NBA Chat With Susan Bible 6/16/12

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. cj

    I figure there are 3 tiers of FA C’s this year. pick one player out of each tier I list that would be the best option for portland.
    tier 1 – hibbert and b.lopez
    tier 2 – mcgee, kaman, hawes, asik, r.lopez, camby, o’neal and okur
    tier 3 – pryzbilla, hollins, koufus, erden, mohammed, turiaf, and mahinmi
    my choices would be hibbert, asik, and hollins

  2. Marcus

    Hypothetical
    If LeBron wins 3 championships, 3 finals mvps and one more regular season MVP, do you consider his career better than Kobe’s given Kobe only had two finals MVPs and 1 regular season MVP?

    • Susan Bible

      That’s a hard question since you can’t see into the future, but I think Kobe’s five rings is more important than MVPs in the scheme of things.

  3. calvinzero

    What could be the weakness of Oklahoma City Thunder for this Finals??

    • Susan Bible

      It’s pretty clear that the weakness is the way they start games. After a rough first quarter – even second – they usually settle down and have a solid second half. But as we saw in Game 2, sometimes you can’t recover from a slow start. The Thunder need to figure out why they come out with a poor focus, a poor defensive effort and the missing-shots situation. I think we’re all curious how they start games on the road. Perhaps the frenzied home crowd is just too much pressure. They want so badly to please their loyal fans – they seem to be trying too hard to match the crowds’ intensity and when shots aren’t falling, it affects other parts of their game.

  4. Joe

    Hi Susan
    Not a big Doyel fan but he made some sense in his recent article regarding Westbrook being the main problem for the Thunder these finals so far.He has played especially the first quarters out of control somewhat jacking up poor shots and making untimely passes.To add to the problem he has shot more fg’s than the much more accurate Durant these playoffs at a 43% clip and 32% for 3 pointers.For the season he has a less than stellar 5.5 assists and a 1.53 assist/to rate.Russell is clearly supremely talented and if he can shore up these issues for the rest of the series they will be world champs.Can you see where I’m coming from?

    • Susan Bible

      The critics have been on Westbrook again, but I’m not laying it all on him. Take Game 2, LeBron made it his personal mission to shut down Durant (six points in the first half), not to mention Battier’s contributions. Miami is an excellent defensive team. So who else does Westbrook throw it to…he’s got two of the best defensive guys in the league, Sefolosha on the wing and Perkins low, and Ibaka who isn’t necessarily consistent. I agree that Westbrook started panicking when his and Durant’s shots weren’t falling. To their credit they do seem to figure it out at halftime. You can’t slight Westbrook with these stats averaged over both games: 27 points, nine assists, .401 field goal shooting, two turnovers (amazing improvement) and eight rebounds. He flirted with triple-doubles in both games. All of that said, they have got to start these games better, i.e. with more control and confidence. And I don’t get why Harden comes in so late, especially when it’s clear the offense is stagnant. Collison, too – he was so effective in Game 1 yet playes six minutes less in Game 2.

      Westbrook is an attack player and a shoot-first guard. His play has gotten them to the NBA Finals. They’ve got to figure out why everything goes badly in the first six-to-eight minutes in these games. It’s not like Durant didn’t get the ball – he attempted nine shots to Westbrook’s ten. And the free-throw situation. They’re the best in the league, yet they missed seven in each game. Strange.

  5. LSO

    Hey, Susan – I think our Thunder will pull it out and do well in Miami and close out the series. I do wish it’d be in OKC though. BTW, why are the Finals in a 2-3-2 format rather than the Playoffs’ 2-2-1-1-1?

    • Susan Bible

      I can’t see the Thunder winning all three in Miami, so I say you get your wish for a series win back in Oklahoma City. That would be great, huh?

      The reason they do the 2-3-2 format in the Finals is so the unreal amount of media coverage has to just travel across the country twice. In conference finals, it’s not as difficult for media, equipment, etc. to travel, say, back and forth from Oklahoma City to San Antonio; quite a different story to potentially haul all that stuff back and forth and back and forth and back from, say, Los Angeles to Boston.

  6. Alex in Burbank

    Hi Susan, I can’t help but laugh at Westbrook and Durant’s wardrobe during press conferences after games. What in the world are they wearing and why? Even Connan O’Brian(link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9rsBsd5t2I) was making fun of their wardrobe. What’s going on here? Am I just old and what was consired GEEKY in my era is now HIP?

    • Susan Bible

      Yep, it’s a fashion statement. I have to say, Durant’s been looking like a sharp-dressed man in the Finals’ post-game conferences, but I am not feeling Westbrook’s shirts. However, I have to respect his freedom of expression. He will surely look back at these photos twenty years from now and cringe just as I do when I look back and see myself in painter’s pants or teased-up bangs or Sally Jessy big red glasses (and I did wear them!)

      As for the glasses, I’ve been used to the two of them wearing big, colored glasses for a while now. Again, they see it as a fashion accessory. Westbrook’s wild shirts are new though. I would describe his post-game wardrobe over the years as nerd-chic (sweater vests over polos or checkered long-sleeves), but these paint-splattered and fishing lure shirts is a new direction.

  7. LSO

    One more thing….I saw you on FSN following both Finals Games BUT my brother, who lives in Africa, saw you on ESPN. How does it feel to sort of be an international reporter?? I thought it was cool to hear you identify yourself with HOOPSWORLD along with the USA Today, CBS Sports, ESPN, etc., sportswriters. How did it feel from your perspective?

    • Susan Bible

      I have to say, I did not know live cameras would be pointed at me when asking a question at the post-game pressers. I’ve heard my voice on NBA TV and the radio before, but never television. These Finals are a whole new ballgame! It was pretty cool hearing from so many people via text and email that they saw me. I’ve been slightly star-struck seeing and meeting other writers that I have respected for so long. The amount of stateside and international press here in unbelievable. They issued 400-500 press credentials.

  8. William The Greatest Faulkner

    Do you feel sorry for Westbrook at times? He’s the best all around player on the Thunder, Durant was nonexistent vs Mavs while Westbrook played out of his mind, and yet he gets no credit and is always the scapegoat. Why hasn’t the media focused its attention on its poster boy’s slow starts in the Finals and on missing the last shot yesterday. Fair or not, if Dirk or even lebron would have missed that shot they would have caught heat 24/7 in the media.

    • Susan Bible

      I do feel for Westbrook and have for a while. I’m guessing Durant’s “good guy” reputation plays into it.

      However, I sure wouldn’t say Durant was non-existent vs. Dallas: Game 1 – 25 points, six rebounds / Game 2 – 26 points, ten rebounds, 14-of-16 in free throws / Game 3 – 31 points, .733 FG% six assists, four threes / Game 4 – 24 points, 11 rebounds, .500 FG% (note: Westbrook had 12 points and .250 FG%).

      Check this out: This season (playoffs, too) OKC is 29-8 and scores more points per 100 possessions (109) when Westbrook attempts more field goal attempts than Durant. On the other hand, when Durant takes more, they are 27-14 and average 106.1 points per 100 possessions.

      As for the missed last shot, all focus turned to the fact it was a no-call foul.

  9. Jim in CyberSpace

    Correct me if I’m wrong Susan. This is the first time in Major League Sports History that two no “esses” teams have faced off in the finals???
    Both Singular…Thunder, Heat, Jazz, Magic, Avalance, Wild…etc
    I know Clay Bennett really wanted a name with an “s”. It seems “Thunder” has worked out ok.
    There are so many layers going on. Both force’s of Nature. “Heat vs Thunder”. I’m a fan, aren’t you?

    • Susan Bible

      I just heard that very fact on sports radio. The “forces of nature” thing is pretty cool, I agree. When the OKC name and colors were revealed, I wasn’t too thrilled, though I get the sentiment. I just like teams with an “s” on the end. I still think saying “The Thunder” sounds awkward after all this time. I like the blue just fine (same color as our state flag), but not a fan of the orange. When Bennett introduced it, he “said it’s not too red and it’s not too orange” – of course, that was a nod to OU and OSU fans. However, it has really turned into a blatant orange. (And yes, diehard OU fan here)

  10. Devonte

    what do u make of phil jackson ripping the knicks and saying he wouldnt coach them?

    • Susan Bible

      Jackson tells it like it is. I think he said something like “the players don’t fit well together.” Hard to argue that point.

  11. Steve

    Susan,
    Obviously the Thunder will never get anywhere with KD and RW together. When will they trade Westbrook? LOL

    • Susan Bible

      Exactly. The Thunder just won’t reach any success with Westbrook and Durant playing together, right? LOL

  12. Shawn

    What’s your take on Tristan Thompson of the Cavs and what caliber of a player do you see him as in 5 years?

    • Susan Bible

      That’s difficult to say with just one year under his belt. His 8.2 ppg and 6.5 rebounds were pretty good for 23.7 minutes. Problems are his field goal shooting of .439 which isn’t great for a guy primarily shooting at the rim and foul shooting (.552). He needs to bulk up some, too, to go against stronger power forwards/centers. I don’t see star potential, but he could definitely evolve into a solid player. Bottom line, we need to see more to say where he’ll be in five years.

  13. Philip Fletcher

    I feel that K.D. is the beat player in the world, he makes everything look effortless,still i am kind of partial to U.T. players, what do you think is he better than L.B.J.?

    • Susan Bible

      While you’re partial to UT players, I’m partial to Thunder players :) I’ll never minimize James’ talent – he’s an incredible two-way player – but I’ll take Durant with his age, still-developing potential, clutch play, length, leadership and pure likability.

  14. Shawn

    Am I the only one who thinks Kendall Marshall is severely underrated and has Mark Jackson written all over him? Most mocks have him going 17 to Dallas. That is ridiculous. If I’m the Hornets or the Blazers, I’d take him at 10 (11 for Portland) and not hesitate. Mark Jackson throwing lobs to the next Kevin Garnett? Yes please. Your thoughts?

  15. Steve

    Susan,
    Presti has been great at building the Thunder, but is it not really a simple and obvious strategy that most every team could emulate?

    • Susan Bible

      Lottery teams can follow the strategy if they understand it’s a process that will take years, and if they have the guts to rid themselves of still-good players (like Presti did with Ray Allen)….and…this is a biggie: excellent talent evaluating. Remember how the NBA world was surprised when they took Westbrook so high and Ibaka in the first round?

  16. charlie

    Hi Susan – Any idea how good is Brandon Roy when he comes back? 75% of his old self? Any chance he’ll play for the Lakers? Thanks

    • Susan Bible

      Brandon Roy took to twitter yesterday (via Will Conroy) and answered a series of questions. Check Kennedy’s story on it this morning: http://www.hoopsworld.com/nba-saturday-which-picks-are-available Rumor has it he can play, and play well. Whether or not he’ll be 100%, I don’t know. The Lakers and Mavs have been connected to his name lately. I hear he’s still undergoing knee treatments.

  17. charlie

    How realistic is Lamar Odom’s prospect of playing for the Lakers next year? Lots of buzz in LA – generated by Lamar’s camp?

    • Susan Bible

      It wouldn’t surprise me…there’s even talk about Ariza returning.

      Guys, thanks for the questions this morning. See you again next week!