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Chat Reel: Kevin Loughery
Watch out for the Dallas Mavericks this year
Posted: Tuesday October 31, 2000 2:20 PM
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Michael Finley will be a key player in the Mavericks' chances of making the playoffs this season. Ronald Martiinez/Allsport |
CNNSI Host: Welcome to today's chat with CNNSI.com's NBA analyst Kevin Loughery. Welcome, Kevin. Thanks for taking some time for us.
Kevin Loughery: Good to have all you NBA fans out there. Can't wait for a great year.
From Matt in Dallas: I think the Mavericks will make the playoffs this year, especially after what just happened with Joe Smith and Minnesota. What do you think -- and what do you think of Eduardo Najera?
Kevin Loughery: I think Dallas has an excellent chance to make the playoffs. They have two All-Star players in Michael Finley and Dirk Nowitzki, and I think they have a much deeper roster than they've had in past. They have outstanding coaching in Don Nelson and a very enthusiastic owner in Mark Cuban. Najera ... I watched him play two exhibition games. He is exciting. The fans of Dallas will love him. He plays 100 percent all the time. I think he'll be a 10-point and eight- or nine-rebound guy this year. It will be exciting.
From zalzalzal: In three years, do you think Portland will regret trading Jermaine O'Neal for Dale Davis?
Kevin Loughery: I think when you have an opportunity to win a championship and you can add a piece like Dale Davis to your roster, you have to make the move because the window of opportunity closes real quick in the NBA. So I think that adding Dale Davis was a very good move by Portland. For Indiana, who is looking for the future, picking up O'Neal was a good move.
From chimp: Will the recent ruling against the T'wolves keep them in the cellar for the next five years?
Kevin Loughery: The ruling by the commissioner was very severe. The fine of $3.5 million was a lot, but for Minnesota to lose their first-round picks for the next five years really sets back the Timberwolves. But when you have a player like Kevin Garnett, he will definitely keep them not only out of the cellar, but in the playoffs.
From Ted in Dallas: I saw DeShawn Stevenson play in some rookie-ball games. How great is he going to be, and what do you think Kansas would have done this year had he gone to college?
Kevin Loughery: I watched DeShawn Stevenson play, and I think that, first of all, if he went to Kansas, he would probably have had a chance to be an All-American in two years under Roy Williams. For the Jazz, I think he is a great addition. Kevin O'Conner, the general manager of the Utah Jazz, made a great pick because Stevenson can handle the basketball, shoot, has an NBA body and, with experience, will be a starter for the Jazz in the near future, if not this year.
From wandl: The Warriors have constantly had young teams that constantly disappointed. With a revamped roster and a new coach, do they stand a chance or will this year be like last year yet again?
Kevin Loughery: I think the problem with the Warriors is that they keep changing their roster and there is no continuity. With Dave Cowens, they will be an improved basketball team, but with all the changes they've made, I think it will be difficult for them to make the playoffs.
From Keith: How much will Sacramento miss Tony Delk?
Kevin Loughery: Tony Delk was a very good bench player for Sacramento, but by adding Doug Christie from Toronto in the Corliss Williamson trade, they will definitely be able to replace Delk.
From sports: Do you think Vince Carter has enough skill to take Toronto to the NBA Finals?
Kevin Loughery: I think Vince Carter is one of the top five players in the NBA. And outside of centers Duncan and O'Neal and Garnett, he is the best player in the NBA. Toronto will be improved with Mark Jackson at the point, but they lost Tracy McGrady and got no players in return. Therefore, I think it will be difficult -- even though Carter is a supreme talent -- for him to carry his team to the NBA championship.
From diego: Other coaches say Miami is still a contender in the East, but what is the real truth?
Kevin Loughery: I think Miami is still a contender in the East even after losing Alonzo Mourning for the season. They have a terrific starting lineup -- even without Mourning. But to build their present team, they mortgaged their bench. I don't think, without Mourning, they are deep enough to win the Eastern Conference. But there's no sure-fire favorite in the East.
From Luke: How do you think the Pacers will do this year? Who will be their starting center?
Kevin Loughery: I think Jermaine O'Neal will be the Pacers' starting center, but losing Dale Davis, Rik Smits, and Mark Jackson, I don't believe that the Pacers will get to the championship like they did last season. And I think a player that will be hurt mostly by these changes is their star Reggie Miller. He will miss the screens set by Smits and Davis, and Jackson, the point guard, was a passer first and a scorer second, while Jalen Rose and Travis Best are scorers first and passers second.
From D-Boz: Have you listened to Allen Iverson's CD? If so, what do you think about it?
Kevin Loughery: No. I have not listened to Allen Iverson's CD. [Laughing] I'm from a different era. From Luke: Who do you pick to be in the NBA Finals this year?
Kevin Loughery: My final two are the same two teams who played two years ago: the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs.
From Scotty in San Antonio: Everyone is talking about the Blazers and Lakers, but I still think the Spurs can beat both of them with a healthy Duncan and Robinson, and Derek Anderson is going to be a big help. What do you think?
Kevin Loughery: I'm in 100 percent agreement. With a healthy Tim Duncan, David Robinson and Sean Elliott and the additions of Derek Anderson and Danny Ferry, who is a good outside shooter, this team has a chance to make it to the NBA Finals.
From Luke: How good will the Bucks be this year? Did they pick up any free agents this offseason?
Kevin Loughery: I think the Bucks have a chance to be the surprise team in the Eastern Conference. They are well coached by George Karl and they were able to keep all their young players: Ray Allen, Glenn Robinson, Sam Cassell and Tim Thomas. They've added Lindsey Hunter and Jason Caffey. The only problem is, I don't think they are good enough defensively to win the Eastern Conference, but they will contend all year.
From Celticfan: Do you see the Celtics making any trades to obtain a more legitimate center?
Kevin Loughery: I think the Celtics, with their style of play, must get a shot-blocking center or they will not make the playoffs. They were probably the worst defensive in the Eastern Conference last season.
From discgman: What is your read on the Sacramento Kings this year?
Kevin Loughery: The Sacramento Kings are one of the most exciting teams in the NBA. They've added Doug Christie to the backcourt. They will start Predrag Stojakovic up front at the small forward, and I think he could be an 18- to 20-point scorer. Their biggest problem is Jason Williams, who is one of the most exciting and dynamic players offensively in the NBA. But he is a very, very poor defensive player and makes a lot of critical mistakes. If Sacramento, with Chris Webber and Vlade Divac, can improve their defense, it could be a contender in the West. But with their personnel, I don't see them improving their defense.
From zalzalzal: Why not trade Stoudamire and move Pippen to the point in Portland, Rasheed Wallace over to the three-spot, and Shawn Kemp into the four?
Kevin Loughery: First of all, Scottie Pippen is not a point guard. You can play him at point forward because he is playing against a man a player his size, but you move Scottie to the point and play him against smaller quicker players, he would have difficulty handling the basketball and directing the team.
From Luke: Who is your sleeper team this year in the NBA?
Kevin Loughery: My sleeper team in the NBA would have to be ... I'm going to say ... to change things... I'm going to say Toronto. I think that everybody feels with Tracy McGrady leaving Toronto, they will have a tough time having a successful season. But with Antonio Davis, Charles Oakley, Corliss Williamson, Vince Carter and Mark Jackson, that starting lineup will win a lot of games in the NBA. If their draft choice, Morris Peterson, can develop quickly, and I think he will because he is an outstanding shooter, I like Toronto to be the sleeper this season.
CNNSI Host: That's all the time we have today with CNNSI.com's NBA analyst Kevin Loughery. Thanks again for being here, Kevin.
Kevin Loughery: I want to wish all you NBA fans out there a great season. It starts tonight. Good luck.
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