NBA Chat With Susan Bible 1/26/13

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.  Drop in your questions now.

  1. Alex in Burbank

    Hi Susan, long time no see. How are you? I am heartbroken my team has not lived up to their potential. I have been trying to make sense but I can’t understand why we can’t win. To top it off my phone is off the hook every day with my Laker hater friends rubbing it in my face. Please tell me there’s a light at the end of the tunnel. I survived the 90′s so 2013 should be a breeze, but man, is this season dragging! Should the Lakers divorce from Kobe or Howard? I’m at a loss here!

    • Susan Bible

      I’m doing great! At least you got a win last night against the Jazz, right? I think we all expected it would take time for all these guys to learn to play together, just not this long. That, along with Mike Brown’s coaching and firing, Howard not being 100% (and seemingly canceling out Gasol), a new coach and guard-based system in the Mike D’Antoni mid-season hire, mental issues, lack of chemistry, lack of depth, and it’s apparently going to take a while for things to adjust and come together, if it ever meshes at all this season. Kobe isn’t going anywhere, so if they had to choose between the two, it would be Howard. I think Pau Gasol summed up the problems in a way that makes the most sense to me – click here.

  2. sammy v

    What type of guard do you see Monta elis be a good fit next to?Ithink Tyreke Evans cuz it allows Monta to guard PG and be a SG if Reke handles the ball like he did in his rookie year. Maby even Turkoglu.

    • Susan Bible

      It may be a moot point based on the word of the Bucks’ GM yesterday (though I don’t necessarily agree). But if I had to pick, I’d say the Jazz or Pacers would benefit greatly.

  3. Prismelk

    What do you think is Kawhi Leonard’s ceiling? Thanks.

    • Susan Bible

      Leonard is a guy I drafted for my fantasy team, and I even held on to him when he was out with the injury. I think his ceiling/career mirrors his fantasy value: he doesn’t light up the stat sheet right now, but give him time and he will….especially under this coach and these leaders and this franchise. He just needs minutes.

  4. Prismelk

    What is your top 5 PG list?

    Most put Westbrook over Parker. While I can see that Rusty is more talented than Tony, I would actually take Parker over him if I’m going to form a championship team.

    Your thoughts, please? Thanks!

    • Susan Bible

      I’m not a big fan of lists, but I will tell you I’d take Westbrook (Rusty? lol) if I’m forming a championship team. In fact, the Thunder are forming a championship team (surely you haven’t forgotten they went to the NBA Finals last year and presently have the best record in the league). Parker is awesome – it’s not by chance that I drafted both Westbrook and Parker for my fantasy league this year (plus I’m leading my league). Just look at both guys’ career stats: Westbrook: 19.5 points, 7.0 assists, .816 FT% 1.6 steals, 4.8 rebounds and Parker: 17.0 points, 6.0 assists, .742 FT%, 1.0 steals, 3.0 rebounds Westbrook just does so many things well, plus he has not missed one single game in his career and he’s six years younger.

  5. Prismelk

    Lebron James or Scottie Pippen? Thanks!

  6. Prismelk

    If T-Mac was not plagued by injuries and had he reached his full potential, he could’ve been better than Kobe and Lebron, right?!

    [I know LeBron and Kobe had better careers and achievements. T-Mac was just unfortunate. He never get to reach his best potential because he was plagued with injuries and really never had good team (well, he had one but was injury plagued).]

    • Susan Bible

      I used to be quite the McGrady fan, so I had to refresh myself on his numbers. In his primary heyday (2002-03 season), he averaged 32.1 points, 5.5 assists, 6.5 rebounds, 1.7 steals, 2.3 three-pointers at .386 and .457 in field goal shooting. 7.7 free throws and .793. Not bad, right? But better than Kobe or LeBron? Nope.

  7. LA in LA

    Hey Susan, 2 questions for you:

    1) What’s the worst play you have ever seen in the NBA? For me I’m watching Sportsnation and I saw Tyrus Thomas in 2007 for the Bulls MISS A DUNK. He was almost a feet to the left of Rim. It looked like he was trying to dunk on the glass. Absolutely hilarious/embarrassing.

    2) The Basketball jones was discussing if they thought Westbrook was more like cat or a dog in terms of his on and off court behavior. They were split 50-50 but I think he’s a cat. Well-groomed (the work he puts into his outfits), unable to be tamed (you never see cats on leashes), seems impervious (they say cats have 9 lives and always land on their feet).
    What do you think? Is Russell a cat or dog?

    • Susan Bible

      What a great question. There are a bunch of choices. I loved when J.R. Smith thought Tyreke Evans made a shot (he didn’t), so he takes the ball out for an inbounds pass. Or when Chris Crawford pushes a teammate’s made basket out of the basket. Or Metta’s dunk that hit under the rim. Or Cousin’s attempt to tie with an inbounds pass to nobody across the court. I could go on and on. Too many to pick just one.

      Share your favorite worst play in the comments below!

      Cat or dog? OK, that ranks as one of the strangest topics ever – lol. You make a good case for cat.

  8. AJ

    Which teams might be interested in Bargnani?

    • Susan Bible

      The problem with moving Bargnani is the amount of money still left on his contract – well, that and his regression and injury history. Along with the $10M this year, he gets $10.8M next season and an $11.5M early termination option in 2014-15. From what I hear, teams aren’t flooding the front office with trade offers. They don’t want to give him away but they are open to the discussion.

      Sorry for the slow responses so far – I’ve got a sick boy here that’s pulling me away – I’ll get to more questions!

  9. LA in LA

    Am I crazy for liking Westbrook more after he blocked the Nuggets mascot’s shot not once but TWICE??

    And how did that go over in locker room and with Coach Brooks?

    • Susan Bible

      That occurred on January 20th which was the second of a six-game road trip, so none of the locals have been able to bring that up with Brooks or anyone else yet. I actually researched and found no quotes from Brooks. My plan – and it won’t be easy – is to get some time with Westbrook this Thursday and I just may ask him about that. Knowing Russ, he’ll brush it off.

  10. Jim in CyberSpace

    Where to start? RW “denying” Denver fans of free Queso…much to the dismay of Rocky? I’m still laughing. Talk about get that “Crap” out of here. LOL
    Once you stop laughing…there are commercial opportunities here. Nugget Villian RW and Rocky on a Denver TV ad sponsored by the the local Taco Company that saved some money on free Queso that night?

    • Susan Bible

      The body language of that mascot was priceless. For Westbrook to do that one time was wild enough, but twice? Funny stuff. Like George Karl said, Westbrook made a lot of friends in Denver that night – not. The taco people should capitalize on the whole event, for sure.

  11. LSO

    Trade deadline is (I think) February 21. What will happen – to whom and where? How will the Thunder figure in the trades?

    • Susan Bible

      You are correct about that date. As you likely know, Presti is among the quietest general managers in the league, i.e. he’s not sharing any trade secrets. I have to think we’ll see a package involving perhaps Maynor and Jones for another guard as the playoffs draw nearer. This time of year is a lot of fun for writers to speculate on trades, but historically, only a handful of transactions actually transpire. You must read our own Bill Ingram’s take. Click here.

  12. Irate in OK

    I am an irate (and incredulous) Ibaka fan. I do NOT see how he missed the All-Stars. Is it because “they” don’t want three members of the same team to appear? He does himself AND Oklahoma City proud. I just don’t get it!

    • Susan Bible

      I think Ibaka needs one more year to make his case. It’s hard to please everyone with only so many spots handed out.

  13. Deven

    Who’s your first-half MVP so far, Susan: Kevin Durant or Lebron James?

    • Susan Bible

      I can make a case for either, but I’m siding with Durant right now. His team has a better record, he’s showing improvement in many areas (including shooting efficiency), he’s leading the league in points, minutes played and win shares, and he’s leading the Thunder to success with the loss of a major piece in James Harden.

  14. Deven

    Six straight losses for the Celtics. Is it time for a blockbuster trade?

    • Susan Bible

      It’s time for something…more like getting everyone to give 100% effort the entire game.

      Thanks for joining me this morning. Have a great weekend…