NBA Chat With Lang Greene 1/16/13

1. Deven

   What has been the biggest problem for the Hawks recent struggles?

   • Lang Greene

     What’s up Hoop Freaks? I’m battling flu-like symptoms tonight, but I’m here for you guys. Come strong …

     The Hawks were one of the most unselfish teams in the league during the first two months of the season but have slowly drifted away from that mentality. So many guys in the final year of their deal could have something to do with it, but I spoke with several Hawks players the other day off record and they maintain that chemistry is at an all-time high.

2. LA in LA

   I remember reading about a month ago on here that y’all think Josh Smith will get a max deal around what Deron Williams got. No disrespect but I think if Hawks give him THAT much that they’ll end up regretting it just like with JJ (although not as much cause Smith will have slightly smaller and shorter contract in this new CBA).

   • Lang Greene

     There’s a difference in stating a fact saying someone is eligible for a five-year $100 million deal and the player actually being able to find a buyer at that price tag. Smith is eligible to get that money, but if I was the Hawks I’d pass if the market set his value at $20 million per year.

     I mean, that’s LeBron, Durant, CP3, Kobe territory and I don’t think Smoove is at the same level. Heck, I didn’t think Deron Williams was worth that either.

     I seriously doubt Danny Ferry will invest that type of money into Josh. My opinion.

3. David Rivas

   What do you think about that trade:
   Kings: Tyreke Evans and Francisco Garcia
   Memphis: Rudy Gay
   You have to adjust salaries a little bit.

   Garcia has a team option for this summer so Grizz could cut him to make run. Evans is a player that fits in MEM and Rudy Gay is what Kings need. Who says no?

   • Lang Greene

     David- I don’t think Rudy Gay is the piece that puts Sacramento over the top. On the other hand, the Grizzlies are one of the top teams in the West … is Tyreke Evans a guy you can count on while making a playoff push?

     I don’t think either team would agree to this deal. My opinion.

4. Jim in CyberSpace

   Jeremy Lin looks to be a lock for the All Star team??? Way more votes than James Harden??? That’s why ya let the Coaches decide on most of the team, and let the fans vote for the last roster spot…the fifteenth man. Still keeps the Fans involved.
   Maybe it’s the “Yao Ming Affect”, that’s the only thing I can think of? There are Billions of NBA fans in China…flood the voting. I’m not trying to be funny…let’s be honest.
   I Love everything about Jeremy, Harvard Grad, always underrated etc…

   • Lang Greene

     Calm down Jim. Last I checked the voting returns, the starting backcourt in the West, as voted by fans, was Kobe Bryant and Chris Paul.

     I do believe the system needs a tweak when it comes to fan voting, but until the fans vote in a Kwame Brown type player the “powers that be” aren’t going to make a drastic change to the process.

     Jeremy Lin won’t make the All-Star team this season.

5. dave

   Lang, I watched the C’s/Rockets and then the Lakers/Thunder games last Friday, and the styles were completely different. Both the C’s and Rockets played team ball, lots of passes, but OKC and LA both went one on one just about every trip down the floor. If Westbrook weren’t dribbling and firing up a shot, then Durrant was. Granted, many of those shots went in, but the Celtic in me thought that game was very boring. In your opinion, which teams play the best “team” ball, which the worst?

   • Lang Greene

     Atlanta was playing some great team ball early in the season but have gotten away from it recently. The Golden State Warriors play very well off each other. The Los Angeles Clippers are another team who have demonstrated outstanding chemistry on the floor.

6. jaimeson

   would/could coaches give all star nod to injured player knowing he wouldn’t be available for game? i’m talkin varejao here. was playing at AS level b4 injury, but i also realize AS usually goes to winning teams. if he was healthy, would he still get nod with no set C’s on ballot?

   • Lang Greene

     No. An injured Anderson Varejao will not be selected by the coaches.

7. jaimeson

   with recent MLB HOF snubs, I was wondering how NBA determines who gets into HOF?

   • Lang Greene

     There is no NBA Hall of Fame. It is the Basketball Hall of Fame … so contributions to the game outside of the NBA level are also considered in the selection process. With MLB it is all what the player did at the pro level and doesn’t factor in collegiate accomplishments. That’s the big difference.

8. Kim J (Perth)

   Hey Lang how r u man? Love your chats.
   Big Portland fan here but have a lot of time for the ATL. You know the hawks better than most so tell me: can they make the conference finals (and beyond) this season? And if they can, what changes are necessary to make it happy? A trade? Shore up depth? Personally I feel Gortat would look awesome in Atlanta threads.

   • Lang Greene

     Thanks, Kim. The early start to the season got people expecting too much from Atlanta. They are right where I expected them to be heading into the season … in the 5-7 seed range in the Eastern Conference. A 45-47 win team.

9. Radu

   Hi Lang,
   The notion that Utah might be looking to offload Millsap to create more playing time for Favors irks me to no end. I firmly believe Favors will never be as good as Millsap even in the best case scenario. Why are teams so eager to trade proven commodities for questionable prospects? I mean gee-whiz, look how rebuilding projects like Washington, New Orleans or Sacramento ended up. Would you rather your favourite team was a perennial first-round playoff team with an about 0.600 winning percentage like, say, the Nuggets or Philadelphia, or a bottom dweller losing game after game but with hopes of “maybe” hitting it big in the lottery once in 10 years (Cleveland, Oklahoma City)?

   • Lang Greene

     Radu- I understand where you’re coming from as a fan, but you must remember the NBA is a business man. Finances are involved and teams are trying to protect the P&L statement.

     So where do I begin …

     Paul Millsap is a free agent who will command between $10-12 million per year on the open market. Derrick Favors will make $6 million next season. See where I’m going? Millsap averages 14.9 points and 7.7 rebounds in 31 minutes. Favors gives you 8.7 points and 6.1 boards in just 20 minutes per night, plus he’s a much better shot blocker (1.5).

     And here’s the last thing … age … Millsap will be 28 this summer. Favors just 22.

     Now let me bring this full circle …

     Do you know what a 22 year old Millsap averaged for Utah in 2007-08 playing behind Carlos Boozer? … 8.1 points and 5.6 rebounds in 20 minutes per night. Those numbers looks similar to Favors’ right?

     Who is it to say that Favors won’t experience the same type of growth without a veteran like Millsap ahead of him on the depth chart?

10. BSaintM

    Hey Lang love the chats!

    I was wondering if you see Byron Mullens level upside in Meyers Leonard. As a Blazer fan I think that would be great and really helpful for us to grow into a contender. Also where do you see Batum in the next 3 years? All Star? A 25-6-5 player?

    • Lang Greene

      I’m high on Batum but a lot of his potential will hinge on how far he wants to go as a player himself. When Gerald Wallace was in town he was clearly the better player and deferred too much to the veteran. Coach Nate tried all types of things to get him in gear but Nic has blossomed without Wallace around. I think he can be a borderline All-Star in the 17-7-4 realm.

      I need to see more from Meyers Leonard. He has looked decent in limited minutes but I need to see a little more from the big fella.

11. SatBchMagicer

    Good evening Lang, Can you enlighten us readers on what ‘action’ by Josh Smith resulted in his 1-game suspension by ATL for tonight’s BKN game?

    • Lang Greene

      I don’t want to put the actual action out there publicly. But I will say that I hope Smoove and Larry Drew get back on the same page soon.

12. Cain

    What do you think of Paul George and Lance Stephenson this season?

    • Lang Greene

      Paul George is growing up before our eyes. He’s a player. Lance is also growing.

      PG is going to have All-Star burdens throughout his career and I believe Lance will hang around the league like Keith Bogans, Rasual Butler, DeShawn Stevenson and guys of that caliber.

13. Cain

    Eric Bledsoe has looked really good in 2 starts, if CLips re-sign Paul will he be on his way out?

    • Lang Greene

      Bledsoe is establishing himself as an up and coming point guard. He wants to eventually lead a team of his own and that isn’t happening in LA with CP3 healthy. But the Clippers don’t have to make a decision on EB until the summer of 2014 … an eternity by NBA standards.

14. Q-MAN

    Lang whats good my friend?

    1. Looks like Josh on his way out. who else are we shopping?
    2. If the hawks keeps losing will LD be fired
    3. What do you think about Eric Bledsoe as a starter. Teague starting to let me down after starting strong

    • Lang Greene

      3Q! Happy New Year man …

      1. I still don’t think the Hawks are going to move Smoove … I hear Devin Harris’ expiring contract mentioned in rumors but Larry absolutely loves the guy, so I don’t think he’s in the market either.
      2. Drew is in his final season. I don’t expect Ferry to fire Drew before season’s end.
      3. I honestly think Bledsoe and Teague are a wash and I’d probably still give a slight edge to Jeff head up.

15. why not?

    What do u think about this bro?
    Miami gets pau, lakers gets josh smith and the hawks gets bosh?
    0r why not jsmith for bosh straight up?

    • Lang Greene

      Miami doesn’t need to partake in this deal … they’ve won a championship with Bosh.

16. BlazerFAN

    Whos your favorite rappers currently and all time?

    • Lang Greene

      Currently I ride with Kanye West hard.

      All-time … BIG, PAC, NAS, JAY, The WU, Rakim, Lloyd Banks, 50, Eminem, Run DMC, Kanye, EPMD … man, too many to list off the top of my head.

17. Dave

    Hey Lang, ,love the chats. Which playoff team do you think blows it up at the trade deadline and gives up established talent for picks/cap relief? There are quite a few teams over the cap that aren’t quite “there”

    • Lang Greene

      Memphis may make a move involving Rudy Gay. The goal isn’t to blow up the core but to protect its finances … on the flip side I don’t see trading Gay and maintaining their footing in the West as mutually achievable.

      I can also see Milwaukee and Utah making deals. Both are in the playoff hunt but not serious title contenders.