NBA Chat With Lang Greene 10/3/12

1. matt from Oz

   Hey Land, whats happening from down under.
   i’m curious to see how Derrick Williams hits his sophomore year.
   it seems he’s preparing himself for an SF role because of the K-Love roadblock at PF, but does AK-47 not resemble a similar problem for his possible game time? or is AK-47 slated for a 6th man backing up both SF & PF?
   as is the case with all good distributors, its sort of looks like Williams’ potential is linked directly with Rubio returning, being able to catch all those lobs he can throw up (not much other athletisicism is present on the Wolves roster like Williams’).
   any thoughts?
   Cheers my man.

   • Lang Greene

     What’s up Hoop Freaks? Theme music tonight from a hip hop classic — Like a rhinoceros, my speed is prosperous and pure knowledge expands from my esophagus I write in the night to bring truth to the light, my dialogue is my own cause Smooth B will never bite …. Whew …

     The Hoop Freaks checking in from far and wide. Respect to you my man. Let me be as honest as possible here and I mean no disrespect to Derrick Williams because I do think he has talent. But, I can’t think of a way outside of injury that he gets a strong look for the starting lineup with Kevin Love at power forward and Andrei Kirilenko holding it down at small forward.

     Williams will be one of the team’s most used guys off the bench and I do expect him to be somewhat effective in that capacity. Long term I’m just not sure of D-Will’s prospect. Obviously he has the talent to stick around the L, but All-Stars, All-NBA, etc. I don’t see in his future.

2. Professor Plum

   Mr. Greene. That’s was messed up what you did with the candlestick in the conservatory. Can you explain how big the drop-off is from the NBA to D-League? Just wonder why people like Eddy Curry, etc. keep getting chances to not produce while D-Leaguers who put up strong numbers don’t often get called up. How big is the margin of talent from the best D-League guy to end of the bench NBA players?

   • Lang Greene

     Wait, what? Lol. There are a lot of guys in the league still earning paychecks who probably shouldn’t be, but at the same time those veterans play their role on teams and in return get more and more looks later in their careers. There are more than a few guys in the D-League who could be decent NBA players but it comes down to opportunity.

     Eddy Curry is going to get more looks than Keith Benson because he’s already established he could produce at a high level as a professional. The problem with Curry isn’t his talent … it’s his conditioning, or lack thereof. He’s a high risk, high reward option for the San Antonio Spurs right now in training camp. Taking a chance on a Keith Benson type of guy, right now, would be a high risk, low reward option while he gets accustomed to the nuisances of the NBA game.

     They don’t call it “experience” for nothing. League vets value it and respect the hell out of guys who have produced and have experience.

3. paprika

   Hi lang, always been not only your fan but the site’s…. I am excited to read more of u guys now that season is near. Well i know the lakers are deep,i heard they invited cd-roberts,i know he will be cut cause they got jamison,clark ebanks,mwp and kobe can also play the@f spot. But man i know this guy will break out. He will be this year’s gerald green. Lakers also didnt sign him from camp lastst year. Whats your take on cdr bro?

   • Lang Greene

     Thanks, bro. I am also excited the season is upon us, but also understanding that the workload is about to pick up this season more than ever for me. Chris Douglas-Roberts is clearly a NBA talent. But when the man was in the league he couldn’t stay healthy. I view him as more of a two guard. He won’t make the team in my opinion, but he’s a guy who will make dudes like Earl Clark and Ebanks show up and work hard every during training camp. That’s what a lot of these guys are there for … to push the roster and make things more competitive. I think CDR will do fine in that role and may get a look from another team due to his preseason play.

4. manila jeep at the vegas strip

   When the heat was built everyone was passive on who’s team is it. Lebron said its ours,wade said its the big 3′s team same with bosh. Now the laker 3 are singing a different tune. D12 said its our team,nash said its kobe’s andour team and kobe said its my team still. Will this be a clash of persona or will be better cause everyone is type A personality and wants to own the reaponsibility? I as a fan believes this is nobody’s team but the fan’s team and the city’s… How long do you see before chemistry kicks in?

   • Lang Greene

     No doubt in my mind the Lakers will be fine from a chemistry standpoint fairly quickly. There are a lot of veterans on the roster so I don’t believe things get out of hand there, or even come close to doing so. I believe Steve Nash said it best … the media, TV networks and fans like to identify one guy and deem it their team. The networks like it because it’s clean to advertise Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers versus Derrick Rose and the Chicago Bulls. But the hardcore fans know that Kobe needed help so they went out and got two franchise players in Nash and Howard.

5. Q-Man

   Whats good Lang how the Family? School for me is going well a lot of essay’s but it is what it is.

   1. Love him or hate him Joe Johnson was one of the most productive players in Hawks history. Does he’s number get retired
   2. Are the Hawks trying to bring a west coast running style East
   3. I think the Hawks could steal some minute with Smooth, Big Al and Zaza up front

   • Lang Greene

     The original 3Q in the building … glad to hear school is going well my brother. Keep grinding man. Pulling for you.

     1. You’re exactly right. Like him, love him or loathe him … Joe Johnson was one of the most productive Hawks players of all-time. I find it funny when some Hawks fans try to downplay his impact over the 6-7 years. Josh Smith and Al Horford may be ready now to carry the team back to the playoffs but they weren’t ready back in 2009 to do it as lead guys. Yes, raise Joe’s jersey to the rafters as soon as he retires.
     2. Spoke with Larry Drew this week and he says the Hawks have the fastest backcourt in the league with Jeff Teague, Lou Williams and Devin Harris. So yes, I expect a lot more running and less stagnation on the offensive side of the court.
     3. They most certainly could with this unit offensively because of the three-point shooting. Defensively Smoove is good enough to play the three in spots. He’s certainly in shape to do so.

6. Bugsy Mogues

   Hey Lang,
   Odd question and really NFL, but I hope you follow me.
   Talented young guys who have a dream of making a career in Basketball, seem to have almost inexhaustible avenues to make a living, US, Europe, Asia and even here in Aus. I’ve always wondered, what happens to those thousands of not-talented-enough-for-NFL college players? There is no other avenue to a career and that dream must die pretty quickly.

   • Lang Greene

     Good question and I most definitely follow you. The NBA is a global sport. Comparing the NBA to the NFL overseas would be a joke. The NBA rules supreme. The NFL doesn’t have that kind of reach worldwide. The NFL tried to tap into the world market w/ NFL Europe and it didn’t pan out. However, here in the United States, the NFL is the leader.

     College football players who don’t pan out can go to the CFL or Arena Football leagues. Things like that, but there are no overseas options so the majority of them wind up coaching or getting regular jobs

7. guiness representative

   Newyork knicks need to sign shaq,ben wallace,fisher and jordan to get guiness world of record “The All Senior Citizen Team”

   • Lang Greene

     Some call it old. Some call it seasoned. Just depends on what side of the spectrum you’re sitting.

8. CAS

   Barring any injuries or chemistry issues, if Nash-Kobe-Ron-Pau-Dwight gel perfectly, how can this team be beaten? Don’t get me wrong I believe MIA & OKC are still the teams to beat but how could they defend all 5? Sure Lebron & Durant present an individual daily mismatch but the Lakers are teams mismatch, an advantage at almost every position.

   • Lang Greene

     Games aren’t played on paper. And we’re not talking prime Kobe Bryant and Steve Nash here. We’re also talking about Pau Gasol who is coming off a down season where he was almost traded and a Dwight Howard coming off back surgery. Factor in the Lakers’ depth at point guard is shaky and you can find holes in the unit. The Lakers will be tough for any team to beat in a seven game series, but I don’t (and won’t) view them as immortal until they start playing like it on the floor.

9. JPHAWKS LIVE

   Dear,Lang greene

   HOW DO YOU THINK THAT THE BENCH PLAYERS WILL DO IN THE NBA . DO YOU THINK THAT JOHN JENKINS AND IVAN JOHNSON WILL GET THE MINUTES THEY DESERVE AND WHO DO YOU THINK THAT WILL BE THE LEADING SCORER ON THE HAWKS DO YOU THINK JEFF TEAGUE WILL FINALLY ENTER HIS ROLE INTO BEING THE FLOOR GENERAL.

   • Lang Greene

     Everyone I’ve spoken to in the Hawks organization are very high on John Jenkins. But knowing Larry Drew’s track record for playing rookies it’s hard for me to believe he’d earn more than 7-10 minutes per night. Veterans like Lou Williams, Kyle Korver, Anthony Morrow and DeShawn Stevenson stand in his way.

     Ivan Johnson will get minutes this season. He’ll be in the nightly rotation.

10. Judy

    If Josh has a spectacular season, playing to his strengths(inside), the defensive anchor,rebounding and defense does he DESERVE a max contract? I don’t want another Joe Johnson situation (paying max $ for a good but not great player).

    • Lang Greene

      I only think about 10 guys in the league are worth MAX contracts, but as the CBA currently stands guys like Smoove will be able to command one. If Smoove has another season like he did in 2012 then the Hawks will have to pony up the dough. It’s not about deserving, it’s about market value. Smoove will be one of the marquee free agent targets next summer.

11. Judy

    Langy, what are your thoughts on Hawks opening day:
    1. Is everybody in shape
    2. Chances that Benson finally makes the roster
    3. Teague looks bigger, especially his arms? – is it so?

    • Lang Greene

      1. Everyone I saw appeared to be in good condition. Guys like Zaza looked like they a lost a little weight. John Jenkins has bulked up since I saw him Las Vegas. Josh Smith has kept the weight off. Kyle Korver looks about the same as I’ve seen him in the past. Al Horford looked a bit smaller too.
      2. Slim. Horford, Zaza and Petro are likely the three centers. Smith, Ivan Johnson, Tolliver and Mike Scott are likely the power forwards
      3. Teague’s arm size didn’t stick out to me as changing much but admittedly I wasn’t analyzing hard.

12. Cain

    Paul George All-Star this year, Buy or Sell? He my favorite player but I gotta say sell this year.

    • Lang Greene

      I can see Paul George in the All-Star game eventually but it won’t happen until he has an opportunity to play his natural position (SF) full-time. Currently Danny Granger is the barrier but eventually George will be let loose and thrive. He’s a solid talent.

13. Raju

    Everybody critisizing Laker’s bench, but Lakers can keep the two of there two superstar in theplay with three bench players and they will be fine what do you think?

    • Lang Greene

      When it comes to winnnig time … and I’m talking serious winning time as in deep in the playoffs, starters usually play 30-40 minutes per night. The bench becomes minimized in those situations and the cream rises to the top. As I stated earlier, the Lakers have holes and aren’t perfect but there’s a big difference in being able to see weaknesses and being able to exploit them. Only a few select teams will be able to exploit them … and the list gets even smaller when you’re talking about beating them in a seven game series.

14. SatBchMagicer

    Hi Lang, first off slight disagreement with you- my reading of ?proposed at this point? flop reduction ‘start’ does mention possible suspension as ‘serious repeat offender provision’. My question- Could you give some thoughts on why you think ‘flop crackdown’ might not be a good idea, at least in its’ currently proposed form?

    • Lang Greene

      I mean, the national outcry about flopping only started once the playoffs began … you know, when the casual NBA fan started paying attention and when the mainstream media personalities w/ talk shows actually started paying attention to the games. I didn’t hear a peep about flopping early in the season.

      I think it was Shane Battier who came up with a great quote this week … something along the lines of when is the last time you’ve seen a referee call a charging call without the defending player falling down? Part of getting fouled a lot of times is selling the fact you were fouled. I think instances of players not getting touched at all and floundering around must stop, but this national outcry I’m not buying it.

      Sign me up to be the $150,000 a year analyst paid to watch footage of every game and determine who is flopping … I’ll take that job.

15. SatBchMagicer

    Lang, following on with your tweet photo of Divac ‘back in his day’; could you give your 5 leading contenders for the FHOS-’Flop Hall of Shame’,(must have been out of NBA at least 3 years) and also 5 current players who may be future-’1st Year’ shoo-ins for a ‘Shame Seat’?

    • Lang Greene

      First and foremost let me say I don’t have a problem with these guys. I believe the referee should be in control of his whistle. They should be calling things they SEE, not things they DON’T SEE. If you see a guy get fouled call it. If you don’t see a foul but the player flies into the 3rd row, then be strong enough not to call a foul.

      I don’t call these guys floppers, let me be clear … These are some guys who knew how to work the referee …

      Vlade Divac – dude is a legend in this area
      Rudy Fernandez (trust me on this)
      Danny Ainge – my goodness this man knew how to draw calls
      Shane Battier – the vet forces a ref to use the whistle – charging or blocking
      Bill Laimbeer – man, listen … he would take your soul on one end of the court, but on the other he’d get a call for minimal contact, lol
      Dennis Rodman – the worm made a living getting refs to make calls
      Reggie Miller – the patented leg kick so a defender could run into it … classic.

      This is off the top of my head.

16. The Man

    Langasaurus,
    If you were going to pick an all-defensive squad, just any 5 guys regardless of position, and their sole job was to hold the opposing team to less than 50, who would be on it?

    • Lang Greene

      Another good question, but off the top of my head it will be tough.

      LeBron, Dwight, Kenneth Faried, Tony Allen, Chris Paul (or Rondo)

      HM: Iguodala, Smoove, Ibaka, Avery Bradley, Iman Shumpert

17. SatBchMagicer

    Hey yo Lang, as an avid Magic fan, ‘glass is ALWAYS half full(not half empty) type of guy- read fully, really enjoyed the complete 5-man(+ others) preseason review you/others recently completed. Especially was ‘heartened’ by your choice of ORL as #3-SE Div(keep up the good work!); I personally see ORL ‘maybe battling’ for 9/10 in East(would take few ‘other team melts’ for them in playoffs). As an ‘optimist(but also realist)’ am I at right ‘placement’ for Magic? Your thoughts.

    • Lang Greene

      I tried to base my pick as the team is currently constructed. As of now, they’re better than Charlotte in my opinion … possibly Washington. The Magic have talent on the roster. Hedo, Harrington, Redick, Nelson, Davis, etc. are talented veterans. But I do think the team will be trading away some of those veterans which in turn will have them sink in the standings.

18. cal

    Hey Mr Greene. I don’t understand why the Hawks don’t use Devin Harris as backup PG and start Lou Williams at SG. Williams was the leading scorer for his team last year while coming off the bench so why not give him the opportunity to start with his hometown team? Who starts at SG and why?

    • Lang Greene

      The problem with starting Lou is that he’s a smaller shooting guard. If you don’t have a bigger lead guard then your team will be a liability defensively. If you have an elite shot blocker protecting the paint it could work, but the Hawks don’t have that luxury. So the Hawks will likely use him in a similar role like the 76ers did over the past several years.

      You can be a smaller SG, but you have to be elite. Allen Iverson played two guard for years alongside Eric Snow but he’s an all-time great talent. Joe Dumars was smaller but he’s Hall of Fame. Lou is a solid talent but he’s not on that kind of level.

19. David

    As I see it, Lakers’ weakest link is back-up PG position. Will there be any solid PG available to trade for during the season (e.g. Jose Calderon, Daniel Gibson, etc.), and do the Lakers have any asset to trade?

    • Lang Greene

      Doubt the Lakers absorb a contract like Jose Calderon’s ($10 million). If Toronto can’t trade him they could potentially buy him out and in that case maybe the Lakers can slide into the hunt for him.

20. Chris

    How’s Life Lang? everything Good?
    Ok,what do you think of the signing of Harrelson for the heat? what’s he brings to the table?
    And what team do you can get the 8th spot in the East? Thanks

    • Lang Greene

      Chris! Harrelson is not going to be a difference maker if he makes the roster. He provides size and additional rebounding depth, but isn’t a game changer.

      I think the Hawks will battle for that 7-8 seed along with Toronto, Washington and maybe Chicago.

21. Colin from Ireland

    What’s up Lang?writing to you all the way from Ireland,read your chats every week! I just finished reading the Jordan Rules and I’m curious as to why Kobe gets so much criticism in relation to selfishness and others factors when compared to MJ?in the book it states how Jordan derided his team mates and often abandoned the triangle offence but when spoken about in the current day this is not mentioned and Kobe is compared unfavourably by some in comparison.Was wondering if you could educate me on this!

    • Lang Greene

      Thanks for rolling with me every week. I appreciate you and the rest of the HF’s who hold me down. I love doing these chats.

      The biggest Jordan fans typically loathe Kobe Bryant … much like the biggest Kobe fans will one day wind up bashing the next great shooting guard. People don’t like people threatening their heroes man. My father wouldn’t let me get a word in if I thought someone could challenge Sugar Ray Robinson (boxing). Much like I tell everyone I believe Sugar Ray Leonard would beat Floyd Mayweather head-to-head (although, I love Floyd). With me?

      MJ was known as a ball hog early in his career. Kobe catches the same flack. But once Kobe is retired for 10 years all of that negativity will die down.

22. jphawkslive

    Have you been analyzing. Jeff teague. Does. He seem more aggressive

    • Lang Greene

      Jeff Teague is a confident young man. Those who were around him his first season until now can really see the change. I hear it in his answers when I talk to him. You see it in his game on the floor. He knows he belongs in the league now and he’s hungry to get better.