JJ question in Chad Ford chat

[playstation]

Mitch (NY): I've been hearing conflicting reports on Joe Johnson. Will the suns match the Hawks 70 million dollar offer?

SportsNation Chad Ford: They say they will. And they claim that owner Robert Sarver is on board. They certainly have acted like they will, trading Quentin Richardson and Jake Voshkuhl for cap space. I'd be surprised if they didn't match. If Atlanta doesn't get Johnson, it's going to be a long, long summer.


Joe (Savannah, GA): Who are in your top 5 pre-season power rankings for next year? Do you believe 1 and 2 should be SA and DET since they both made it to the finals and are returning pretty much intact next year?

SportsNation Chad Ford: 1. Spurs
2. Pacers
3. Pistons
4. Suns
5. Nets

Miami would be sixth which brings up an interesting point. Remember how the talk has been all about how strong the West is and how weak the East is. I think the pendulum is swinging the other way.

I really like all four of the teams that should be a top the East.

 

[cepstrum]

Mitch (NY): I've been hearing conflicting reports on Joe Johnson. Will the suns match the Hawks 70 million dollar offer?

SportsNation Chad Ford: They say they will. And they claim that owner Robert Sarver is on board. They certainly have acted like they will, trading Quentin Richardson and Jake Voshkuhl for cap space. I'd be surprised if they didn't match. If Atlanta doesn't get Johnson, it's going to be a long, long summer.


Joe (Savannah, GA): Who are in your top 5 pre-season power rankings for next year? Do you believe 1 and 2 should be SA and DET since they both made it to the finals and are returning pretty much intact next year?

SportsNation Chad Ford: 1. Spurs
2. Pacers
3. Pistons
4. Suns
5. Nets

Miami would be sixth which brings up an interesting point. Remember how the talk has been all about how strong the West is and how weak the East is. I think the pendulum is swinging the other way.

I really like all four of the teams that should be a top the East.

Boy I have a problem with these. They are interesting, but I cant really see his logic with the Pacers or the Nets. The pacers just lost reggie. Sure they picked up Jacikevklasjfhdasfd but you can't compare the two. With reggie they lost to the pistons in 6 two years in a row (granted the second year they didnt have artest).

As far as the nets go, I can't say that Reef is gonna make that big of a difference. I like the guy, but he's never really been the difference maker on any team. Picking them ahead of the Heat is kind of crazy IMO.

 

[thegrahamcrackr]

I don't like the Nets pick either, but I can understand the Pacers.

They lost Reggie, but he was fading fast and hurt the team at times since they would still play him. He came up big when it mattered, but he just wasn't the same old Reggie.

Not only did they replace him with the top Euro guy out there (people have been trying to get him over here for 2 years), but they also got Danny Granger.

Combine those two with the extra experience that Harrison and Jones got last season with the suspensions and the Pacers are a very very deep team.

Then you add back Artest, and I think that they are the team to beat in the East.

 

[cepstrum]

I don't like the Nets pick either, but I can understand the Pacers.

They lost Reggie, but he was fading fast and hurt the team at times since they would still play him. He came up big when it mattered, but he just wasn't the same old Reggie.

Not only did they replace him with the top Euro guy out there (people have been trying to get him over here for 2 years), but they also got Danny Granger.

Combine those two with the extra experience that Harrison and Jones got last season with the suspensions and the Pacers are a very very deep team.

Then you add back Artest, and I think that they are the team to beat in the East.

I can certainly see that they have the potential to be the top team in the east, but they replaced arguable one of the most clutch playoff performers with two guys that have never played before. We'll see though. I'd be nice to get a little break from the pistons.

 

[thegrahamcrackr]

I can certainly see that they have the potential to be the top team in the east, but they replaced arguable one of the most clutch playoff performers with two guys that have never played before. We'll see though. I'd be nice to get a little break from the pistons.

Jasikevicius has definitely played before. About his clutchness, here is a excerpt:

Jasikevicius is a warrior with a great jumper, good size for the position and excellent court vision. Jasikevicius thrives in pressure situations and demands and shoots the ball late in games.

In last summer's Olympics he dropped 28 points on Team USA in a Lithuania victory and 17 points in a loss.

He's lapped the competition in Europe. Now we'll see if he can continue his winning streak in the NBA.

"I was finding it tough to practice this year for the first time," Jasikevicius told ESPN.com in May. "I had trouble motivating myself. I love the competition and it really took the Final Four to begin to bring it out in me again."

 

[cepstrum]

Jasikevicius has definitely played before. About his clutchness, here is a excerpt:

I meant in the NBA

 

[thegrahamcrackr]

I meant in the NBA

I know, but that isn't the only place basketball is played

 

[Chris_Sanders]

Reggie was amazing for the Pacers last year both in the stats and as a leader. His loss will be huge for that team.

 

[thegrahamcrackr]

Reggie was amazing for the Pacers last year both in the stats and as a leader. His loss will be huge for that team.

I am sure it will be felt. I don't think it will affect that much in the end though. The Pacers are still my pick to come out of the East, even without Reggie.

 

[F-Dog]

The Pacers still have a second-rate offense. None of their main scorers (JO, Artest, Tinsley) is especially efficient.

The Nets can't defend anybody inside--actually, I think Jefferson is their only solid defender at the moment. Jason Kidd is the limiting factor for their half-court offense, of course.


That said, there should finally be some battles in the second round of the EC this year. I'm not sure the LEast has quite caught up yet, but they're getting there.

 

[Arizona's Finest]

the Nets are getting a little to much love in my book....No defense whatsoever and when you combine perennial losers such as SAR and The player formerly known as Air Canada somethings not going to work out. Heres my top 5:

1.Spurs
2.Suns
3.Pacers-this team will be sick. count on it
4.Rockets-I think that Stro signing is just what the dr ordered. I think they are getting my fellow wildcat damon as well
5. Pistons-loss of LB is bigger then everyone thinks. this placing is actually more out of respect than what i think they will actually do

 

[scotsman13]

rockets arent going any where. the problems with the rockets or more then adding a player who hasnt done much with more phsyical skill then most anyone in the nba has. they are the oldest time in the nba. they have some really bad salery cap problems, and the player they have based their team around in yoa and tmac are bound to have some real injury issues here.

big man like yoa have some real problems with feet and knee injuries. with yoa not getting any time off during the summer his time in the nba gets shorter every day he is on the court. while tmac has some real back problems (which never get better). after these 2 guys they have 8 players who are 31 years or older on the roster. the rockets are a team who window has closed a couple years ago.

 

[Dr. Dumas]

1. SA-will have another great year. All the peices are still in place for another championship.
2. Suns-I believe that with the new additions, we are gonna be in a serious battle with SA.
3. Pacers-they are definately gonna be the team to beat in the east.
4. Golden state-if they can stay healthy, they are going to be one scary team. Okay you can blast me on my fourth pick-fire away....

 

[Arizona's Finest]

uhh im not ot worried about tmacs back. im more worried about him dropping 40 on us. and say what you will about yao. hes 17 and 8 and you have to consider him when driving to the hole. if they dont get damon im not as enamored but they WILL play great d (coach van gundy) and i think tmac might be enough o for them. im not too sold on golden state. good luck getting baron to play a full season.

 

[Joe Mama]

uhh im not ot worried about tmacs back. im more worried about him dropping 40 on us. and say what you will about yao. hes 17 and 8 and you have to consider him when driving to the hole. if they dont get damon im not as enamored but they WILL play great d (coach van gundy) and i think tmac might be enough o for them. im not too sold on golden state. good luck getting baron to play a full season.

there were a couple articles on real GM today saying that Staudamire would not be signing with Houston or Cleveland. Supposedly there is some "mystery team" who has a good chance of getting him. I'm going to get hammered for this, but don't be surprised if it's the Phoenix Suns. Call it a hunch even though it doesn't make much sense as far as minutes and money are concerned.

Joe

 

[Dr. Dumas]

there were a couple articles on real GM today saying that Staudamire would not be signing with Houston or Cleveland. Supposedly there is some "mystery team" who has a good chance of getting him. I'm going to get hammered for this, but don't be surprised if it's the Phoenix Suns. Call it a hunch even though it doesn't make much sense as far as minutes and money are concerned.

Joe

Do you think that Damon would be okay with a back-up roll?

 

[coloradosun]

there were a couple articles on real GM today saying that Staudamire would not be signing with Houston or Cleveland. Supposedly there is some "mystery team" who has a good chance of getting him. I'm going to get hammered for this, but don't be surprised if it's the Phoenix Suns. Call it a hunch even though it doesn't make much sense as far as minutes and money are concerned.

Joe

I was thinking it was the Hawks, the Joe Johnson scenerio is not going to happen for them but they wanted to keep the rumor floating around. Damon's agent was probably told to keep it quiet so the Suns would sweat.

It was also stated somewhere, maybe hoopshype, that Zaza Pachulia had a deal already worked out with a "so called" mystery team. I am guessing that is the Hawks as well. They may have put an offer on the table that the Bucks could not match.

Adding those two guys would make them somewhat competitive.

 

[thegrahamcrackr]

Ford claims that the mystery team is the Grizzlies.

Of course, I wouldn't be surprised to see Damon here either

 

[coloradosun]

Ford claims that the mystery team is the Grizzlies.

Of course, I wouldn't be surprised to see Damon here either

I saw that but I don't believe it. They just added Bobby Jackson and can match Earl Watson. Jason Williams must have another team wanting him, Celtics possibly. Damon will not settle in there, I just can't see it.

 

[thegrahamcrackr]

I saw that but I don't believe it. They just added Bobby Jackson and can match Earl Watson. Jason Williams must have another team wanting him, Celtics possibly. Damon will not settle in there, I just can't see it.

Last I heard is that Watson is as good as gone. They want to do a sign and trade with him.

They want to move Jason Williams badly, and they might be able to take it since they are willing to move him for about anything.

That would leave their PG position as Bobby and Damon.

 

[sunsfn]

I saw that but I don't believe it. They just added Bobby Jackson and can match Earl Watson. Jason Williams must have another team wanting him, Celtics possibly. Damon will not settle in there, I just can't see it.

I am pretty sure that Watson is an unrestricted free agent, no matching.

 

[Arizona's Finest]

I saw that but I don't believe it. They just added Bobby Jackson and can match Earl Watson. Jason Williams must have another team wanting him, Celtics possibly. Damon will not settle in there, I just can't see it.

There is no possibility of this. Only five years ago Danny Ainge called "White Chocolate" the most overrated player in basketball. Hes gotten better but i know he hasnt made that kind of leap.