NBA Chat With Lang Greene 3/21/12

Lang Greene is a NBA Writer for HOOPSWORLD covering the Atlanta Hawks and Eastern Conference. Lang’s chat gets started at 8pm EST on Wednesday every week.

  1. Aristotle

    My man Lang! What would you think of this trade… Joe Johnson to Chicago for Joakim Noah, Taj Gibson, and Ronnie Brewer?

    • Lang Greene

      Hoop Freaks I am back off the road following a whirlwind week of traveling. Let’s say I do not envy local beat writers one bit. Hope the trade deadline was good to you … now we’re getting ready for the playoffs while watching some of the NCAA’s best rock March Madness.

      But tonight, we chat … can you believe they’re paying me to have this much fun? Let’s go …

      Aristotle you usually rock the chats right, lol, but you know I can’t let you float this one out there. First, the trade deadline is long gone … second, there is no way the Bulls give up that much talent for 2012, slightly past his prime, Joe Johnson.

      I think once RIP gets healthy Bulls fans will be able to sleep a little easier about the hole at shooting guard. But if I was a Bulls fan, the health (short and long term) of Derrick Rose is my primary worry.

  2. calvinzero

    Hey Mr.Greene, how are you?? Long time no chat. What’s new for the Hawks? How their preparation for the forthcoming playoffs games? (Assuming the Hawks is on the playoffs)

    • Lang Greene

      Call me Lang. I’m young and in my journalistic prime – haha.

      I’m at the arena tonight and the pulse around the team, is simply “Get Healthy” … the Hawks have been ravaged by injury this season but have somehow managed to stay in the mix and relevant.

      Word is Al Horford was able to get up a few jumpers this week. He may be ready at some point in the postseason.

  3. Cain

    I can’t help but feel the Pacers will change their line-ups, with Hansbrough and Hill getting more minutes at PF and PG. I think Paul George will see less offensive touches with Barbosa in town, but I think this will be a very successful line-up. Thoughts?

    • Lang Greene

      I like Hansbrough’s energy and enthusiasm, but if the Pacers are going to make any noise in the postseason, you better believe the big man David West will be front and center balling at power forward.

      I like George Hill. If the guy can stay healthy, I can see him stealing a few minutes from Darren Collison who has struggled a little this year … but make no mistake DC is Indy’s starter at PG.

  4. Cain

    One game in and very happy with Barbosa, what did you think?

    • Lang Greene

      12 points in just 18 minutes on 50 percent shooting … yeah, nothing not to like there.

      Barbosa is an established veteran who has nine seasons worth of credentials on the resume. You know what you’re going to get from him every night. Credit to the Pacers for getting a high end item floating on the discount rack.

  5. John

    How many more bad games does Durant need to have before people start to realize he isn’t that great? I have never seen any since Jordan get such a free pass from the media. He’s not even the best player on his own team.

    • Lang Greene

      John – whatever it is in your cup I want no parts of it … but you could probably make some good money on that product illegally.

      Kevin Durant is the truth. There is nothing media created about the guy bro … Jeremy Lin has game but he’s been aided by the media hype big time … Tim Tebow (QB – football) has little talent at the pro level but has been aided by the media machine … when it comes to Durant, he is none of those things. He’s solid.

      Please tell me what is all hype about a guy who drops 30 points per game on people’s necks every night?

      I’ll wait right here …

  6. jazzfan

    Thanks for the chat you guys are awesome for doing these, givin the way the Jazz young guys have played these last few games do you think coach Corbin should start increasing their minutes more even when Bell and Jefferson return?

    • Lang Greene

      Thanks for the love and the question. You’re asking me this one week too soon. I’m covering the Hawks-Jazz on Sunday here in Atlanta and will get my first up close and live look at them then.

      Like I say all the time … when a star goes down, sometimes the team plays much better (in the short term) because everyone is held more accountable and can’t slack as much and lean on the superstar.

      The key once everyone returns to health isn’t to push the star on the bench, but to find a way to maximize those guys in the rotation who’ve been playing well AND the star.

      It’s something Mike D’Antoni couldn’t do in New York this season when Carmelo Anthony returned from injury.

  7. Ian

    What free agent should the warriors go after

    • Lang Greene

      If you’re referring to after the season then I’d say a guy like Anthony Parker.

      Parker is a veteran who still has game left and could fill in if Klay Thompson struggles with the additional workload.

  8. SenseiOfSoul - Chicago

    Hey Brother Lang, my main man. What’s good? I was wondering who you could see my Bulls pursuing in the waiver wire sweepstakes headed into the playoffs? I would love to see Boris Diaw don the Red and White. I like his passing, rebounding, and size to back up Deng when his wrist is acting funky, or to come off the bench. Another big might be good too. But GarPax missed out on Joe Pryzbilla and Turiaf and they don’t seem interested in Sheed. Who do you think would be a good fit that is still available?

    • Lang Greene

      Man, I’m chilling big dog. On my grind. Adjusting to baby number two at the house … life is good.

      There just isn’t much available on the waiver wire. Andres Nocioni … Ryan Hollins … Bulls might as well stay put.

  9. alec

    What is good my dude!! Hey Lang, since Turiaf is signing with the Heat, do you think the C’s should make a run at R.Hollins? Good or bad idea?

    • Lang Greene

      I mean he’s a 7-footer with some league experience who could possibly take some strain of playing center away from Kevin Garnett … but is he a difference maker for their last postseason run together? No, he’s not.

  10. Sweet Dee

    I thought it was a great job of the Wizards to rid themselves of Nick Young. Dude is an absolute chucker and ballhog. For those that disagree, this shooting guard has a CAREER high of only 6 assists in a game in over 100+ games started. Addition by subtraction, as you need quality team players to build around John Wall. Agree or Disagree with the valuation of Young?

    • Lang Greene

      I take it you’re not going to be heading the Nick Young fan club in the future …

      If you have Nick Young on your roster you want him scoring the ball and getting buckets … not trying to do John Wall or CP3 impressions at point guard. He’s a scorer … not a playmaker.

      My jury is still out on the kid. I do know the culture in the Wizards’ locker room the past two years was one of “looking out for self” so a lot of their guys might be unfairly labeled.

      Time will tell.

  11. Daniel

    Mr. Lang, hope all is going good. Just a fun question, wich Gasol do you think is better and which one will have a greater career (granted Pao has been around for a while). Keep rocking the chats dude!

    • Lang Greene

      Better Gasol right now … I’d give an ever slight edge to Marc. I think he’s entering his prime, while Pau is starting to decline.

      Better career I’d go with Pau.

      Older bro has really put in a good deal of work and his legacy will forver be magnified being Kobe Bryant’s Robin (sidekick).

  12. John

    Lang, go through his game logs…Durant has had a LOT of mediocre games this season and especially against top competition. His FG% vs Dallas this season was 37%, for example. My critique of his game is grounded in logic and reality and I just wish others would recognize this as well.

    • Lang Greene

      Please bro … don’t do this to yourself. There are overrated guys in the league but not Kevin Durant. This is laughable really.

      You’re judging Durant on ONE game this season versus the DEFENDING champions? Come on … did you not see what they did to LeBron James in the FInals last season?

      Check this link out. Scroll to the bottom … Kevin Durant is averaging over 20 points per game versus every team he’s faced this season except for one team … Utah where he’s averaging 19.3.

      http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/d/duranke01/splits/2012/

  13. Ricardo

    After Steve Blakes poor performance vs the Rockets yesterday, how long do you think it will be before Ramon Sessions takes his spot as a starter?

    • Lang Greene

      Sometimes I think coaches outsmart themselves. Sessions should have been in the starting lineup from day one of arriving in Los Angeles.

      I mean why else did the Lakers go out and acquire them. But you know, this happens all the time. I guess it’s in the coach playbook to go through these type of motions.

  14. BSaintM

    Lang how you doing man?

    I was wondering what you thought about Turiaf going to Miami, Fisher going to OKC, and Portland picking up Hickson. Good moves?

    • Lang Greene

      Man, I’m great!

      I like the Turiaf to Miami move. Gives them more beef and more importantly more fouls. Probably says a whole lot about Eddy Curry’s future in the league. Seems like coach Spoelstra is doing everythnig in his power not to play the guy.

      Fisher going to OKC is good for Fish for sure … playing behind a stud like Russell Westbrook is just what the doctor ordered. The Lakers were relying on the guy to do too much … now he gets to play against second units and rest those aging legs a bit more.

      On paper the Hickson moves looks good for Portland, but paper has all types of uses … something isn’t clicking with JJ mentally. He has the talent … we see flashes of it from time time … there has to be something going on upstairs.

  15. Dennis

    Hi Lang. Now that Jeff Foster has retired, do you see the Pacers signing a new back-up center before the deadline? Who would you get if you were Larry Bird? Thanks.

    • Lang Greene

      Just not much out there. Foster only played 11 games this season so it won’t be a huge loss from a rotation standpoint.

      Let me say this … Jeff Foster was one of the guys I loved to cover. He always was respectful and gave me a lot of his time. I wish him nothing but the best in retirement. Respect to JF

  16. Joe Shafer

    Are the Rockets bringing over Donatas next season? Also, Durant is a straight beast, nearly un-guardable, don’t know what John is watching…….

    • Lang Greene

      Joe … every superstar has guys who just don’t respect their game for one reason or another. I remember plenty of people hated Michael Jordan when I was growing up … especially the old timers back then.

      If MJ got it … you damn sure better believe Duranr will get it … but John’s argument wasn’t logical … there are logical arguments people can make to critique KD’s game … but saying the guy shot “40 percent” one night is ridiculous.

      If 40 percent was the bar … Allen Iverson probably wouldn’t make the Hall of Fame …