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Marc Stein

  (5:31 PM)

Good day, everyone.

Marc Stein

  (5:31 PM)

Thanks for joining us.

Marc Stein

  (5:32 PM)

Let's get right to it.

Bosses (everywhere)

Thank you for doing this chat after work hours. Productivity is up today.

Marc Stein

  (5:33 PM)

Not after work hours on the West Coast. The world doesn't revolve around the East Coast.

Neil (Agoura Hills, CA)

I love your rankings and it makes my mondays much more anticipated, but I think it is time to move the Lake Show back up to number one. Hollinger has them number one over Boston (number four) and they are flat out playing better, schedule aside. Also, you can't ignore that there are four Lakers in the top 25 in the league in PER. (Bryant 11, Bynum 20, Ariza 23, and Gasol 25.) I don't see a single Celtic in the top 48. Enough said.

Marc Stein

  (5:35 PM)

You are not alone, Neil. But I guess someone has to be impressed with the defending champs starting 16-2 when everyone said they wouldn't be hungry enough.

Eric, Loma Linda

Marc,Is it me or does it seem like the Lakers are 14-1 without even playing that well yet. I know they've had an easy schedule, but I feel like they have yet to click. Your thoughts?

Marc Stein

  (5:38 PM)

They certainly have more gears to go to, as I think we can safe for most of the top teams. They have been ruthless and dominant by any measure. I just think the fact that they've played almost every game at home and without being asked to go back-to-back too much yet has made it easy for them to cruise.

Marc Stein

  (5:38 PM)

That said . . . when the Lakers did have to play in Dallas and New Orleans on consecutive nights, they were sensational.

Paul (Cedar Grove NJ)

Marc, The Nets are playing great and no one is talking about them. Lawerence Frank has done a great job so far. Can he get into the mix for Coach of the Year? Can Devin Harris make the all star team? Its hard to find a guard playing better in the east!

Marc Stein

  (5:41 PM)

Slobbered all over the Nets in the rankings today. Devin Harris . . . I'm in awe. He is doing things I never thought possible. He's still not a set-up man, but if he keeps consistently making the jumper like he has been . . . all I can say is wow.

Marc Stein

  (5:42 PM)

I knew getting out of Dallas would help him. But this much? Stunning.

Jason (Chicago)

Nothing against Paul from Cedar Grove or Devin Harris, but has he seen Derrick Rose play at all? He's unreal...

Marc Stein

  (5:42 PM)

Yeah. Rose, too.

Joseph (Monterey Park, CA)

If T-Mac is forced out for the season because of his knee, does Houston have a shot at anything more than an appearance in the playoffs this year?

Marc Stein

  (5:44 PM)

Can't see it. They'd be the first to tell you that they need a clicking Big Three to do real damage.

Bradley: (Indianapolis)

What's the latest on Jamaal Tinsley? Why won't they just buy him out?

Marc Stein

  (5:46 PM)

The Pacers just refuse to pay a guy to go elsewhere. That's been their policy for a while now. Thing is, unlike the wild Marbury situation with all of the variables that keep that mess in the news, Tinsley is away from the team. So I don't know what's going to change.

Roy Makakilo Hawaii

Why didn't New York deal with Marbury earlier in the season and cut him then as opposed to him being a problem now?

Marc Stein

  (5:49 PM)

I can understand New York trying to buy him out and save a little money as opposed to just releasing him and paying him off. The part I can't understand is why the Knicks didn't send him away from the team like the Pacers did with Tinsley. The current collective-bargaining agreement is the first that allowed teams to suspend guys WITH pay. A lot of this current Knicks chaos could have been avoided if Steph was just away from the team getting his money. Maybe then he'd get itchy to play again and be willing to give up a few bucks for his freedom . . . and Steph insists that he has offered to forfeit $1 million in a buyout.

Nima (Stanford)

How bad does the Kevin Love-OJ Mayo trade look now for minnesota?

Marc Stein

  (5:50 PM)

Out of respect for my friends in the underrated city of Minneapolis, do I have to take this one?

Matt (Champaign, IL)

So based on your responses so far, should it be Devin Harris and Derrick Rose filling the PG spots for the East in the All-Star Game?

Marc Stein

  (5:53 PM)

Have to be honest: Questions like this are easy to screw up because I can pretty much guarantee that I'm going to forget a name or three when I'm typing at my usual blazing pace and trying to monitor the questions that are coming in at the same time. Another issue: East and West coaches, remember, don't have to make their reserve choices based on strict designations of point guard and shooting guard. After the five starters are chosen by the fans, it's two guards, two forwards, one center and two wild cards in each conference . . . with coaches given the freedom by the league to be loose with positional interpretations to ensure that the most deserving seven reserves are chosen. However . . . After saying all that, there's no disputing that two those and Rondo rank as the three best PGs in the East right now.

Jason (Syracuse, NY)

Is it safe to say that despite their 14-1 start, nobody has quite erased the memory of the Lakers getting blown out in Game 6 of the NBA Finals and that's the reason Boston is No. 1 in the power rankings.

Marc Stein

  (5:55 PM)

Not really. This is a different team with Bynum.

Mike ( San Jose)

What's the difference between paying Tinsley to stay home versus paying him to go away? Is it gamesmanship to keep him off another team or cruelty to stall his career?

Marc Stein

  (5:56 PM)

I believe that the Pacers still believe that they can find a trade taker for him. I don't believe that to be the case, but they have no great incentive to rush into a buyout.

Gordon (Cleveland, Ohio)

Uh . . . aren't you forgetting Jose Calderon when you're talking about the top 3 PGs in the East?

Marc Stein

  (5:57 PM)

See that? I LOVE Calderon and forgot him because of his recent injury woes. See? How many times last season was I accused of overhyping Calderon? See why these questions are killers?

Ethan (Philly)

Help me! What is the prescription for the Sixers? Do they need to dump Mo and grab Eddie Jordan?

Marc Stein

  (5:59 PM)

Such speculation will be inevitable given Eddie Jordan's and Ed Stefanksi's past association with the Nets. But Mo just had his contract extended in September. I'm sure the Sixers will look at every option possible to avoid firing him. The Sixers have to fix their D, for starters. They've been abysmal. One big problem: Brand and Dalembert look less than compatible playing together so far.

Bryant (Georgia)

what about bibby? he's shooting the lights out right now.

Marc Stein

  (6:00 PM)

I wouldn't put him above the other four guys, but Bibby surely deserves to be in the conversation.

Gonzalo (Montivideo, Uruguay)

Your argument against the lakers (or pro the celts) is that they have had an easier schedule so far. Just chek hollinger's powerrankings, fourth column, SOS: LAL = .552, BOS = 502 (by the way, sixth column, SOSL10, not good for the celts either) Got another argument against LA?

Marc Stein

  (6:03 PM)

Here's why I don't just look at the SOS: As far as I understand, SOS only calculates winning percentages. As far as I understand it, most SOS readings do not account for home and road, or back-to-backs, or facts like Dallas (Josh Howard) and Toronto (Jermaine O'Neal) showing up in L.A. with big-name absentees. That's why we say over and over that Hollinger's rankings are a computerized formula using an advanced set of calculations too complex for my Cal State brain . . . and that mine are the human rankings that keep a 50/50 eye on the present and the future and factor in things that a formula can't.

Shabazz (LA)

Suns fans aren't loving Terry Porter's new offense, lack of defensive improvement or his wacky rotation patterns. What does this team need to do to get back on track because nobody seems happy right now?

Marc Stein

  (6:05 PM)

The most compelling question in the league right now. This team wasn't happy even when it was winning. I see the Suns in person this week for the first time since camp. I will be asking all the same questions you are, because I'm just as stumped as everyone else.

lakers or bust (los angeles, CA)

i've read that kobe isnt scoring enough for mvp considerations. kobe will never do right in people's eyes. when he was scoring a lot, it was too much...now its not enough. what gives? i say MVP if lakers win over 65 games. what do you think?

Marc Stein

  (6:07 PM)

If the Lakers win 65 or more -- and it certainly looks like they will -- I struggle to imagine that Kobe won't be in the conversation . . . even though Chris Paul, in a decision I had nothing to do with, was voted Western Conference Player of the Month today.

Mike (Davis, CA)

Do you think the Clippers should trade Kaman or Camby, or neither? Also, since their season is done, should they try to sign Marbury when he is bought out?

Marc Stein

  (6:09 PM)

No on Marbury. I'd say the Clips have enough going on right now. As for trading Kaman or Camby, I'd say yes . . . except that the Clips keep insisting that they're not moving one of their centers. And the fact that both Kaman and Camby are banged up right now would seem to back up their stance.

Cristian (Stockton, CA)

How long until John Salmons and Brad Miller are traded out of Sacramento to make room for the young players?

Marc Stein

  (6:13 PM)

Salmons, no. Miller, yes, Sacto will almost certainly look to move him if it works cap-wise.

Eric (Orlando, FL)

Do you think the Magic are really good, or have they just had an easy schedule? Personally, I think Dwight, Turkoglu, and Lewis make a great Big 3 no one is talking about.

Marc Stein

  (6:15 PM)

The schedule has been soft, but they've also been better than expected . Most execs that I talk to like this team better than I do. The weak spots are obvious: Bench and backcourt. But they sure know how to win a road game.

Joe Smith (OKC)

Get me out of here! Will someone trade for me or should I expect a buyout? Who'd be in the running to get me?

Marc Stein

  (6:20 PM)

Don't know where yet, but you will be traded, Mr. Smith. Feel pretty good about that prediction.

Isaac (Fresno, CA)

Stein in your weekend article you insinuated Dallas wouldn't trade kidd for this season, but in your opinion would they if they continue barely treading water and remaining at .500?

Marc Stein

  (6:23 PM)

Only if someone offers them multiple top prospects, which I seriously can't imagine between now and February. The Mavs are trying to trade Stackhouse (who has only $2 million guaranteed next year, making him a virtual expiring contract) for someone who can make an impact now. That's the Mavs' short-term focus.

Jay (Parker, CO)

Anyway the Nuggets can trade away Carmelo? He looks horrible this year and shouldn't even be starting!

Marc Stein

  (6:24 PM)

This can't be a legit note out of the Rocky Mountains. I imagine Nuggets fans would be giddier than they've been in ages.

Teamless In Seattle

Stein,How do I convince the wife and kids that daddy's got to watch some b-ball on x-mas day w/out landing in the dog house?

Marc Stein

  (6:26 PM)

You got no shot. Won't even pretend to give you hope.

Karl (Denver)

Marc, you will have to excuse Jay from Colorado. Apparently, scoring points is the only thing that matters to him. Melo has been Melo in that regard, but his defense and rebounding are much improved. How good has Kmart and Nene looked to you this year?

Marc Stein

  (6:27 PM)

It had to be a bogus question. Just wanted to talk about the Nuggets. As long as K-Mart and Nene are healthy, what's not to like? Health has always been these disclaimer with those two.

Chad (Walnut Creek, CA)

Better conference so far, East or West?

Marc Stein

  (6:29 PM)

East, I'm happy to say. Bottom of the West ain't pretty right now.

Marc Stein

  (6:29 PM)

East, I'm happy to say. Bottom of the West ain't pretty right now.

Daniel (Chicago)

Hi Marc,I am very surprised that you were able to show up today after what "your" team ManCity showed yesterday (or rather didn't show up :))

Marc Stein

  (6:31 PM)

In the space of eight days, we played Arsenal, Schalke away and U----d. We won the first two games and lost 1-nil in the derby. I can't complain too much, especially since City will be turning over PSG in less than 48 hours.

Marc Stein

  (6:31 PM)

Thanks for all the questions everyone. We will do it again next Monday.