NBA Chat With Susan Bible 3/24/12

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. LSO

    Hey Susan – What’s the back story (read: real or true) on D’Antonio’s exodus from NY? Fired or resigned? Got the inside dope?

  2. Nana

    I’m sure you’ll get this observation from many Thunder fans – but our fans really showed their class with the warm welcome given Derek Fisher. That I am SO proud of the team goes without saying, but our fans have got to be the BEST.

    • Susan Bible

      The Thunder fans gave Fisher a standing ovation for nearly 40 seconds when he checked in; Fisher later called it “humbling”. A local beat writer called the fans either classy or clueless, saying that type of reception should be limited to players who have done special things. To me, it shows the fans know the game and wished to welcome a proven winner and leader to the team.

  3. calvinzero

    In your personal analysis, is Derek Fisher buyout to OKC is a huge help for them to make their roster strong coming to the playoffs? This is my first Q to you.. Thanks.. I am one of your avid viewers of this site.

    • Susan Bible

      Welcome to the chat! I wouldn’t use the word “huge” when describing his potential help in the Thunder’s playoff bid, but I was pleased to hear about the acquisition. I would use the word “solid”. My reasoning is this: I wasn’t comfortable with Reggie Jackson leading the second unit. With Eric Maynor sidelined, Brooks was forced to use Jackson, which is fine for a lot of the regular-season games, but I think the rookie would crack under the postseason pressure.

      I’ll tell you though, in just two games, I can already see the benefit his experience and leadership is having on the players. It’s almost like having a coach on the floor.

  4. adobo nation

    Hi su, lets play the game what if. What if popovic is the thunder’s coach.what changes do u see in the current thunder team and is it a good or bad thing?and u hit the nail in the head u guys got dfish haha i rather see him with okc than the over favorite heat. Lastly do u see westbrook doing the marbury on kd? Living okc or is this a stockton to malone tandem that sticks together till one retires… What does ur crystal ball say? And yah u are my favorite writter here. Very motherly and i feel homely when i read ur chats. Very cool specially for a lady to know alot bout bball. And yea im excited about the laker okc game. Friendly rivalry. I guess the boys of the west are grown now and ready to take the thrown.haha

    • Susan Bible

      Funny you use the word “motherly” because that’s precisely the word I’ve used many times when describing how I feel about some of the players. These guys are so young, and since I’m a mother of 15-year-old twin boys, I feel that motherly pull toward them.

      As Perk said a few days ago, the Thunder no longer sneak up on anyone – they have a target on their backs now. I think the KD/Westbrook pair stick together for a few years to keep vying for the ring(s), but both retiring in OKC? Not so much. I would like it, but that’s pretty rare.

      Popovich is one fine coach. Would he slow down these athletic guys? Rule with an iron fist? I think the laid-back Brooks is a better fit.

  5. George

    T/F: Kings make it to the playoffs next season?

    • Susan Bible

      False. It’s all about steps. A 14th ranking (at 17-30) doesn’t bode well for a jump to a minimum 8.

  6. pacquiao punch

    The wolves in 2 more years can be the next thunder. Love is ballin great and almost carried the wolves pass the okc team. Not even athletic as blake g. But he is a scary guy now.

    • Susan Bible

      Kevin Love just amazes me. 51 points last night?! Seven three-pointers? He was incredible. They’re on the right track, especially with Rubio in the fold. Such a shame he suffered a season-ending injury.

  7. cebu gems

    Please speak about your player okc’s n.collison. he was a high draft pick coming in. Very high expectations but he got injured but he rebuild his career for being a super good role player. Maybe he isnt flashy but he has that good impact to a team. And whats your comment to klove as the next duncan. Because he aint flashy but super effective as the mainman. But i wish he learn more postmoves and foot work. Thanks !

    • Susan Bible

      Collison doesn’t get near enough credit for his phenomenal screens and just the way he throws himself full-force in every play. He does all the little things that aren’t tracked on a stat sheet. I liked this quote from Brooks after the game: “Nick gives everything he has, both ends of the floor. It’s not a minute for him, it seems like a minute and a half for other guys. Every ounce in his body, he gives it.”

      Remember when Love said he was the best “4” in the league a couple months ago? Hats off for such confidence. I think it’s a little too early yet to crown him the next Duncan, but you hit the nail on the head: effective. He is the best power forward in the league right now.

  8. paprika

    Wow fisher is getting extra time in okc.he did cause wolves to catch last game and bring it to over time. He miss some important shots in the 4th but still a good leader.do u like the move of okc in playing him instead of thabo ?

    • Susan Bible

      Personally, I’ve wanted to see Sefolosha finishing out games in the past few contests, but Brooks is not wavering from his plan of slowly building minutes. He was at 14 for a couple games and jumped to around 19 last night.

      I think we’re all surprised with the minutes Brooks is giving Fisher so far: 19:06 in the first game and 35:58 in the now-classic double OT win over the Wolves. Brooks said simply that he wanted to keep the “warm” and “loose” bodies in late.

  9. hulkster

    After tonights game ill call it. J.barea is the next iverson! Wow what a game. Okc just got the edge cause the have a 1,2,3 punch and the wolves only got love n barea. What a good game.

    • Susan Bible

      That game was one for the ages. Loved what Brooks said after the game: “I’m sure the fans and players enjoyed more than me.”

      Love scores a career-high 51 points, going 7-11 in three-pointers with 14 boards. Durant scores 40 points (with 17 rebounds) and Westbrook scores a career-high 45 points – they made history by being the first duo to score at least 40 points in two games in a single season (the other game was on Feb. 19th vs. Denver). A double overtime game will produce that kind of stuff. The best part – if you’re a Thunder fan – was the 12 total turnovers. That’s amazing in 58 minutes, given they average nearly 17 per game, which leads the league. Brooks, with that great sense of humor, said: “Maybe that’s what we have to do to keep our turnovers down, just play more minutes.”

      I would pay to see what Iverson thinks about Barea being his successor. I watched Barea, specifically, last night – he was barking orders like a commander out there. Almost felt sorry for Webster a couple times.

  10. manila times

    I just love what the nba tv does right now.getting old school guys anchoring the show giving more depth to the show. Seing guys like rex chapman ,anderson,shaq and hopefully they could make something special in the finals. Let m.jordan and maybe karl malone stockton and maybe pippen do the commentary on the game. Now who said fans are mad about the lock out?!!! As a fan this is one of the most exciting season ever! Haha love the nba.

    • Susan Bible

      It almost makes you forget about the seemingly-never-ending lockout, huh? Well not quite, but this has been one fast-paced exciting season so far.

  11. philip fletcher

    What does adding Boris Diaw to the Spurs do for them? He was playing Dirk tough on Friday night

    • Susan Bible

      When Diaw became available, I wondered – without really thinking it through -how the Thunder could get him. Durant needs a backup and Lazar Hayward is not going to cut it. In any case, the Spurs locked him up for depth and his versatility and his pass-first mentality. He was a low-risk acquisition. His defense on Dirk was pretty good, I’d say.

  12. Alex in Burbank

    Game 7 WCF OKC vs Lakers. Lakers up by 1 with .04 left to go in the game and it’s OKC’s ball. Who shoots it? =) I love Dereck Fisher, I’m tempted to buy his #37 OKC jersey but I can’t bring myself to doing it. I bleed purple and gold. My brothers would shoot me if I ever wear a NON Laker jersey! ha! March 29th, can’t wait. I will be in the stand ready to give Fisher a standing ovation the moment he enters the game.

    • Susan Bible

      As reminiscent as your scenario is of the infamous Fisher playoff shot vs. the Spurs with .04 seconds left, I want the ball in Durant’s hands.

      I applaud your future class move in welcoming Fisher on March 29th – he deserves it. Go ahead and shock your brothers!

  13. Gregory Young

    Hey Susan, I’m going to apologize early for making this statement only because i know how high you’re on R.Westbrook, but the deal that fell through that would have swap R.Westbrook for R.Rondo would have been a perfect deal for both franchises. Boston receiving Westbrook a guard with same energy as on both sides off the ball, with more of a scoring punch and a better jump shooter, which Boston disparately needs. Oklahoma on the other hand would receive more off a play maker in Rondo. I just think Rondo can get more out of OKC’s front court of Perkins, and Ibaka than Westbrook. Please Your Thoughts.

    • Susan Bible

      No need to apologize! You probably already know what I’m going to say. I was not in favor of a Westbrook/Rondo trade, but let me say this: I’m a Rondo fan. Westbrook’s unconventional game just works in OKC – they need his outside scoring and drives and free throws. At 23, who knows what his ceiling really is. Plus why disrupt the Thunder’s chemistry at this point, i.e. as they sit atop the Western Conference and rank third in the league (behind Bulls and HEAT)? Their numbers are way close in rebounds, turnovers and steals, but Westbrook is a much better shooter in free throws (.817 vs. .601), field goals (.475 vs. .459) and threes (1.0 pg at .338 vs. 0.1 at .238). Westbrook averages 24.3 ppg vs. Rondo’s 13.0. So the biggie is assists: Westbrook logs 5.4 vs. 10.7. That’s just not Westbrook’s game. I will agree that Rondo could get more out of Perk (as we know), but Perk isn’t in OKC for his shooting abilities. I think Ibaka’s offensive game is fine. Defense – with the blocks – is what I want from him.

      It will be interesting to see how Fisher influences Westbrook at the position going forward.

  14. Josh

    How fun was that game last night? Love and Durant going back and forth! Did Durant just solidify himself as the most clutch player in the game?

    • Susan Bible

      That ranks as one of my all-time favorite games, purely from a person-who-loves-basketball point of view. I think Durant can officially wear the “clutch” tag proudly.

  15. Andrew

    Should VDN be fired? yes or no? why?

    Love your chats! Wish I was able to catch that OKC/Wolves game last night!

    • Susan Bible

      When you start hearing things like “he’s lost the team”, it’s concerning. The fact they’ve lost 8 of the past 12 games, well, that’s very concerning. They’ve got to finish out the season with him I think. Del Negro has had to deal with significant roster changes, i.e. additions and losses; to add a new coach this late – with playoffs on the horizon – would cause an even greater downward spiral. However, the coach is the one who take the heat in these cases, so it wouldn’t shock me.

  16. lewon

    hi! love your chats here in hoopsworld, everyone is so opinionated! Great showing by your Thunder against Twolves, Durant and Westbrook rocks! anyway, as a Laker fan, I would love to see Lakers vs. Thunder in a playoff match. Do you think the recent acquisition of Ramon Sessions make things interesting? Can you say that his recent play as of late will be sustained! more power to you writers here in hoopsworld!

    • Susan Bible

      We appreciate your support! The Sessions pickup was a great move…and I’m very glad to see Brown finally moved him to the starting lineup. In just five games, he’s averaging 13.6 ppg, 7.0 apg and shooting an incredible .575 in field goals. It looks like the real deal. Last night – after the move to starter – he logged 20 points and 11 assists. It’s working.

  17. jessafer

    I noticed in the Jazz/Thunder game that Ibaka falls for a good pump fake all the time. Since he’s so intent on getting blocked shots, he’d jump at the fake and at least a couple of times Millsap would drive by for a dunk or layup. Is this an issue for Ibaka, or a sign of poor help D?

  18. Skeptical

    I can’t believe how ballyhooed the Fisher acquisition has become.
    A career starter w career averages of 3.1 assists and a shooting % of .401…..
    Also wasn’t he just begging to bring the triangle back? Seems to me Brooks doesn’t run the triangle. OKC needs a pass first kind of point guard to relieve/mentor Westbrook not Derrick Fisher.
    I suppose this was more rant than question…. What do you think Fisher can bring to the table?

    • Susan Bible

      It shows the level of respect a guy with five rings has, rightfully, earned. I heard that Kobe and Fisher were interested in bringing elements of the triangle back, but it’s moot now. The Thunder needed an Eric Maynor-type to calm things down when Westbrook rests. Brooks has been experimenting with rotations, including inserting both of them at times.

      As far as what Fisher brings, I broke it down in my article yesterday. Give it a read: http://www.hoopsworld.com/the-thunder-react-to-derek-fisher-signing

      Guys, that’s one hour! See you again next week….