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djsunyc
Posts: 44929
Alba Posts: 42
Joined: 1/16/2004
Member: #536
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Marc Stein: Welcome back to Chatland, friends. Let's dive right into the questions.
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Joe (NJ): Marc, give me some good news about the knicks. Any trades? Will they dump crawford?
Marc Stein: I can't. The next six games are on the road. The short term looks rather bleak. And one trade isn't going to fix it, even if they could move Crawford or Marbury. You're going to have to settle in, grit your teeth and let Larry do what he does. He is a master rebuilder, remember, so he deserves more than three games to show us.
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Peter,Derry,NH: Lets say Baron Davis stays healthy and the Warriors are in contention around the trade deadline. Do you see them making any moves to attempt to "put them over the top"?
Marc Stein: They are always looking for a solid big and will continue to do so. Warriors were in the Jamaal Magloire mix, but Milwaukee stole him from everyone. They know they need a better center.
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Nuggets (Denver): Should we be worried?
Marc Stein: Yes. But not because of the Nene injury. It's a big blow, but injuries happen and you have to deal with them when they come. Nuggets still should have beaten the Lakers at least once without him. I don't know what it is with Denver. I saw the home opener in person and I didn't see any fire. "Worried" might be a little strong, but Denver's effort so far has been a disappointment.
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Nate (South Bend, IN): Marc, whos your MVP from week one
Marc Stein: I'd have to go with Redd or T.J. Ford. It was Milwaukee's week and they were both brilliant.
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Drew (Lexington, KY): Will KG be traded before the deadline?
Marc Stein: No. If the Wolves ever make the decision to move KG, they won't do it midseason. At least I don't think so.
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BoB (Dedham, MA): Marc, any reason in particluar the Celtics cannot close out games? They SHOULD be 3-0 right now, but those losses are killer! What do they need to do?
Marc Stein: It might have something to do with the fact that the team is college-aged.
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Adam (Atlanta): Is Smush for real?
Marc Stein: I'm asking myself the same question. I watched him on Opening Night and couldn't believe it. Phoenix and Detroit had him last season and neither felt compelled to keep him -- that's two of the best organizations in the league. But Phil likes his bigger guards, so Smush will definitely get the chance to keep proving he's no fluke.
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Jim (Detroit): Marc, since you were the only ESPN expert to pick the Pistons to win the east, what are your thoughts on their play so far this year? The bench and offense look much better then last year.
Marc Stein: They look good, but you also have to say they haven't played anyone of consequence yet. Probably the best news is that they've started the season in focused fashion. You certainly remember that regular-season intensity was an issue in Detroit last season.
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Jack (Ohio): Is Sarunas ever going to play enough defense to be a fixture in the Pacers rotation?
Marc Stein: I think so, yes, but I'm also on the board of his fan club. Actually I expect the Pacers' team defenders (Artest and JO) to be able to cover for him. They didn't sign him to sit him, but moving to the NBA after a lifetime in Europe is an adjustment, even for someone as good as Jasikevicius.
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Rob(Phoenix): The Suns look pretty impressive, even without Amare. I know you've always had faith in them, but how much longer til the rest of the 'experts' give them the proper respect? I mean, half of them counted them out of the playoffs, and trashed on Bell/Jones all summer long.
Marc Stein: I actually regard their opening week as somewhat of a disappointment. They should have won at least one of the two games they lost and probably both. But I still like Phoenix better than anyone else in the Pacific, even without Amare.
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Adam (Amarillo, TX): After watching the Mavs thrash the Spurs, is it alright if we wait a month or so to hand the West to San Antonio?
Marc Stein: It's not an unreasonable request. I'll consider it. You deserve a chance to gloat a little after the Mavs' performance Saturday.
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JM, NY: WHAT IS HOUSTON GONNA DO FOR THE NEXT 3 WEEKS?
Marc Stein: Panic. Because even if T-Mac is back in three weeks, it's a back injury. He has always had back trouble. It's pretty worrying, especially since his knees are achy, too.
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Josh (VA): Don't you think that as long as the Wizards have Ernie Grunfeld everyone shouldn't be laughing them off as a seventh or eight seed at best? I mean Grunfeld knows what he's doing.
Marc Stein: Who is "laughing them off?" Ernie made a nice recovery after losing Hughes to Cleveland and made the Wiz much deeper than they were. But the Wiz are regarded as a lower seed in the East because there are three title contenders above them. Wiz are thus among the pack playing for the Nos. 4-8 slots, even with Ernie pulling the strings.
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Rodney (Detroit): What is more surprising to you, the Bucks start or the Clippers?
Marc Stein: Clippers. I liked Milwaukee's team even before they got Magloire. I have more doubts about the Clips, but Maggette's absence early in the season alleviates my biggest concern with these guys -- Cassell, Mobley and Maggette sharing the ball.
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RA (New York): Do you like how the two Spaniards (Gasol and Calderon) have started? I think they are getting into being more mean...
Marc Stein: I need to hear from people in Memphis. Do you guys actually like Pau's beard? If I ever saw a dress-code violation, that's it.
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Ken (Arlington Hts., IL): Fact or fiction...The Bulls will make the playoffs in the vastly improved East.
Marc Stein: Fiction. I've said from the start that they'll miss out. Chicago and Seattle are my slippers.
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Jerry (Texas): Whats up with Gerald Wallace, he is tearing it up. Do you see him keeping up the good numbers and becoming an ALL-STAR.
Marc Stein: I'll pardon your exaggeration because the Bobcats are off to a nice start and Wallace deserves some spotlight. Especially because the big concern about Charlotte coming into the season was its lack of proven twos and threes. But it's been three games. A tad too early to start Wallace's All-Star campaign.
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Dan (Miami): Why do you hate the Heat so much? I think they are going to make a run in the second half and meet the Spurs in the finals
Marc Stein: Why does criticism of a team's roster have to be "hate?" I don't "hate" the Heat. I just don't like the approach Riley took when he assembled this team. I don't like the concept. And with Shaq out a month now, SVG has one less month to pull all the new parts together. So if they live up to your projections and get to the Finals, it'll be a successful season on this scorecard. But I don't see them getting to the Finals. We'll see if they can prove me wrong.
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Scott P. (Modesto): The Kings starters, aside from game 1, have looked good, but their bench is horrible. Any chance they try to entice Spree to take the minimum to be their main guy off the bench?
Marc Stein: Interesting idea. Don't think that I'd gamble on Spree, but you're right on about the Kings' bench. Most of the reserves are too young to depend on.
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Bobby (Minneapolis): What is the strongest division in the NBA?
Marc Stein: Central. Edging out the Southwest. Central has two title contenders and five teams with playoff hope. New Orleans/OKC is not going to be making a playoff run.
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Michael (Eldridge, IA): Marc, How much does "Captain America" Claudio Reyna's injury hurt the Sky Blues? It seemed that for the first part of the season, Man City were highly effective at controlling the center of the midfield with Reyna and Joey Barton playing fairly equal roles.
Marc Stein: It hurts, of course, because Reyna was playing well, but we can handle an injury in the middle because Ireland is so ready to play. I love the kid already. The bigger problem is when Cole is out injured, City don't look like scoring.
Marc Stein: Time to give way to a proper footballer. Heard that Eddie Pope is making a Chatland appearance today. Thanks for all the good questions. We'll do it again soon.
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11/7/2005 1:58 PM