NBA Chat With Susan Bible 3/3/12

1. J Christon

   Susan, have been a reader of yours for quite some time now… keep up the good work. I’m just writing to give you my condolences. I as well have recently gone through a death in the family and it is never easy. May god bless you and your family.

   • Susan Bible

     I really appreciate that. It definitely has not been easy. I’m hoping the “time heals all wounds” adage is true…for both of us.

2. badoodelz

   have you heard of any the thunder are planning before the deadline?

   • Susan Bible

     Trying to obtain such information from the Thunder organization is near impossible. They just don’t share anything. However, given GM Sam Presti’s penchant for pulling off the unexpected, I can’t help but feel like they’ll make a move. Perhaps a stronger backup to Westbrook? Jackson is serviceable, but not ready.

3. Alex in Burbank

   Hi Susan sorry to hear about a death in your family, welcome back non the less. =) I see the Thunder are looking mighty right now. If they were to meet my Lakers in the playoffs, do you think they can get past them. In the regular season teams like to run a lot but in the playoffs things always slowdown which is where the Lakers are comfortable playing. I know we had an ugly showing last year but we are hungry to make up for that. I think it will be a great series that will go 7 games and either team can win. Your take? Don’t be a homer please. haha!

   • Susan Bible

     I’ll try to restrain myself from being too much of a homer! Believe it or not, I said those exact words to a friend yesterday afternoon (not about the Lakers per se, just in general). The Thunder have had many games this season – especially lately – wherein they play really well, then just okay, then turn it on in the fourth quarter and steal the win. It makes for some great basketball to watch, and great displays of clutch playing, but how will this translate to the playoffs where the tempo invariably slows down? I continue to be concerned about the turnover rate (worst in the league) and rebounding. I’m also concerned about the backup point guard situation. At least Sefolosha (with his mystery foot condition) should return by then. To answer your question though, I do think they can get by the Lakers in a seven game series so long as the Thunder has home court.

     And thank you for the condolences.

4. Deven

   Hi Susan. I read an article on ESPN about Charles Barkley having some harsh words towards Michael Jordan about how he’s a bad NBA executive and how the people around him, including those in the Charlotte Bobcats’ front office, mislead him in certain ways. I don’t like it when all-time great players become executives in the league and fail at it. It makes them look bad, wouldn’t you agree? What are your thoughts on Charles Barkley’s comments?

   • Susan Bible

     Barkley’s point was that Jordan has surrounded himself with “yes-men” who fear disagreeing with him lest they lose all the benefits they’ve come to enjoy. You can’t argue with the fact that Jordan has not seen resounding success since he took over decision-making for the Bobcats in 2006. He’s just not a great talent evaluator. The thing about it is that Barkley voices – on any stage – those things a lot of us think but don’t utter aloud.

5. Peter

   What do u think of this trade? Graet deal for all teams involved.

   Lakers: Receive Scola, Dragic, Budinger, Beasley. Adds depth for Lakers. Get a solid PG who spreads the floor and runs the offense. Gets more 3 point shooting to keep defenses honest with double teaming Kobe and Bynum. Maybe he even starts at the 3 making Artest backup 4 and barnes out of rotation.a I like Beasley realizing his potential under a player of Kobe stature. Maybe become a 6th man (Odom like) due to sore lack of scoring on 2nd unit. Plus Scola plays defense and is super underrated and would have no problem being less involved in offense like Gasol is. He would love winning and has expereience in postseason like the Olympics.

   Rockets: Receive Gasol, perfect alongside defensive minded Dalembert. has playoff experience and leadership for playoff hopeful team. Would be a scary matchup for any first round opponent with starting lineup of Lowry, Martin, Parsons, Gasol, and Dalembert. Good balance of offense and defense and plus he would thrive getting touches again as a number 1 option.

   Timberwolves: Receive Courtney Lee, perfect 2 guard who knows Adelman system alraedy. Plays defense and spreads the floor.

   • Susan Bible

     The Lakers benefit greatly in your scenario…the others, not so much.

6. Mitch Kupchak

   HI Susan. For all his talk of fealty, is Kobe really willing to risk wasting his remaining 2 years in the league as the leader of a middle of the road playoff team?

   • Susan Bible

     Congratulations for your use of “fealty” – I had to look that one up. I think he stays while they figure out how to get a point guard.

7. Dave

   Ok, i don’t get why people bash on Hasheem Thabeet. He is the ONLY player in the NBA who has been perfect from the floor hitting 100% of his shots. Give him 10 shots and he’ll give you 20 makes… The media doesn’t know anything.. He is better than Dwight Howard

   • Susan Bible

     And thank you for the hearty laugh this morning! (Note – Thabeet isn’t the only 100% shooter – DeAndre Liggins, Ryan Reid, Armon Johnson and Ronny Turiaf have the same perfect percentage)

8. dolphy

   Ohh man lebron passed the last shot again and lost the game to the jazz. I guess he is just not closer material? Enough o us expecting him to take the shot cause he is all show for 47 min. And no show on the last min.? Is he just a pippen on the final seconds n wade is jordan???! Haha fun fun

   • Susan Bible

     I watched that entire game. I know he was pressured at the end, but man, I thought he’d take the shot or drive; that said, passing to an open Haslem wasn’t a horrible decision. My immediate thought was LeBron will take major grief for that one. Again.

9. enteng kabisote

   Hi ms.bible hope all is cool.down at okc. Anyways do u feel that without any significant trade to the lakers and mavs,its okc surely in the nba finals ? And please tell your gm that the line up is perfect and please dont make no tweaks. Thanks!

   • Susan Bible

     All is well in OKC. I’m not quite ready to pronounce the Thunder will make it to the Finals, however I believe their chances are good. I’ll tell Sam you said that (and I agree).

10. kobe jaworski

    Lately we see ibaka n perkins struggle in the offense specially in the forth, is it not a problem because we have harden durant and d others to score? Or is coach brooks want more team fluidity in offense?

    • Susan Bible

      Check back with HOOPSWORLD later this afternoon for my new article that touches on that subject. In short, Perkins has adjusted his game as far as scoring. His role is not an offensive one and he’s fine with that. I like how Brooks is making rotational changes at times (like sitting Ibaka) to answer situations. That was a knock I had on him last year.

11. Mike

    Hey Susan,
    First, welcome back! Hoopsworld really hasn’t been the same without you. My question for you is how come the Timberwolves are not using their first round pick as an asset to acquire that need sg? I would have to believe that the pick is their best realistic asset and would have value to either along with Beasely acquire a Ray Allen or get that guard and include one of their bad contracts.

    • Susan Bible

      Thanks, Mike. It’s great to be back in the fold. No doubt the Wolves are in serious need of a starting shooting guard. I like a young Mayo or Gordon for them; either can be accomplished with their assets.

12. Bugsy Mogues

    Susan, not sure if the stats back this up, but are there more international players making a real impact in the NBA now than ever before? Many teams now have at least 2 key internationals starting and all have impact bench players.

    • Susan Bible

      According to RPIRatings.com, there were 51 international players on 2011-12 NBA opening-day rosters, which computes to 11.9% in the league. NBA.com says there were 84 international players last season.

13. LSO

    During the All-Star break, I read something about Speedy Claxton. Actually it wasn’t a story, just his name. Whatever happened to him? Is he playing?

    • Susan Bible

      It was fun watching him with the Hornets during their season in Oklahoma City, right? Speedy retired in 2010 and works for the Golden State Warriors as a college scout.

14. John

    So in the game vs Utah, in the last few minutes, Wade fouls devin harris on the three point shot, misses a crucial free throw, and then fouls harris on the go ahead bucket in the last seconds. Lebron brings his team back by scoring big buckets and makes the pass to an open haslem at the free throw line and he ends up the one to blame…. Can the media give the guy a break?

    • Susan Bible

      Apparently not. He’s just too juicy of a target.

15. JP

    Hi, Susan! First of all, How are you? Are you better than last week? I really hope you are and thanks for responding almost all of our questions even in this situation.
    My questions are:
    1-If Harden wants a MAX extension will OKC sign him?
    2-If they don´t work on a contract extension based on the MAX he asks and Minnesota offers him the MAX will they match the offer?
    3-Is Luc Mbah a Moute a potential Bowen (lockdown defender)? If so what would be a fair trade for Minne to get him?
    4-If Minnesota offers Omer Asik the Full MLE in the FA will he sign with us or he is staying in Chicago?
    5-With whom and How would you fill this team:
    Rubio-Barea
    Harden(if possible)-____-Lee
    Williams-_____
    Love-_____-_______ (Kirilenko(?) a possibility to add defense???)
    Pekovic-______

    • Susan Bible

      Every day gets a little better…thanks. I can just answer this one way: the Thunder are not letting loose of James Harden. He’s not going to get the max, but they’ll work out something.

16. john

    Do you know anything for Lakers? Not only rumors…

    • Susan Bible

      They’re not communicating with me personally…they should though.

17. G

    The Wolves want Pau Gasol and the Lakers could use Michael Beasley and Luke Ridnour for the 1 and 3 spots. And lets say they add a couple of more players. Is this a good trade/fit?

    • Susan Bible

      Yep…I think so.

18. jack

    Are the Lakers standing pat?

    • Susan Bible

      I can’t imagine they stand pat.

19. mark

    How about this trade – lakers get beno udrih, jackson and ilyasova and bucks get pau gasol! It works in the espn trade machine! Lakers get steady point guard, scoring from jackson and front court help and bucks get great front court with pau and bogut together when healthy!

    • Susan Bible

      It would be worth it to see Jackson co-exist with Kobe. Seriously, that’s intriguing.

20. Andy

    To adjust Peter’s trade from before,
    How about Scola, Beasley and Flynn to the Lakers, Courtney Lee to the Timberwolves, and Gasol to Houston.
    Houston gets the big man they crave, LA gets younger, a point guard who can still run and an underrated replacement for Gasol in Scola and the Timberwolves essentially trade Beasley (as they want to) for Courtney Lee and fill a glaring hole at SG.
    Houston doesn’t have to lose Budinger as in the earlier trade, LA gets 3 solid starters in return for Gasol, and the Timberwolves win all round.
    Pefect for everyone no?

    • Susan Bible

      That’s better Just not sure if the Wolves win as equally as the others.

21. John Collins

    I think it would be a big mistake for the Boston Celtics to trade Rajon Rondo for three major reasons: 1) he is a pure point guard, 2) he is a top 5 point guard, and 3) his contract is reasonable. Do you think it would make more since for the Celtics to trade a combination of the Big Three (Pierce, Allen, Garnett), their role players, or draft picks for a young player such as Atanta’s Josh Smith, Philly’s Andre Iguadala, or Utah’s Paul Milsap. I think the Celtics would benefit more by freeing up cap space, and adding a young player, than trading the 3rd or 4th best pure point guard in the Game. Maybe they can me a run at Dewight Howard during the summer.

    • Susan Bible

      Thank you. Yes. That’s what I think, too. Keep your barely 26-year old pure point guard with averages of 14.2 points (career high), 4.9 rebounds, 1.7 steals and 9.8 assists (2nd in the league) per game and work with him on free throw shooting…even three-pointers. He’s worth keeping.

      That was one quick hour. Thanks for participating this morning! See you next week…