NBA New Year’s Eve Chat With Bill Ingram

1. dennis

   I know that the bobcats lack talent and i also know that the only healthy pf right now in their roster is warrick BUT they cannot play with such small lineups. I mean that they play gilchrist only 4-5 minutes at his natural spot and all the other time they use him as pf. Yesterday vs hornets (p.s. Bring back the buzZ!) for a small strech they had walker, sessions, gordon, henderson and warrick!! Why dont they trade someone like hendo for a pick or a pf?? 18 straight losses. We are desperate!!

   • Bill Ingram

     Good Morning and Happy New Year, everyone!As someone who has a lot of family in the Charlotte area and covers Bobcats games every season, I feel you. Keep in mind, this is a the beginning of a rebuild under Rich Cho, who worked with Sam Presti before getting out on his own. The Bobcats are still a couple of pieces away, and they’re going to have high draft picks to help them land those pieces. You’re right, though. The lineups are hard to understand at times and they desperately miss Mullens. I do think the Bobcats will be the Hornets again once New Orleans adopts their bizarre new name. Brown Pelicans? LOL

2. Jim in CyberSpace

   I remember early in the Season Kevin Harlin started to explain what that orange spot of Hair is on Thabeet’s head…but he got distracted….

   Can you tell me, please. I don’t lose sleep over it…but every-time I see him on TV…I keep wondering….

   It’s Urban Legand at this point…it hasn’t always been there.

   • Bill Ingram

     No, he dyed it to honor of his family members in his tribe back in Africa. He plans to keep it that color all season.

3. Jim in CyberSpace

   What about Clyde Drexler “punking” Vinny Del Negro during the game with OKC.

   Bill Worrell mentioned the potential of VDN being coach of the West in the All Star game and Clyde said without a pause…he’s got CP3 and BG…Elmer Fudd could…etc…then he start’s talking about how much he likes Vinny.

   I’m still laughing. And then Bill says something about Elmer having a nice run…

   • Bill Ingram

     I loved Clyde as a player, but honestly, he is really bad as an analyst. Magic Johnson was, too. More Matt Bullard, please!!!

4. Deven

   Would the Rockets really consider trading Jeremy Lin?

   • Bill Ingram

     They have an awful lot invested in him, both from a marketing standpoint and a monetary standpoint. Not sure another team wants to swallow that third year unless Lin can find some level of consistency. I don’t believe the Rockets are shopping him, anyway. Too soon.

5. Deven

   I know this might be a longshot, but, if the Celtics still have a losing record and continue to struggle, how likely is it that Coach Rivers gets fired? And should the Celtics consider making a big trade by the deadline?

   • Bill Ingram

     I was just talking to Jessica Camerato, who used to cover the Celtics for us and is now with WEEI in Boston, about that. I have a hard time seeing Rivers as the problem. The team is just dreadfully bad. The talent doesn’t match, KG is getting older by the second, Jeff Green was their big (re)addition and he’s been awful. It would be like firing Rick Carlisle in Dallas because the Mavs are terrible . . .he had nothing to do with their bad roster decisions.

6. Deven

   Which team has the better bench: Clippers, Warriors or another team?

   • Bill Ingram

     Imagine the Warriors with Bogut and Rush healthy! I have to go with the Clippers, with Crawford having another Sixth Man year. Their bench is so good it doesn’t matter that Lamar Odom is still lost in La La Land.

7. Deven

   Has the culture really changed in Golden State? Coach Jackson did preach defense, didn’t he?

   • Bill Ingram

     What’s happened in Golden State is that the roster is starting to reflect the defensive mindset. It’s one thing to preach defense, but the front office has to give you pieces that work well together defensively. The Warriors have that now, especially with Ellis gone.

8. Wil

   Hi Bill, happy New Year’s Eve and thanks for the chat. For Cleveland, although struggling to win games, their young players seem to be coming along nicely. Thinking ahead, what two veterans would you want them to target to continue their development?

   • Bill Ingram

     Honestly, I don’t want them to target veterans particularly. Some young teams need that, but with Kyrie playing like a veteran already the Cavs might not. It wouldn’t hurt to have a Grant Hill type, someone who is a vocal leader and has been around, but there aren’t a lot of those guys available. Tayshaun Prince might be available, but he’s not a vocal guy. Maybe Rip Hamilton, though he would have to accept a reserve role to keep Waiters on the court as much as possible. I love the Cavs 2 years down the road, and applaud Byron Scott for not bailing on the team after LeBron left. He’s been just the right guy for the rebuild, even though it’s killing his career record.

9. Oliver from Germany

   Hey Bill,
   I just checked the Team Stats on NBA.COM I was looking for correlations between Team success and Team Stats. The Most obvious correlation was between positive rebound differential and Team winning percentage. i am a Big Phoenix Suns Fan and Know for sure they had a negative rebound differential all those Great Nash Years. Do you think winning a Title without Great rebounding
   is possible? Happy New Year

   • Bill Ingram

     I think you can win without being a top rebounding team, but it’s definitely difficult to do so. Rebounds get you fast break points, and teams that win on an elite level tend to be teams that get stops, grab rebounds, and get out on the break for easy baskets. Rick Carlisle preaches this constantly. He doesn’t want to run plays, as opposing teams are always sitting on those. Every team knows every other team’s plays, so half court is more about having enough talent to overcome the defense when it knows what’s coming. That’s where Kobe, LeBron, Durant, Dirk, etc are so important. You just can’t stop them very often. When you get boards you have a chance to score before the defense is set up, and that’s how elite teams generally do it.

10. Lior

    Many in HOU see the Rockets making the playoffs. Their 5-12 conference record keeps me from being as optimistic. How do you see things play out?

    • Bill Ingram

      That’s a tough call, more because it depends on other teams in the conference as much as anything else. The Rockets have been winning the games they’re supposed to win, like taking out the road-weary Grizzlies the other night, but struggle with teams that actually defend Harden, like San Antonio and OKC. So many teams in the West are having injury issues that it’s hard to say where things will stand once everyone gets healthy. I don’t expect Houston to have a better record than the Lakers or Timberwolves, for example. I thought Dallas would be better than they have been, and they might be once Dirk is healthy. The Nuggets are certainly going to benefit from their January slate of home games. If the Lakers get it together, Denver wins their home games and Minnesota gets healthy, Houston could be the ninth seed again. I’m hesitant to drink the Houston Kool-Aide this year . . .it’s gone sour on me down the stretch more often than not.

11. Stantonia

    What’s the deal with Antawn Jamison? He was doing well as far as I remember. Now I see all those DNP coach’s decision. He sacrificed so pay to come to the Lakers…

    • Bill Ingram

      Aren’t we all? Jamison is, too! A couple of weeks ago everyone was saying they should trade Gasol and start Jamison, now Antawn can’t get in a game. He is a better fit for the D’Antoni system. Perhaps they have a deal in the works and aren’t playing him so he won’t get injured . . .like the Cavs seems to be doing with Varejao.

12. Peter

    Happy New Year Bill! Any big plans for Hoopsworld.com in 2013?
    Who do you think will be the next coach for the Nets? I like JVG, but not sure if D-will will like his offense. VanGundy is known for his defense not his offense.

    • Bill Ingram

      Thanks! I know USA Today has big plans for their online sports presence, and we’re the biggest part of their NBA plan, so I’m sure there will be interesting things happening. My choice for the Nets would be Nate McMillan, but it sounds like the Nets might wait until the end of the season to make a change. PJ has them playing well for now, and that might be enough. Hard to implement a whole new system mid-season because there is so little practice time. What they need most of all is someone who can get in tight with D-Will and manage that ego. Nate could do that, having worked so well with Gary Payton, the ultimate egomaniac.

13. Jim

    I haven’t seen a Mavs team this bad since the pre-Cuban era. Even when Dirk is back to full speed, the team will still struggle to make the playoffs. Are there any moves they can make to improve?

    • Bill Ingram

      Considering they are again focused on free agency (Dwight Howard), I think a big move is unlikely. They don’t rebound, they don’t defend and they turn the ball over like it was a positive stat they were trying to own. It’s been hard to watch . . .

14. livebythethree

    How good would a spot shooter or Eric Gordon look on the Pacers roster? Danny Grainger for Gordon?

    • Bill Ingram

      Kevin Pritchard is holding David Morway’s line on Danny Granger . . .they aren’t dealing him. The Hornets aren’t looking to move Gordon, either. But you’re right – the Pacers still need a lights-out shooter like the ones they have pursued in recent years.

15. Dave

    Bill, will the Rockets trade Royce White, and what could they expect to get for him? Would Boston be a good fit? The Celts need something. Bradley’s return should help a lot, but he will no doubt take time to get up to speed.

    • Bill Ingram

      How buried will the Celtics be when Bradley gets 100% healthy? That’s the question. Hard to say what Houston could get for White because other teams have been watching the show in Houston. White may or may not have a career in the NBA, given his issues with travel, and teams know Houston has to do something, so they will not want to give up much in a deal. If White can actually play, he would be a great benefit to Boston or really any other team. The kid can flat out ball, and can give you minutes at five positions. Problem is, if he can’t get to the arena where your games are it doesn’t matter how much talent he has. They wind up waiving him, he signs with OKC, and turns into an All-Star to spite Houston.

16. Jonathan

    Any teams that are in the playoff picture now that won’t be there at the end of the season, any that are not in now that will be there? Ex. Dallas.

    • Bill Ingram

      I do believe in the greatness of Dirk Nowitzki, but I’m not sold the team around him is good enough to dig their way out of the big hole they’re in. I think the Lakers will make the playoffs now that Nash is healthy. They will make a tweak to the roster that gets them over the hump. I can also see Portland making the playoffs if Minny can’t stay healthy or another team falls off. Philly and Toronto are my teams in the East. The Raptors are much better with Bargs out of the lineup and is Bynum gets healthy the Sixers will push someone out . . .perhaps Boston.

17. thomas

    Do you think the Hornets go “all in” with Austin Rivers and try and develop him and then over pay in two years, or trade him for a future second round pick?

    • Bill Ingram

      Those are my only two options? LOL. That’s like saying, “If I buy a lottery ticket today, will I win $100 million or go bankrupt and live under a bridge?” I think they develop Rivers and pay him according to that development. Dell Demps is not likely to overpay anyone under 7′ tall.

18. yomas

    How does Victor Olidape from Indiana project in NBA? Seems a bit like a Rondo without the length but more shooting touch.

    • Bill Ingram

      He sure looks like a solid prospect, currently ranked in the 96th percentile offensively and a master of the half court game. He needs to work on his defense, as he’s only 43rd percentile on that side of the ball, but a team looking for someone who can get out and run when the opportunity comes (76th percentile in transition offense) but can also keep the offensive going in half court sets would do well to take a long look at Victor.

19. ray

    if kings trade cousins could houston get him not including harden, parson, lin, and asik in the deal these 4 guys are keys to rockets success this season and with cousins could be a good playoff team for years to come.

    • Bill Ingram

      Unlikely. No team is going to trade a starting center for scraps, and I would think any deal with Sacramento would almost have to include Asik as a starter to the discussion. I know Smart is still very high on Cousins, and hopefully his latest session of Tough Love will help DC get with the program.

20. Jordan

    What do the Jazz have to do to become a contender in the west? Is it time to blow it up and really start building around these younger guys? Even if it means shipping out both Milsap and Jefferson?

    • Bill Ingram

      Just about the time I think the Jazz need to deal Jefferson he has a dominant game like last night and I wonder if Kanter is really ready. I think they could deal Millsap in a package for a starting PG and improve immediately, but that doesn’t make them contenders unless they were to land someone game-changing like Rondo or maybe Calderon (who seems unmovable at the moment). An elite playmaker would help Utah immensely . . .but they don’t look like a team that’s going to contend this season without a major All-Star addition, and there aren’t many moves like that to be had.

21. Dennis Pulliam

    Is the Lakers looking to add anything to this roster to improve it like a sf?

    • Bill Ingram

      I believe they will deal either Gasol or Jamison before the deadline in an effort to land that missing piece, yes.

22. Jessy

    Who you belive could be the pefect fit in a trade for the Rox?

    • Bill Ingram

      I love the idea of Al Jefferson playing alongside Asik in the front court . . .the Rockets need another big body who can score in the post. That said, if they don’t get the turnovers under control there isn’t a trade that will help them. Perhaps adding Jefferson would allow them to slow down a bit and take better care of each possession knowing they have a lethal half court threat down low.

23. Ismail

    What value does Andrea Bargnani have around the league? Despite his defense lulls are there GM’s that would overlook that based on his offensive potential?

    • Bill Ingram

      I would think so, though the offers are not exactly falling out of the sky at the moment. The Raptors are better without Bargs, meaning other GMs know that Colangelo needs to make a move, and will be reluctant to make great offers.

24. tim

    happy new years bill.

    What to do with Amare? This clearly seems to be melos team and the knicks are rolling. Is it possible for the knicks to showcase amare for a few games and hope some team is desperate enough to take him during the trade deadline? Is that a realistic scenario? I know the trade market is slim but Amare is still a talented athlete with star power. Your thoughts?

    • Bill Ingram

      Alright, last question, everyone. Had a ton this morning, and tried to get something about every team. I know that Amar’e is more concerned about winning than anything else, and is willing to come off the bench or even just sit to get a shot at a championship. Attitude is everything, and he seems to have the right one. I understand the concern for Knicks fans, but adding a healthy All-Star power forward to the bench is never a bad thing. VERY unlikely anyone takes his contract with his ongoing injury situation. Happy New Year, everyone, and stay safe! We want you back chatting tomorrow and the rest of 2013.