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djsunyc
Posts: 44929
Alba Posts: 42
Joined: 1/16/2004
Member: #536
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Peter (Mississippi): John, what can we expect from the HOrnets season?
John Hollinger: (11:18 AM ET ) Things are still up in the air, but I doubt any games will be played in New Orleans until at least midseason, and possibly not at all. The bigger question is what happens in the years after. It seems scandelous for the state to pay the Hornets millions of dollars to stay in New Orleans when so much is needed for hurricane relief.
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Wes (Miami): What can you say about the Heat letting go of Damon Jones?
John Hollinger: (11:19 AM ET ) The Heat were in a pickle because they don't want to pay luxury tax in two years when Dwyane Wade gets his extension, so, they only offered Jones two years and he took Cleveland's deal instead. If they can end up with Gary Payton, it won't be much of a downgrade.
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Roy, Denver: Are the Lakers really thinking about bringing on Spree? How do you see that working?
John Hollinger: (11:20 AM ET ) Spree is an odd fit in L.A. because I don't get where he plays. L.A. already has too many small forwards and he's hardly the kind of guy you'd want to bring in to a rebuilding situation because of his age.
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Scott (L.A.): This one's for my guys wearing the purple and gold. Phil's back, Kobe doesn't have any off-the-court distractions. Hypothetically, if Kwame and Odom finally play to their potential and they get some solid contribution from Mihm and McKie, do the Lakers have any chance of making the postseason? Or are they one key ingredient away? Or, are they such a mystery that its too early to tell?
John Hollinger: (11:23 AM ET ) If everyone stays healthy and Kwame plays like he did two years ago, LA has an outside shot at the No.8 seed in the West. However, I wouldn't expect much from McKie and I don't understand why LA signed him. He had the second lowest rate of points per minute in the NBA last year.
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Steve (Ithaca): Hey John, any idea why the hurricane relief game didn't get more publicity? I had no idea it was on until I saw it flipping through channels. A one-hour slot at 11 on a Sunday night isn't exactly the best way to raise awreness.
John Hollinger: (11:24 AM ET ) I was caught unaware by the game, as well. They probably could have done a better job promoting it, but it's tough to be too critical given the short notice. They probably just had to slot it in whenever TV had time.
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Brad (Albuquerque): Hey John...can you tell me what's going on with Jamal Mashburn?..is he retiring or coming back?..thanks man.
John Hollinger: (11:25 AM ET ) I wouldn't expect to see Mashburn in the NBA again.
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B. (San Francisco): With apologies to Rip-Chauncey and Parker-Manu, is there a backcourt in the NBA you would take over Baron Davis & Jason Richardson?
John Hollinger: (11:28 AM ET ) Hmm. Interesting question. Baron and Richardson is a tough combo, but Kidd and Carter in New Jersey would have to be the creme of the crop. If you can consider them a starting backcourt, LeBron an Hughes are pretty formidable as well.
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christy (boston): you've gotta take one from the females! what can I expect from the Celtics this season? I feel like Paul Pierce is waiting to pull a Vince Carter. Is he going to be traded?
John Hollinger: (11:30 AM ET ) Pierce is definitely the most interesting offseason question for the Celtics. Rumors flared up of a deal with Denver this week, but there may have been more smoke than fire with that one. It does seem inevitable that he will be gone by the trade deadline, especially with Boston seeming anxious to get younger.
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tim (ny,ny): What is the story with Jay Williams? He recently worked out for Miami, Cleveland, and Toronto, and word out of Toronto is that he looks 85%. If this is true, why would the the Heat not scoop him up? He seems like when healthy, he could be the perfect backup there.
John Hollinger: (11:32 AM ET ) I think Williams may be a backup plan if the Heat can't get Gary Payton. It would also allow them to bewilder us by having two point guards with the same name. BUT, Toronto wouldn't be a bad fit for Jay either. There would be less pressure, and if he did well, they could trade Rafer Alston.
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Andrew (Athens, OH): Are the Heat running in to a Lakers-of-2-years-ago scenario..too much talent, only one ball..?
John Hollinger: (11:34 AM ET ) I don't think the Lakers problem was too much talent as much as it was Karl Malone getting injured in The Finals, along with the two best players getting sick of each other after so many years together. That shouldn't be a problem in Miami ... although, Walker and Williams do need to improve their shot selection.
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Martin (Sunrise, Fl): Are the Baby Bulls ready to take over the Eastern Conference or was last year just a tease? Will they sign Curry or should they say goodbye to him in a sign and trade?
John Hollinger: (11:36 AM ET ) The Bulls will be hardpressed to match last year's win total. They had some veteran players play over their heads last season and their division has become much tougher. As for Curry, I expect him to be back. Nobody seems interested in a sign and trade which would leave Curry with the Bulls one year tender. So, we'll probably be talking about him again next summer.
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joe (cubicle hell): Are the T-Wolves going to do anything else this offseason? WOuld trading Wally be a wise move?
John Hollinger: (11:39 AM ET ) Trading Wally seems like Minnesota's best option for getting the help they need in the middle. Sorry guys, CandyMan and MadDog don't cut the mustard. Additionally, pairing Wally with McCants on the perimeter is too big a defensive liability. The problem will be convincing another team to take on Wally's contract. Other than that, I expect Minn. to be pretty quiet, although Payton remains a possibility.
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richard (montgomery,al): nuggets fan here ,what is kiki doing giving a back up point guard {watson} 5 milloin a year can you see the nuggets dealing miller or leonard?
John Hollinger: (11:42 AM ET ) The Watson signing was Denver's response to losing out on all of the top shooting guards. They figure they can go small and play Miller at the 2 quite a bit, just as they did a year ago. If a deal came along for a true shooting guard, I'm sure they would take it with Miller or Boykins departing, but I don't think that was the primary strategy. As for Watson, he may have been a backup, but he's probably the best defensive point guard in basketball and can handle an increase in minutes.
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Nate (Madison, WI): Please make my day with one Bucks question. Has their offseason made them a playoff team now, and do you agree that they are basically a PF away from being a very good team?
John Hollinger: (11:45 AM ET ) I think the Bucks will be in the running for the final playoffs spots in the East. As for the power forward spot, I'm interested to see whether Dan Gadzuric and Bogut can play together in the frontcourt -- otherwise, the Joe Smith/Toni Kukoc combo is in need of a serious upgrade. Regardless, I think their chances of making the playoffs are better than 50-50.
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Chris (Phoenix): John, I don't understand why you are so down on the Suns. Loosing JJ hurt but not at that price. Q has a terrible back (he's like 1 of 5 players that get insured). Jones was a good pick up House is a good shooter. We are alot touger defensively. We may not win 62 games in the regular season again but we will be the toughest team in the playoffs.
John Hollinger: (11:50 AM ET ) Chris, I like the House signing because he was cheap and he'll fit into the system well, but I wasn't impressed by the other moves. Phoenix essentially gave up what made them so good last year in order to become a cheap imitation of the Spurs. I don't understand why they would want to do that. Personnel-wise, I'm also puzzled because they basically traded Steven Hunter for Brian Grant. Phoenix's management has earned the benefit of the doubt based on their track record, but in this case, I've got an awful lot of doubt.
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Noah (Santa Monica, CA): Why does it feel like last year, everybody criticized the Suns for being too small and not rebounding or playing defense, then they bring in defenders and rebounders and now everyone criticizes them for not having the same scoring mentality as last year? It's not like Amare/Marion/Nash won't be able to score in the playoffs. Did you see Amare against the Spurs? If he keeps improving, they may as well just keep the other four guys back on defense the entire game.
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Kevin (Philadelphia): John, the Nets seem to be building a good bench after losing out on both SAR and Traylor....do you think Rod Thorn is stockpiling assets to make a big move for a top notch PF in the winter?
John Hollinger: (11:53 AM ET ) I don't think those are the assets that would get him that calibur of a player, but it's true that the Nets bench will be much better. ... Not that they could have been worse. New Jersey's second unit killed them last year at the offensive end, so adding guys like Jackson, Padgett and Murray should be a big help. AND, they even passed their physicals!!
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Josh (San Antonio): Hey John, take on question on the NBA champs. What will Finley and Van Exel bring to the team? What's stopping this team from repeating?
John Hollinger: (11:57 AM ET ) As I mention in my column today, I don't think their impact will be as great as some people expect. Finley is replacing players who were nearly as good, while Van Exel is basically the third-string point guard. In terms of improving the roster, Fabricio Oberto might make the biggest impact.
John Hollinger: (11:58 AM ET ) Alright folks, that's all the time I have today. Sorry for the technical delay at the onset, we'll do this again soon. Thanks for logging on!
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