’ve got a game (LA at Dallas) tonight to get too so let’s get this show on the road!

     I’d say mid-December. He’ll likely be ready for full contact practice within the next couple of weeks but it’s going to take Nowitzki some time to get back into game shape and get integrated with his new teammates, so mid-to-late December is realistic.

2. Deven

   Jeremy Lin has been somewhat a disappointment in Houston, in my opinion. What are your thoughts?

   • Derek Page

     No doubt Lin hasn’t had a great start to the season but we haven’t even made it out of November yet. Lin’s all-around game has still been solid (double-digit scoring, 6+ assists, nearly 5 rebounds per) and point guard is the most difficult position on the floor to play. I’m not ready to count the 24-year old Lin, who is entering just his first full NBA season.

3. Deven

   Is OJ Mayo the new Dirk of Dallas once he retires?

   • Derek Page

     It all depends on if the Mavericks want to pay him that way this summer. With the way Mayo has played, he’s going to earn a huge contract (he has an early termination option on his 2-year deal with Dallas signed this past summer) coming up this offseason and the Mavs are going to have to decide if they want to pay him. From what I’ve seen, unless the Mavs can lure Dwight Howard or Chris Paul away from LA, I think it would be difficult to justify not paying Mayo big bucks.

4. Jason

   Hey Derek,

   What do you think about a trade where raptors send Ed Davis and Terrance Ross to the Timberwolves for Derrick Williams?

   • Derek Page

     Seems like an interesting deal Jason but with the way Williams has played so far I’m not sure he’s worth that package. Even though he’s a highly-touted top draft pick, Williams hasn’t lived up to the that status. Combine that with the fact that he plays behind Kevin Love already and Minnesota doesn’t have much leverage in that deal.

5. simon from poland`

   Gortat wants to be more involved in the phx offense. Gentry thinks otherwise. Is there any chance for PHX BOS trade? If so what would boston have to give up to get Gortat. Thanks

   • Derek Page

     I would expect a lot if I’m Phoenix considering Gortat has proven to be one of the most solid big men in basketball over the past few seasons. Possibly one of the talented guards not named Rajon Rondo and maybe one of the two big men 2012 draft picks for the C’s this summer. I know that’s a lot, but if I’m the Suns I wouldn’t be willing to unload the talented big man for peanuts.

6. colin

   portland needs a better bench. what would you think of a trade of luke babbit and a 2nd rnd pick for dejuan blair?

   • Derek Page

     That’s not enough for Blair… Blazers desperately need depth though so they’ll have to do something if they keep hanging around in the West standings.

7. Jim in Cyber Space

   Why do so many “pundit’s” say Perkins does’t belong with the Thunder? Amnesty him…and what 5 is Pristi going to replace him with for the money? He’s the Emotional Leader of the team. He has great interior D, especially with Ibaka protecting the backside?

   • Derek Page

     That’s a good question Jim and I think the Thunder brass would agree with you’re assessment. With James Harden now residing in Houston, I would be surprised if Kendrick Perkins is amnestied by OKC.

8. LA in LA

   Hey Page, answer two questions for me:
   1) How is Noah could confront Blazers rookie Lillard for dunking at the end of a blowout when Noah attempted a 3pt shot earlier this year in a blowout? I know Noah was trying to win the crowd food but still…
   2)Do you think Clippers will trade Bledsoe at end of his contract? He doesn’t get enough mpg behind CP3 and Crawford and that’s not even including Billups return.

   • Derek Page

     1. In the heat of the moment, it’s not hard to see why Joakim Noah was angry but he’s wrong. It’s not like Lillard was taunting Chicago, he just put on a small show for the home fans in Portland… Noah said it was a non-issue after the game so it’s not that big of a deal in my book.
     2. All depends on if Chris Paul stays in LA this summer. Eric Bledsoe has played very well for the Clppers over the past year so he has some value but we all know depth is key in today NBA so it would be a tough decision for sure.

9. Eric123

   Is it time to make Gasol come off the bench and put the quicker jamison in the starting lineup?

   • Derek Page

     That all depends on if the Lakers want to abandon intent to play tough defense. Jamison is a solid offensive player, and is no doubt smaller and faster than Gasol, but Pau is clearly a better all-around player.

10. Cain

    Why does Vogel keep taking Stephenson out of games?

    • Derek Page

      Lance Stephenson has been solid this season but I don’t see why Frank Vogul would disrupt his rotation for him. Indiana has a solid bench that’s played pretty well this season and Gerald Green has provided a spark.

11. Arky

    Derek, we just saw Zach Randolph get a steal at the defensive end and go coast to coast for an uncontested layup. Could there be any more glaring signal to the Lakers that they don’t have the legs to play championship-level defence and that they’re going to have to take the risk on trading Pau to get those legs?

    • Derek Page

      It’s still very early and we haven’t even since the Lakers at full strength since opening night. The more pressing question is whether or not this team is going to WANT to play championship-level defense with Mike D’Antoni running the show.

12. Joseph Courtney

    How’s it going Mr Page?

    buy or sell: the Mavs are a starting PG away from actually being contenders (when Dirk get’s back to full strength of course)?

    • Derek Page

      Not sold on Darren Collison huh Joseph? Me neither… I think he all the tools though and he’s been ready and willing from the get-go to become a more complete point guard and better player overall. His defense and late-game decision-making needs plenty of work but I’m not ready to protest for a replacement quite yet. DoJo has looked pretty good though in limited minutes…

13. Joseph Courtney

    Maybe i’m drinking the kool-aid, but Bernard James looks like he’s a quick learner. Could you see him rounding into a legitimate backup to Kaman by the end of this year?

    • Derek Page

      He’s no where near a complete NBA player at this point of his career but he’s a natural leader coming from the Air Force and a solid rebounder and defender already in his rookie season. James’ high motor is also a plus but expect Elton Brand to get the majority of minutes subbing for both Chris Kaman and Dirk Nowitzki when he returns.

14. Big Kenny Kane

    Good Day DP! With Gasol in a mini slump & perhaps taking shots away from D12, any chance kupcheck sends Gasol to minnesota for Derrick williams? Reunite gasol with rubio? Throw in ebanks for good measure? Thanks for your time DP.

    • Derek Page

      I think this is a first on HOOPSWORLD. Has a Lakers fan actually shortchanged LA in a trade? That would not be a good move for the Lakers and honestly, with Pek and Love in the post for the T-Wolves, I’m not sure Minnesota even needs Gasol.

15. David

    My Blazers starting 5 is pretty good but our bench is just horrific. Do you think the Dallas veteran Michael Finley could help our bench? I know we are at max roster but I wouldn’t mind dropping Babbitt and probably doesn’t have any trade value.

    • Derek Page

      I’ve always like Finley’s game – as far back as when he was apart of the Mavs’ trio of Filthy (Fin), Dirty (Dirk) and Nashty (Nash, obviously) – but I’m not sure how much the 39-year old has left in the tank. Especially as a quick fix to the Blazers huge hole in the reserve core.

16. Alvin

    Hey,a have to say I watch d-12 since he
    came into nba.but with the lakers can’t say I have.unless Nash makes I big differents,it’s a black hole when Kobe get the ball.hope to see d-12 somewhere else next year.what do you think about it.

    • Derek Page

      You’re right Alvin and I’ve been saying from the start that Steve Nash is the most important piece of the Lakers championship puzzle this season. Nash’s game makes life easier for everyone on the offensive end and helps make the integration process of all the new players go much, much smoother.

17. tony

    3 Years from now,rank the top 5 point guards in order.

    • Derek Page

      1. Kyrie Irving
      2. Rajon Rondo
      3. Damian Lillard
      4. Russell Westbrook
      5. Chris Paul

      I know I left somebody out but that’s right off the top of my head.

18. Bob

    What’s wrong with my raps in the 4th they seem to lose every game at the end and they should be better then get themselves in that situation and also why does Casey take bargnani out when he is hot?

    • Derek Page

      Plenty of new faces and let’s not forget that it’s still a pretty young team in Toronto. Most of the guys in that locker room haven’t won yet at the NBA level so that takes time. In terms of Andrea Bargnani, he’s just now rounding into form this season after a slow start.

19. marshall

    Why did the nba allow cp3 to have his knee be bone to bone his left one.i noticee before when he was playing on a normal knee he was averaging more points,assists,drives to basket when he was in new orleans..now he jumps qhen he shoots,doesnt run as fast,doesnt score or assist as much.he has better dunkers now than in new orleans but his struggling means his knee is bone to bone and only a matter of time before he retires like roy.u agree

    • Derek Page

      You mean the team doctors? Even if there is a lack of cartilage in his knee, that doesn’t mean he hasn’t still been playing at a high level. It’s up to Chris Paul to decide what his pain threshold is, not the NBA, and he hasn’t looked half bad to me…

20. Mr. Joshua

    Huge Celtics fan here. What’s the problem with our D?? And who do you see getting less minutes when Avery returns?

    • Derek Page

      That’s an interesting question. Playing a more up-tempo game with Rajon Rondo leading the way is certainly one culprit, and the C’s aren’t getting any younger, but Boston definitely misses Avery Bradley’s presence at well. Bradley is one of the best perimeter defenders in the game… In terms of when he returns, I’d say every guard not named Rondo will see their minutes go down a bit.

21. dylan

    Yes I was wondering what u think the jazz will do with the log jam front court before the deadline? And if they learn to play even a little better on the road do they have the pontential to be among the western conf elite?

    • Derek Page

      The frontcourt jam is certainly something that needs to be resolved, especially considering both Al Jefferson and Paul Millsap will be FA at season’s end. In terms of Utah’s potential, they’re certainly a tough team that won’t go down without a fight but I’m not sure the current makeup of their roster makes them and elite team.

22. Luís

    Maybe everyone thought the Hornets would be ridiculous after another blow to Gordon, but they are putting up a nice “fight” in their games, even with a losing record…. did you expect such improvement for gy slike Aminu or Vasquez?

    • Derek Page

      Greivis Vasquez has been a huge surprise in my opinion and his play has been a key in the team’s strong start. New Orleans isn’t a playoff team this season but, fully healthy next year, this team is going to surprise some people.

      Thanks for the time once again my friends but I’ve got to head out. Hit me up on Twitter if I missed you and let’s do this again next week. Have a good weekend guys.