NBA Chat With Lang Greene 8/30/11

1. AJ

   What do you think of trades to make Orlando better?

   ORL: Jefferson, Bell. Utah: Redick, Orton, Greene, 2nd round pick (SAC)SAC: Nelson

   ORL: Calderon, Johnson, Barbosa. TOR: Bass, Nelson, exception.

   ORL: Odom, Blake. LA: Nelson, Bass

   • Lang Greene

     What’s up AJ?

     1. Won’t happen. No reason for Utah to trade Al Jefferson for Redick and Daniel Orton. Yikes!
     2. Toronto already has Ed Davis waiting in the wings at PF. Brandon Bass has sulked on the bench before. Not a good fit for a young group.
     3. Odom is too critical to the Lakers’ chances of winning another title before Kobe’s wheels fall off. I’m a big fan of Lamar’s versatility. Just can’t see LA biting for a slightly past it Jameer Nelson.

2. Mark

   Lang:
   I don’t think the Hawks can afford any of the FA centers. Are any available on the trading market aside from Kaman? I would take big Al Jefferson or even Robin Lopez at a cheaper price. I think the 2 Big Al’s would play well together.

   • Lang Greene

     If the Hawks get a strong center to play alongside Al Horford, I truly believe Al has the talent to be a borderline 20/10 performer.

     My biggest issue with Al is he has to get more aggressive offensively. His lack of aggression in the Hawks’ offense is disappointing at times. There is no reason why he should ever be fourth in shot attempts on that roster on a consistent basis. It’s either shaky coaching or Al’s own unselfishness.

     If I’m Larry Drew, I take those 2.5 three-point attempts per game away from Josh Smith and give them to Al. Period.

     The Hawks are over the salary cap as we currently know it. I wouldn’t expect anything in free agency. Neither Samuel Dalembert or Tyson Chandler is going to take short money to ball in ATL. Set your sights on Kwame Brown and guys in the same level.

3. Charlie

   If you were starting a team from scratch, who do you choose: Greg Monroe or James Harden

   • Lang Greene

     What’s up Hoop Freaks? I put some steaks on the grill earlier today and fed the family … now it’s time to bang out this chat. I’m feeling real good tonight, so I hope you all are on your “A” games! Let’s have some fun. Let’s get it … let’s go …

     Charlie – I know my teammate Susan Bible may disagree on this (#shout to SB), but I have to go with Greg Monroe. I’ve been following him since high school and while I don’t think he’s the next Hakeem Olajuwon or anything the old adage of taking a good big man over the good little man holds true in this instance … especially with how week the center position is in the NBA right now.

4. Charlie

   What ever happened to Earl Clark. Buddy was a lottery pick only a few years ago but is buried on the bench of a mediocre Suns team. How do you project Earl as a pro?

   • Lang Greene

     Earl Clark has signed a contract to play with Zhejiang Guangsha of the Chinese Basketball Association. He’ll be joined by Wilson Chandler who just announced he’s taking his game overseas.

     Earl has talent, but he has to find a niche to stay around the league for awhile. I believe he started to find a groove as a defensive specialist in Orlando under Stan Van Gundy. He needs to keep building on that rep because he has the size to guard SG’s and SF’s.

     If I had Earl’s ear I’d tell him to plop in a tape of Raja Bell or Bruce Bowen. Both of those guys branded themselves as great defenders through hard work and then they got the opportunity to jack up jumpers.

     Shout out to Rahway, NJ … Earl used to put a hurtin on some guys who graduated from my old high school back in the day.

5. aaron

   can you explain to me how dirk beats wade and lebron and yet is somehow worse than him? race-related, much?

   • Lang Greene

     Come on Aaron … professional sports is one of the only areas in life where “race” isn’t a big issue. If you can ball … you get respect. If you can’t then you won’t get any. I hear more folks cracking jokes on Hasheem Thabeet and Kwame Brown nowadays than Brian Cardinal or Luke Harangody …

     See I have a philosophy where I don’t try to rationalize with crazy folks … meaning if a man tells me Dirk Nowitzki is a scrub … I don’t even bother to discuss the topic. I know what I see when I look at Dirk and I see a prime time truth machine. He takes guys snacks and lunch money every night each year. Anyone saying he isn’t one of the best in the game today is a fool.

     But that leads me to my last point. Someone saying Dirk has ZERO game is totally different than someone laying out a solid opinion on why they believe D-Wade and/or LeBron is better. You can make an argument that those guys are better. than Dirk. And that my man has nothing to do with race.

6. Pat Riley

   1. Who would u want leading your team the next 5 years? Wade, LeBron, Kobe, Dirk, Durant, DRose, Dwight, or Griffin? (rank them 1-8)
   2. What team will win the most titles in the next 10 years?
   3. Would u trade Wade or LeBron for Dwight if u were me?

   • Lang Greene

     Last question of the night family. Good stuff. Still getting used to the new system, so thanks for hanging out with the big man.

     Pat … special shout to you for your patience. You ask me a real tough question man … Everyone knows I’m rolling with Kobe all day every day and twice on Tuesdays if it was just one season … but five years? Man, Kobe would be 38 … so based on that he’s going to be placed low.

     8. Dirk Nowitzki (5 year plan … age is the only reason he gets slotted here)
     7. Kobe (same … comes down to age)
     6. D-Wade (age and past injury woes concern me over the next five)
     5. Blake Griffin (the kid can ball, but he’s still unproven … how will he respond when teams take away his dunking)
     T3. D-Rose (love this kid)
     T3. Durant (love this kid)
     2. Dwight Howard (dominant force on both offense and defense)
     1. LeBron James (arguably the best player on the planet today … next five years will be his prime)

     2). Ten years is a lot to predict with draft, injury, free agency, trades … as teams are currently constructed … I say HEAT.

     3). I’d trade D-Wade for Dwight Howard no question.

     LeBron … not so sure. Probably wouldn’t. He’s already appeared in two finals and took a team to the finals on his back at the age of 22. Jordan, Malone, Dominique, Barkley, David Robinson, Patrick Ewing, Clyde Drexler and Isiah Thomas didn’t pull that off. I give credit where its due.

7. aditya

   how’s it going lang? if dwight does decide to leave orlando, what are the top 3 destinations orlando can send him for a somewhat decent return?

   • Lang Greene

     I can give you two when it comes to realistic trade options.

     1. Chicago (Noah, Deng, Gibson)
     2. Lakers (Gasol or Bynum, Odom)
     .

8. Robby Davis

   What was the problem with Mike Miller this past year? He didnt seem like the player that had won a 6th man award, or even the one that played for the US Olympic team. Hes making a lot of money doing a whole lot of nothing

   • Lang Greene

     Robby did you watch any ball this year or are you just going to basketball-reference and looking at stats? Mike had an awful hand injury to start the season. You just can’t walk back in the lineup and put up 15 per night. I’ve had shooters tell me that a sore fingertip on their shooting hand is enough to throw off their rhythm at times. Basketball is a game of inches.

     I think you’ll see a better Mike Miller when play resumes, but nothing like his sixth man of the year old self. He’s on the decline my man. The wrong side of the proverbial bell curve.

9. marc

   did chicago miss their starting 2 last year in wes matthews?i liked him when he was in utah..he can shoot and defend

   • Lang Greene

     Pretty easy for us all to play Monday Morning Point Guard … but I think Chicago made the right efforts last summer.

     The Bulls were ready to offer Joe Johnson a lucrative package, but Atlanta overpaid and retained him. The Bulls then turned their efforts to JJ Redick, but the Magic decided to surprisingly overpay to retain him (after factoring in luxury tax hit).

     The Korver / Brewer connection wasn’t a bad decision. One plays stellar defense, the other is an excellent shooter. I liked the moves at the time.

     Matthews seems like the real deal. I see a bright future ahead for that kid.

10. Steve

    Lang,
    Seems like Josh Smith has really developed into the dynamic, exciting and valuable player Atlanta might have hoped. Now, better suited as a 4 than 3. Why not trade Horford and keep Smith?

    • Lang Greene

      Right around the trade deadline it is widely believed everyone on the Hawks’ roster was available for the right price. While you make an interesting point … you have to trade Smith if the choice came down to those two.

      See, Smith has All-Star “potential” … Horford has two All-Star “appearances.”

      See, Horford is arguably top 5 at his position (center). While Josh barely makes the top 10 power forward list.

      Wish they found a way to keep both and address the need at small forward.

11. Jake

    I remember that old magazine cover of OJ MAyo, saying something like “The Next Lebron,” what went wrong? He always seemed down to earth yet everyone keeps talking about “problems in his head”

    • Lang Greene

      We all learn about someone’s character when adversity strikes. That’s why I’m so ready to see how LeBron comes back after losing in the finals … and being totally ineffective late in the series. Will he deliver … will he continue to fade?

      That’s why I absolutely love Dirk’s redemption quest. Everyone basically stuck a fork in him once D-Wade and the HEAT laid the smackdown and then when Golden State ran roughshod over the Mavs in the first round … everyone thought the book was complete. But he proved everyone wrong by winning the title without a true “Robin.”

      Adversity builds character. Pressure burst pipes.

      Now with OJ … it’s all mental. He has game. I wouldn’t say he has LeBron game … but he should be an All-Star one day. But when coach Hollins took his starting spot from him … Mayo basically went AWOL for awhile. He withered. I said this in the past … no offense to Sam Young and Tony Allen, but no way those guys should be starting over Mayo. If Mayo doesn’t emerge as starter in training camp versus those two guys … I think we’ll be able to conclude something isn’t clicking mentally.

12. Cain

    How would Granger for Millsap + Filler/pick not benefit both teams?

    • Lang Greene

      My man Cain … I see where you’re going with this … but Millsap is a level slightly below Danny Granger. ROy HIbbert needs a dance partner beside him in the lineup, but I don’t think Millsap is that dude to push your Pacers to the next level. I’d roll with Danny over Millsap.

      Now Josh Smith for Granger … hmmmm

13. Jake

    I keep hearing from writers that Al Jefferson can pile on the stats but “isn’t a winner.” How early can you determine if a player is a winner, and do you think he can ever shake this image? It’s crazy that he can’t get love in such a center-deprived league

    • Lang Greene

      Al is starting to get a bad rap. No one was really chirping about it … but its starting to become hard to keep making excuses for why his teams always underachieve.

      Of course he can shake it off. Look at Jamal Crawford. Before coming to Atlanta I don’t Jamal was ever on a pro team that won over 32 games in a season. Gets in the right environment … all of a sudden … Sixth man and playoff appearances … heading for a decent payday to end his career

14. Pat Riley

    Can u plz answer my q? I’ve been sitting here for an hour

    • Lang Greene

      Pat … I’m working on it … it’s pretty detailed. Will be my last answer for the night. Hold tight.

15. john

    Do u think Brooks would be a good choice for the Lakers at point?

    • Lang Greene

      No. The Lakers need a true ball distributor. Aaron is a shoot-first PG. I don’t see that working as long as Kobe is still playing at an elite level.