NBA Chat With Lang Greene 1/23/13

1. Deven

   Why won’t the Hawks trade Josh Smith? They aren’t going to get Dwight or CP3 anyway.

   • Lang Greene

     What’s up Hoop Freaks? The trade deadline is rapidly approaching. The Lakers are only 1.5 games above the Sacramento Kings. Royce White may be ready to join the Rockets. Dwight Howard is reportedly unhappy (no, you don’t say), Mike D’Antoni gets a vote of confidence from Lakers management, the Grizzlies are under the luxury tax, Brook Lopez is balling, so is Jrue Holiday, Anthony Davis is proving to be injury prone and the Celtics may shake things up. Lots of stuff going on … let’s work.
     
     The two instances you name above aren’t necessarily related to each other. The Hawks aren’t keeping Josh Smith around to make a run at Dwight Howard or CP3. Simply put, the Hawks view Smith a key part of their building plan moving forward. The question for Hawks management is how much are they willing to invest in Smith this summer once free agency begins.

2. LA in LA

   Hey Lang, I have some either or questions for you about guys I consider similar (quality) players and give a quick sentence why please. (Ignore age; think of it as picking best player right now):

   1) Rudy Gay or Luol Deng
   2) Al Jefferson or Tyson Chandler
   3) Jrue Holiday or Ty Lawson
   4) Horford or Marc Gasol

   • Lang Greene

     1. I would probably go with Luol Deng right now even though Rudy Gay has closed the gap over the past 18 months or so. In my opinion, you can throw Deng into any system and get consistent production offensively and defensively. Consistency.

     2. I know most people view Al Jefferson as just a stats guy, but I think I’ll roll with him over Tyson Chandler. Low bock scoring in the league comes at a premium and Al Jefferson is one of the best at getting buckets on the interior. Tyson Chandler is a great defensive guy but he’s not dominant in the Dikembe, D12 or Dennis Rodman sense defensively.

     3. If you asked me at the beginning of the season my answer would have been Ty Lawson hands down, but Jrue Holiday has my vote as of right now. The man is putting up 20/10 without a dominant scorer beside him in the lineup and plays at a much slower pace than Lawson which means even fewer possessions to get his numbers

     4. Al Horford. The guy is putting up 16/10 in his sleep in a system which doesn’t feature him nearly enough. I tell people all the time Al can be a 23/11 type of performer … but until the Hawks start EXPECTING more out of him … he’ll continue to be unselfish.

     Good question.

3. LA in LA

   I know a lot of people, including some Laker fans, want to see Dwight get more touches in the post but dude is a liability to turn the ball over whenever he doesn’t get offf a shot in about 2 seconds. He ranks 13th in TO% among Center who get at least 10 minutes, but 11 of those guys are backups; the other two are Asik and Perkins, guys who aren’t asked to score down low; most of Howard’s turnovers come off getting stripped on post ups. He leads all centers in Turnovers per game. It’s a problem.

   • Lang Greene

     The thing about raw numbers is that we can use them to get our point across. For example, Kobe Bryant averages three turnovers per game for his entire career. Allen Iverson averaged 3.6 per night. Guys like Jose Calderon (1.7) and Lindsey Hunter (1.2) averaged far less T/O … but you tell me who you would rather have handling the ball for your team …

     Dwight is a productive big man. He averages just about the same amount of turnovers per game as the great Hakeem Olajuwon.

4. Robert

   Andrea Bargnani for Ben Gordon and Detroits first rounder owed to Charlotte. Deal?

   • Lang Greene

     No deal and Charlotte would be the organization slamming the phone down here. Andrea Bargnani is a basically just a jump shooting big man at his core. He has a serious elbow injury which could impact his shot. His value is going to be bottom basement until he gets back on the court and proves to executives he still has his stroke.

     Also, the Bobcats have a guy in Byron Mullens who plays a similar game. Bargnani has more talent than Byron but Mullens is much cheaper and fits the system better.

5. Sven

   Hi Lang. Can we assume it is clear by now that missing out on maybe the last chance to get PJax at the sidelines again was a mistake ? Worst of all…this could only be the beginning…Pau must be disgruntled, Howard could leave, Kobe can’t be happy and someone is going to be the scapegoat (Kupchak ?)…

   • Lang Greene

     I said it from the beginning … if you have a chance to get Phil Jackson … you get Phil Jackson. Period. You slide a blank check over to him and say write what you need and let’s go to work.

     Here’s the thing about Phil … he’s such a motivator and one of the best ever at bringing guys together for the greater good of the team. Mike D’Antoni doesn’t have that quality. He’s a good coach, but he doesn’t have that ability to bring everything together into one uniformed machine. You saw it last year in New York. The Knicks’ locker room was split.

     Terrible mistake not hiring Phil. Not to say the LAkers would be title contenders … but all these storylines of turmoil wouldn’t be happening.

6. Chris

   What´s good Mr. Greene?
   Greets from germany. How difficult is it in your opinion for a team like the Clippers to hold on to a guy like Bledsoe. I really enjoy seeing him play, but as his trade value rises it´s obvious that one day there will be either a trade offer too good for the Clips to decline or a contract offer too costly to match. i would love Eric to take on Paul´s spot once it´s all sat and done.

   Thanks a lot, what a season so far!

   • Lang Greene

     Chris Paul is just entering his prime, so eventually Bledsoe will be changing his address and leaving Clipper-Land. He’s a solid player but he’s no Chris Paul. Let’s not be confused here. There’s a difference between being one of the best reserve PG’s in the game to being a perennial MVP candidate.

7. Chris

   There goes this german guy again, hey Lang!

   CP3 deserves every single MVP chant he is hearing at Staples. What´s your take on this year´s race?

   • Lang Greene

     My MVP race looks like this … the order fluctuates by week, but here are the guys in the discussion right now. LeBron, Durant, CP3, Melo and Tony Parker.

8. LayHee

   For those who believe Jose Calderon is the missing piece for their playoff team must not watch Raptor games or are boxscore fans. Is Jose top 10 in assists? Yes. Does he control the offense and not turn over the ball? Yes. But the man has concrete feet and plays absolute atrocious defense. It takes only a baby crossover to get past him, leading to help, the extra pass and easy buckets for the other team. My son’s highschool team PG literally plays better D. Next time you check the boxscore, look at how many points/dimes the opposing PG has – and 9 out of 10 times – Jose was lit up. Agree or Disagree with my assessment of Calderon.

   • Lang Greene

     Calderon is a solid player. The days of lockdown individual defense in the NBA are long gone. The elite players are going to get their numbers regardless who is checking them. I don’t view Calderon negatively because I understand what he is as a player. He’s a high volume assist guy who doesn’t turn the ball over. He’ll also be torched defensively by quicker guards. But you put him on a team with a certified rim protector or elite shot blocker … hiding those defensive weaknesses … and I can definitely see why he’s in high demand should Toronto decide to deal

9. Julian

   I believe the Cleveland Cavaliers missed a primed opportunity to trade Anderson Varejao. After a career averaging 9 and 9, Anderson came out the gate this year on fire – averaging 13 and 13 – putting his league value at an all time high. However multiple reports claimed the Cavs GM was looking for the sun, moon, and stars back in a trade. He gets hurt, and is now next to impossible to trade. Offloading Varejao for young players / picks not only would have helped them accumulate assets, but also leads to fewer wins this year – leading to a higher pick. Do you agree the Cavs missed a chance to cash out Varejao or is this too simplistic of a view and injuries are next to impossible to predict. Your thoughts.

   • Lang Greene

     Well here’s the deal … while Anderson Varejao could have returned decent assets I don’t agree with the logic that Cleveland should have traded him. The name of the game is market value. The Cavs were allowing Varejao to set his market value. His contract is relatively inexpensive so I don’t see the reason to rush into anything trade related involving

10. Wil

    Hi Lang, so can LA fire D’Antoni yet? I actually thought the hire would work, but after blowing up in NY and now in LA, it appears D’Antoni is unable to adjust his style to fit his players. I hate to say it, but he seems to be a one-trick pony coach that will only work in certain situations. The team as constructed is a mess and other than moving Dwight, I am not sure how they get out of their rut going forward. What would you do?

    • Lang Greene

      I’m with you. D’Antoni was never the right man for the job. His ability to adapt under pressure or go outside his comfort zone has been atrocious so fat this season.

11. Ted Doo

    Hey Langdiddy, why can’t the Lakers get quality bench players like their crosstown rivals, the Clips? If only, they could get players like Matt Barnes, Lamar Odom, Ronny Turiaf and Caron Butler– Oh wait. What do the Lakers do going forward to, you know, not suck?

    • Lang Greene

      Problem with the Lakers is that they’re so top heavy when it comes to their salaries (payroll).

      Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol and Dwight Howard take up a significant portion of the salary cap, which doesn’t leave a lot of room to sign capable, proven and productive role players.

12. Aristotle

    Hey Langy! Hope all is well.

    I’ve been able to catch a few of the Lakers recent losses and it seems like a school playground set with this team. Little Nash is waiting to be allowed to play with the ball which Little Kobe doesn’t want to share, Pau is whinging and crying to everyone that will liten that he is not happy off the bench, and Dwight just smiles like he’s just happy to be playing the game he loves without realising its a pro league and nothing seems to be the problem… almost like an “oh well”.
    This is definitely causing Kobe issues, but why is there no locker room discussion to sort all this out? If Pau could play with Bynum I don’t get while he’s acting like a brat now. There’s got to be more to this by now then what the public is seeing.

    • Lang Greene

      There was reportedly a big clearing of the air with the team today. We’ll see how it works. Through all of this the guy I’m most disappointed with is Dwight Howard. I’ve said it before, but let me repeat … until he gets a championship mindset and stops all of the goofing off, he won’t reach his full potential – which would be a damn shame.

13. Aristotle

    Lang

    Recently I was reading on LeBron being the youngest to 20,000 points and how many people who know him say he could of gotten to that mark even faster if he wasn’t also such a facilitator paassing the ball and took more shots. Do you think if he had a point guard like Nash or Kidd from his Cleveland days we may have seen that killer instinct that you get with Melo and Kobe?

    • Lang Greene

      I try not to look at things in that sense my man. LeBron has been successful because he plays the game within his comfort zone. He’s not a natural scorer like say a Kevin Durant or Kobe Bryant, but getting to 20,000 career buckets should be applauded.

14. Angelo

    What do you think about a trade of Gasol and Meeks to the Celtics for Bass, Green, Lee and Barbosa?? The Celtics would get much needed size and a good 3 point shooter while getting rid of some of their duplicate pieces and the Lakers can start Bass or Green as a stretch 4 get an extra wing defender in Lee and a back up point in Barbosa. I think both teams win.

    • Lang Greene

      The Lakers wouldn’t be interested in this package for Pau.

15. PLEASE HELP!!

    Please help settle a fantasy basketball argument I am having with a friend. Our league doesnt county FG, FT or 3 pt %. In week 3 Josh Smith and Steve Nash were traded for Rudy Gay and Raymond Felton. Who got the better of the deal and by how much on a scale of 1 – 10. THANKS!!!!

    • Lang Greene

      I am so not a fantasy guy … so with that disclaimer … I’d probably go with the Josh Smith and Nash combo.

16. jayjay

    Just checking the home and away records and noticed that the Cavs have so far played 9 fewer home games than away games. Considering we are at the half way point, such an imbalanced schedule seems really out of whack…Why doesn’t the league do a better job of keep the schedules balanced at the 1/4, 1/2, 3/4 marks?

    • Lang Greene

      Some teams like the Denver Nuggets and Chicago Bulls routinely start the year heavily on the road. In the Bulls’ case there is an event every year that takes place in the United Center which forces the team on the road to accommodate.

      Hope this helps

17. john

    can you specify some teams that could have intrest in prince or maxiell?

    • Lang Greene

      Not much chatter about Jason Maxiell on the trade front, but there is plenty of interest in forward Tayshaun Prince around the league. Problem is, the Pistons have not put the “open for business” sign up behind Prince. The Pistons truly covet the guy.

18. fly

    What career do you predict for wall?

    • Lang Greene

      A very good career, possibly in the Rod Strickland range.

19. Tony in Indy, Indy

    How do you feel about this deal: Dwight Howard and Antawn Jamison for Horford, Teague, Korver. Salaries match.

    • Lang Greene

      My man Tony … the financial side works but the Lakers aren’t going to bite on this deal. I have also yet to receive any clear indication that Howard is willing to play for his hometown Hawks.

20. tramaze

    Hi Lange, Always enjoy your chat and responses. I’m a loyal warrior fan and really hoping and excited we make the playoffs this year with curry and lee intact. Do you think the warriors will stay at the 5th seed in west come playoff time or will they slide to 6-8 post all-star break!! Also, do you think bogut will come back at some point this year or would it be better to sit him the rest of the year to fully heal?

    • Lang Greene

      I think the Warriors can make a playoff push for the fourth seed and homecourt advantage in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs. Golden State will be a tough out for any team come playoff time.

    • Lang Greene

      I think the Warriors can make a playoff push for the fourth seed and homecourt advantage in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs. Golden State will be a tough out for any team come playoff time.

21. Airjazzy

    Memphis trades Gay to denver for w. Chandler and c. Brewer. Fair trade? Good trade for memphis?

    • Lang Greene

      Bad move for Memphis on the court. On the other side acquiring Rudy Gay would put a financial strain on the Denver Nuggets