ESPN

ESPNRadio.com

  (3:00 PM)

Doug will be here in a few minutes! Keep sending in those questions!

Nick (Frankenmuth, MI)

Whats the latest on the John Wall saga, where do you see him playing basketball in 09?

Doug Gottlieb

  (3:08 PM)

I have no inside info on John Wall. None. When he lets the world know, that's when we will discuss on one of these chats. Apparently, Coach Cal cutting down a tree is big news in Lexington so we gota have John Wall make a decision quick. Otherwise, we will continue to get landscaping updates on the UK head coach.

mark KY

When can do you expect Wall to make his choice?

Doug Gottlieb

  (3:09 PM)

I don't know! I don't know. Soon. Please, soon.

Randy, Hollywood

How lucky did Arizona get by having Floyd turn down their head coaching offer? And in hindsight, how much better of a hire is Sean Miller, especially considering the great recruiting class he's pulled together in a month on the job?

Doug Gottlieb

  (3:11 PM)

I love the Sean Miller, but I don't believe the Tim Floyd accusations one bit. USC has operated in the grey area since Floyd took over that program, by hiring parents of stars in order to get their sons as players and of course the recruitment of OJ Mayo is fuzzy at best. But the thought that a guy who's reportedly getting over 200K from an agent is somehow going to allow OJ Mayo to go to USC because the head coach gave him $1,000 -- seems like a story I have a very difficult time believing.

J.B. (Dunmore, PA)

Doug am I supposed to be asking you college hoops stuff? I thought your chats were about all things sports.

Doug Gottlieb

  (3:11 PM)

You can ask whatever you would like.

andre harlem ny

do you think stephon marbury will finally stop playing scared or rusty for the rest of the series and play like doc wants him to play.

Doug Gottlieb

  (3:12 PM)

Not sure. He played well at the start of the 4th quarter yesterday, but between their two point guards, they play as if they're petrified to take open jumpshots, even though I've never seen Doc hook them for taking such shots. On a personal note, regaining your confidence once you lose it is far and away the most difficult thing to do in basketball, especially with your jump shot.

J.B. (Dunmore, PA)

Who should get more blame, Stan van Gundy for not designing the offense to run through Dwight Howard or Dwight Howard for not being more vocal about it?

Doug Gottlieb

  (3:13 PM)

Dwight Howard for not being able to score with his back to the basket in the low post the first three quarters against Kendrick Perkins.

John (Spokane WA)

Doug, Mavs ? here. With Cuban as an owneer, and all the perks that come with it, can the mavs get anyone to come play with the core group in dallas to get them over the top, and who?

Doug Gottlieb

  (3:14 PM)

I think the best shot the Mavs have is to take on some big name guys who are past their prime but might have one last run in them. Rasheed Wallace, Allen Iverson, Shaq, and maybe keep Jason Kidd and try to have a bunch of vets that hopefully stay healthy enough to get to the playoffs and make one last push.

Mike, Norman Oklahoma

Do you think that the Denver Nuggets have what it takes to beat the Lakers this year?

Doug Gottlieb

  (3:16 PM)

No. Had Antoine Wright fouled correctly, that series would be tied at 2. While I do think Denver is tougher and better at the point guard spot than the Lakers, I think LA has superior depth and inside scoring. It should be pointed out Carmelo Anthony has been playing great and his numbers equal obe in the playoffs, but I just don't trust Carmelo to take good shots in a playoff series.

J.B. (Dunmore, PA)

Big night in the nation's capital tonight. Who do you like or are you like most people and just don't care? Oh and GO PENS!

Doug Gottlieb

  (3:18 PM)

I like the Pens. I think Sidney Crosby will make his teammates better. He's better at the center position. I know it's going to be a zoo of an atmosphere and the Pens have had opportunities to close teams like the Flyers out and have struggled and now they are playing with fire by not closing out of the Caps and having to go back to DC -- that said, I think Pittsburgh as been the better team throughout the series even though at times the score hasn't fully reflected it.

jb humboldt tn

will memphis ever recover from the loss of cal? pastner seems to be keeping the fan base happy, but he hasn't coached a game yet either ...

Doug Gottlieb

  (3:20 PM)

TBD. I would guess not immediately. You forget it took Cal five years to get it going and C-USA without Calipari there does not make Memphis a destination school. I would suspect Memphis would take a pretty signifcant step backwards and it will be up to Josh to show he can coach and motivate a city to come out and fill a massive arena in a difficult fiscal time.

Andrew (St. Louis)

Do you think Louisville have another successful year?

Doug Gottlieb

  (3:21 PM)

Will they win the Big East and the Big East tournament? No. Will they be competitive in a down Big East? They can. It depends on how you define success.

Brandon, dc

do uk fans have way too high of an expectation for their team next year? they really will only have three good vets coming back - patterson, miller, meeks (most likely)

Doug Gottlieb

  (3:23 PM)

What are their expectations? Are they going to win a national championship? Probably not. But can they be immediately competitive with all the guys they having coming in? Probably.

RJ (Boston)

Doug I like your points about Howard not being able to score early against Perkins, and about Rondo shooting scared. He's killing me with the weak layups as well. He missed another one last night.

Doug Gottlieb

  (3:24 PM)

I hate that running one hand floater. His shot looks a lot better and if he'd just take it, he'd make it a lot more than he'd make some running one-hand floater.

brandon, dc

preseason top ten college hoops?

Doug Gottlieb

  (3:25 PM)

That's posted on ESPN.com. Kansas is No. 1. If you're an insider you can check it out.

Joe (NYC)

Is it just me or is everyone outside of Boston rooting for the Magic, Canes, and the Blue Jays?

Doug Gottlieb

  (3:27 PM)

Yeah, it does get a little bit much with Boston. You love it as a sports town, but I watched last night where Dwight Howard just kind of pushed away the hand of Rajon Rondo who took a dive and a foul was called on Howard. He turned around and handed the ball to the left and a fan stood up and asked for a T. Nothing worse than the boisterous fan. I think Bruins will win tonight and no way Toronto keeps this pace up with their hitters. I do see your point in the beginnings of an anti-Boston national wave of emotions.

Brooklyn, NY

Is it me or is Stan Van Gundy the worst coach in the NBA?!. He is the only coach in the leagues that doesn't put the ball in hands of their superstar, and than has him miss intentionally after he makes the first one. I think they ned his brother Jeff instead.

Doug Gottlieb

  (3:30 PM)

Maybe you didn't watch the game, but 1 -- as I pointed out earlier in the chat, Dwight Howard couldn't score against Kendrick Perkins, so I don't really have an issue with not getting him the ball. and 2 -- Dwight Howard had to intentionally miss that free throw because there wasn't enough time left to make a free throw, which he's only 50 percent at in the playoffs, foul then get the ball up the court and hope the Celtics don't foul again if you're up three. Actually, strategically, it was a good move and they nearly got the rebound.

ESPNRadio.com

  (3:31 PM)

Any last questions on the playoff games tonight?

Mike (Philly)

Jayson Werth has done something in stealing 2nd 3rd and home in one inning that I don't beleive anyone has done in about 11 years. Why isn't this an ESPN "headline" or "top story"? C'mon this is a big deal!!

Doug Gottlieb

  (3:32 PM)

I saw it on SportsCenter. I thought it was really cool. Even cooler that he did it against the Dodgers. But we GOTTA find out what Brett Favre is going to do!

Doug Gottlieb

  (3:32 PM)

That was sarcasm... doesn't always translate well in chats...

Doug Gottlieb

  (3:33 PM)

Today on the show I will tell you why Dwight Howard is not one of the elite players in the NBA. We have Trent Edwards, Tom Verducci, Ric Bucher, Chris Broussard and Fark.com's Drew Curtis with the strangest true stories you've ever heard in sports.

ESPNRadio.com

  (3:34 PM)

Tune in from 4-7 p.m. ET and e-mail the show at douggottlieb@espnradio.com.