ESPN

Marc Stein

  (5:30 PM)

Hello, all.

Marc Stein

  (5:31 PM)

I'm sure you have a lot on your mind. Let's go . . .

Rene (Orlando, FL)

I'm reading more and more about SVG being a so called Master of Panic. I don't buy it. What have the Magic accomplished prior to Stan's run? You look at that roster and you see two true defensive aces in Howard and Lee and he somehow turned them into the #1 team in terms of defensive efficiency. DPOY, MIP, and two All-Stars under his watch. Maybe millionaire athletes (Shaq) and their sense of entitlement have lost touch with the fact they should actually listen to their coach every now and then. Not too bad of a job tying the series after two demoralizing losses to an uber athletic team peaking at the right moment either. RESPECT.

Marc Stein

  (5:33 PM)

Totaly agree. Stan is a great coach. He knows the game and has been nothing but successful with that team. They won a ton on the road, made huge strides defensively and would be looked at a lot differently now if Jameer Nelson was healthy.

Marc Stein

  (5:33 PM)

However . . .

Marc Stein

  (5:35 PM)

Shaq went at him as hard as he's ever gone after anyone. Stan wears his emotions on his sleeve and reports of player resistance to his methods are not exactly rare. So there is going to be a lot of focus on the whole "panic" thing when things aren't going well for the Magic. Fair or not. Only way to start hushing it is to get to the EC Finals. Or further. And I don't think Orlando has that capability with no Jameer and both Hedo and Rashard at less-than-full capacity.

Gabe (New Rochelle)

you think Rondo could have better rebounding numbers for an entire season than Jason Kidd or Lebron James ever did? Jumping the gun a little bit dont you think?

Marc Stein

  (5:37 PM)

Did I jump the gun in today's PGs In The Playoffs Col? Maybe. Or maybe not. Realistically NO ONE in the game is going to be able to average a triple-double for a whole season ever again. All I'm saying is that Rondo, as quickly as he's progressing, should be right up there with LeBron on the What If List.

Alex, (Portland, OR)

Lets be real, what are the Blazers chances of coming back from the 3-1 deficit against the Rockets?

Marc Stein

  (5:39 PM)

If you are from Portland, I don't think you want me to be real. Not seein' it.

Pat (Pittsburgh)

You don't think that Rondo's rebounding numbers have been a bit inflated in this postseason because the Celtics front court has been decimated by injury (i.e both KG and Powe being out)?

Marc Stein

  (5:41 PM)

A sound counterpoint. Except that it's also true that KG's rebound numbers are trending down. My real point: Rondo's ceiling just seems to keep rising. To levels pretty much no one predicted.

Brian (Michigan)

Is Ben Gordon's performance in the playoffs earning him back some of the money he lost after not taking the contract he was offered?

Marc Stein

  (5:43 PM)

Yes and no. I've run this past a few execs and everyone seems to have a higher-than-ever appreciate for Gordon. But there are two problems. 1. He's a one-on-one player to the extreme. 2. Free-agent money on this summer's market is going to be so scarce that projections are complicated this far out.

big baby (nj)

Congratulations T-Mac! Looks like he's finally going to win a play-off series...

Marc Stein

  (5:49 PM)

I actually did some research on this because I've been getting this question a lot lately. Because this is not an official "stat," there is no official policy from Elias or the league about what this means for Tracy's playoff record. On one hand, T-Mac is officially on Houston's playoff roster. So he is definitely on the team. But he's not going to play a single minute in the playoffs and I think it's safe to say that the court of public opinion will not accept that a spot on the playoff roster means his first-round drought is over. The choice is yours, though, assuming Houston finishes Portland off.

Terry M (Arlington, TX)

Hey Steiny-Mo, have you been hearing a lot of people grumbling about certain playoff games being relegated to NBA TV? I know it is nowhere near the problem that the NFL network issue is, but I am still upset that I will be stuck watching Miami-Atlanta and won't be able to see NO-Denver tonight.

Marc Stein

  (5:52 PM)

I'm hearing some grumbling in this chat room . . . and as someone who spends a lot of extra money and time trying to track down feeds of international soccer matches I do feel your pain. But isn't the silver lining here that it's an excuse to round up the fellas and force yourself to hit a sports bar on a weeknight?

Scott (Battle Ground,WA)

Where do my beloved Pistons go from here? I'm not in love with the free agent pool this offseason as Boozer is the biggest name out there, but his defense is atrocious!! Just say no Joe. What legitimate centers would be the best bet to try and steal away from some financially starved teams this summer? Also any chance on us nabbing Bosh and what do you think it would take to snag him? Thanks and love the chats!!

Marc Stein

  (5:54 PM)

They are just as apt to use their cap space on trades as they are to go after Free Agent A, B or C. We don't know all the names yet of players will be made available by cash-strapped teams this summer, in the vein of New Orleans' attempts to move Tyson Chandler, but I suspect that the Pistons will get as many calls as they make.

Cory (CO)

Yo stein, which playoffs marketing campaign do you like more, this year's "where will amazing happen?" or last year's split face thing?

Marc Stein

  (5:56 PM)

Split face. Not even close.

bob(chi)

So based on your comments regarding Gordon, do you think he stays with Chicago?

Marc Stein

  (5:57 PM)

I'd expect him to leave more than I expect him to stay. But I don't expect him to recoup all of the money he lost when the oft-record $50 million over five years fell apart.

Josh (Boise, ID)

LeBron could average a triple double, if he played for D'Antoni, for 3 reasons: D'Antoni teams have more possessions per game, D'Antoni plays a short rotation and has his best players on the floor a lot of minutes, and D'Antoni's system has the ball in the hands of the best playmaker as much as possible. LeBron + 4 shooters + D'Antoni = triple double for the whole season. Diaw's best season was 14/7/7, and he didn't play a ton of minutes, and is obviously barely half the player that LeBron is. It could happen. I'm just saying.

Marc Stein

  (5:59 PM)

See that? Who says LeBron has no incentive to go the Knicks?

Mike (Cleveland)

Hey, Steiny! I have a week where I won't be able to watch the Cavs play, so I can root for every other series to play out as best it can for Cavs. If you were a Cavs fan, how would you realistically want the other 3 East series to go?

Marc Stein

  (6:02 PM)

I really don't think it matters. But I guess I'd rather see Atlanta than Miami -- I respect D-Wade that much and would say that the Hawks don't look like the most together group these days -- and then Boston in the ECF because they're more banged than Orlando. Which is saying something. But, again, Cleveland will have to lose someone key to make me think it matters.

jamal(los angeles,ca) [via mobile]

Now that the overrated NFL draft is over we can focus on the NBA playoffs?

Marc Stein

  (6:04 PM)

You're asking ME for permission to stop talking about the NFL draft?

Jared- Minneapolis

What is taking Glen Taylor so long to announce who the new GM is going to be?

Marc Stein

  (6:06 PM)

Because this is how Glen Taylor run the Wolves. Undecisively. If that's a word. San Antonio's Dennis Lindsey and Indiana's David Kahn are the only external candidates I am sure have received interviews, but it was also suggested to me over the weekend to consider the possibility that the Wolves might have an off-the-board surprise coming.

Ben(portland) [via mobile]

If you can have any nba franchise, what franchise would you want. Why

Marc Stein

  (6:08 PM)

The first franchise in Europe. England, preferably. One of my dreams. Unfortunately I struggle to see it ever happening and would settle for an NBA All-Star Game in London. But even that seems to be a problem to arrange for reasons I cannot comprehend.

Brian (Michigan)

By "off-the-board surprise" do you mean the Wolves are going to hire Bill Simmons?

Marc Stein

  (6:09 PM)

I'm sure he's suggested it to someone with the Wolves.

5th Grade Grammer Teacher

That's "indecisively", Marc

Marc Stein

  (6:10 PM)

In chats you can make up words.

Andy (vegas)

Realistically, where do you see AI? Not just on what team, but where do you see his role?Seems to be that the only way he starts is to join a team with no real playoff chances. right?

Marc Stein

  (6:11 PM)

Right. If he says he's not going to come off the bench, that reduces his list of options to the shortest of lists.

Daniel (CA)

To the "5th Grade Grammer Teacher," it's spelled grammar.

Marc Stein

  (6:12 PM)

Thanks for the support.

Chris (Denver)

Marc-E-Mark, Melo suffered a right elbow contusion in the 4th quarter of game 3, the same injury that threw off his shooting percentage during much of the regular season. Do you think he'll still be as effective or will Denver give some of his possessions to J.R., Nene and Billups?

Marc Stein

  (6:14 PM)

Haven't heard conclusively how bad it is yet, but the Hornets are such a mess physically that Denver should be able to get through this round without forcing Melo to do too much. All of CP's guys (West, Chandler, Peja and Posey) are well shy of 100 percent and CP3 is getting banged around nicely in the roughest series going,

Chase (Miami)

Marc, did you think JO still had this in him? He's been playing like his old self the past two games against the Hawks.

Marc Stein

  (6:17 PM)

I've always been a JO supporter, but even I have to reserve judgment when we're only talking about a couple games. But the last time I saw him earlier this month, JO gave me an on-the-record guarantee that he will make it back to All-Star status before he retires. Hat's off to him for putting himself on the line like that.

Jeremy (Arlington, TX)

Is Duncan pretty much done as far as NBA championships go? It doesn't seem like he has much left in the tank.

Marc Stein

  (6:22 PM)

Absolutely. positively, 100 percent not.

Marc Stein

  (6:22 PM)

He just went for 25-10-7 on one leg Saturday in a game of 2-on-5. The Spurs will reload and I will be the last guy who writes off a Parker-and-Duncan combo and that front office.

Greg (Cedar Rapids, IA)

MIke Woodson's recent comments about his guys not being 'battle tested' sound like someone who's more preoccupied with avoiding a pink slip than advancing to the second round. Is he gone if the Hawks lose?

Marc Stein

  (6:26 PM)

Agree with you on Part A. I reserve judgment on Part B because forecasting how the Hawks' owners will respond to a first-round ouster is a sport unto itself. But I do expect to see Avery Johnson in the mix for that job if it does come open.

Jordan (Tallahassee, FL)

I took a stroll down memory lane and looked at your old Power Rankings. And in the midst of Orlando's dreadful 19 game losing streak in '03, you had this to say"Only solace for Magic fans: Last time they had a team that lost six straight at home, it led to 18-64 record that begat Shaq in 1992 draft..."Marc Stein...prophet?

Marc Stein

  (6:28 PM)

You just inspired me by digging that up. Once in a while we get one right.

Spoon, (Lake Oswego, OR)

Robinho, friend or foe?

Marc Stein

  (6:29 PM)

One of my all-time favorite City players already. Friend For Life. Wish my pals in the media over there would get off his back because they've given him a thoroughly unfair rough ride.

James (London)

A Citeh win on the road against a good team? What's going on here? And on a scale of 1-10 how big a crime is it that Ashley Young won the PFA Young Player of the Year Award over Stephen Ireland?

Marc Stein

  (6:31 PM)

Absolutely SCANDALOUS. Ireland has had a better season than Young 11 times out of 10. But I'm glad you asked this because it got me thinking about the NBA. How great would it be if the players voted for their own awards in a separate vote from the writers' awards like they do in English football? Would love it because I'm sure that NBA fans would be happier with the media's choices than the players' selections.

Marc Stein

  (6:31 PM)

Something, perhaps, that we can get into next time.

Marc Stein

  (6:31 PM)

Thanks for all the questions. We will reconvene soon.