NBA Chat With Yannis 11/30/12

1. Deven

   We all know Pop is a great coach and it was understandable last year to sit the Big Three due to the compressed season, but why would he sit his guys on a national TV game against the defending champs? Alot people were really disappointed about this, including myself. What are your thoughts?

   • Yannis Koutroupis

     Welcome everyone to this week’s chat! Let’s get to it.

     It’s one game out of 82. It was the timing more than anything, not the opponent. The Spurs are going to be at full strength against the Memphis Grizzlies tomorrow. Doesn’t that game intrigue you just as much? Pop didn’t do anything wrong.

2. Bryan

   After another poor outing by Dwayne wade is it time for HEAT to convince him to be like manu and come off the bench

   • Yannis Koutroupis

     No. That’s a drastic change to make when you’re coming off a championship run and aren’t having any serious issues this year. As Haslem told me, you don’t want to play your best at this time of year.

3. Queenslander

   Hi Yannis

   When is the Almighty Dirkules making his triumphant return?

   • Yannis Koutroupis

     Still no timetable, although I expect we’ll see him in December at some point. Love the nickname Dirkules, if he was Greek that’d be gold.

4. Peter

   2 part question for ya Yannis. If your the Warriors don’t you wish you could go back to draft night and draft Drummond instead of Barnes? I wanted them to just for the sake of having acquired an injury prone center that you just gambled on trading your then franchise player in Ellis for. No disrespect to Barnes. His ceiling is high but everyone knows finding a solid scoring small forward in this league is much easier to find then a potential franchise center.

   I really think Drummond would be in the ROY race with Davis and Lillard because he would be getting major minutes on the Warriors right now. Possibly averaging a double double on a playoff team. I wish the Pistons would just let him loose and just develop all their young guys and acquire a top 3 pick in the process. I see OKC potential in Detroit with one more piece from next years draft. Thoughts?

   • Yannis Koutroupis

     The thing is the Warriors wanted to win now and Drummond doesn’t help them do that. Ezeli helps them more now than he would. Barnes was too good to pass on and a steal where they got him.

     Drummond is definitely a promising prospect. I don’t think there’s OKC potential in Detroit right now. The culture isn’t right and there’s no bonafide star player, which is the most vital part of following the OKC blueprint.

5. calvinzero

   Is there a possibility that the Lakers trade Gasol??

   This is the rumor:

   Derrick Williams, J.J. Barea, Jonas Jerebko and Trevor Ariza goes to Lakers

   Kim English and Pau Gasol goes to Timberwolves

   Charlie Villanueva, Nikola Pekovic and Chris Duhon goes to Wizards

   Emeka Okafor goes to Pistons

   • Yannis Koutroupis

     The Lakers are not about to gamble on Derrick Williams with their championship window wide open. They’re better off with a struggling Gasol than Williams, who Minny has tried to send them a few times now.

6. Wil

   Hi Yannis, is there a reason for concern regarding how the Warriors handled the Bogut issue? Is this an issue of a lack of integrity by the front office or hopeful exuberance that blinded them to reality? Which is worse?

   • Yannis Koutroupis

     I’m not sure which it is, but the dishonesty is definitely troubling. As a fan I’d be upset for being misled. As a new season ticket holder I’d be furious. It could be problematic for them to gain that trust back.

7. Cole

   Do you think Ray Allen is a legitimate 6th Man of the Year Candidate?

   • Yannis Koutroupis

     Yes, but I’m not sure he’s going to be able to beat out Crawford.

8. Mutangclan

   Hey Yannis, I’m really curious what you hear or see happening in Detroit. They obviously are not a very good team, almost assuredly aren’t looking at a playoff berth, and are young. Singler is a nice find, and a solid smart starter. But why or when does Drummond get on the court??? They have scorers, they need defending, and rebounding ALWAYS makes a team better! If you’re competing and sit the rook, I get it. But when you stink, release the rookie beasts!!

   • Yannis Koutroupis

     I just don’t think they’re at the point yet where they are ready to make this a development season for a guy like Drummond, although I can’t say I agree with it because he’s too talented to be sitting as much as he is right now. He’s a major part of their future and looks right now like he can handle the ups and downs that come from learning under fire.

9. Ryan

   Hey Yannis! What’s up playas! U think the Laker’s will be a force to be reckoned with come playoff time or are they just pretenders?

   Thanks bro, enjoy the chats.

   • Yannis Koutroupis

     I definitely think that they will be. This is a team that has been without their top two point guards for the majority of the season in an offense that relies on great point guard play. Once Nash and Blake come back, we should see a much better team that improves at a higher rate than they are right now.

10. alex

    Hey Yannis. Always great chats. As a raptors fan i can’t help feellike the pietrus pickup is a band aid on a bullet hole. If you were BC, which sf would you target with the trade chips you have (Bargs, Calderon, Ed Davis, Ross ect.) Who could be a potential trade partner and which players would be in play. Thanks so much.

    • Yannis Koutroupis

      Thanks! I’d give Tayshaun Prince some consideration if I was BC. I don’t think he’d cost a ton, and could be the kind of veteran presence this team needs.

      That’s it for me this week folks. I’ll be back next week at the same time.