NBA Chat With Derek Page 3/31/12

1. William Faulkner who wrote Absalom! Absalom!

   Hi Derek,
   If Durant wins MVP would he be the first person in the history of the award to win it who wasn’t even the best player on his own team?

   • Derek Page

     Welcome to the chat everyone. We’ve got less than a month left in the 2011-2012 regular season and teams are jockeying for position in the standings in both conferences. Plenty of questions to answer so let’s get to it.

     It’s an interesting point but I would disagree with your idea. Both Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook are extremely important to the Thunder but you have a good point. Durant even told me earlier this season that Westbrook should be considered in the MVP race but what separates Durant is that he’s the guy that’s counted on to take the last shot for OKC. Durant is the unquestioned leader for the Thunder, oh and he happens to be second the NBA in scoring at 27.7 points per game. It may be a 1A and 1B situation, but Durant’s my 1A.

     Also there’s a guy in the Eastern Conference named LeBron James who’s having a pretty good season himself so I think he might have something to say about Durant winning MVP this year.

2. paprika

   Alot of people said negative stuff on j.hickson. he doesnt work hard etc etc. Watching him. He aint the problem.he just needed a break. The kings is stocked with alot of 4s and 5s. In portland there is no pressure to be the guy and suddenly he explodes. Good pick up for portland same as the green pick up by the nets.

   • Derek Page

     His breakout game last night against the Los Angeles Clippers certainly supports your stance. Hickson’s talent has never been questioned but his inability to stick with a team (Cleveland then Sacramento) is worrisome. 29 points and 13 rebounds are no aberration though and Hickson is still just 23 years old with plenty of upside – teams have no problem taking a chance on guys like that in this league.

3. Kevin in Tokyo

   After watching J.J. Hickson dominate in a spot start against LAC today, I think he should start alongside LA, and bring in Vanilla Gorilla off the bench..

   • Derek Page

     Lot’s of Portland questions – this is new. Hickson killing it last night opened some eyes on there I see. The only problem with starting him alongside Aldridge is that LaMarcus prefers PF as his natural position and Hickson (at 6’9) is too small to play center. Anything may be better than Przybilla at this point in his career though and Portland has plenty of room to tinker with the way things stand.

4. Mark ryan

   Who are some of the next big time NBA Scorers and players after the Kobe,Wade and Melo era?( besides the obvious in Durrant, Rose, Griffin and love)

   i see guys like Eric Gordon, Austin Rivers, John Wall, Paul George and Demarcus Cousins

   • Derek Page

     That’s a quality list Mark. Gordon needs to stay healthy and Rivers is still an unknown but Wall and George are solid while Cousins has the ability to be one of the best – if not the best – low post scorer in the league over the next few years.
     In terms of mine: LaMarcus Aldridge in Portland is 8th in the NBA is scoring this year and is absolutely unstoppable at times down low. Kyrie Irving in Cleveland has the ability to be a big-time scorer in this league. Russell Westbrook in OKC isn’t a guy that’s talked about a lot but he’s in the top-5 in the NBA in scoring this season. Plenty of budding superstars to look forward to developing over the next few years overall.

5. calvinzero

   2 Questions:
   1. Despite of losing, is Dallas Mavericks had a fight for at least top 3 in the Western Conference standings?? Why or why not??
   2. What’s the latest on Deron Willians to Dallas??
   Thanks Derek.

   • Derek Page

     That’s going to be tough Calvin. Dallas has had issues with consistency and staying healthy all season long. While the Mavs may finally be getting healthy, this team is simply hard to read right now. After not showing up in the second half against Miami, Dallas comes back the next night in Orlando and guts out a victory after trailing by double-digits in the third quarter. Good team but hard to tell if all the pieces are there to be a legitimate contender in the West.
     In terms of D-Will, like I’ve said in the past, I’ve heard from reliable sources that his people are saying it’s a done deal that he’s coming to Dallas in the offseason. So I’d give it a 75 percent chance as of right now that he wears a Mavs’ uniform next season.

6. Sweet Dee

   In this week’s chat, Steven Litel said he would take Harrison Barnes over Tyreke Evans on his team. He cited the fact Harrision would be on a rookie contract vs. having to re-up with Evans in the near future. Do you agree with Litel and would choose the same? Why or why not.

   • Derek Page

     Always enjoy reading my colleague Stephen Litel’s work but I’d take Evans. He’s a quality scorer and a known commodity. While Barnes is likely a top-5 pick, he’s still an unknown on the NBA level. Litel didn’t expressly say he’d take Barnes over Evans in that chat though, just said it was something he would consider.

7. Dave

   Hi Derek. The Celtics are currently 4th in the east. With that said, are the celtics becoming contenders now? If so, do they have what it takes to beat Chicago or Miami? Thanks.

   • Derek Page

     I’d have to say the C’s are climbing their way back into contention Dave. Since getting everyone back and healthy, Boston has been a different team since the All-Star break. While getting past the Bulls or HEAT seems like a tall order, it wouldn’t surprise me to see the Celtics take care of business against any other team in the East in a playoff series. Avery Bradley has been superb and KG looks like he’s found the fountain of youth after a rough first half of the season.

8. Big Kev

   What do you think of JJ Hickson’s impact on the Trail Blazers so far?

   • Derek Page

     It’s a small sample size but 29 and 13 is nothing to sleep on. He’s young, athletic and talented but lets see how he responds when Aldridge returns and Hickson isn’t the focal point of the offense.

9. carlos

   Hi Derek:
   Can Knicks go far in the playoffs without a great point guard?

   • Derek Page

     That’s going to be tough Carlos. If Jeremy Lin is done for the season, which is still unknown, this is a vastly different Knicks team moving forward. Carmelo Anthony has done an admirable job keeping the ship afloat with both Amare and Lin out but this team can’t afford to lose guys like that if NY expects to go deep in the postseason.

10. fighting irish

    Do you think Kevin Love gets enough respect for the work he does on the court? The man is a scoring and rebounding machine and he’s flying under the radar in the MVP race.

    • Derek Page

      Love gets a good amount of kudos but your right he has been absolutely killing it over the past month. 40 pts, 19 rebs – 30 and 21. These are numbers Love puts up on a regular basis. The only problem, in terms of his MVP status, is that Minnesota is 25-28. I can’t remember the last time a player that wasn’t on a contending team won MVP, much less on a losing team. The T-Wolves will get there though and Love will have plenty of awards on his mantle by the time it’s all said and done.

11. Thunder fan

    I love KD but why isnt kobe ever talked about in the mvp race.. He plays the most minutes and leads the league in points. 4 straight games w 40+ points… Plays with injuries no other player would play with let alone be effectve.. Your thoughts plz

    • Derek Page

      I would have to agree with you. Kobe Bryant is leading the league in scoring and is still one of the best defenders in the game bar none. He is LA basketball but he’s won the award before and it seems like the NBA starts to look at you like your old news once a player starts getting up there in age and younger guys have breakout seasons. Statistically, LeBron James’ numbers are better – and he will likely win the MVP in my opinion – but who would you rather have taking the last shot?
      I take Kobe all day.

12. paprika

    Kobe needs to take a step back more rest in 1 to3rd quarter and juat explode in the 4th. Mitch done q good job but didnt bring much help on the bench. Whats ur take

    • Derek Page

      Kobe is playing a lot of minutes (38.6 per game and is the only player over 30 in the top-5) and although 33 isn’t exactly old in terms of superstars – Kobe has played 15 seasons in the NBA. That’s a lot of grind on anybody. It’s in everyone’s best interest to have Kobe healthy and rested come playoff time but Bryant is the type of competitor that wants to be out there on the court virtually every minute of every game.
      Bryant stressed a couple of weeks ago how much pressure Ramon Sessions takes off of him on the offensive end of the floor so Kupchak did a great job in that regard.

13. tapsilog

    With jason terry jumping ships even on an on going season. Is there any chemistry issuea in the locker room or its his strategy for a contract?

    • Derek Page

      It’s JET’s strategy for a contract but there’s no doubt he’s unhappy – along with a lot of other guys in the Mavs’ locker room that felt like they needed a re-up after winning a championship last season. Terry’s point is the most relevant though. We’re talking about a guy that called out LeBron James and, not only did he live to tell about it, but thrived scoring 21 and 27 points in the final two games of the Finals to close Miami out. Dallas wants Deron Williams this offseason though so it’s unknown just how this is going to shake out.
      Mavs’ fans would prefer Terry to just shut up but he’s 100% right to be upset.

14. paprika

    Too many jhick questions. Every player in the nba has good chance as long as a coach give him playing time. Another guy i wish to succeed is thabeet. Too many negative articles on him.he look good last night.

    • Derek Page

      I can see where your coming from but it is a relevant story. The guy was basically forgotten about and then bought out by the Kings, then responds in Portland with a spectacular outing. Everybody loves redemption – although its a still a bit early for that.

15. Donnell

    what do you think about the Houston Rockets? and do you think they will make the playoffs? also why is jason terry a Rocket killer?

    • Derek Page

      Houston has thoroughly exceeded expectations coming into the season and have continued to thrive despite missing two starters in Kevin Martin and Kyle Lowry. The Rockets are seventh in the Western Conference standings as of right now and it isn’t out of the question that Houston finishes the season in that spot with less than a month remaining in the season.
      In terms of Terry being a Rocket-killer, he was 5-14 for 12 points the last time they played so I don’t know about that.

      We’re out of time for today guys. Thanks for the questions and let’s pick this up again next week same time, same place.
      Don’t feel like waiting? Hit me up on Twitter @DPageHOOPSWORLD or shoot me an email DPage@HOOPSWORLD.com.