NBA Chat With Yannis 8/26/11

1. Alvin

   In Bill Ingram’s chat, he suggested Chuck Hayes may be the best pound for pound defender in the NBA. Can you name a few other players that would fit the same criteria? Great defenders but don’t necessarily have NBA size/length.

   • Yannis Koutroupis

     Welcome everyone to this week’s chat. This is my first one on the new system so hold on tight let’s hope this goes well.

     Chuck Hayes is a real rarity. You don’t see players who are that undersized have as much success as he does defensively. As far as other guys like him, though, I think that Paul Millsap is decent defensively considering that he’s on the small side. J.J. Barea and Earl Boykins are vulnerable to post ups, but also do a nice job defensively considering what they have to work with. Just to throw a couple more names: Dahntay Jones and Tony Allen.

2. aaron

   is there a rule that states that all media outlets and nba sites have to declare lebron/lefraud the best player in the nba even though anyone who actually knows basketball knows that he isn’t even top 5?

   • Yannis Koutroupis

     If there is I’m certainly not aware of it. Stating that LeBron James isn’t top five is simply insane. If I’m starting a franchise right now, he’s the guy I want first before anybody else. At this point and time nobody in the league is capable of more on both ends of the court. LeBron guarantees you a playoff appearance and he’s already proven that he can put a team on his back and carry them further than expected. He’s disliked by a lot of people and they make the mistake of letting that influence their opinion of him as a basketball player. However, take the off the court stuff off of the table and you’ve got the league’s premier individual talent.

3. Anthony Gonzalez

   Praying the wolves land adelman… Any thoughts on a Beas or Wes for Favors? Seems that would alleviate the big man log jam the Jazz have created and give the wolves a potential future front court mate for love.

   • Yannis Koutroupis

     They have to get Adelman, I don’t think there’s any other way to put it. He brings credibility and the ability to get the most out of the least, which are two qualities the Wolves desperately need from their head coach. This is a big year for David Kahn. Serious improvements have to be made and there’s nobody I would feel more comfortable with coaching with my job on the line that’s out there right now than Adelman. I’m really intrigued to see what he can do with this team because there is some nice young potential. I think he could really thrive there and get the Timberwolves on the right track. Something that is very important is that he communicates and gets along well with everyone there in the organization. That was one of Rambis’ downfalls, but of course all the losing didn’t help much either.

4. Maurice

   What is Larry Sanders position?
   is Terrence Ross a top 10 sg prospect

   • Yannis Koutroupis

     Larry Sanders is a power forward. He’s got a frame that can support more weight, but I don’t see him ever playing center in anything other than small ball situations. He’s dedicated to improving his all-around game, being able to hit the face up jumper and the things that a power forward needs to do. As far as Ross goes, he’s not on my top ten yet but he’s on the radar.

5. anthony

   am i the only 1 complaining about the new hoopsworld format? at home on th laptop its a lil better . but mobile it was better when you can scroll the screen real quick and find whats new. seemed like it was more simple mobile wise

   • Yannis Koutroupis

     The complaints don’t really come to me, so I can’t answer that question positively. Your concerns have been noted and passed on to those who can do something about them, though. We have an app on the android market, you should give that a try!

6. John

   PLZZ tell me that you think the kings will make the playoffs next year and that tyreke will be an allstar!

   • Yannis Koutroupis

     It’s a possibility, but I’m not going to go as far as saying that I think it is going to happen. I was on the Kings’ bandwagon big time last year and they really let me down. The potential is definitely there, but they’re going to have to do a better job of winning games. They’ve got talent to be competitive through three quarters, but in the fourth when it comes to executing properly and playing mature they leave a lot to be desired. Experience and age helps cure that, and they’ve got more of each after last year.

7. Will

   Al Jefferson for R.Jefferson + pick/fillers. Who says no? I know AJ is far from appreciated but i think that he can mature next to TD and Pop

   • Yannis Koutroupis

     I know that Utah has a handful of young, talented bigs right now and a potential hole at the small forward position depending on what happens with Kirilenko. However, I just don’t think that Jefferson is going to be the guy they invest in. His contract is pretty unattractive and he’s played horrible basketball over the last two years. Say what you want about the fit in the system and learning his role, Jefferson’s been a major disappointment as a Spur. He should have been better. Popovich and company have done everything they can to get him integrated properly and they just can’t seem to find a way to make it work. That would scare me away if I was Utah. Kanter and Favors aren’t ready to lead the way inside right now. I’d hold onto Al until I was sure they were ready to explode. Honestly, I’d trade Millsap first just because I value Al’s ability to play center.

8. Mynor

   I hope I’m wrong, but just don’t see what I saw in Chris Paul, in Kyrie Irving…

   • Yannis Koutroupis

     Well, you have to remember that Paul stayed for longer than just one season at Wake Forest and he didn’t have to go through any kind of major injury like Irving did. Irving has great potential. Even if he doesn’t end up being as great as Paul, he could still end up being very good. Paul is on his way to being one of the greats, the Cavs don’t need Irving to be CP3. They need him to be the best Kyrie Irving he can be.

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

9. aaron

   wow, i’m going to have to strongly disagree with your assertion that lebron is a two way player…thats just another media fabrication. and i’m sure dirk has something to say about who’s the best in the league

   • Yannis Koutroupis

     I have no reason to fabricate anything when it comes to LeBron. It’s not like he’s been the most incredible interview I’ve ever had, that we’re friends or that I cover his team and am worried about the negative feedback I’ll get from saying something degrading about him. Speaking from a basketball analysts’ standpoint, I wouldn’t have a leg to stand on if I tried to deny LeBron’s greatness. No, he hasn’t won a championship. Yes, he could have played better in the Finals. But he’s young and only going to get better. Dirk failed in the Finals before. So did Kobe. It happens. It’s about how you bounce back, and I think LBJ is coming back with a vengeance.