NBA Chat With Lang Greene 5/9/12

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. Miami

    Heat sweep Indy.No doubt.Cut. Print.Indy Loses.

    • Lang Greene

      What’s up Hoop Freaks! Let’s go …

      I’m not too sure of that prediction. If the New York Knicks can still a game at home, the Indiana Pacers can definitely do it. They are a much better team than the Knicks.

      Miami’s inability to consistently win on the road this entire season is something to keep an eye on.

  2. calvinzero

    In the NBA history, who are the teams that overcome a 1-3 deficit in any playoff round (such as 1st round, 2nd round, conference finals and the Finals)? Bulls and Nuggets forced Game 6. Maybe it will be happen (once again?)Thanks Lang.

    • Lang Greene

      This is off the top of my head … but I clearly remember the 2006 Phoenix Suns marching back on Kobe Bryant and the Lakers down 3-1. Steve Nash deserves big time credit for slaying the “closer” known as Kobe …

      Also back in 97 the Miami HEAT overcame the New York Knicks in a very tense and heated series …

      Those are the two which come to the top of my mind. Thanks for the question.

  3. Kahari Young

    what’s up lang!i hope all is well with you and the fam.do you think atlanta can sign allen iverson in free agency, since atlanta is good at playing veterans past their prime(tracy mcgrady)? I think a.i. will be a great mentor to jeff teague and he will provide a great scoring punch off the bench.[plus a.i. lives in atlanta so thats a bonus, and a couple of months ago i seen ai break jeff ankles with a nice hesitation move, trust me a.i. still have game, he deserve a chance because he meant so much to the game of basketball.

    • Lang Greene

      I respect Allen Iverson’s contribution to the game of basketball. He has to be automatically in everyone’s top 3 of players 6′ feet or under all-time. He’s going to the Hall of Fame and had a great career.

      But …

      Allen Iverson is done son. It pains me to say it, but there won’t be one team who rings his phone this summer. Iverson had two chances, Detroit and Memphis, to prove he could handle not being a team’s focal point offensively. He failed miserably both times.

      Last note, a guy like Iverson still has skills. If you catch him on the court you will see him busting guys up … but there’s a difference in playing streetball and playing a disciplined reserve role in the NBA.

      With me?

  4. Chris

    Who would you rather have Cousins, Hibbert or Monroe? And why?

    • Lang Greene

      Cousins … if I’m looking at building a team for the long term. I get the sense the kid wants to be great. And that’s very important.

      Hibbert is a solid player and All-Star, but he’ll never be a 20/10 guy. I think Cousins has the talent to put together a couple of those type seasons.

      Ever since watching Monroe in high school I just haven’t seen the extra gear in him. He’ll put up numbers throughout his career, but I don’t see the thirst of wanting to dominate his peers resting within him.

  5. tbadfw

    Are the Thunder going to be able to keep James Harden? If he keeps playing the way he is he could get a max deal somewhere.

    • Lang Greene

      Harden has arrived. No doubt. Of course it helps playing alongside Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook.

      The Thunder will have a big decision to make. Serge Ibaka or James Harden in a couple of years. I’d lean toward Ibaka because of his defense, shot blocking and rebounding. There are a lot of guys in the league capable of scoring big points off the bench if given the shots …

      Lastly, Harden may be ballin’ but he is not a franchise player … nor should a team be tempted to max him …

  6. Alex in Burbank

    I wrote to one of the writers here saying Lakers Tanked. He put me in my place. So my question to you is, how can Bynum say those comments before game 5, then come out and look like he’s not even trying. This is why I assumed we had tanked. I don’t get it. If you’re going to open your mouth the way Bynum did, the least he could have done was back it up. Thoughts!

    • Lang Greene

      First, I have no complaints with Bynum’s comments. It is true that if you hit something in the mouth after already exerting your will on it that it will tend to wither or shrink away. Discouraged is the word I’m looking for. You see it all the time in boxing especially … man, mostly all pro sports.

      The problem is people just aren’t ready for honest answers … everyone has to play the politically correct game. But I also see the line of thinking that close out games could be the toughest. Guess it depends on opponent.

      I don’t have the stat offhand, but something tells me when Kobe goes off for 40+ his teammates aren’t going to have huge offensive nights.

      Oh, by the way … the Lakers did NOT tank.

  7. Mark

    Lang:

    In my opinion, why breakup the Hawks? With a healthy Al, Josh and Zaza this series with Boston ended last night. I’m not opposed to trading Marvin, Joe is going nowhere with that contract.

    Josh Smith led them into the playoffs and Big Al Horford stepped it up last night……..so many think one of them is traded. Which one goes and for who if that is the case? Thanks!

    • Lang Greene

      I agree with you. If I was calling the shots don’t think I would break up the core of Joe Johnson, Al Horford and Josh Smith just yet.

      But there are other factors at work. The undercurrent among the team’s fans is extremely negative right now. And if people stop paying or hesitate to play in coming to Philips Arena, changes will likely be made.

      Marvin Williams has been on the market for quite some time. There is no market for him. If he played like he did last night in game 5 for 50 consecutive games they probably could move him.

      Joe isn’t going anywhere with that contract.

  8. Jay

    I have been having a heated discussion with this guy who is dogging Teague, saying he is the dumbest PG in the league, how he has no vision and a bunch of other nonsense, but he thinks getting OJ Mayo will make the Hawks contenders. He said he was a scout/talent evaluator. Please tell m he is crazy.

    • Lang Greene

      OJ Mayo is not a true point guard. He wants to score / has always been a scorer his whole life. So now your guy wants to turn him into a full-time PG … not happening.

      As a first year starter Teague has surpassed most people’s expectations at point guard. But look, some guys do it for you and some guys just don’t … so Teague may not be who your friend builds his team around, but it doesn’t take away the fact he’s a solid young talent.

  9. Matt O

    Hey Lang, how’s things?
    Im a mad Hornets fan and would love to see what we can do to bolster our line up. If we hold on to Kaman how would you feel if we flip him and our 2nd lottery pick to the Hawks for Josh Smith? Kaman and Horford works well and it allows the Hornets to team Okafor and Smith which will be a tough interior to score on.

    • Lang Greene

      Hope you have a lot of patience. There is going to be no quick fix in New Orleans. First order of business is re-signing Eric Gordon.

      Kaman is an unrestricted free agent who wasn’t a part of the team’s long term from the jump.

      Hawks can get much more for Smoove in a trade. Have you seen him play this season? He’s definitely playing at an All-Star level …

  10. Josh

    Lang, whats up dude? Unfortunately for you I’m a C’s fan and were gonna close it out Thursday. What do you think of this ECF matchup? Boston vs. Miami? I think of any team left my Celtics have the best chance of cooling down the Heat…

    • Lang Greene

      Agree with the thought process of Boston having the best shot versus the HEAT. The Celtics will be one of the toughest outs this postseason.

      KG, Pierce and Ray-Ray do not fear Miami one bit and Doc Rivers would probably out-coach Erik Spoelstra on the sidelines.

      But if the Celtics need 6 (potentially 7) games to beat an injury depleted Atlanta Hawks team, hard to imagine them stopping the HEAT

  11. Judy

    Do we see more screen and roll with Teague and Al now that he is back? Boston now has to actually guard the center position?

    • Lang Greene

      Pay attention to KG taking Horford inside more and trying to manhandle him. One of the things Horford lost with the pec injury was his strength in holding position on the block.

      But yes, the presence of Horford makes KG work harder on both ends of the floor. As much as I like Twin and Ivan Johnson, big Al is just on another level in terms of presence / talent

  12. Louis

    Hey lang! do you see the cavs going after drummond with their pick this year or beal? also whats our chances at landing harden with a max contract?

    • Lang Greene

      Louis, I don’t view Harden as a max player. A lot of you may view that as a slight, but its not because I like the young man’s game.

      Drummond didn’t overwhelm me in college and he’s not going to come into the league on fire, but once he develops he figures to be productive. He’s currently projected to go anywhere between 2 – 7 … I think he’ll hear his name called in the top 5.

  13. Ray

    Hey lang, thanks for doing the chat. My question is who was your favorite big 3 of all times?

    • Lang Greene

      My lifetime … Kareem, Magic and Worthy …. Bird, McHale and the Chief … to name a couple

  14. Ricky in Barcelona

    What soon to be free agents should I be calling to help my Wolves team get better?

    • Lang Greene

      Free agency acquisitions will be tight with Minnesota already sitting at $59 million in salaries for 2013. More room could be created by waiving Brad Miller and Martell Webster … but the Wolves seem to like Webster’s leadership off the floor.

      The team needs a shooting guard … guys like Jamal Crawford and Leandro Barbosa will be around for the MLE …

  15. Steve

    Hey Lang, What does John Hammond need to do this summer to fix the Bucks?

    • Lang Greene

      Joel Brigham covered this a few days back … worth a look … LINK

  16. Beans from Augusta

    Cool dude Lang ,what’s good ? Hey man what do think about Hawks co-owner Michael Gearon Jr comments about the hawks in playoff

    • Lang Greene

      What’s good Beans … I agree with Michael Gearon Jr …

      1. Hawks get no mainstream credit
      2. Hawks are based by TV guys nationally at the mere mention of Atlanta
      3. The foul comment is worth looking into … Hawks are being called more for infractions than the Celtics and are younger and more athletic
      4. I can name at least 10 players dirtier than Kevin Garnett in the league right now
      5. Hawks should get much more credit for their season this year. No Al Horford. Josh Smith hobbling. No Zaza. The guys stuck together and are still in the hunt/