NBA Chat With Joel Brigham, 2/16/12

1. Jazzfan

   Do you think Ty Corbin is legitmate candidate for Coach Of The Year? considering he took over for Jerry Sloan unexpectdly in mid season last year then loses DWill almost immediatly after, then there’s the lockout and the shortened training camp with little time to implement his system, they get off to a horrible start with the blowout losses and then turns it around and has us in playoff contention and were doing better than most “experts” expected us to.

   • Joel Brigham

     Good afternoon, HOOPSWORLD Citizens, and welcome to another edition of my weekly chat! It seems like every time one NBA saga sort of ends and settles into itself, we get a whole new great storyline to cover and draw in huge traffic. The end of the lockout brought us that Lakers/Clippers Chris Paul drama, then everybody waited patiently for the Dwight Howard drama to unfold, and then we got some crazy All-Star selections thrown in with a healthy dose of the great Jeremy Lin. And Dwight still hasn’t been traded, so there’s that to look forward to. Maybe some Deron Williams drama, too. What an insane season this has been. Absolutely insane.

     But, as the Jazz have proven, there’s actually been some really interesting real basketball stuff happening, too. Before the season I predicted that, based on the talent on their roster, Utah would have the worst record in the NBA. Yes, I should’ve picked Charlotte. I know. I thought about it. But whatever… bottom line is that the Jazz have totally proved me wrong, going 14-14 through this point of the season and just one game back of the Western Conference playoff picture. Ty Corbin’s done a really amazing job out there, but as for Coach of the Year, I couldn’t say that unless they actually did make the playoffs. My candidates right now are George Karl (who deserved it last year, actually) and Doug Collins (who also could’ve won last year). Thibodeau will be in the conversation again, too… winning all those games without Rose and Deng? Just too many coaches winning more games for Corbin to get too much love right now.

2. Chris G

   Wasn’t Bulls management the bad guy back in 1986 when they tried to keep Michael Jordan from playing during a losing season while he was rehabing from a broken foot? How then can Bulls management be the bad guy for letting Rose play with back spasms if he says he’s able?

   • Joel Brigham

     From the fans I’ve connected with the last few months, it seems to me that Thibs gets more vitriol than the higher-ups. Those guys are just letting Thibodeau do his job, and apparently to him that job involves playing his starters waaaaaay more than most of us watching the games thinks is necessary. There are injury concerns with that, as we’ve already seen even this year with the Bulls, but Thibs doesn’t want to pack games in too early. His definition of “too early” is, apparently, just a lot different from ours.

3. AJ

   Blazers get Petro, Farmar, Shawne Williams (after March 1st), and a 2012 first round pick (NJ). Nets get Wallace, Chris Johnson, Armon Johnson.

   Nets putting the pieces together to complement Howard and D-Will (Wallace, Morrow, Brooks). Blazers build for the future without tanking this season.

   • Joel Brigham

     Blazers love Gerald Wallace. What you’re suggesting is garbage for a player that good. Portland would laugh derisively at this offer. Very derisively.

4. Chris

   Hi Joel. Let’s be real. Lin is putting up big numbers against mostly bottom feeder teams, not to mention in the middle of a compressed post-lockout schedule. Plus, opposing coaches have next to no tape on him. Any other season, Lin is a great backup PG on most teams. What do you think?

   • Joel Brigham

     85% disagree, for a couple of really simple reasons. Steve Nash before D’Antoni was an All-NBA third-team player. With D’Antoni, he’s a two-time MVP, which still blows my mind even all these years later. This is an offensive designed to help point guards be great, and Lin’s skill set makes him the perfect point guard for that D’Antoni system. For a different team, he might look more average than he’s played. But for D’Antoni, there’s actually a decent chance he can keep these assist numbers up (scoring, probably not with Melo and STAT back). Plus there’s literally nobody fighting him for minutes at that spot right now, so he’s got the burn to make the numbers happen. A huge part of his success right now is right fit and right opportunity.

     Secondly, you underestimate how good NBA one-on-one defenders really are. They’re friggin’ GOOD, with or without tape. It’s the reason I’ve seen Ben Gordon shoot threes in warmups for 30 minutes and literally never miss a shot, yet how many does he miss during a game? Lin has burned defenders on seven different professional basketball teams. He just keeps doing it. Sure, teams will figure out how to limit him more than they have, but he’s a starting NBA point guard now. Over the course of a full season, we’ll say 2012-2013 for example, I could totally see him averaging 12 ppg and 8-9 apg. Not unreasonable at all.

5. i am houston

   Do the Rockets make any moves at or before the trade deadline?Do the Rockets have any real chance at a D-Howard or is the wholesale of the team for Gasol our only option?Should we be GM shopping?

   • Joel Brigham

     Yeah, Dwight Howard is definitely not happening. The Rockets don’t have the pieces to interest Orlando, and Dwight doesn’t want to be there, especially with what would be left over after the trade. From everything I’ve heard about Houston, the best they can hope for is some trade involving Pau Gasol. Morey is shopping everybody, but the price on his guys is reportedly too high. Teams aren’t all that interested in what the Rox have to offer at the current prices, so we’ll have to see if that comes down closer to the deadline.

6. George Y

   Do you think the Lakers would be desperate enough for a pg that they would take on Boozer?

   Boozer, Watson, and 2012 1st for Gasol and Lakers 2012 2nd

   As a Bulls fan I would love to see Gasol playing with Rose, Deng, and Noah. After watching the Lakers this year I can’t see how Watson wouldn’t be a drastic improvement to their point guard woes.

   • Joel Brigham

     Watson’s just not a true point guard. If they want that kind of play, I see no reason they can’t get a very similar player in Gilbert Arenas without having to give up Gasol. As long as that’s still on the table, I don’t see them doing anything drastic through trades.

     And anyway, is Watson good enough to swap out Gasol for Boozer? You’d need a better PG than that to get L.A. to bite. I love C.J., I’m just saying…

7. john

   hi joel,
   can you give us a update about Rips injury??
   Do you see some roster changes next season for the Bulls?

   • Joel Brigham

     Nothing new on the Rip front. He’s sore, and it might be a while before he plays. The team wants him good for the postseason, so they’ll do whatever they have to between now and then to make sure he’s ready, even if it’s a whooooole crapload of rest.

     As far as changes for next season, it’s too early to tell. Historically, when a Bulls team has success the suits are reticent to make too big of changes. If Chicago loses to Miami in the ECF again this year, though, you’d have to think they’d start looking into something a little more drastic. If they can’t beat that team again with the same team they put out there last season, bigger changes are necessary. If they get to the Finals though, win or lose, I wouldn’t expect too many major changes.

8. Brendan

   If Dwight Howard ends up leaving in free agency to the Nets could they potentialy have Howard, Williams, Lopez, Brooks and a top 5 2012 draft pick as building blocks for next years teams or would this not be possible under cap rules?

   That team could be insane, imagine Williams, Brooks, Anthony Davis and Howard + a roster filled out by trading Lopez to one of the many teams desparate for a centre.

   I was doubtful why Howard was so interested in NJ but I’m starting to see it now.

   • Joel Brigham

     If Dwight leaves, I see it being a sign-and-trade. I just see Lopez going back to Orlando in any scenario that gets Howard to the Nets. You don’ t need both centers, nor can you afford both, and if that’s the guy that helps to push a deal through, it’ll have to happen. But it’s clearly possible to have a core of Howard, D-Will, MarShon Brooks, and a top-five pick. Even if that ends up being someone like Mike Gilchrist or Harrison Barnes, they’d be in great shape. Good mix of vets and solid youth. And Brooklyn.

     Everybody I talk to still thinks the Nets is the team that ends up with Dwight. I don’t know him well enough to say what I think ends up happening, but I could certainly see that as desirable for the big guy. I just hope, whatever happens, Orlando is able to salvage something more than cap space out of the deal.

9. Tony in the Nap

   Joel, the Pacers have hit a brutal speed bump. Do they just need to get George Hill back, or do they have deeper problems than that?

   • Joel Brigham

     For those of you that got too focused on Linsanity to enjoy any of the rest of the league, the formerly hot Pacers have dropped 6 of their last 7, moving six games back of the Rose-less Bulls in the Central. To be fair, they’ve been playing good teams, but elite teams beat other good teams, at least once in a while. Indy just keeps losing.

     George Hill’s injury has been part of it, but I think it’s just the nature of the season. I’d be shocked if every team didn’t go through some sort of stretch like this. Chicago, for example, had a little chunk of losses earlier this season. Even Miami will have a bad stretch at some point. It just is what it is. Here’s the good news, Pacers fans: 4 of the next 5 are at home… New Jersey, Charlotte (twice… one of which is the sole away game), New Orleans, and Golden State. If they can’t win 4 or 5 out of 5 in that stretch, they aren’t the playoff contender we thought they were.

10. Rudens

    Everyone talks about our chemistry, and we have a great rotation, and we shouldn’t ruin it. But does anybody really know if Rip’s body will hold up for the rest of the season? J.R. Smith is a proven scorer that the bulls need to grab him. We’re going to need as much fire power to go up against the heat. Your thoughts?

    • Joel Brigham

      I’m all for that, and I think you’d be hard-pressed to find a Bulls fan that would disagree with you. Smith tweeted last week that Chicago was one of the teams he was interested in, so it’s not entirely out of the question. From Smith’s standpoint, though, there are three issues: money, playing time, and a ring. The Bulls can give him as good a shot at the last thing as anybody, but the first two? Money sure isn’t there, so it’d be a prorated version of the vet’s minimum, and playing time would be great if Hamilton wasn’t dressed. If Hamilton is dressed though? He’s the starter. He plays better defense, has a cooler head, and will have been with the team longer. If Smith can choose that sort of uncertain situation or one where he knows he can play and/or get paid and/or win a ring, he’ll have to sniff out those opportunities, too. Bulls could certainly use him, though.

11. jake

    LAL gets Derrick Williams, Wesley Johnson and Luke Ridnour

    MIN gets Kevin Martin

    HOU gets Pau Gasol

    what do you think? Do you see anything else between these 3 teams happening?

    • Joel Brigham

      Minnesota wants Gasol, too. I don’t see them giving up that package of players to help somebody else get him just so they can settle for Kevin Martin. This trade gives everybody a little of what they wanted, but Minny’s not moving Derrick Williams for Kevin Martin. I just can’t see it happening.

12. MAC

    Joel ma man!….

    I’m a big Laker fan (since birth) lol Can’t understand why so many (including fellow Laker fans) want to get rid of Gasol! It’s my opinion that they keep Bynum, Gasol to go with Kobe and look for the young Derek Fisher’s, the Robert Horry’s, the Rick Fox’s in the world! your thoughts? To me this team is not that far away

    • Joel Brigham

      I don’t think you’re wrong about the team being in it. With Kobe and Pau, they’re in it. Bynum helps, too, but finding the next Fisher/Horry/Fox is a lot harder than you seem to think it is. You don’t just up and find role players that good all willy nilly. I’m in the camp that would like to see L.A. sign Arenas. I’m curious what that would look like. And anyway, this core is pretty battle-tested in the postseason. If they can just get in there and get hot, anything can happen.

13. Ram

    Alright, since everybody is doing it, here is my trade proposal;

    To LA: Calderon, Amir Johnson (or Ed Davis), Minnesota pick
    To Tor: Derrick Williams, Luke Ridnour, Trade Exception
    To Min: Pau Gasol

    I am a fan of Calderon. He is one of the best floor generals in the league so Toronto has to get good value, and I think Pau is on his way down so I don’t value him as much as maybe I should.

    • Joel Brigham

      Yeah, that’s not enough for L.A. Minny doesn’t have their #1 this year, anyway. New Orleans has it. This one probably wouldn’t work.

14. Jay

    If the Miami Heat do not win a championship this year do you think we should look into breaking up the big three and if so who do you think should go

    • Joel Brigham

      If Miami doesn’t win it this year, you’ll have to start looking seriously at moving Chris Bosh. While the play on the court has shown how much more effective LeBron and D-Wade are without each other (it’s true), you’re just never going to be able to split those two guys up. No GM in his right mind ever would, and really no GM could ever find fair value anyway. Even if they lose, it’ll probably be a situation where they came pretty close, so it’s not wild to think they keep the group together. Bosh, however, could bring back two pieces that could help perhaps more than he could all on his own. It’ll be worth considering, but at the end of the day I’ll be surprised if this experiment isn’t given at least three years to try and win that ring.

15. Michael

    Got a Rockets/Pau trade idea for you.

    Lakers get Scola, Kevin Martin, and Ramon Sessions
    Rockets get Gasol and Daniel Gibson
    Cavs get Dragic, World Peace (would be amnestyed in the summer), and a 1st from LA and Houston.

    I think it fits what all 3 teams are looking for right now. How about you?

    • Joel Brigham

      The Cavs want to win more than you think. Pretty raw deal for them, really. A cruddy player, an old and broken player, and two garbage picks? Gibson and Sessions are worth more to them than that.

      But yeah, it works out pretty well for the Lakers and Rockets, doesn’t it?

16. Deven

    Hi, Mr. Brigham. If Derrick Rose, LaMarcus Aldridge or Carmelo Anthony can’t play in the All Star Game with their current injuries, who do you think their replacements are?

    • Joel Brigham

      It would have to be Rondo in at point guard for the East. Maybe throw Tyson Chandler in there, too, just so there’s a Knick on the East roster. In the west, I’d roll with Paul Millsap. I think he deserves it this year.

17. Jerry

    Rondo & J.O. for Nash, Gortat & Shanon Brown(+picks)? Its the perfect trade right?

    Or Javale Mcgee & Shelvin Mack for Norris Cole & Joel Anthony?

    • Joel Brigham

      Why would Phoenix do that? I get the Rondo for Nash part of the deal, but they’d be giving up two of their more promising young players in Brown and Gortat for, essentially, Jermaine O’Neal? Awful. Awful. Awful.

18. rick

    what do you think about the gasol for beasley and derrick williams rumors? minny would need to add pekovic and wes johnson for the lakers to even consider this right?

    • Joel Brigham

      I don’t think so… Gasol’s got how many good years left? Three? You’re getting a whole future’s worth of talent in Williams. With the right opportunity, he could be very, very good. Take or leave Beasley, but he’d certainly help score some points. I don’t love it for L.A., but I understand why they might be giving it a tick. Rubio and Pau back together in Minny would be fun, though….

19. Bryant white

    Who would say no and would this work for both sides Dwight Howard and a pick for Lebron James. And who would say no to Bosh & Chalmers for Bynum?

    • Joel Brigham

      LeBron is the best player alive. You don’t trade the best alive for anything. Would Chicago have traded Jordan for Karl Malone and a pick?

20. Chris

    Local talking heads in Chicago are concerned about Dwight Howard’s inability to finish games. That you can’t pass him the ball in the 4th quarter, because he’ll get fouled and is a bad FT shooter. There was an article on this site talking about how Orlands put shooters in at the end of games and encourages them to jack up shots as a way to get Howard involved off of rebounds and put back buckets. Doesn’t that make him the perfect fit for DRose? Let Miami stack LeBron & Bosh on DRose, have Derrick put up a shot with the intent to have Dwight finish off a rebound. Am I crazy?

    • Joel Brigham

      If Howard played in Chicago, he wouldn’t have to finish games. Derrick’s kind of got that aspect of things under control. But you’re right… Rose just plans to jack up his shot two seconds earlier than he normally would because you’d have Dwight killing the offensive boards in those situations and maybe winning some games for you that way. But Dwight won’t ever be a Chicago Bull. It’s just not the team he’s going to end up with. As long as Chicago is the top team in the East, even without Derrick, they’re going to talk themselves into not messing with a good thing. That’s a bad way to look at it, in my opinion, but it’s what is going to happen. That means the offers from GarPax won’t be good enough to entice Orlando, and Howard will end up somewhere else. Bummer, right?

21. Lateak

    Do u think tha knicks can a series dis year… Can we still get chris paul… If amare n melo do there contracts over like the new cba allowe them to do

    • Joel Brigham

      To answer your first question, yes, I can see New York potentially winning a first-round series this year, but I need to see what this group looks like with Lin and Melo and Amar’e all playing at the same time, healthy, together, for a long stretch of time. I need time to figure out how I feel about all of that. Still can’t decide if Carmelo’s return is good or bad for this team. Most likely good, but I just don’t know.

      And why are you pining for Chris Paul at this point? He’s in L.A. for another season and a half at least, and you’ve got the most exciting kid in the league running the point for your team right now! Insane that there’s any Knicks fans still talking about that, right in the midst of this crazy stretch by Lin. Be happy that things have turned around, and root for that playoff win, not Chris Paul.

      That’s my hour, folks. This chat was brought to you by the Black Keys, who rocked out right alongside me for the duration of the past 60 minutes. Those guys are awesome… I’ll be in Chicago this Saturday for Bulls/Nets, so look for me then on the Twitter. Until then, have a great weekend, and go Bulls!