NBA Chat With Travis Heath 1/29/13

1. MICHAEL

   Your thoughts on Garnett finishing his career with McHale as coach. Do the numbers match up trading him to Houston without Houston breaking up their core?

   • Travis Heath

     Hello everyone. Hope life is treating you well. Let’s talk some hoops!

     This would certainly be a Hollywood ending, but I don’t think Garnett is going to help put Houston over the top. Also, Garnett is clearly not the same player he was even a couple of seasons ago. Houston is a young basketball team. Adding a player like K.G. at the end of his career at $12.4 million for next season wouldn’t be at the top of my to-do list. I like the idea of having veteran players to help mentor young guys, but not at that price tag. It’s more likely that a team that is once piece away from a title chases a player like Garnett, and the Rockets are more than one player away. Not sure the Celtics move him at all.

2. John

   Howcome you never do the hoopsworld tv thingie like the other staff on this website?

   • Travis Heath

     Because I have a face that’s tailor-made for radio. ☺

     In all seriousness, I might do some down the track. At the moment my schedule is really tight with my many other obligations which makes it next to impossible to find time.

3. Cain

   Paul George seems to have worked out his issues on the road, but what is wrong with the Pacers team as a whole? What sort of ceiling does Lance Stephenson have?

   • Travis Heath

     It was a tough loss last night for the Pacers, but I actually think they are in fairly good shape as a unit. To be in the fifth seed with Granger not playing is pretty darned good. I think it’s very possible they finish in the top-four in the conference. Are they a championship team? No, but they have a lot of nice young pieces that have room to grow, and with George’s emergence might have some interesting trade options with Granger should they choose to go that route.

     As for Stephenson, consider me less than impressed. I like his size for position and the talent is obvious, but he is woefully inconsistent. You see him play a game like he did last night in Denver where he did a little bit of everything and it gets you excited. Problem is, he’ll often follow that up with a performance where he does next to nothing to impact the game. The biggest thing I’ve noticed with him is that if his offense isn’t going, he doesn’t do much else (i.e. he’ll stop defending and rebounding). This is a tough riddle for many young players to solve, so he’s not alone.

4. dennis

   Someone needs to tell coach dunlap that no one denefits from playing henderson at four for streches and gordon at three!

   They need to make a trade. They could get real value for a guy like sessions, he is having a phenomenal season, or a guy like hnederson, he ll be useful for a team like minessota.

   Any thoughts?

   • Travis Heath

     That roster in Charlotte is poorly constructed. Dunlap is trying to make chicken soup out of chicken… well, you know. I would argue that the Bobcats need to make more than one trade. This team is still a couple of years away from where they need to be in terms of personnel. Hopefully the Bobcats stick with Dunlap because he’s a really good coach. I like Kidd-Gilchrist and Kemba Walker is putting together a nice little season. Beyond that, not much excites me.

5. Prismelk

   Do you think the Spurs can win it all with their current roster this year? Thanks!

   • Travis Heath

     I think they can win it all, but they certainly aren’t my favorite to do so. That said, reports of the Spurs’ demise have been greatly exaggerated. People have been pronouncing them too old for at least six seasons now and it seems that every year they are legitimate contenders. This season is no different. There is no better coach at managing a team in the regular season in preparation for the playoffs than Gregg Popovich. In the end, I just think Miami and Oklahoma City are better basketball teams.

6. Prismelk

   Who is the best (not just talentwise) at 24 years old, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James or Kevin Durant? Thanks!

   • Travis Heath

     Not sure what exactly you mean by “not just talentwise.” LeBron James is the best athlete for his size who has ever played in the NBA and has the most diverse skill-set out of those three players. So if I scouted these players on overall skill-set, give me LeBron. Kobe brings a different psychological/competitive edge to the game that few have ever had. When you combine that with his scoring ability you have something truly special. What makes Durant so unique is his combination of height, length and a quick release on his shot. If I saw all three as 24 year olds and was starting a team from scratch, I would take LeBron because he can do the most things.

7. Deven

   Dr. Heath, how far do you think the Nuggets can go in the playoffs?

   • Travis Heath

     All depends on where they finish. If they get a top-four seed, I think they make it to the second round. If not, I think they’re one and done.

8. Deven

   I know your not a medical doctor, but how devastating is Rondo’s injury not just towards the Celtics, but to fans all over the world in general?

   • Travis Heath

     ACL’s are not as devastating as they once were. Two decades ago, an ACL tear ended careers. Now, guys are usually back to full strength within 12-18 months and back on the court well before that. Also, Rondo doesn’t rely on being a high-riser, and he’s a smart player. In other words, he’s never been a player who relied on his athleticism alone. I think he’ll come back just fine. Frankly, I would be more concerned about a guy like Derrick Rose and his ACL than Rondo because Rose relies more on his athleticism. That said, I think Rose will bounce back just fine as well as his game has diversified over the years.

9. dave

   Travis, from what you know about Rondo’s injury (and his determined, sometimes stubborn–often stubborn–mindset), when do you think he’ll play again?

   • Travis Heath

     I think he’ll try to come back at the start of next season, but the doctors and other members of the staff may need to save him from himself. It’s likely the doctors will advise him to try it more a month or two into the season while avoiding back to backs. It’s important to remember though, that people recover at different rates

10. keeweekid

    PED’s and the NBA. With PED’s making news in baseball, football, & cycling, I will safely assume ped’s are in all sports. Do you think ped’s are widespread in the NBA and are there any BIG name players that the media types privately question and talk about amongst themselves but won’t write an article on due to lack of evidence?

    • Travis Heath

      I really do not believe PEDs are widespread in the NBA. I think it would be naive to assume they are completely absent from the sport, but I do not believe the use is widespread. Obviously, being really bulky isn’t advantageous for most basketball players. That said, the main advantage PEDs give an athlete is increased recovery and not added muscle. Increased recovery could be a huge advantage given the back-to-back games and the demands of the NBA schedule. I think the NBA should implement stringent testing policies, but in doing so, I believe it would show that very few NBA players are using such substances. It’s just not a part of the culture like it is/has been in other sports.

11. butter in my cup

    Whats your top 8 west and east teams at the end of the season? Lastly if u are starting a franchise who would u pick as a leader if they are all rookies:
    Klove
    Rondo
    Kyrie?

    • Travis Heath

      I don’t have time to rank my top 8 in both conferences in this format.

      As for who I would take out of the three choices you gave me, give my Kyrie. For one, he’s the youngest player on that list. Second and most importantly, I think he’s going to be outstanding. I see a lot of Chris Paul in Kyrie Irving. He’s a clutch player who can beat you in a lot of different ways. I really think he’s going to be a star for a long time.

12. the_NGUYENNER

    Any Nuggets trade deadline moves that you see? I personally want to buy low on Derrick Williams

    • Travis Heath

      I think the Nuggets will certainly be open to moving players prior to the deadline. I would anticipate Mozgov being moved. It is very unlikely they re-sign him, so they might as well get some value in return. Derrick Williams wouldn’t be my first choice for this team. He’s a player without a true position and the Nuggets already have a few guys in that mold. He does have a bundle of untapped potential, though. If the Nuggets do make a big splash, I would expect it come in underneath the radar just as it did last season when they acquired McGee.

13. funky dunky

    Will anyone still take a gamble on arenas? Yi? Iverson ( no dleague) and kenyon martin(nyc) ? Who do you think handles pressure better zen master or general popovic?

    • Travis Heath

      If someone takes a look at Arenas or Iverson, my bet is it would be on a 10-day contract. Not sure either player would be too open to that given their egos. Also, both players are so ball dominant that it would be hard to work either into an already existing offense. Yi is not an NBA player in my estimation, but with his Chinese roots a team looking to attract an international audience might always take a look.

      As for your second question, hard to choose between Phil Jackson and Popovich. Both are impervious to pressure.

14. brian from Portland

    Do u see thr blazers trading there second round picks for beasley?

    • Travis Heath

      Not a move I would make. Beasley is talented, but he never seems to be able to fit his talent into a team system long-term. He’s also a unique personality to attempt to manage. Probably not what Terry Stotts needs right now.

15. Robert

    Toronto Receives: Paul Millsap
    Boston Receives: Rudy Gay, Mo Williams, Sacramento 2nd Rounder via Toronto
    Memphis Receives: Paul Pierce, Jarred Sullinger
    Utah Receives: Kyle Lowry, Courtney Lee

    Salaries work and every team gets something they need. Thoughts?

    • Travis Heath

      It’s an interesting idea in principle. However, multi-team trades like this are so hard to consummate because there are so many moving parts. All it takes is one team that balks and the whole thing falls apart.

16. Tim

    Rudy Gay Rudy Gay Rudy Gay…thats all I hear these days. Can we give it a rest already?? Or is the trade front THAT quiet? Every year, everyone loves to speculate on a trade involving a big name player..and odds are it NEVER happens. What is your stance on this?

    • Travis Heath

      My stance on this is that trade rumors interest fans. Interested fans consume media. When media is consumed, advertising dollars can be generated. It all comes back to the dollar bill, my friend.

17. Paul

    Asik has been playing great, been shut down Jefferson and Lopez past 2 games. What are the chances Asik get recognized by being on the NBA all defensive team? Do you think the Rockets poor defense will keep Asik from being recognized?

    • Travis Heath

      Asik has been very solid. I’ve always liked what he brings to the table. Thing is, often players get these kinds of accolades based on reputation more than performance. Asik is not yet a household name, so that doesn’t help. Also, too often folks equate good defense with blocking a lot of shots or getting a lot of steals. This can represent good defense, but it can also represent horrible position defense, among other things.

18. eric

    Does Bogut make us a 3rd seed in the West next year with a healthy Rush coming back? Are we able to sign Jack and Carl to reasonable ext?

    • Travis Heath

      A healthy Bogut helps, no doubt. Whether or not he can stay healthy is the major question. Also, I think the Warriors have overachieved a bit, which is a credit to Mark Jackson and his staff. I’m not sure they are quite as good as their record indicates. I feel much more comfortable saying the Warriors can be in the mix for a top-four seed with a healthy Bogut next season. The West is tough.

      And by the way, the Warriors should be aiming to make noise this season. They are in the mix for a top-four seed right now. No guarantee that happens again next season. Windows of opportunity can close quickly and without warning. The Portland Trail Blazers of a few years ago with Brandon Roy, Greg Oden & Co. reminded us of that.

      Have to run, folks. Thanks for playing along. If I missed your question, hopefully we’ll catch up next time. Feel free to hit me up on Twitter @DrTravisHeath in the meantime.