Hornets.com’s 1-on-1: ESPN’s Ric Bucher
January 8, 2007
Hornets.com and Hoop magazine writer Jim Eichenhofer chatted with ESPN.com and ESPN The Magazine writer Ric Bucher prior to Monday’s game between the Hornets and the Los Angeles Clippers at the Ford Center.
Bucher is an NBA analyst and insider for ESPN’s popular website and also serves as a commentator on the cable station’s extensive pro basketball coverage.
ESPN writer Ric Bucher
Q: What is your prognosis for the Hornets over the next few weeks, playing without their three best players? Do you think this stretch will spell the end of their hopes of making the playoffs?
A: With the way the Western Conference is, yes. Digging a hole like this, particularly with their schedule the way it is, this was the time that everyone expected them to make up for their tougher earlier schedule.
I’ll be honest: Even with all of the additions they made (in the offseason), I didn’t have them as a playoff team this season. I thought they’d be competitive. But one, I thought the pieces that they picked up were injury-prone. Two, I didn’t see how they would necessarily fit with the style that has become sort of prevalent in the league, which is to play fast and play up-tempo.
They added some scoring, but they didn’t add up-tempo players. I had Houston making the playoffs – and it looks like they’re going to survive, even without Yao Ming for a long stretch – and I had the Golden State Warriors making it. I don’t know that (the Warriors) will make any noise in the postseason, but they have the offensive firepower and the style under Don Nelson to take advantage of the way the game is being officiated.
If healthy, I wasn’t convinced that the Hornets were going to make (the playoffs). Now that they’re all banged up and Chris Paul is going to be out for a month, that only makes it that much more difficult.
Q: What is your opinion of the way Byron Scott is doling out minutes right now? It seems like he’s been trying a lot of different lineups and rotations, and at times it’s been difficult to determine who is going to play from game to game.
A: When you’ve got a bunch of young guys, you try to take advantage of mismatches every night and try to find what’s going to work. The Clippers have a similar situation right now – the players would like to have a consistent (rotation) and know who’s going to play how many minutes. It’s easier to prepare for games
But the reality is, if you don’t have dominant players, you’re going to have to juggle (your lineup), and see who’s going to bring energy each night. As much as players complain about it, and as much as it is an easy target for fans (to criticize), I never have an issue with a coach trying to figure it out.
Q: What is your assessment of Hornets first-round picks Hilton Armstrong and Cedric Simmons. They haven’t made a major difference immediately, but is that pretty much what you expected from them, that it might be a couple years before they have a bigger impact?
A: To be honest, I think with this entire rookie class, people who were expecting huge impacts beyond (Portland’s) Brandon Roy or (Minnesota’s) Randy Foye or (Toronto’s) Andrea Bargnani, were being unrealistic. This was not a draft where you had superstars; it was one where nearly everyone was going to be a complementary role player.
Guys coming in weren’t going to make the same impact that was expected of previous draft classes. Now, this coming draft (in June), that will be a different story. There are a lot of guys who are going to be expected to come in and have an immediate impact.
Q: What is your opinion of what you’ve seen from Tyson Chandler this season? He was heavily criticized for the way he played in Chicago last season – he even said himself that he was embarrassed by how he performed – but overall people are happy with what he’s done here, especially his rebounding.
A: I think what people fail to take into account sometimes with big men is who they are playing next to, and how much attention does that (teammate) draw? I haven’t seen the numbers, but I guarantee when he’s playing next to David West, he’s probably more effective than he is now.
When Tyson was playing with Eddy Curry (in Chicago prior to last season), his numbers were a little bit better, because other teams had to pay attention to (Curry). Last year in Chicago, Tyson was the only guy you had to focus on – the only guy you had to keep off the boards.
Now with all of the injuries, it’s a big mountain to climb for Tyson. Teams come in now with a gameplan that he’s the one guy to keep off the boards. Only the truly great (rebounders) are able to handle that kind of attention.
Q: What is your perspective on Peja Stojakovic’s health situation and what do you expect long-term to happen with his back injury?
A: I don’t really know the ins and outs of his condition, but any time a guy gets to his age and at this point in his career, you don’t want back problems. That’s a chronic ailment.
Q: From what you’ve seen from Chris Paul, what are the biggest improvements he’s made since his rookie season? What impact do you think his participation in USA Basketball made on him?
A: For some guys, playing with Team USA was a grind – and I’m sure it was for him – but there were some players, like Joe Johnson, Dwight Howard and Chris, who just by playing with other great players, made them realize, ‘You know what? I can play with these guys. I’m on the same level as them.’
Just getting to practice with Dwyane Wade and LeBron James was great for them. That gives you a whole different confidence coming into the next season. And every player will tell you, confidence is such a huge part of your game. If you get a boost there, it’s going to really help you.
Hornets.com and Hoop magazine writer Jim Eichenhofer chatted with ESPN.com and ESPN The Magazine writer Ric Bucher prior to Monday’s game between the Hornets and the Los Angeles Clippers at the Ford Center.
Bucher is an NBA analyst and insider for ESPN’s popular website and also serves as a commentator on the cable station’s extensive pro basketball coverage.
bucher
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Q: What is your prognosis for the Hornets over the next few weeks, playing without their three best players? Do you think this stretch will spell the end of their hopes of making the playoffs?
A: With the way the Western Conference is, yes. Digging a hole like this, particularly with their schedule the way it is, this was the time that everyone expected them to make up for their tougher earlier schedule.
I’ll be honest: Even with all of the additions they made (in the offseason), I didn’t have them as a playoff team this season. I thought they’d be competitive. But one, I thought the pieces that they picked up were injury-prone. Two, I didn’t see how they would necessarily fit with the style that has become sort of prevalent in the league, which is to play fast and play up-tempo.
They added some scoring, but they didn’t add up-tempo players. I had Houston making the playoffs – and it looks like they’re going to survive, even without Yao Ming for a long stretch – and I had the Golden State Warriors making it. I don’t know that (the Warriors) will make any noise in the postseason, but they have the offensive firepower and the style under Don Nelson to take advantage of the way the game is being officiated.
If healthy, I wasn’t convinced that the Hornets were going to make (the playoffs). Now that they’re all banged up and Chris Paul is going to be out for a month, that only makes it that much more difficult.
Q: What is your opinion of the way Byron Scott is doling out minutes right now? It seems like he’s been trying a lot of different lineups and rotations, and at times it’s been difficult to determine who is going to play from game to game.
A: When you’ve got a bunch of young guys, you try to take advantage of mismatches every night and try to find what’s going to work. The Clippers have a similar situation right now – the players would like to have a consistent (rotation) and know who’s going to play how many minutes. It’s easier to prepare for games
But the reality is, if you don’t have dominant players, you’re going to have to juggle (your lineup), and see who’s going to bring energy each night. As much as players complain about it, and as much as it is an easy target for fans (to criticize), I never have an issue with a coach trying to figure it out.
Q: What is your assessment of Hornets first-round picks Hilton Armstrong and Cedric Simmons. They haven’t made a major difference immediately, but is that pretty much what you expected from them, that it might be a couple years before they have a bigger impact?
A: To be honest, I think with this entire rookie class, people who were expecting huge impacts beyond (Portland’s) Brandon Roy or (Minnesota’s) Randy Foye or (Toronto’s) Andrea Bargnani, were being unrealistic. This was not a draft where you had superstars; it was one where nearly everyone was going to be a complementary role player.
Guys coming in weren’t going to make the same impact that was expected of previous draft classes. Now, this coming draft (in June), that will be a different story. There are a lot of guys who are going to be expected to come in and have an immediate impact.
Q: What is your opinion of what you’ve seen from Tyson Chandler this season? He was heavily criticized for the way he played in Chicago last season – he even said himself that he was embarrassed by how he performed – but overall people are happy with what he’s done here, especially his rebounding.
A: I think what people fail to take into account sometimes with big men is who they are playing next to, and how much attention does that (teammate) draw? I haven’t seen the numbers, but I guarantee when he’s playing next to David West, he’s probably more effective than he is now.
When Tyson was playing with Eddy Curry (in Chicago prior to last season), his numbers were a little bit better, because other teams had to pay attention to (Curry). Last year in Chicago, Tyson was the only guy you had to focus on – the only guy you had to keep off the boards.
Now with all of the injuries, it’s a big mountain to climb for Tyson. Teams come in now with a gameplan that he’s the one guy to keep off the boards. Only the truly great (rebounders) are able to handle that kind of attention.
Q: What is your perspective on Peja Stojakovic’s health situation and what do you expect long-term to happen with his back injury?
A: I don’t really know the ins and outs of his condition, but any time a guy gets to his age and at this point in his career, you don’t want back problems. That’s a chronic ailment.
Q: From what you’ve seen from Chris Paul, what are the biggest improvements he’s made since his rookie season? What impact do you think his participation in USA Basketball made on him?
A: For some guys, playing with Team USA was a grind – and I’m sure it was for him – but there were some players, like Joe Johnson, Dwight Howard and Chris, who just by playing with other great players, made them realize, ‘You know what? I can play with these guys. I’m on the same level as them.’
Just getting to practice with Dwyane Wade and LeBron James was great for them. That gives you a whole different confidence coming into the next season. And every player will tell you, confidence is such a huge part of your game. If you get a boost there, it’s going to really help you.
Q: Why did you choose to attend tonight’s game? What stories are you working on for ESPN right now?
A: It’s actually two-fold. I never made it to Oklahoma City last season. I was supposed to come here later in the season. I’ve been wanting to come here, and this was an opportunity for me to come in and see what Oklahoma City is all about. Also, I’ve been following the Clippers. I’m working on a Shaun Livingston piece.
I’m going to try to talk to Chris (Paul) about his USA Basketball experience, because there are a lot of guys who may be a bit fatigued and are now looking closely at that three-year commitment (to USA Basketball) and questioning it. You know, it sounds good: ‘I’m going to do the patriotic thing, and help get USA Basketball back on top.’
But I’m wondering if he thinks his injury (partly resulted) in his playing all summer. I know Elton Brand doesn’t feel physically the same. It sounds all well and good (to participate with USA Basketball), but if the (NBA) team is paying you millions, and you’re not going to be 100 percent (healthy) for them, you have to question what the value is of playing for Team USA.
