NBA Chat With Susan Bible 5/5/12

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. calvinzero

    Now the Oklahoma City Thunder will try to sweep the Mavs on Sunday, are they anticipate that their next opponent for the WC Semis is the LA Lakers?? Did you see that this will be a true test for the Thunder against one of the greatest team in the NBA?

    • Susan Bible

      Welcome to the chat! Is everyone enjoying the playoffs so far? Let’s get started:

      Those guys are a true “take one game at a time” type, so they would never admit to looking past the next game, which is, of course, Dallas. However, I anticipate their next opponent is the Lakers. It will be a HUGE test, but the true test will be facing the San Antonio Spurs. They’ve been a thorn in their side for some time.

  2. Alex in Burbank

    Hi Susan, our teams are 1 step closer to meeting in the second round. My team being the Lakers and yours…..well we all know your team. May the best team win(HOPEFULLY the Lakers) Here’s my question, am I the only one outside of OKC that just can’t stand Westbrook? I respect his game but I don’t like the guy. Durant on the other hand I have all kinds of respect for him and I actually like the guy. And I’m a Lakerfan. But Westbrook…ugh!!

    • Susan Bible

      Yes, you’re the only one! Honestly, I don’t know how fans outside of Oklahoma City feel, but the media outside OKC – those that don’t cover him regularly, I might add – do tend to give him a bad rap…about taking too many shots, that he plays out of position, etc. Remember all the hubbub about the supposed rift between KD and Westbrook last year? Rubbish.

      Anyway, it sounds like you’re taking more of a personal stance. So why don’t you like him? Because he’s ultra-competitive? Confident? Emotional? True on all counts. I’ve been around Russell for three years now; he’s been nothing but nice and accommodating to me. He doesn’t quite open up like KD in interviews, but he’s not KD. He answers our questions (pre-game even…and many don’t) and shows patience with the silly questions. I’ve seen him weather a lot of negativity and shoulder a lot responsibility at a young age, but he’s all about the team. I’ve observed him in the locker room with his teammates; he cuts up with the guys, he’s funny, he’s well respected and most definitely part of the group.

      I understand why Durant is so easy to like – and I certainly do like him – but we can’t all have his personality. Know what’s funny? That first year he was in OKC, people here kept comparing Durant to Chris Paul and he wasn’t quite measuring up. KD didn’t have Paul’s quick smile and easy charm. It took a little time to accept his quiet, easy-going nature.

      With all that said, sometimes certain players just rub you the wrong way. I have my list…including one on your team :)

  3. Alex in Burbank

    Do the Spurs remind you of the Phoenix Suns of not too long ago? Great regular season record but falter in the playoffs? Now I know it’s a little early but lets face it….as good as SA has looked, they don’t seem to have that great defense that wins championships. Plus this is not even an ODD year. Besides, don’t they only win it all during ODD years? =)

    • Susan Bible

      I can’t say that the Spurs remind me of the Suns. Let’s look at the last ten years for both teams:

      The Spurs have three championships, one conference finals appearance, four conference semi-finals appearances and two first-round appearances. Not bad!

      In the same ten years, the Suns have four non-appearances (not even counting this year), three conference finals appearances, one conference semi-finals and two first-round appearances.

      This season, the Spurs are ranked 10th in Defensive Rating (tied with OKC), they lead the league in Defensive Rebound Percentage, and they’re second in opponent free throw per field goal attempt.

      Since the Spurs missed out on the last two odd years (2011 and 2009), I guess that theory is blown!

  4. Mark ryan

    Will Kevin Durrant lead the league in scoring for at least the next 3 years?
    I don’t know anybody who will stop him from doing so.

    Who are some young up and coming players who could challenge Durrant for the scoring title in the next few years?

    • Susan Bible

      I’m not seeing anyone in the draft that can challenge Durant in the foreseeable future. At just 23 years old, Durant should lock it up for some time to come. Of course, LeBron, Carmelo and Kobe (not long-term though) remain his stiffest competition.

  5. Mike aldridge

    Will John Wall or Kyrie Irving ever be as good as Derrick Rose or Russel Westbrook why or why not?

    I can honestly see Both Irving and Wall passing Westbrook in a few years.

    • Susan Bible

      It’s hard to look into the future, but what’s hurting both of these guys is who’s around them. Both Rose and Westbrook lucked out on that one. If pressed, I’d say Irving had the best shot.

  6. Jacob R.

    Which point guard would you rather draft and who has the highest Potential of these 4 and WHY?

    Damian Lillard, Tony Wroten, Kemba Walker or Brandon Knight.

    • Susan Bible

      I’d probably go with Kemba Walker with his speed and scoring.

  7. Bill Wallace

    If your the kings and Either Marcus Thorton, Tyreke Evans or Isiah Thomas HAVE to come off the bench who would it be any WHY?

    • Susan Bible

      I’d say Thornton for the scoring punch, like a Harden.

  8. Jeff allen

    When healthy is Eric Gordon more talented and a better players than James Harden?

    Gordon seems like the complete package offensively and shoots the ball a little better than Harden gets to the rim better while harden is a better play maker and maybe all around.

    • Susan Bible

      When healthy, Eric Gordon is awesome, and your breakdown is pretty accurate. EG has played in 127 games over the past three years while JH has appeared in 220 games.

      Looking at their Per 36 numbers, EG averages 18.3 ppg, 1.1 spg, 3.3 apg, 2.7 rpg, 1.8 in threes at .370, .807 in FT%, .452 in FG% and 15.9 PER. JH averages 17.1 ppg, 1.4 spg, 3.3 apg, 4.6 rpg, 2.0 in threes at .370, .835 in FT%, .444 in FG% and 17.2 PER. What I like about both of them is how you think the ball will go in every time they take a shot.

  9. Mike

    Hello again,
    Andre Iguoldala is another guy likely to be traded as the Sixers are looking to rebuild and find a larger role for Turner. With that said, which teams would be realistic options to heavily pursue him( every team of course would look into acquiring him).

    • Susan Bible

      Iguodala is owed $14.7M next season and has a ETO of $15.9M in 2013-14. Recently a local writer tweeted that the Sixers will work tirelessly to move him. It’s not going to be easy, but it’s probably going to have to happen, especially with all the stuff he’s been saying lately. I haven’t heard anything of substance, but perhaps Grizzlies or the Wolves are realistic options.

  10. Cliff

    Only three things this week.

    Way to go Pops for winning a COY trophy he obviously didn’t want a thing to do with!

    2. Ibaka should have been DPOY….I like Chandler’s game, but he was not thinking clearly when he left the Mavs hanging out to dry to go play with the Knicks (???? What was he thinking?)

    3. Roll on Spurs…..my boys are picking them up and laying them down, just like the old days!! Timmy is not getting enough credit for what he is still bringing to the table…

    OK, 4. Still like the Thunders’ chances, but think they are one more play-off series loss from figuring it all out. JMO…

    • Susan Bible

      1. I called the Pop trophy a few weeks ago. Well-deserved.

      2. Ibaka was a very close second in voting. Chandler received 311 votes and Ibaka got 294. I assume you’re kidding on the other part of your question. Obviously Chandler was instrumental in the Mavs’ run last season, but they wouldn’t give him a long-term deal. I can only imagine how bummed Nowitzki was over that one.

      3. The Spurs are a fascinating study. They don’t get a lot credit (“too old, too slow, too boring”), and keep flying so far below the radar all season that nobody pays much attention to them. And that’s just how they like it.

      4. Hard to call on your last one. This Mavs series is giving them nice confidence that should carry over.

  11. Bugsy Mogues in Australia

    Hi Susan,
    This may be a little off topic but, I’ve always wondered why the photographers at NBA games sit so close behind the basket. I realise it may be the best spot to get their shots, but sitting in the ‘landing zone’ of the biggest, fastest (and most valuable?) athletes in sport is an accident waiting to happen! Surely someone has an issue with this?

    • Susan Bible

      I would think the players don’t like having to be aware of all those guys with their cameras during play…and I would think the photographers themselves would be constantly ducking or anticipating a hit. However, they do get some awesome photos, don’t they?

  12. Dennis

    The Knicks went 18-6 under Woodson, yet are poised to be swept in the playoffs by the Miaimi HEAT. Question: Does New York bring him back next year as head coach or not?

    • Susan Bible

      I tend to think they keep Woodson for next season. He’s had to deal with a lot since being inserted as an interim coach – obviously the Lin injury, the Shumpert injury, Chandler’s flu as at most inopportune moment, and of course, the idiotic Stoudemire injury. Even more than that.

  13. LSO

    Derek Fisher is really proving his value, not only towards the end of the regular season but in the Playoffs. Any thought to keeping him around long-term??? I like his contributions on and off the floor.

    • Susan Bible

      I’m glad Fisher is showing folks, on-court, why he’s a great addition for OKC’s post-season run. The loss of Maynor was huge and it was too early to give the reins to Reggie Jackson. I don’t really see him staying since Maynor will return; what minutes would he get?

  14. Frank

    Which shooting guard is better moving without the ball on offense: Rip Hamilton or Ray Allen

    • Susan Bible

      Man, both of them are so skilled at that. I guess I’d give the edge to Allen.

  15. jazz fest

    Hi Susan, what are the chances for the jazz to get Derron Williams back in f/a?

  16. Paulo Silva

    Hi Susan! I’m from Portugal an it’s my first time writing here.

    Just a quick question, after the Thunder beat the Mavs, how do you expect the series against the Lakers. Can the return of World Peace make any difference? What’s your global vision over these confrontation?

    • Susan Bible

      Welcome! I think a Thunder/Lakers series could go the whole seven games, with OKC prevailing. Home-court is going to be huge. MWP will back — I can already envision his reception every time he touches the ball in Oklahoma City. That place is so loud anyway, but they will be relentless. It won’t be easy for OKC at all, but they know they can beat them so they’ve got to maintain that confidence and composure. The drama surrounding such a series will be off the charts.

      Thanks for joining me! See you here again next week…