Buford
January-26th-2005, 02:22 PM
http://discuss.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/zforum/04/sports_sandoval012605.htm
NBA
Greg Sandoval
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, January 26, 2005; 2:00 p.m. ET
What are the latest developments in the NBA? Which teams are celebrating victories and which have suffered losses?
Post staff writer Greg Sandoval will be online Wednesday, Jan. 26, at 2 p.m. ET to talk about the latest in the NBA season.
Submit your questions and comments before or during today's discussion.
Editor's Note: washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control over Live Online discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Greg Sandoval: Here we are again. Let's talk basketball.
_______________________
Denver, Colo.: George Karl to Denver?
Greg Sandoval: That's what the reports are, that Karl is in negotiations for the Denver Nuggets job. Karl has a great relationship with the Nuggets owner Stan Kroenke and the two each own a piece of a fitness center.
Karl may be what Denver needs. He helped turn the Bucks around in 1998. After seven years of missing the playoffs, Milwaukee made it to the post season four of the five years he was there.
The knock on Karl is that his players stop listening to him after a while.
_______________________
Bridgewater, Va.: When will Kwame be back and, more importantly, does the team need/want him back?
Greg Sandoval: Need him? Of course they do.
The Wizards will absolutely make the playoffs. With a healthy Larry Hughes, the team has one of the best attacks in the game. I've said it for a while.
But Washington is still missing a post player that can stop the likes of Shaq, Duncan and the league's other premiere big men. They also need someone who can score inside when the team is in a shooting drought.
Remember, the Wizards lost all of their games against the Heat this season.
They want Kwame back. They need him back.
_______________________
Arlington, Va.: How far fetched is this mid season prediction.........
Washington vs. Chicago in the Eastern Conference Finals?
Greg Sandoval: I'll tell you what, both these teams have dark horse written all over them. But it's unlikely both would make it to the conference finals.
What a great story that would make though.
_______________________
Philadelphia, Pa.: Greg,
I understand that the salary cap complicates trading, but to borrow a concept from MLB, which teams do you see as active buyers and sellers as the deadline approaches? Also, are there specific players who are likely to be moved?
Greg Sandoval: Well, the teams making the most noise are Phoenix, New Jersey, Toronto and Miami.
For you Knicks fans, you can forget any more dramatic moves by GM Isiah Thomas. Their salary situation is deplorable. Thomas is going to find it hard to unload any of his contracts.
Reports are that the Suns are close to dealing for Boston Celtics forward Walter McCarty. Nets are looking to boost talent and Raptors want to get rid of Jalen Rose.
Miami's recent slide, losing five of their last 10 has proven to the club that they are more vulnerable than they thought after their quick start. They are looking for help in the post.
_______________________
Phoenix, Ariz.: Greg I am still trying to figure out the trade the Suns made last week. During the 6 game losing streak, it was obvious the team needs another point guard. So they trade a young decent defender and outside shooter for an old decent defender and outside shooter. I don't see how they got any better or addressed their most glaring weakness?
Greg Sandoval: Jim Jackson can play the point or the shooting guard positions and he is a way better scorer than Casey Jacobsen or the two reserves they acquired him for.
The Suns were getting pitiful scoring production from its bench.
Coming out of Stanford, Jacobsen was supposed to be a point machine, but in the NBA, he's found it tough to get his shot off.
Jackson is also experienced and, you said it, is a decent defender. He also knows, as his career winds down,that the Suns may be his best chance of competing for an NBA championship.
_______________________
Rockville, MD: Am I the only one that thinks playoff seeding is a joke? The Wiz would be 4th seeds right now when they have the 2nd best record in the East and would be way ahead of the atlantic division leader if they were in the same division. I think their should be an exception instituted, not this year obviously, but in the offseason. If a division leaders record is 10 games worse than a non-division leader, then their seeds should be reversed. Your thoughts?
Greg Sandoval: This is a fantastic idea. The Atlantic could be won this year by a team that is under .500. That's not what you want.
_______________________
Fredericksburg, Va.: Come on now. How can you possibly say that the Wizards need Kwame back. The guy simply can't play basketball. Check him out without the ball. He's watching the game. The guy doesn't have a clue and will never have a clue. I agree with your colleague, Michael Wilbon -- Kwame Brown needs to be traded. He is the worst first pick in the draft ever, I mean ever.
Greg Sandoval: I'm sticking with my guy K.Brown. I know he's got a reputation for frequent mental lapses and for dogging it sometimes.
But I think a healthy Brown will continue to improve his skills. And look at that body. A wise man is patient with a burly 7-footer like him. He could be Ben Wallace in a couple of years.
Anyway, what do you think they could get for him right now?
He's hurt and he's yet to prove himself. I think you have to wait for him.
_______________________
Annandale, Va.: Greg,
While it is nice to watch local talent playing for the Wizards -- Blake, Profit -- are they worth the roster space they occupy? Could they make any other teams? Dixon is great to watch.
Greg Sandoval: You've touched on something I've secretly wondered about for a while.
Do the Wizards like Juan Dixon, Steve Blake and the other Terrapins they've signed in the past because they help the team, or because the players are popular with the home crowd?
Dixon and Blake always receive ovations that rival those of the starters when they enter a game.
The Wizards may have played to the crowd in the past, when their teams were sub .500. But this season's club is bent on winning.
_______________________
Rockville, MD: Why does Gilbert Arenas get outshadowed by Jamison so greatly? Is this fair?
Thanks.
Greg Sandoval: I don't think Gilbert is being overshadowed by anyone other than maybe Allen Iverson or Jason Kidd, players who will likely be voted to the All Star team while Arenas will most likely be snubbed.
Next season, if Arenas can keep up his pace, will be his year to make the All star game.
As for his teammates, Arenas, Larry Hughes and Antawn Jamison are each getting plenty of credit for the Wizards' resurgence.
Moreover, they are all getting along and none feels cheated so don't start any trouble.
_______________________
Gaithersburg, Md.: Greg, thanks for doing the chat! Your colleague, Wilbon, thinks the Wiz will fade in the latter half, for the lack of a big man... what are your thoughts on that?
Greg Sandoval: Wilbon's right, the Wizards' lack of top post players is a liability. But I don't agree that they will suffer a meltdown because of it.
These guys can resourceful. It's not like they just lost their post presence. They haven't had one all year and they are 10 games over .500.
A lack of big man has hurt them most on defense, but the scrappy club has learned to pull out wins in the fourth quarter by shifting their offense into high gear.
And forward/center Brendan Haywood, while not a dominating player, continues to improve.
The Wizards are going to the playoffs.
_______________________
Kensington, Md.: Are the Lakers looking to make any moves by the trade deadline? Or is GM Kobe Bryant gonna stand pat?
Greg Sandoval: Haven't heard any rumors about the Lakers making a deal. They could use some help at the point and in the post.
_______________________
Chantilly, Va.: Of course it's still early, but how much credit do you think Grunfeld should get for the success the Wizards have had thus far this season?
Greg Sandoval: A lot.
He stole Antawn Jamison from Dallas. Now, I could list Jamison's stats, which are impressive, but that wouldn't tell the story.
Jamison has helped perform major reconstruction on the attitude in the Wizards locker room. This young team believes it can, doesn't get down when it loses, and keeps its collective eye on the big picture: getting to the playoffs. Why? Because it is Jamison's voice that reminds them.
_______________________
Washington, D.C.: Obviously losing Larry Hughes is a real blow, but this team has too much talent and leadership to quit on the season, look at that amazing comeback win over the Cavs. With that being said, do you see them making a trade before the February 24 deadline?
Greg Sandoval: Nope. I don't. I think GM Ernie Grunfeld is going to stick with what he has. Things are working. Why risk unsettling everybody with a trade?
Orlando was playing steady basketball before swapping Cuttino Mobley for Doug Christie and the move angered starting point guard Steve Francis. The team hasn't been the same since.
_______________________
Washington, D.C.: Greg, do you agree that, if the Wizards can't overtake Miami for the division, they would actually want the No. 6 seed in the eastern conference? They'd have home court advantage over the likes of the Knicks, which would be a lot better than having to face the Pistons, or even the Cavs, in the first round. What's up with the NBA playoff system?
Greg Sandoval: You're right. It would be probably easier. But the Wizards are only three and a half back of the Heat. They could go in as one of the top three teams. Don't count them out yet.
_______________________
Dulles, Va.: Great work on the NBA, Greg. Keep it up. Would you trade Kwame Brown for Chris Wilcox?
Greg Sandoval: No, I don't. Wilcox is a good player and may be great one day. But I think KBrown has more upside. Wilcox is averaging 10.1 points and 5.1 rebounds. I think Brown will be in a 15 and 10 player.
Come on Wizards fans!
Patience. Patience. Patience.
_______________________
Greg Sandoval: Thanks for joining me today. This was fun.
Remember, the next three weeks should be packed with trades as the trading deadline approaches, so be prepared for what could be a lot of player movement.
NBA
Greg Sandoval
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, January 26, 2005; 2:00 p.m. ET
What are the latest developments in the NBA? Which teams are celebrating victories and which have suffered losses?
Post staff writer Greg Sandoval will be online Wednesday, Jan. 26, at 2 p.m. ET to talk about the latest in the NBA season.
Submit your questions and comments before or during today's discussion.
Editor's Note: washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control over Live Online discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Greg Sandoval: Here we are again. Let's talk basketball.
_______________________
Denver, Colo.: George Karl to Denver?
Greg Sandoval: That's what the reports are, that Karl is in negotiations for the Denver Nuggets job. Karl has a great relationship with the Nuggets owner Stan Kroenke and the two each own a piece of a fitness center.
Karl may be what Denver needs. He helped turn the Bucks around in 1998. After seven years of missing the playoffs, Milwaukee made it to the post season four of the five years he was there.
The knock on Karl is that his players stop listening to him after a while.
_______________________
Bridgewater, Va.: When will Kwame be back and, more importantly, does the team need/want him back?
Greg Sandoval: Need him? Of course they do.
The Wizards will absolutely make the playoffs. With a healthy Larry Hughes, the team has one of the best attacks in the game. I've said it for a while.
But Washington is still missing a post player that can stop the likes of Shaq, Duncan and the league's other premiere big men. They also need someone who can score inside when the team is in a shooting drought.
Remember, the Wizards lost all of their games against the Heat this season.
They want Kwame back. They need him back.
_______________________
Arlington, Va.: How far fetched is this mid season prediction.........
Washington vs. Chicago in the Eastern Conference Finals?
Greg Sandoval: I'll tell you what, both these teams have dark horse written all over them. But it's unlikely both would make it to the conference finals.
What a great story that would make though.
_______________________
Philadelphia, Pa.: Greg,
I understand that the salary cap complicates trading, but to borrow a concept from MLB, which teams do you see as active buyers and sellers as the deadline approaches? Also, are there specific players who are likely to be moved?
Greg Sandoval: Well, the teams making the most noise are Phoenix, New Jersey, Toronto and Miami.
For you Knicks fans, you can forget any more dramatic moves by GM Isiah Thomas. Their salary situation is deplorable. Thomas is going to find it hard to unload any of his contracts.
Reports are that the Suns are close to dealing for Boston Celtics forward Walter McCarty. Nets are looking to boost talent and Raptors want to get rid of Jalen Rose.
Miami's recent slide, losing five of their last 10 has proven to the club that they are more vulnerable than they thought after their quick start. They are looking for help in the post.
_______________________
Phoenix, Ariz.: Greg I am still trying to figure out the trade the Suns made last week. During the 6 game losing streak, it was obvious the team needs another point guard. So they trade a young decent defender and outside shooter for an old decent defender and outside shooter. I don't see how they got any better or addressed their most glaring weakness?
Greg Sandoval: Jim Jackson can play the point or the shooting guard positions and he is a way better scorer than Casey Jacobsen or the two reserves they acquired him for.
The Suns were getting pitiful scoring production from its bench.
Coming out of Stanford, Jacobsen was supposed to be a point machine, but in the NBA, he's found it tough to get his shot off.
Jackson is also experienced and, you said it, is a decent defender. He also knows, as his career winds down,that the Suns may be his best chance of competing for an NBA championship.
_______________________
Rockville, MD: Am I the only one that thinks playoff seeding is a joke? The Wiz would be 4th seeds right now when they have the 2nd best record in the East and would be way ahead of the atlantic division leader if they were in the same division. I think their should be an exception instituted, not this year obviously, but in the offseason. If a division leaders record is 10 games worse than a non-division leader, then their seeds should be reversed. Your thoughts?
Greg Sandoval: This is a fantastic idea. The Atlantic could be won this year by a team that is under .500. That's not what you want.
_______________________
Fredericksburg, Va.: Come on now. How can you possibly say that the Wizards need Kwame back. The guy simply can't play basketball. Check him out without the ball. He's watching the game. The guy doesn't have a clue and will never have a clue. I agree with your colleague, Michael Wilbon -- Kwame Brown needs to be traded. He is the worst first pick in the draft ever, I mean ever.
Greg Sandoval: I'm sticking with my guy K.Brown. I know he's got a reputation for frequent mental lapses and for dogging it sometimes.
But I think a healthy Brown will continue to improve his skills. And look at that body. A wise man is patient with a burly 7-footer like him. He could be Ben Wallace in a couple of years.
Anyway, what do you think they could get for him right now?
He's hurt and he's yet to prove himself. I think you have to wait for him.
_______________________
Annandale, Va.: Greg,
While it is nice to watch local talent playing for the Wizards -- Blake, Profit -- are they worth the roster space they occupy? Could they make any other teams? Dixon is great to watch.
Greg Sandoval: You've touched on something I've secretly wondered about for a while.
Do the Wizards like Juan Dixon, Steve Blake and the other Terrapins they've signed in the past because they help the team, or because the players are popular with the home crowd?
Dixon and Blake always receive ovations that rival those of the starters when they enter a game.
The Wizards may have played to the crowd in the past, when their teams were sub .500. But this season's club is bent on winning.
_______________________
Rockville, MD: Why does Gilbert Arenas get outshadowed by Jamison so greatly? Is this fair?
Thanks.
Greg Sandoval: I don't think Gilbert is being overshadowed by anyone other than maybe Allen Iverson or Jason Kidd, players who will likely be voted to the All Star team while Arenas will most likely be snubbed.
Next season, if Arenas can keep up his pace, will be his year to make the All star game.
As for his teammates, Arenas, Larry Hughes and Antawn Jamison are each getting plenty of credit for the Wizards' resurgence.
Moreover, they are all getting along and none feels cheated so don't start any trouble.
_______________________
Gaithersburg, Md.: Greg, thanks for doing the chat! Your colleague, Wilbon, thinks the Wiz will fade in the latter half, for the lack of a big man... what are your thoughts on that?
Greg Sandoval: Wilbon's right, the Wizards' lack of top post players is a liability. But I don't agree that they will suffer a meltdown because of it.
These guys can resourceful. It's not like they just lost their post presence. They haven't had one all year and they are 10 games over .500.
A lack of big man has hurt them most on defense, but the scrappy club has learned to pull out wins in the fourth quarter by shifting their offense into high gear.
And forward/center Brendan Haywood, while not a dominating player, continues to improve.
The Wizards are going to the playoffs.
_______________________
Kensington, Md.: Are the Lakers looking to make any moves by the trade deadline? Or is GM Kobe Bryant gonna stand pat?
Greg Sandoval: Haven't heard any rumors about the Lakers making a deal. They could use some help at the point and in the post.
_______________________
Chantilly, Va.: Of course it's still early, but how much credit do you think Grunfeld should get for the success the Wizards have had thus far this season?
Greg Sandoval: A lot.
He stole Antawn Jamison from Dallas. Now, I could list Jamison's stats, which are impressive, but that wouldn't tell the story.
Jamison has helped perform major reconstruction on the attitude in the Wizards locker room. This young team believes it can, doesn't get down when it loses, and keeps its collective eye on the big picture: getting to the playoffs. Why? Because it is Jamison's voice that reminds them.
_______________________
Washington, D.C.: Obviously losing Larry Hughes is a real blow, but this team has too much talent and leadership to quit on the season, look at that amazing comeback win over the Cavs. With that being said, do you see them making a trade before the February 24 deadline?
Greg Sandoval: Nope. I don't. I think GM Ernie Grunfeld is going to stick with what he has. Things are working. Why risk unsettling everybody with a trade?
Orlando was playing steady basketball before swapping Cuttino Mobley for Doug Christie and the move angered starting point guard Steve Francis. The team hasn't been the same since.
_______________________
Washington, D.C.: Greg, do you agree that, if the Wizards can't overtake Miami for the division, they would actually want the No. 6 seed in the eastern conference? They'd have home court advantage over the likes of the Knicks, which would be a lot better than having to face the Pistons, or even the Cavs, in the first round. What's up with the NBA playoff system?
Greg Sandoval: You're right. It would be probably easier. But the Wizards are only three and a half back of the Heat. They could go in as one of the top three teams. Don't count them out yet.
_______________________
Dulles, Va.: Great work on the NBA, Greg. Keep it up. Would you trade Kwame Brown for Chris Wilcox?
Greg Sandoval: No, I don't. Wilcox is a good player and may be great one day. But I think KBrown has more upside. Wilcox is averaging 10.1 points and 5.1 rebounds. I think Brown will be in a 15 and 10 player.
Come on Wizards fans!
Patience. Patience. Patience.
_______________________
Greg Sandoval: Thanks for joining me today. This was fun.
Remember, the next three weeks should be packed with trades as the trading deadline approaches, so be prepared for what could be a lot of player movement.