December 11, 2008

The 3-Man weave focuses on the Association. Coach Alvin Brooks III and Bob Dwyer (WFAN Radio, New York) and college basketball coaches take a look at the teams, the players and the hot topics of the NBA.

This week Bobby D and AB3 welcome two guests to the weave -- Stephen and Seth Curry. Stephen Curry, who was named to CollegeInsider.com All-America team, decided to return to school after helping Davidson to the Sweet 16 this past March. Despite playing at a smaller school, Curry is clearly one of the top candidates for National Player of the Year honors this season. Following in his footsteps is younger brother, Seth Curry who currently leads all division I freshmen in scoring (22 points per game). Like his big brother, Seth also displays his skills outside the confines of the power conferences. Seth is a true freshman at Liberty University and his Flames are a team to watch this season.


With the likes of Steve Nash (Suns), Chris Paul (Hornets) and Deron Williams (Jazz) most will say the best point guards are in the West. Who are the best points guards in the Eastern Conference and how do they measure up with the Western Conference?

STEPHEN CURRY: I don’t think the point guards in the Eastern Conference have the star value like those in the Western Conference. Boston’s Rajon Rondo is probably the best. He does a great job of running the offense and playing his role within the offense. Although he is only a rookie, I think Charlotte’s D.J. Augustin is an up and coming point guard. He continues to get more minutes and continues to improve his game

SETH CURRY: Even though he is young, I would say Derrick Rose has already established himself as one of the best point guards in the East. Another would have to be Rajon Rondo, but I think the three point guards in the West are many levels above them.

ALVIN BROOKS: Rajon Rondo, Derrick Rose and Devin Harris are among the best point guards in the East. All three of them are considered some of the quickest point guards in the NBA. If they had to play 3-on-3 against the Western Conference guys, I would give the slight edge by one point to the West.

BOB DWYER: From the desk of  “not there yet, but stay tuned” I give you Chicago’s point man Derek Rose, the Celtics Rajan Rondo and the Raptors Jose Calderon. The sky is the limit for these three. Rose is just young, but in time will develop into one of the league’s best. The knock on Rondo has been that he can’t shoot, but let’s look at everything else this guy does (16 points 13 rebounds and 17 assists against the Pacers) and he is a starting point guard for a World Champion.  Calderon’s Raptors have been a disappointment thus far, but he has been a consistent, steady presence running the point. He trails only Paul for the league lead in assists. They are really good, but the class of the Eastern Conference is Devin Harris who has quickly become the leader of the surprising New Jersey Nets. He is leading the league in scoring on the road and he dropped 47 on the Suns in Phoenix a few weeks back. He can do it all and is clearly in the discussion for top point guard in the league. I wonder when Marc Cuban figured that out?

In the final analysis, the lead guards in the East are good, but Nash, Paul and Williams are the class of the league.


With the return of Andrew Bynum, many now believe the Lakers have their own BIG THREE with Bynum, Pau Gasol and Kobe. Shouldn't Jordan Farmar be getting more love?

STEPHEN CURRY: Jordan Farmar is a great player and a big reason why the Lakers advanced to the NBA Finals last season. I think both he and Lamar Odom are key contributors to that team. Both will be important to another a run to the NBA Finals this season.

SETH CURRY: I think Farmar is a great player for the Lakers, but when it comes to another person to add to the three it would have to be Lamar Odom.

BOB DWYER: I think Jordan Farmar gets all the love he deserves. He will be a good player in this league for a long time, but I don’t think he’ll ever be great. And let’s be honest, when your playing with Kobe, Pau Gasol and now Andrew Bynum, you better get used to playing in the shadows.

ALVIN BROOKS: No disrespect intended, but Farmar should not be getting more love. If so why should he? Farmar is a really good player and is a great fit for the Lakers. It looks like we are all in agreement that if anyone should get more love, it would be Lamar Odom for changing his role to help his team.


It's still early, but has Portland emerged as the top challenger to the Lakers in the West?

SETH CURRY: I don’t think so. The teams that are above Portland have to be Dallas, Phoenix, and New Orleans. The Blazers have to get through them first.

STEPHEN CURRY: Portland has a great young team. Greg Oden has played really well since returning from injury. He has been a big factor defensively and he’s a better offensive player than many people realize. If he can stay healthy they will be among the top teams in the Western Conference this season.

BOB DWYER: Portland got off to a great start last year and fell short of the playoffs so I’m not going to anoint them as the Lakers No. 1 foe just yet. They are certainly a team to reckoned with and as the season goes on, they may just catapult to the top of the list. But right now, I think the Hornets, Jazz, Nuggets -- Billups is a great fit -- the Spurs -- they’re still the Spurs -- and the Rockets -- if they stay healthy -- are all lumped together as second fiddles.

ALVIN BROOKS: Portland can be the top challenger to the Lakers, if they stay healthy and continue to mature as a team. Quite often you see teams get off to great starts only to fade. And you see teams win down the stretch, after they have already been eliminated from the playoff race. The really good teams maintain consistency throughout the season. I think Portland can do that, but it still remains to be seen.


Last year it was Yao Ming. Now Tracy McGrady is hurt again. Is health the big obstacle to the NBA Finals for the Houston Rockets?

SETH CURRY: I really think so. The Rockets still have one of the best teams in the league even when Yao or McGrady is hurt so if both of them can be healthy when playoff time comes around they are going to be a scary team to play.

STEPHEN CURRY: I think so as well. The addition of Ron Artest gives them that guy who can go out and guard the other team’s best player. He can also give them offense. With players like Artest, Yao Ming, T-Mac, Luis Scola -- Houston has all the ingredients to be among the top teams in the West.

BOB DWYER: Health, or lack thereof, has certainly been a thorn in the side of this Rocket club. They added Ron Artest to instill some toughness and so far he has been a model citizen. Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming are both tremendous talents, but seem to be snake bitten. If healthy, I think they finally make it out of the first round of the playoffs, but I don’t see a Finals appearance in their future.

ALVIN BROOKS: Being a native Houstonian, I am very sensitive when it comes to the Rockets. Houston has been hit with the injury plague every year. Some Houstonians believe it is the lack of toughness and heart. Not being healthy is one of the reasons the Rockets will not be in the Finals.


Dallas seems to have righted the ship. What has been the key to the Mavs recent surge?

STEPHEN CURRY: I think it starts with the consistent play of Dirk Nowitzki. He has played really well of late and I think that has been the biggest key. Jason Terry has given them instant offense off the bench so there is not a big drop off when the second unit is on the floor, but Dirk’s consistent play has been key.

SETH CURRY: I think it has been the play of Jason Kidd and Jason Terry. Last year many people put a lot of pressure on them to go deep in the playoffs with the trade for Kidd, not realizing they needed time to get used to playing together. With time under their belt, they should be a tough team down the stretch.

BOB DWYER: Jason Kidd has played pretty well, but I think they would have been better suited to keep Devin Harris but that’s another story. Dirk is a stud and Josh Howard, for all of his off the court problems, remains very underrated, even though he sidelined for the time being. All that said, the key for the Mavs thus far has been the play of Jason Terry coming off the bench. He is averaging 20 points a game and more importantly has embraced the role.

ALVIN BROOKS: I believe the surge started with the lineup change, by coach Rick Carlisle, to give more minutes to Jose Barea. JJ Barea had an unbelievable week, which ended with 22 points in their win against the Hawks on Saturday. It also helps when their best player, Dirk Nowitzki, was named Western Conference player of the week by averaging 30.7 points and 10 rebounds.


Miami has had some big road wins, during its' recent surge. What has been the key to the Heat's success?

STEPHEN CURRY: It all starts with Dwyane Wade and his 30-plus per night. He has really put up some big numbers this season. And -- like Dirk does in Dallas -- he has some nice players around him. Miami has some talented young players like Michael Beasley mixed with veteran stars like Shawn Marion. They have a nice blend to compliment Dwyane Wade. As long as everyone continues to play their part, the Heat will be a dangerous team in the East.

SETH CURRY: The great play of Dwayne Wade has been the biggest thing. He is their star and on the road you always need your best player to make big plays when they are needed, and Wade continues to do that.

ALVIN BROOKS: The Heat seem to have good team chemistry and have been getting strong play by their leader Dwyane Wade. Perhaps the best player in the NBA right now, Wade was named the Eastern Conference player of the week by averaging a league-leading 32.7 points, 5 rebounds and 7.7 assists in leading the Heat to a 3-0 record, which included road wins at Golden State and Utah. Wade started the new week with 41 points and 8 rebounds last against Charlotte.

BOB DWYER: Dwyane Wade. He is right there with Kobe and LeBron as the best player in the league, but most people already know that. Remember, not only was Wade hurt for a large part of last season, but they also traded away Shaq. So let’s just say there was a lot of room for improvement. Rookies Michael Beasley and Mario Chalmers have made a pretty good transition to the NBA and Udonis Haslem is a lunch pail guy averaging almost a double-double (12 and 9). Plus, although he isn’t a great fit and will probably be traded by the deadline, Shawn Marion has to be accounted for. All in all though, D Wade -- when healthy -- is that good.


After the Celtic recent win at Charlotte, Kendrick Perkins said that he believed the Bobcats would make the playoffs this season. How realistic are Charlotte's chances?

STEPHEN CURRY: Very realistic, especially because I think there will be at least one team to make the playoffs -- in the Eastern Conference -- with a losing record. The trade with Phoenix brings two really good players to Charlotte, in Raja Bell and Boris Diaw. It will take a little time for the chemistry to come together, but this team has already proven it can play with some of the best teams in the league.

SETH CURRY: I think they have a great chance because they are in the East and a few teams will get into the playoffs with a losing record. The biggest thing the Bobcats need to do is stay consistent and win the games they are supposed to win.

ALVIN BROOKS: Sorry guys, but I have to disagree with you. Charlotte has a slim to none chance to make it to the playoffs. The Bobcats willingness to listen to Coach Larry Brown will help give them that ‘slim’ chance. Coach Brown has been where they want to go -- the playoffs -- and I think he is the right coach to help them reach the playoffs, but not this year. I am just not sure how much his team is buying into his philosophy and now they have two more pieces to fit into that puzzle after the deal with Phoenix.

BOB DWYER: Charlotte has a lot of talent on their roster -- I actually love playing them in NBA Live 09 for PS3 -- but for some reason they have been unable to show any consistency. As of right now they are seven games under .500 (7-14) so they have dug themselves a pretty deep hole to climb out of. Larry Brown is a great coach and should be able to turn this thing around if he sticks around long enough. It will be interesting to see how the addition of two really good players in Raja Bell and Boris Diaw will work, but bottom line -- I don’t see them sniffing the post season this year.


Aside from LeBron, does Cleveland have enough star power to get the NBA Finals or are they a team, with so much depth, that is built more for the long grind of a regular season?

SETH CURRY: I think they have enough because you only need so much from everyone else, when you have a player like LeBron. He has shown he can put an average team on his back and win games.

STEPHEN CURRY: I agree with my brother here. If everybody plays their role and LeBron does what he is capable of doing, Cleveland has a really good chance of getting to the NBA Finals. They are playing so well right now. They have a great rhythm on offense and they are playing great team defense. Cleveland has a really deep and talented team. And they have LeBron.

ALVIN BROOKS: Although it will be very tough, I will not underestimate LeBron. He led Cleveland to the Finals once without having a bench with star power. If they keep playing well, LeBron will be well rested for the playoffs since he hardly plays in the fourth quarter right now. The Cavaliers seem to be more defensive minded this year than they have in the past and their 18-3 record shows that.

BOB DWYER: Cleveland can defiantly make a run to the Finals this year. The addition of Mo Williams gives the Cavs a legit second scoring option, he is averaging 15 points a game, but more importantly he has the onions to take a big shot. They also could look to deal Wally Szczerbiak to gain another piece. Bottom line is they have LeBron and took Boston to a Game 7 last year and now they have added Mo Williams.


The popular belief is that Boston will not miss James Posey in the regular season, but his departure will be felt when the playoffs begin. Is Boston's bench good enough to help raise another banner?

STEPHEN CURRY: I think Boston’s bench is a work in progress. James Posey was such an important player during their run to the NBA  Championship. Not only did he make a lot of big shots, but he also did a really good job defending players like  Kobe Bryant.  Against Cleveland Paul Pierce got the assignment to guard LeBron and I think LeBron will take that as personal challenge, should they meet again this season. Without a player like James Posey, Boston doesn’t have that guy on its’ bench who can spell Pierce and guard a player like LeBron. I do think they have the players to make a run, but someone will have to step up.  Offensively I think Eddie House could be that spark off the bench.

SETH CURRY:  I think they are good enough to win another championship. Like my brother said, the biggest thing they will miss from Posey is his defense against star players like Kobe. Someone else on the Celtics will have to take on that challenge in order for Boston to go back-to-back.

BOB DWYER: Boston certainly has enough to win another title as they are currently constructed. They will miss Posey come playoff time, but that is a long time away and keep an eye on Robert Horry and see if he doesn’t end up in Bean Town.

ALVIN BROOKS: At the moment, I think the Celtics bench is not ready to help raise another banner. Posey brought experience and toughness off the bench. With that being said, the Celtics have played a tough schedule so far and their great defense has led them to a 20-2 record. If they continue to progress and play at this pace, the bench confidence will become better for the playoffs.


Who is the best sixth-man in the NBA?

SETH CURRY: I think it has to be James Posey. He is labeled as a "role" player but when the game is on the line he has come up with huge shots that you see star players make.

STEPHEN CURRY: I have to agree with my brother again. James Posey is doing for New Orleans what he did for Boston ---providing defense and scoring. I also like the way Lamar Odom is playing. He has really embraced his new role with the Lakers, coming off the bench. Like Jason Terry in Dallas, Odom is instant offense off the bench for the Lakers.

BOB DWYER: This list used to start with Ben Gordon (Chicago), but he is currently starting. Leandro Barbosa (Phoenix) has played well, Portland’s Rudy Fernandez is taking the league by storm but as I stated earlier -- Jason Terry is head and shoulders above the rest.

ALVIN BROOKS: I have to agree with Bob. Jason Terry.


After about one-quarter of the season in the books it does look like Boston and Los Angeles are on a collision course again. Will it be Celtics-Lakers once again?

SETH CURRY: I think it will be considering the way the regular season is going. These two teams are on a roll and it is going to be very hard for any team to beat the Celtics and Lakers in a series.

STEPHEN CURRY: I think the Lakers have a stronger hold on the West than Boston has on the East. Cleveland and Orlando are closer to Boston than the top contenders are to the Lakers in the Western Conference. As we have already talked about -- without James Posey -- Boston lacks that guy that can slow down a player like LeBron. With the return of Andrew Bynum, the Lakers have added to their team, while Boston has subtracted.

ALVIN BROOKS: I strongly believe defense wins championships! The best defensive teams in the NBA -- based on opponents field goal percentage -- right now are the Celtics, Cavaliers, Nuggets, Mavericks, Lakers and Magic. There is a chance there will be a Celtics-Lakers Finals again, but there will be a team that gets hot at the end of the year heading into the playoffs, like the Hawks did last year, that could beat one of the favorites. It could be a Magical year in Disney World.

BOB DWYER: All signs point to a Lakers-Celtics rematch and that is all I say right now.


Dell, Stephen or Seth. Who is the toughest Curry to guard?

ALVIN BROOKS: I will let the Curry brothers answer this question due to my lack of knowledge about the 1-on-1 battles that have taken place. I am pretty sure that Bob Dwyer couldn’t guard me though.

BOB DWYER: Having never guarded any of them this might be tough to answer. To be honest, I’m 33 with a bum ankle so I’d probably have trouble covering my editor and he has no game. But with all due respect to Stephen and Seth, I would have to think Del would be at the top of the list, if for no other reason than experience. As for Alvin, rubbing shoulders with the likes of Rashard Lewis does not mean you actually have game.

STEPHEN CURRY: All of us in our primes, I would say me. My shooting and use of the dribble makes me more effective than my dad or my brother.

SETH CURRY: I disagree. I would have to say me. But I would not want to have to guard any of us.

click here to submit your questions for AB3 and Bob Dwyer