Hornets.com 1-on-1: Russ Eisenstein

January 31, 2007

Eisenstein

Hornets.com recently sat down with Hornets Radio Network studio host Russ Eisenstein. In his second season with the Hornets, Eisenstein hosts the pregame, halftime and postgame shows during all 82 games throughout the regular season.

Eisenstein also serves as a host and reporter for the Hornets’ monthly television magazine show, “Hornets TV.”

Q: Has anything surprised you about how quickly David West has returned to his form of 2005-06, after he missed over two months and 30 games this season to injury? He averaged over 20 points and 10 rebounds in his first three games back.
A: The word was out on D-West during last season. The biggest challenge is playing when you are a known commodity. West cannot sneak up on anyone after last season, and despite that, he continues to produce. I knew he would.
His conditioning level was top-notch coming into the season and that helped him bounce back from injury and produce. He is not afraid of contact – as a boxer he might feed off of that – and he has some range to his game. Credit him for not being satisfied with last year’s work.
It is evident that he wanted to roll last year’s good effort into a solid 2006-07.  There were two games following the injury that were not up to West’s level, but that was because of an ankle tweak. He followed that up with a nice showing against the Trail Blazers. Expect more where that came from.

Q: Based on what you’ve seen from Chris Paul in practices and workouts, how long do you think it will take him to get into game shape and be back at 100 percent?
A: It won’t be immediate, but it will be pretty close. The mind is a powerful tool for an athlete, and CP3 has a noodle for the game. He expects great things from himself and he is frustrated if that does not happen.
With that said, Chris will not allow himself to be in a position where his body cannot follow through on what his brain wants him to do. He’s a winner. And if there are any limitations because of the injury, his basketball IQ will allow him to produce at a high level. A smart player is a dangerous player for the opposition. Injury or not, his mind will allow him to play at a very high level upon his return to the lineup.

Q: When Paul returns, the Hornets will have their entire roster of players available, excluding Peja Stojakovic. Factoring in the Hornets’ roster changes that took place during the offseason and what you’ve seen so far in 2006-07, in your opinion, how much better can this year’s club be in the second half of the season than the 2005-06 squad?
A: There is more to work with this year than what was there in ’05-06. There is more depth, there is more talent and there is a greater ability to capture wins. Last year, the emotion of the season allowed the Hornets to capture more victories than they probably should have. Expect some emotional wins this season during the rest of this playoff push, but the talent should enable this club to win games that aren’t as feverish emotionally.

Q: Is it possible that the Hornets could benefit from the fresher legs that West and Paul should have late in the season after they’ve missed so much time? For players like Paul who suited up for USA Basketball in the summer, there has been a lot of discussion that not getting a break from playing has impacted some of the World Championships participants.
A: The injury situation has been a pain in the tuchus – that is the Yiddish word for rear end. However, there is a side benefit to all of this. You bring up a good point. One would think that the legs should have more spring in them for those that did deal with the injuries.
Simple logic says that if a player concentrates his energy that would have been good for 82 games into 52 games, his 52 games should be that much better. Also, think about the minutes that the Bees will see from the guys off of the bench. They played all of that time in different roles because of the injuries. They might be playing less minutes now, but those minutes are now more impactful and valuable. There is always a silver lining!

Q: Even if everything breaks right, is it realistic to think that the Hornets can put together the type of second half that would give them a chance to make the playoffs? At the moment, they are 19-25, meaning they’d need to go 26-12 the rest of the way to get to 45 wins.
A: This team is right there. Bottom line, they did not fall off the basketball map with the injuries. They kept themselves within striking distance even with those players out.  Now that they are returning, buckle up for a fun basketball ride from now until April!

Q: You are now in your second season as a Hornets broadcaster and are a Chicago native. How much more comfortable do you feel this season with two players on the roster – Jannero Pargo and Linton Johnson – who are both from the Windy City? And how much do you guys talk about deep-dish pizza and ‘Da Bears?’
A: Jimbo, you know that where a player is from has no bearing on how well I get along with them. But, it is pretty cool to have some Chicago connections on this roster. During a “94-50” halftime feature with JP we did on the Hornets Radio Network, we talked about which Chicago pizzeria is the best.
He said Giordano’s. I say it’s Gino's East. Either way, eating a deep dish pie is something like a religious experience. I would be in heaven if I could have a pie, an Italian beef, and a Chicago-style hot dog all in the same meal. We know health food in Chi Town!

Q: What is your opinion of how former Chicago lottery pick Tyson Chandler has played this season?
A: Tyson has been a joy to cover and watch. I feel that a person’s character is very important, more important than what you see on the floor in a game, but with TC you get a great person and a very, very talented player.
His ability to get into solid rebounding position on the offensive and defensive end should be studied by youngsters. Kids can learn a lot from what he does. He has a way of using that position to be in the right place at the right time to block shots too. He uses his physical attributes to take control of the paint. Plus, with him, you get a player that likes going to the rim. How many follow-up dunks has he had this season? Expect more of that as the season continues.

Q: Super Bowl prediction? You don’t think Rex Grossman will prevail over Peyton Manning on Sunday do you?
A: I grew up in the suburbs of Chicago, but I was raised as a Green Bay Packers fan. I am not a diehard NFL guy, college football is what I love, but rooting against the Bears has been something I have done a lot.
However, the city is one of the best, if not the best in the country, in my mind. I know what another Super Bowl win would do for that area, so if they were to win, I would be OK with it. My gut tells me that Peyton Manning’s ability to break down a defense will come to the forefront on Sunday. That will be the difference in the game. This Chicago boy is going with the Colts in a close contest.

Q: You’re a Southern Illinois alum and a big supporter of the Missouri Valley Conference. Who are some of the guys in the MVC right now who we will be seeing in the NBA over the next couple years?
A: The great thing about the Valley is that it is team basketball – there are some great players to be sure, but the team concept is much more important than cultivating talent for the pro ranks. With that said, there are players who do shine in the team system.
Eric Coleman and Grant Stout from Northern Iowa are two players that should get a look. Coleman is a beast in the paint who has polished his low-post moves. Stout is a tall, thin but strong, smart post/shooting big man. His ability to shoot from deep should catch the eye of folks in the NBA.
Creighton has done great things with Dana Altman at the helm. The Sixers’ Kyle Korver is a product of that system, and Nate Funk could be the next Bluejay pro. He can run an offense and shoot with high accuracy.

Q: How about a few sleepers from other mid-major schools who you think will be talked about when the NBA draft approaches in June?
A: First off, the term mid-major should be phased out. Non-BCS is more accurate. The MVC is considered mid-major but many of the schools are in sizeable cities, they have great interest in their programs, they draw large crowds and they play good basketball.  With that out of the way, Nick Fazekas of Nevada and Rodney Stuckey of Eastern Washington are two to keep an eye on. Stuckey is only a sophomore. The University of New Orleans has a junior worth looking at. Bo McCalebb can really score. Keep tabs on him.

Q: You spent summer 2006 as the radio voice of the Eugene Emeralds, a minor-league baseball Class A team that plays in the Northwest League. How much different is that experience from what you do for the Hornets during the NBA season?
A: Working in the minors has been something I have wanted to do for a long time, but other jobs have not allowed me to do that. Being with the Hornets has opened up the summers to pursue other broadcasting interests, and it was an incredible experience.  With the Ems, I am in charge of everything radio-related, which has been different than anything else I have done. They gave me the ability to do all that I saw fit, and I was able to incorporate a lot of the things I have done in the past and what we do on the Hornets’ broadcasts.
It was 76 games in 78 games. It was travel, hotels, ballparks and games, day after day.  Really, it was an incredible way to spend a couple of months, and I look forward to returning to Oregon this summer.