NBA Chat with Stephen Litel 3/20/2012

1. calvinzero

   What do you think is the reason why Orlando Magic is struggling after the Dwight Howard issue “temporarily relieved”? Is it only because of the upcoming playoffs? THANKS HOOPSWORLD

   • Stephen Litel

     What’s up, everyone? Good to see many great questions in the que, so I’m gonna jump right in. As always, if I don’t get to yours, hit me up on Twitter @stephenlitel.

     Hi calvinzero,

     I think the Magic just relaxed a little bit after the stress of the past week, months, year, etc. They are still one of the better teams in the East and should be fine. You would imagine that they should wake up this lull after having their tails handed to them by the Bulls last night.

2. Rockets Fan On Strike till Morey is Fired.

   What the little spat between Barrea and Rubio about in Sactown? Cousins was a beast in that game. What will happen to B Ezy this summer?

   • Stephen Litel

     This has been a topic of discussion in Timberwolves-land the past few days and, yes, there was a “little spat” between Love (not Rubio) and Barea. This kind of thing happens in NBA huddles more than you see, so I’m not quite ready to make it into something it might not be. However, it was interesting that there were a few similar things during last night’s game against the Warriors.

3. Aristotle

   Hey Stephen,

   How’s this trade sound…

   Joe Johnson to Chicago (Bulls get their SG)
   Noah, Gibson, R. Brewer to Atlanta.
   Josh Smith for Rondo, since Celtics apparently wanted Gasol for Rondo.

   What do you think?

   • Stephen Litel

     Hi Aristotle,

     I think this is an absolutely horrible trade for the Bulls and they would pass on it instantly if offered to them.

4. Tony

   It doesn’t look like Foster is going to get healthy enough to play this season (or maybe ever again). Do the Pacers have any interest in Turiaf?

   • Stephen Litel

     Hi Tony,

     I haven’t heard anything today of the Pacers having interest in Turiaf. He could fit a need if the price was right. I’ll look into it and let you know.

5. Radu

   Hi Steven,
   If the rankings stay about the same as they are now, I just realized that the Denver Nuggets will be one of only 2 teams to make the playoffs in each of the past 9 seasons (you can probably guess the other one)
   However, now with Nene gone and Andre Miller leaving at the end of the season, the team will be without any of the trademark players that were key to this 9 year run.
   What is the best case scenario for the Nuggets over the following season and a half, now that they seem to have filled out their new generation of players?

   • Stephen Litel

     Hi Radu,

     The Nuggets are moving in the right direction. They have a lot of young pieces with a lot of promise and just need to continue the course they are on.

6. Stantonia

   Life time Laker fan here but bhought it was suppose to be illegal to do what D. Fisher did with Houston by refusing to report. It’s obvious what he was doing (pouting). NBA needs to suspend pay and make player ineligible to play with any team for duration of contract. How unprofessional! I really expected more out of D. Fish.

   • Stephen Litel

     Hi Stantonia,

     The Rockets didn’t have to make the trade. They knew what they were getting into when they pulled the trigger, so they obviously got what they wanted out of the deal.

7. Rudy Quismorio

   Is kevin gonna get a 30 / 15 next season ?

   • Stephen Litel

     Hi Rudy,

     I’m assuming you’re referring to Kevin Love? Are you asking if he’ll do it once? Yes…he’ll do it way more than once. Those kind of stats from Love are becoming commonplace.

8. EJBusch

   Was the moment last night with the Warriors’ fans and the owners the most awkward moment the Wolves have ever been a part of? It may not have been more awkward than Dick Bavetta and Chuck, but it had to be up there.

   • Stephen Litel

     Hi EJ,

     Without thinking too hard, I’d assume the Wolves have been “involved” in more awkward moments…ones that actually were of their concern. What an interesting evening, huh?

9. EJBusch

   Since there weren’t any moves made at the deadline for the Wolves, do you see a bigger look towards free agency now?

   If I understand correctly, the Wolves can deny the options on Beasley, Webster, Miller, and Randolph, amnesty Darko, and only be at about $43.5 million, while keeping the main players intact. Is that good enough to go after Eric Gordon, or someone on that level? Could we keep Beasley and still go after someone else?

   • Stephen Litel

     As far as I understand it, they would be able to keep Beasley AND go after someone else…maybe Eric Gordon, if that’s who they target…but I will double-check on that. The Timberwolves have done a great job in the past few years of signing guys to pretty reasonable salaries, so they should have room to do some work.

10. FocusLJA

    Any news or rumors about where Terrence Williams will end up after being bought out by the Rockets?

    • Stephen Litel

      Hi FocusLJA,

      Haven’t heard much. Don’t know if there have been other stories I’ve been focusing on or if not many teams are discussing Williams as an option.

11. The JOkeShow

    With all this dHoward talk about him teaming up with Josh Smith and Monta or whoever in Orlando after next season, does it make sense since Howard wants to be more of a focal point in the offense, 3 ball hogs doesn’t help.

    • Stephen Litel

      Hi The JOkeShow,

      Orlando is going to do whatever they can to keep Howard there. If he wants one or both of these players, they will do what they can to make it happen. Whether or not it makes sense? We’ll see. Ellis is a good player offensively and may be the outside help Howard needs, but I would not consider Josh Smith a ballhog by any means.

12. Glen

    What separates Thunder from the ring? Id say a back up big that can score and have a bench impact something like Kmart for the Clippers,right?

    • Stephen Litel

      Hi Glen,

      I wouldn’t want KMart anywhere near the Thunder if I were in management there. If the Derek Fisher reports are accurate, he would fit in well if he can accept his role off the bench in limited minutes.

      In short, my answer is one word: time.

13. force23

    If D.Williams go to Dallas.do you think D.Howard go in 2013?

    • Stephen Litel

      Hi force23,

      No, I don’t.

14. Dave

    I’m sick and tired of people saying Jordan, Magic and Kareem are the best players to ever play the game. THEY ARE WRONG! It has to be Oscar Robertson.. He’s won a NBA championship. In his best season he put up 31 ppg 11 assist and 10 reb.. That’s a triple double a game for a POINT GUARD who didn’t even have the size as lets just say MAGIC.

    • Stephen Litel

      Hi Dave,

      It’s always an interesting conversation to determine who the best is at anything. To me, it’s pretty much a conversation that has no point.

      Jordan was the best all-around player who DOMINATED for a long time. Magic was the best point guard ever because of his skills AND the amount of games and championships his team’s won. Kareem was one of the best centers of all-time because of his staying power, his ridiculous ability and most un-guardable shot ever.

      Oscar was, without question, the real deal and should ALWAYS be a part of any “best ever” conversation. If the people you have the conversation with don’t add him into the mix, they don’t know basketball and you should help educate them.

15. Chris

    Hi Stephen. Is the COY award Thibodeau’s to lose? Fastest coach to 100 wins, best record AGAIN for most of the season despite an array of key injuries, and his team beats the Heat and the Magic with John Lucas logging the most minutes at PG.

    • Stephen Litel

      Hi Chris,

      Without question, he’s one of the front-runners. As of today, I would personally give him the award for the exact reasons you mentioned. Of course, the award is for the entire season, so ask me again when the regular season is winding down.

16. Cynical Jason

    Hey, Stephen!
    Just how serious is Pek’s ankle injury? It keeps returning, and as much as it would hurt the team, it seems to me it would benefit him to sit for a while.

    • Stephen Litel

      Hi Cynical Jason,

      I haven’t received any official word from the Wolves that it’s anything too serious at this point. Apparently, it’s bad enough to keep him from playing some though, obviously. Pek is a tough dude (understatement of the year), so if it’s keeping him out of games, there must be something going on there.

      Don’t get me wrong though…I’m not saying it’s something major. He may just need a few more games off before a string of home games to end the year.

17. blazer fan

    with the pick portland aquired from new jersey and our pick and maybe batum u think we coulc pry away ray allen and rondo

    • Stephen Litel

      Hi blazer fan,

      It might be enough, if that’s what the Blazers want to do…but I can’t imagine why they’d want to go that route after everything that happened at the deadline.

18. The Quartermaster

    The Wolves need help on the wing. Assuming DWill develops into a 3 (not a far-fetched notion), how do the Wolves address this in the offseason? FA? Trade to get back into draft?

    • Stephen Litel

      Hi The Quartermaster,

      I believe the Wolves will give the small forward spot to Williams exclusively next season, whether he’s ready or not. That’s what they want from him, so you’re right to believe they will need to address the SG spot. As of now, I’m not seeing how they would be able to trade back into the draft, so it would have to be the FA route.

19. Gabriel Gonzalez

    With the Heat not really zeroing in on a center.. how do you see there season playing out without a legit center? and do you see Coach spo using E. Curry more?

    • Stephen Litel

      Hi Gabriel,

      I see their season playing out exactly as it has to this point. The HEAT have been fine without a “center” to this point and there aren’t many true centers in the league anyway.

20. Joseph

    If the Pacers play the 76ers in the first round of the playoffs, do you think the pacers will win the series?

    • Stephen Litel

      Hi Joseph,

      As of today, I’d pick the Sixers to take out the Pacers in a series, no matter which team has homecourt advantage. I love Philly’s style of play and think they’d run the Pacers out of the gym.

21. Drew

    Who gets 7-8 seeds? Denver, Houston, Minny, Utah or Suns

    • Stephen Litel

      Hi Drew,

      This is a GREAT question…and one I will be happy to answer in my article of which Western Conference teams will make the playoffs. It goes up tomorrow, so be on the lookout for it. (Shameless plug.)

22. Nick

    If the Wolves fall out of the playoff picture, what do you see as the best goal for this team for the rest of the season? Finish above .500? Player development? Get some more big time wins? Play spoiler to playoff teams?

    • Stephen Litel

      Hi Nick,

      Of course, the Timberwolves are going to do all they can to stay in the playoff picture, but if they do fall out of it, I go with player/team development. As they’ve done all season, the coaching staff and front office are evaluating everyone to make decisions on each player. Now that the Wolves gave some hope this season, the heat is on the front office to bring in more help to make next season even more exciting for Timberwolves fans.

23. Drew

    For Wolves do you go for Mayo or Lee and what do you offer knowing they are RFA

    • Stephen Litel

      Hi Drew,

      Of the two, I go for Lee. He would cost less money, he’s a better defender and I believe he’d be more willing to accept the role he would be asked to play in Minnesota.

24. Jacob

    T-Wolves showed last night that other players can fill Rubio’s shoes in different ways (D-Will 11 boards, Tolliver double-digit scoring)… anyway, what do you think they have to do to make the playoffs, if you think they can at all?

    • Stephen Litel

      Hi Jacob,

      They have to get on the same page with each player doing what is best for the team, not for himself. They don’t need “hero” plays…they need a team still running the system Coach Adelman has put into place. Sure, it’s much more difficult without Rubio, but each player on the roster needs to remind himself of what he can/cannot do on the basketball court and how to bring his strengths to the table to help the team.

25. Sam

    What do you think of Andre Drummond? He seems to have Dwight Howard potential

    • Stephen Litel

      OK, everyone…gotta cut out a bit early tonight. Will stay extra time next week to make it up. As always, hit me up on Twitter @stephenlitel.

      Hi Sam,

      Yeah, relax there just a tad. Andre Drummond sure looks like he’ll be more than solid in the NBA, but comparing him to one of the all-time great defenders at this point is a little early. If that’s his goal, more power to him…but he’s not there yet.

      OK, thanks for the great questions, everyone! See you next week!