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Chat Reel: Kevin Loughery

CNN/SI analyst talks NBA All-Star weekend

CNNSI Host: Welcome to today's NBA chat with Kevin Loughery. Thanks for joining us, Coach!
Kevin Loughery: Welcome, everybody. Thanks for being here. We are getting ready for a nice weekend at the All Star Game.

From Crawdad01: Heading into the draft, Jamal Crawford wowed scouts with his athletic ability, but he is now backing up Khalid El-Amin and rarely sees the court. What are the plans for him?
Kevin Loughery: I think Crawford has been turnover prone as a point guard and hasn't really performed as the Chicago Bulls expected him to. He's very athletic, very quick, but he's not a very good shooter. I really believe he has an upside, but in the system of Chicago, who would like to play a slow-down game, it does not fit his talents.

From Cedric in Okinawa, Japan: Coach, who are the best two players that you have ever played against or coached in your outstanding career?
Kevin Loughery: I will go in this direction: The best two players I ever played against were Jerry West and Oscar Robinson. The best two players I ever coached were Dr. J, Julius Erving, and Michael Jordan.

From Crawdad01: Is there any talk of the Bulls replacing Tim Floyd, or are they convinced that no one could do any better with this team?
Kevin Loughery: I think Tim Floyd, overall, considering the talent that he has, has done a nice job. He is considered around the coaching circles of the NBA to be a very good coach. However, the talent level of the Chicago Bulls, probably outside of Elton Brand, who is in his second year, and Ron Mercer, whom they signed as a free agent, is at the lowest level in the NBA. It is really a miracle that the fans of Chicago continue to support this team with a sold-out arena almost every night. Management will soon have to step up and take the blame.

From DukeN: Kevin, what do you think of Toronto's chances in the postseason, considering their maturation as a team and the fact that they are a veteran team?
Kevin Loughery: I feel that Toronto could be a very good playoff team. They have pretty good interior defensive players in Charles Oakley and Antonio Davis, however, they do not have a shot blocker. Their defense at the guard position with Mark Jackson and when Morris Peterson plays at that position and with Vince Carter up front, it's not a good defensive team. In the playoffs, when it gets into a half-court game, you need shot blockers and good defense from your guards. Keon Clark was a very good pick-up from Denver for Kevin Willis. And they also got Tracy Murray in that trade. If Clark can step up and show great interior defense, it could help Toronto. I felt that situation would develop for the Raptors, but they have been very inconsistent and Clark has been very inconsistent since the trade. He is their key player. He must develop into a prime-time center.

From JoeSchmoe: How did you get picked to coach the rookies this weekend?
Kevin Loughery: The reason the four coaches, Jack Marin, Elvin Hayes, Phil Chenier, and I are coaching is because we have had a strong association with the Washington Wizards. Mainly we played for Baltimore and Washington for many years, so they have chosen at the All-Star Game to have coaches who have significant careers with the franchise hosting the game to be the coaches of the Schick Rookie Game.

From Vanessa H. Moore in Atlanta, Ga.: Coaching the rookie All-Stars should be great. What will you do to get them ready to play the NBA sophomores?
Kevin Loughery: We have one practice on Friday night before the game, which will be played on Saturday, so it's not great preparation. It really is a game that will expose these young players to the national public, because many of these players are not featured on their present teams. So it is a great opportunity for these players to show their talents. We will, as coaches, just have a few offensive sets, out-of-bounds plays, and a little defensive philosophy, but in one practice, you are not going to accomplish a whole lot. But when the game is played, we will play to win the game.

From Crawdad01: Everyone in the NBA wants Chris Webber to come play for or with them. Who can afford him?
Kevin Loughery: Chris Webber's situation is very unique. Here is a player that got traded to Sacramento, really did not want to play in Sacramento, has had his greatest years as a pro and been with the most successful team in Sacramento, and loves his teammates. I understand he is not crazy about the city of Sacramento, however, career-wise it would be a shame if Chris Webber leaves Sacramento. They are probably the most exciting team in the NBA. But if he decides to leave Sacramento, there will be a lot of NBA teams looking to make a trade with Sacramento. In the first half of this season, in my opinion, he is second in MVP voting behind Allen Iverson. But for the good of the NBA, I would like to see him stay in Sacramento.

From DukeN: Kevin, what do you think of the East's chances now that Shaq won't be playing? A lineup of Iverson, Carter, T-Mac, Theo and Mt. Mutombo doesn't sound that bad. I understand it's the bench where the East is weak, but do they have a realistic shot to win?
Kevin Loughery: In an All-Star Game, for the first three quarters, really the coaches just try to play the players equally. In the last quarter, they play the game to win. I feel that it will be a question of the East's quickness against the West's size. I believe that the East, with their quickness and aggressiveness, will have a very, very good chance to win the All-Star Game. My pick would be the East in an upset to win the game with their quickness.

CNNSI Host: That's all the time we have today with Kevin Loughery. Thanks and enjoy the weekend!
Kevin Loughery: Thanks, and be good.

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