NBA Chat With Susan Bible 1/12/13

Please join Susan Bible for her NBA Chat this Saturday at 11:00 am EST.   Susan is a Newlines Editor and a member of the fantasy team at HOOPSWORLD.  She covers the Oklahoma City Thunder and the NBA at large

  1. Deven

    Will you be marking your calendar for the OKC-Sonics game next season?

    • Susan Bible

      Good morning, NBA fans, and welcome to the Chat!

      I make it a habit to watch every game that features the Thunder, so if they are playing, yes.

  2. Angaso

    Do you think the Thunder could’ve beaten the Heat if Harden played like the way he did against the Spurs?! Plus, Miller & Battier just shooting at their average percentage entering NBA Finals?! Thanks!

    • Susan Bible

      That would seem to be a strong possibility. Everything aligned perfectly in that series in Miami’s favor after that first game. They stepped it up and the Thunder recoiled.

  3. T-Mac

    I’ve read an article that T-Mac could attempt an NBA comeback by February 17, do you think an NBA Team would be interested to sign him if in case?! If so, what team do you think would need the services of the former superstar? Thanks!

    • Susan Bible

      McGrady is playing in China now for the Qingdao Double Star Eagles (with a CBA-worst 3-17 record); he signed there when he failed to get a deal here. He would still jump at the chance, but I’m not sure what’s changed since a few months ago as far as any team taking a chance. He’s putting up numbers on his new team, but his shooting percentages are a killer – 57 percent FG% and 27.8 percent in threes.

  4. Spur

    Do you think the Spurs should take a risk at signing Greg Oden if ever he returns? He could be real good under Coach Pop. Thanks!

    • Susan Bible

      That is quite a risk, Pop or otherwise, but for the right, i.e. low, price – why not? His injury history is a downright shame. Drafted the same year as Kevin Durant in 2007, Oden has played in 82 games vs. Durant’s 415 games. Learning from one of the best would benefit anyone.

  5. LA in LA

    Hey Susan idk if you listen to The Basketball Jones podcast but they recommended that of the Kings move to Seattle that they be called “Super Kings”.
    I think that would be awesome, especially since the Thunder took their history. Might as well take the Kings and unless the Thunder will give it back.
    But even then I would still love the nickname SuperKings

    It would also be cool if their was a jersey that was a mix of Seattle and the Kings colors (green, yellow and purple) but that might look too much like the Pelican’s Mardi Gras jersey.

    • Susan Bible

      I have to correct you. Under the terms of the relocation/settlement, the Thunder has a “shared” history with Seattle; it’s not a matter of whether or not they would “give it back”. All the banners, retired jerseys, etc. were never installed at the OKC arena, and should Seattle get a new team, the logo and name (which were not used) would be Seattle’s. The “SuperKings” has a nice ring, but I would feel for Sacramento fans just as I did Sonics fans.

      What particularly interests me is how the division would be affected, if at all. Clearly Oklahoma City is not in the northwest part of the U.S.
      That color mix would look too Hornets’ Mardi-Gras-ish. How about just purple and green? Those happen to be my favorite colors :)

  6. Allen

    The Harden deal was painful but I understand why it was done and give Presti a lot of credit for getting what he did. Martin is a flat out scorer and can account for the points Harden brought to the team. However, I am concerned about how the loss of Harden’s playmaking, passing, and energy/aggression will impact OKC in the playoffs. What are your thoughts? I think Jackson has developed very nicely as a player; I’m not sure he’s ready to lead the second unit in the playoffs. I certainly miss what we’ve seen Maynor capable of in the past. Harden was able to essentially play point guard in the past. When defenses get really focused in the playoffs, who is going to step up for this team when Durant and Westbrook are out of the game? Thanks for listening to my run-on thoughts. What are your concerns for this team when they enter the playoffs? Go Thunder!!!!

    • Susan Bible

      Agreed. Presti had to pull that deal; he was just unable to get anything done with Harden after trying for months. Acquiring Martin was a solid move. You make a valid point about the playoffs, but even as constructed, I think they’ll be fine with Durant expanding his game – playing all five positions, including PG at times, with a career-high 4.3 assists right now – Ibaka’s offensive improvement (which has just been awesome), Sefolosha’s career-high three-point shooting (1.3) and FG% (.478), Westbrook is passing more (averaging 8.5 assists vs. 5.5 last year and career-high 1.5 in threes and 2.1 steals), Jackson’s confidence and growth and the possibility Maynor may be better by April. I like that Liggins is getting playing time lately with his defensive prowess. Say what you will about Perkins, but he’s critical defensively. We’re witnessing the beauty of chemistry, the importance of how long the guys have been playing/growing together and how well Martin has fit into the system.

      All that said, I’m worried about the bench, and I wouldn’t at all be surprised if they pulled off a trade to address the backup PG situation.

  7. LSO

    In response to your column question of 12.29.12 “Has Jackson supp0lanted Maynor?” – Apparently so – huh? How much longer is Maynor under contract? Will he leave? I read in today’s paper, “Yes, OKC should try to get JJ Berea.” Is that a possibility?

    • Susan Bible

      Maynor is in his final contract year paying him $2.3M, and OKC holds a $3.4M qualifying offer for 2013-14. Had that serious injury not happened last season, I believe they would have extended his contract over the summer. Instead they needed to see how he returned this year before committing, which turned out to be a wise decision since Maynor doesn’t appear to yet be at the same level, pre-injury. This has given Reggie Jackson a chance to show what he could do off the bench for Westbrook. He’s serviceable, but can he handle the pressure, and even thrive, in the playoffs? I’m not sure. I don’t have an inside track on Barea, but it wouldn’t surprise me if Presti pulled off something like that. It’s common knowledge that Barea usually smokes OKC. I saw that article you mentioned and it was more of a writer’s opinion of what made sense to him.

      In case you missed it – for the article LSO refers to, click here.

  8. LayHee

    At all Toronto Raptor home games, you can clearly hear one fan counting down the shotclock whenever it gets to 7 seconds on all Raps possessions. This way the home player knows when time is running out and does not necessarily have to look at the shot clock. Do you think there is a competitive advantage to this? And if so, why don’t more team use this strategy where every player understands he can give you a heads up to avoid costly 24 second violations. Or are players so intune to the shotclock already where this isn’t necessary. Your thoughts.

    • Susan Bible

      I’d have to say the latter. The ball-handlers are keenly aware of the shot clock and so are the guys sitting on the bench yelling at the guys on the floor. I’m sure you’ve been courtside — the amount of yelling, free advice, etc. players have to absorb is vast and they learn to tune in to what’s important.

  9. Wond'rin'

    A fun question: How are NBA mascots selected? Is there only one per team or is there a rotation? Do they ever come out from their cover? Even when just with the players? Or are they ever “with the players”?

    • Susan Bible

      The identities of the guys wearing mascot costumes are generally strictly top secret. For fans – especially the littlest ones – to see the real face behind the mask kind of ruins the effect. The guy who was “Squatch” (Marc Taylor, then 33, as verified in a 2008 Seattle Times article I just read) with the Seattle Sonics relocated to OKC and donned the “Rumble” costume. I heard a new guy took over a couple years back, and I’ve even heard two guys share Rumble duties.

      If memory serves, all NBA teams have mascots except for three: Lakers, Knicks and Clippers. A few teams have duo mascots. As far as getting the gig, it’s all I who you know. I wouldn’t think they hang with the players…but I don’t know!

  10. Deven

    Is the Lakers season more dramatic and more scrutinized than the Miami’s 2010-2011 season?

    • Susan Bible

      LeBron James answered that very question this week and he gave an emphatic “No”. I think he’s right.

  11. Jim in CyberSpace

    The Wizards and the LAL’s? Do they turn it off and on?

    Nick Collision might be the best deal in Basketball? What is he 3-4 million a year?

    He’d be a great coach…his transition from Harden to Martin has been almost transparent. The Man has high BB IQ. Rock Chalk Jayhawk. And I hate to say that as an OU fan.

    I hope he never plays for Another team.

    • Susan Bible

      I’m with you on Collison – he can stay as long as he wants as far as I’m concerned. Presti crafted an interesting extension for Collison in 2010. First he got a $6.5M signing bonus which paid him a total $13.3M for 2010-11, then $3.3 in 2011-12, $2.9M in 2012-13, $2.6M in 2013-14 and $2.2M in 2014-15. It was a clever use of the then-salary cap. He’s talked about coaching when his career ends. I worried how the transition from Harden to Martin would work; that worry was unfounded.

      As for the Wizards and Lakers – I wouldn’t say they turn it on and off. They get up differently for different teams. OKC overlooked the Wizards a couple games ago, who had guys who don’t play regular minutes, and they came to play. Teams want to take down the defending Western Conference champs.

  12. Brendan Gibson

    What’s the most recent longest game in the Nba? How long was it? Who won? who was the star?

    • Susan Bible

      If my research is correct, the longest NBA game was played on January 6, 1951 between the Indianapolis Olympians and the Rochester Royals at 78 minutes and six overtimes. This was before the 24-second shot clock was implemented. Remarkably, the final score was 75-73, Olympians. Alex Groza and Ralph Beard were the leading scorers on the winning team with 17 apiece.

  13. Timo

    Hallo Susan. I´m a big fan of your chat from Germany.

    What do you think about Nik Vucevic can he becomme a Top 10 center in the NBA?

    • Susan Bible

      Thanks so much – glad to hear that. I’m a fan of Germany :) I’ll tell you this: I’m a die-hard fantasy basketball player, and I drafted Nikola Vucevic in October. In all honesty, I didn’t know much about him, but with Howard gone, I had a gut feeling record good numbers with good minutes. I have not been disappointed. He’s averaging 11.3 points, 10.9 rebounds (3.3 of those are offensive boards), 1.1 blocks, 1.6 assists and .504 FG% at 31.7 minutes. In the past four games – at 38.9 minutes – he averaged 14.5 ppg and 14.3 rpg. Seventeen double-doubles so far. I almost lost it when he logged 29 rebounds on New Year’s Eve. The 22-year-old needs to give attention to his offensive game to become elite, but I’d say he has an very impressive upside.

  14. Hallack

    Rondo for Westbrook.
    Makes a lot of sense for both sides.
    I know you love WB, but don’t you think Rondo would fit perfectly with KD and Ibaka? Also, his defense is better than WB’s.

    • Susan Bible

      I think Rondo is amazing. That trade won’t happen. Why would it? The Thunder have the best record in the league (tied with Clippers actually at 28-8). Westbrook can shoot the three better, he’s better at the foul line, he’s a better scorer, better steals, better rebounder, less turnovers…plus he has major chemistry. Makes no sense.

  15. L3tSirk

    if thunder don’t get the ring with westbrook as their pg this year, would they trade him?? i know he’s a great player but him always looking to score not PASSING.He also got short temper. CAN THEY TRADE FOR MIKE CONLEY AND MARC GASOL … RUSSEL WESTBROOK + Kendrick Perkins or Thabeet?

    • Susan Bible

      Not going to happen. He’s the point guard of this team and under contract for a good while. Have you seen his stats? You see he’s improving in getting others involved, right? He’s a passionate player, which is a good thing. They have many years to legitimately try for the ring; they won’t break it up anytime soon.

  16. lalo

    Hey Susan! How are things going now for James Harden? Are there regrets on his part? How about OKC…any regrets? Love your chats by the way!!!

    • Susan Bible

      Hi there and thank you! Harden got his chance to be “the man” and it’s working out well (his stats are unreal), although he lost his chance – an immediate one, anyway – of winning a title. Acquiring Kevin Martin was an awesome move by Presti…I’ve never seen a player smile so much and be so happy to have landed with a certain team. It definitely took some time, but no regrets on OKC’s side. For Harden? Not sure.

  17. Shabbir

    Hi Susan

    In your estimation, aside from this current Thunder team, which team in the past 20 years would you say is the best team not to win a championship? Mid 90s pacers? Stock/Mailman Jazz?

    • Susan Bible

      That’s a hard one, but I’d have to go with that Jazz team.

  18. dennis

    In your opinion who is the best left handed shooter right now in the league?

    • Susan Bible

      James Harden.

      I appreciate all the great questions this morning! See you next time…