NBA Chat With Lang Greene 9/13/11

1. Charlie

   Hoopsworld doesn’t list Lebron James amongst its 7 MVP candidates. This is such a gross oversite I can only assume it was done purposefully to spark debate during this lull (especially considering how many people scrutinized last week’s poll). MVP is based on regular season results and looking at Lebron’s stat line over the past few seasons, no one can argue he is not at least in the discussion. Is Bill Ingram rubbing off that badly or did the editor drop the ball that badly?

   • Lang Greene

     Hey man, I’m quite there’s a valid reason LeBron wasn’t included. I believe Jason Fleming handles the polls so make sure you ask him … he hosts a weekly chat as well. No one on HOOPSWORLD’s staff hides from their content. No one is hiding. Ask and he’ll give it to you straight.

     On to my opinion … If you include Blake Griffin … then you include LeBron. No question. I’m guessing that D-Wade was included as the HEAT representative since most believe he was HEAT’s team MVP last season.

     But here’s my deal, the only MVP LeBron fans should be concerned about him hoisting at this point is … Finals M-V-P

2. Kevin in Tokyo

   If you are Danny Ainge what is on your to-do list when the lockout ends? Who does Boston need to win the east? Also do A.Bradley, JuanJohn, and E-Mo get significant minutes?

   • Lang Greene

     Boston needs a guy like Samuel Dalembert to take short money and bang inside for them. You can’t trust Jermaine O’Neal to stay healthy and give you 28-30 minutes per night at this point. Period.

     I don’t see the rookies getting significant time … there’s a change E-Mo might not make the team.

     I think Bradley can get a rotation spot. 10-12 minutes per night. Jeff Teague type minutes. Nothing crazy.

3. Kyle

   Hey Lang, if LAC gets Danny Granger, IND gets Josh Smith, and ATL gets Chris Kaman, who wins and who loses?

   • Lang Greene

     The Clippers would be the unquestioned winner. I think ATL gets the short end of this deal … slightly.

4. rubs93

   2 pros 2 cons for M.Redd as the Bulls starting SG next season

   • Lang Greene

     Pros
     1. Proven Scorer
     2. Excellent shooter

     Cons
     1. Durability
     2. Athleticism robbed by past injuries

5. Jimmy

   Who would be your “for the love of the game” starting lineup of today’s players? If you had to create one team to showcase NBA basketball for someone brand new to the sport what lineup would you make to help them love the game.

   • Lang Greene

     What’s up Jimmy? Good question. Twelve man team below. Nash and Kidd are past it physically but if you’re showcasing the game … they have to be included because they do everything right. Of course you need Kobe, but Manu gives you a little international feel and he’s tough as nails.

     Durant, Melo and LBJ at small forward.

     Dirk and Blake give me an awesome inside outside mix at PF.

     Dwight Howard is the most dominant force in the game today. Bogut is underrated and I love his defense.

     PG: Chris Paul, Steve Nash, Jason Kidd
     SG: Kobe Bryant, Manu Ginobili
     SF: Kevin Durant, Carmelo Anthony, LeBron James
     PF: Dirk Nowitzki, Blake Griffin,
     C: Dwight Howard, Andrew Bogut

6. Trevor

   Oh and lookiong back on it now would a deal centered around Gortat/Bass for JSmith have worked?

   • Lang Greene

     Would have been interesting for sure.

7. Ruben

   hey Lang how are you today? Do you think the Rockets will have enough cap space to make an intiguing offer to Marc Gasol?

   • Lang Greene

     Who knows how the new CBA / salary cap will look … but as it stands today I could see the Rockets offering a $10m per season deal to Marc Gasol. I mean, Houston has been desperately trying to fill their center void since Yao’s future became doomed.

     The problem is, the Grizzlies can match any offer … and $10m per season won’t be enough to stop them from matching the dough.

8. Joe

   When are you guys going to fix the android app

   • Lang Greene

     Joe … I’m still waiting on the crew to push out a BlackBerry app so I can join the fun. So lucky you … an update is on the way for Droid … hold tight bro.

9. jj

   Should Lakers get grant hill

   • Lang Greene

     I’ve touched on this in the past … the Lakers have enough “veteran legs” and “veteran leadership” … what they don’t have is speed and athleticism. Now, Grant is always in phenomenal shape but he’s not what the Lakers “need”

     Stacking veterans are cool but take a look at the Celtics last season and what they went through with Shaq and Jermaine O’Neal. An 82 game season is a long road to haul and injuries … especially to the league’s elders are the norm not the exception.

10. Mark

    Lang: Give us something with the Hawks. I don’t know how this would even be discussed, but Josh Smith for Rudy Gay?

    • Lang Greene

      Things are pretty quiet on the Hawks front. There was the early summer rumors that Josh Smith may be unhappy here in ATL … which quickly died down. Marvin Williams had back surgery and should be a lot more fluid this season. He was really laboring down the stretch. Josh Powell reportedly signed overseas which wasn’t a big shock considering some stuff behind the scenes. Damien Wilkins told me earlier this summer on Twitter he hopes to return to the Hawks next season. Al Horford was playing with the Dominican team this summer and busting up former UK players at Rupp arena. The A-Town dancers still had tryouts despite lockout … and somehow I wasn’t invited to be a judge for the final cut. Lol. Zaza almost signed overseas w/ Besiktas (same team Deron Williams)

11. Mark

    Lang: Are the Hawks just better off keeping Josh Smith and spending the money Crawford would make elsewhere????

    Thanks!

    • Lang Greene

      Hey Mark… what have you been up to? If the Hawks do absolutely nothing to their core and stay injury free they’ll be a playoff team for the next 3-4 years guaranteed. If they’re truly trying to take it to the next level and pursue championships then they have to make a deal. Josh Smith is the likely choice because no one is going to touch Joe Johnson’s contract and Al Horford is just too good to deal.

      Jeff Teague is the wild card. If Teague can put together a Jrue Holiday or Darren Collison type of season all of the trade Josh Smith talk will cease. But you know how it goes when starting sentences with “IF” …

      Now to your question fully, the Hawks simply can’t use the money they can spend on Jamal Crawford. Unless the rule changes with the new CBA, teams can only go over the salary cap for their players. Since the Hawks would be in an unfavorable position to the cap they have a simple choice … pay JC or let him and his talent walk without getting anyone in free agency close to his skill level.

12. Aaron

    did dirk have the greatest postseason run of all time?

    • Lang Greene

      Negative. I don’t think Dirk’s performance was the greatest of all-time, but I truly believe his dominance in the playoffs is enough to enter him in the discussion. For example, you can start your sentence by saying “Dirk arguably had one of the best postseasons of all-time” without much argument from anyone.

      Personally, Michael Jordan in 92 and 93 was an absolute terror in my opinion. His numbers were insane.

13. Ivin V

    Hi. I am a huge Knicks fan and I love how turiaf plays but couldn’t we trade him, shelden Williams and a 2nd round pick for deandre Jordan? He’s young and I think he could excel. And what are your thoughts on getting cp3? He’s one of my favorite players; another player is Wilson Chandler, is there anyway we can get him and gallonari back?

    • Lang Greene

      Ivin I hope you’ve been a good boy this year because your Christmas list is stacked.

      1. The Clippers would be fools to trade DeAndre Jordan for Turiaf, Shelden Williams and a second round pick. I’m not saying DeAndre is the goodie monster or anything, but those guys are / will be career role players.

      2. CP3 could be a possibility but a new labor deal put an end to that dream

      3. No way you’re getting Wilson Chandler AND Gallo back. No way in the world. Chandler has expressed an interest in possibly rejoining the team though

14. devonte wilson

    assuming your at the impact basketball league, what are some things iman shumpert did that wowed you and what did you think he could work on?

    • Lang Greene

      Devonte … hit up Alex Kennedy and/or Steve Kyler. They got to see Iman putting in work up close. They’ll have the scoop.

15. kevin

    what should the cavs do with ramon sessions ,antwaun jamison, & baron davis??????

    • Lang Greene

      Keep, trade and try to trade (but keep for now).

      Sessions is a decent starter in a pinch but would be a great backup kind of guy. Keep him.

      I’d like to see Antawn competing in the playoffs ending his career and not withering away in a rebuilding project. The fact he’ll be in the last year of his deal may work favorably for him getting an address change depending on the new CBA.

      No one is going to go near Davis’ contract … especially this season. Might as well let the veteran pad some stats while Kyrie Irving adjusts to the NBA game.

16. Fan from 2008

    B-Roy or Arenas? Who had had the best career up to this point, and who will end up with the best career? Will either come close to 100%

    • Lang Greene

      Giving the nod to Arenas having the better career up until this point. From 2004-07 Arenas was a certified beast. Love B-Roy but he wasn’t busting guys up like that. Heck, I remember Arenas marching into the Staples Center and dropping 60 on Kobe and the Lakers. Don’t believe me? Check this link

17. JD

    Now that Rudy Ferandez has decided to play overseas when his contract ends do you think the MAVS will regret trading away Jordan Hamilton?

    • Lang Greene

      Possibly. But if they repeat as champions … and Rudy plays a strong role in the repeat … then it was well worth it. With me?

      It’s about winning NOW for Dallas … not later. Dirk won’t be this dominant for much longer. Jordan could be a good player in time, but if you can grab a title now … you just have to do it. As of now, I say no regrets.

18. Tony S

    I’m a huge OKC fan. Two questions.

    1. Do you think Westbrook can play alongside Durant and grow to be a 1-2 punch or do you think he needs a team which depends on him more offensively?

    2. What do you think is missing for OKC to win a Championship?

    • Lang Greene

      Tony .. welcome to the chat my man.

      1. Yes. I totally think Durant and Westbrook can co-exist. Here’s my thought on why the “rift” between them has been perpetuated throughout the media. A lot of the media guys … popular media guys with national talk shows … don’t watch the regular season faithfully like the fans and local beat guys. So when playoff time comes they see Westbrook shooting a lot and Durant not getting the ball and they deem something must be done and blah blah blah. They head into the locker room and interview to work their angle.

      But if you ask HOOPSWORLD’s Susan Bible I’m quite sure she’d agree with me … there were PLENTY of games this season where Westbrook took those kind of shots. There was no rift then … and I don’t buy / won’t buy that there would be a future rift between them … unless they fall victim to the media propaganda.

      2. All the pieces are there man … the team just needs to mature, gain experience and perfect their team chemistry. Everything is there for them right now. I say 2 seasons away.