NBA Chat With Susan Bible 1/14/12

Please join Susan Bible for her NBA Chat each 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.  Drop in your questions now.

  1. Eldad

    Does Presti regret trading Mullens? He is scoring from the inside now, just what OKC needs.

    • Susan Bible

      Welcome to the Chat! Let’s dive in…

      No way. Mullens is finally getting to score the way he’s wanted to…away from the basket. In Charlotte, he’s averaging 2.6 shots per game at 16-23 feet from the basket out of 5.5 attempted. At the rim, he’s averaging 2.4 out of 3.8. At 3’-15’ away, he’s doing virtually nothing. OKC has enough perimeter scorers; they needed the 7’1” player to build a post game and play defense, which he can’t especially do. There were no minutes behind Perk, Serge, Collision or Nazr (and soon, Aldrich), and that’s exactly what Presti told him just prior to the trade.

  2. LSO

    The loss of Eric Maynor is incalculable – yet it must be addressed by Thunder mgmt. How do you think Reggie Jackson will fill Maynor’s huge shoes? It’s gotta be daunting for this very young, very new player.

    • Susan Bible

      You would think it would be daunting, but Jackson is extremely comfortable in his new role. He’s one of the most confident rookies, if not the most confident, I’ve met in some time. You need to check out my article posted yesterday about Jackson: http://www.hoopsworld.com/reggie-jackson-answers-the-call I think he’s going to be just fine leading the second unit.

      On a personal note, I’m just sick about Maynor’s injury. To miss virtually the whole season has got to be devastating to him. Eric is among my favorites in the locker room, and I’m going to miss not talking to him tonight when I cover the Knicks/Thunder game…and all the following games as well.

  3. The JOkeShow

    Should the jazz start howard over hayward?

    • Susan Bible

      Corbin’s really happy with the way Howard’s leading the second unit, so it appears no change is imminent…although it may happen down the line. He’s been staying in with the starters at the end of games. He’s getting close to 100%, playing over 23 minutes – I say leave him coming off the bench for now.

  4. CJ

    And so it begins, Camby goes down and the Blazers injury streak looks to be in full effect once again this season. When will my Blazers ever break out of it :( ?

    • Susan Bible

      Friday the 13th was not especially kind to the Blazers…however, all is not lost. First, talks between Batum’s agent and the team did not yield an agreement. They do expect to meet again. Second, Marcus Camby rolled his ankle, but the x-rays were negative; he may not miss more than one game. And third, they lost to the Spurs, but there are still 55 games to go.

  5. Jazzaholic

    Easy schedule, playing teams without key players, at home, pushing the HATED Lakers into overtime.

    Where do you think this young Jazz team is headed?

    With a 13 man roster and a $10.9m TPE, what do you see KOC wanting to do?

    If you were KOC for a day, what would you do?

    Jazzaholic

    • Susan Bible

      Problems: 22nd in average points per game (92.3), 28th in both field goals made and attempted, 29th in both three-pointers made and attempted, 26th in free throw percentage, 27th in total rebounds, 29th in turnovers , 23rd in assists, 19th in margin of victory, 18th in steals, 16th in opponents points per game. Man, that’s a lot to overcome, especially when they are currently rated fourth in strength of schedule. So what should KOC do with this in-transition team? Find an identity, and be patient with all the youngsters…wait for the right opportunity.

      Utah, with a 6-4 ranking, are 7th in the Western Conference right now…with a recent five-game winning streak. With only one road win and a boatload of road games coming up in February (15), it’s time to starting jelling. Talent is there.

  6. Mark from Orlando

    Hey Susan,

    Why does every Analyst say that the Magic don’t have any good assets outside of Dwight? If Ryan Anderson, JJ, or Nelson were free agents I think they would be getting a lot of calls.

    Also any chance of us getting OJ mayo from the Griz with a a couple of pieces?

    • Susan Bible

      The Magic may have some good pieces, but they can’t lose many with how they’ve started…especially not Anderson or JJ. Expect Mayo’s name to pop in trade rumors – a lot – in the coming weeks.

  7. Da E-Man

    Aloha Susan,
    The Magic just need one more piece to be a Finals contender and to keep D-12 in Orlando. And that would be point guard that can penetrate. Would you agree?

    • Susan Bible

      I wouldn’t say Finals contender…but ECF contender, yes. I would venture to say many didn’t expect an 8-3 start. Nelson is a weak link right now.

  8. Spirow

    Hey Susan, with lebron James struggling this year… you think the MVP race is beginning to show us the main guys who would be fighting for it… in my view so far rose, durant, and Kobe are in the race even though Lebrons stats might augue against my list… but given his bad clutch performances… one may argue against putting lebron there given the superteam Miami is…

    • Susan Bible

      I really wouldn’t say LeBron is struggling with 29.5 ppg, 8.2 rpg, 7.4 apg, 2.0 steals and .578 field goal percentage, all of which exceed last years’ numbers. But he just isn’t clutch, and he should be at this stage. I’d put those three you mention in consideration for MVP at this moment.

  9. Spirow

    Hey what’s your assessment of the Toronto raptors so far? Jose Calderon having a good year… given that you think raps r sellers or buyers and what kinda pieces would they need in the draft? And is bargnani is having a Allstar year?  After Howard I can’t think of any centers that cause a match up problem in the east like bargs can

    • Susan Bible

      Well, a 4-8 start and 11th in the Eastern Conference (and 4th in their Division) isn’t particularly exciting. Bargnani has improved in almost every category over last year, except three-pointers and blocks. I’d say yes to All-Star because of his contributions on both ends. Calderon is playing nearly 5 more minutes per game and he’s taking advantage. I think we need to see more from them before deciding who to target. Being 27th in points per game lends one to think scorers.

  10. Micahel

    Byron Mullens or Iman Shumpert. I know that Shumpert’s upside is better than Mullens but his turnovers concern me. Should I drop Mullens for Shumpert?

    • Susan Bible

      If turnovers are your concerns, then Mullens wins at 0.8 per game vs.Shumpert’s 3.0. Ouch. Break it down further: Shumpert has 14.5 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 4.0 apg, 2.8 spg, .380 FG% and .910 in FT%. Mullens is averaging 12.4 ppg, 4.8 rpg and .926 fg% and .492 FG%, but doesn’t add assists (0.3) or steals (0.2). That’s a hard one. If you have players to compensate for TOs, I’d do it.

  11. Ryan

    Hey Susan, why is ESPN and everyone else hyping Rubio so much when Kyrie Irving has been just as good. It seems to me a Rubio highlight or story is always front page on the NBA’s site (and this one). Kyrie deserves more respect, no?

    • Susan Bible

      I”m a Kyrie Irving fan..he’s just quietly going about his business without flash. Rubio just seems to command attention with the entertaining way he plays…and makes others play. He’s different; all the hype for so long before coming stateside has resulted in all eyes on him.

  12. Bill

    Is Paul Pierce done?

    • Susan Bible

      He’s slowing…I don’t know how much is attributable to the recovery. But unless the Celtics find some physical play, they’re done.

      And there’s an hour :) Thanks for the great questions. See you again next week…