1. Who is the NBA’s trash-talker?
Pat Beverley: 6Draymond Green: 4
Udonis Haslem, Dillon Brooks, Joe Ingles, Damian Lillard, Memphis Grizzlies: 1
Bam Adebayo, Miami: “The obvious answer is Draymond, so I’m gonna say Draymond.”
Domantas Sabonis, Sacramento: “Nowadays everyone’s trash-talking, so I can’t even tell you.”
Jaren Jackson Jr., Memphis: “I know he’s not in the league anymore, but Joakim Noah was on my team, and the first time he came to practice, he was talking crazy to me. He was screaming at me and pounding the ball in my chest. It was great.”
Zion Williamson, New Orleans: “I’d have to say the entire Memphis Grizzlies team. They do it in like a collective way, you can’t help but respect it.”
Tyrese Haliburton, Indiana:“Maybe Pat (Beverley). I know a lot of these guys wouldn’t agree with that. He never stops talking, which is what the good guys do. So probably Pat Bev.”
Paul George, LA Clippers: “Pat Bev is undefeated at trash-talking.”
Kevin Huerter, Sacramento: “Think Pat Bev knows that’s his role, that’s his effect on the game, kind of junking it up and get guys off their game.”
Jayson Tatum, Boston: “No doubt, Draymond.”
2. Should the NBA give the top two seeds in each conference a first-round bye in the playoffs?
Yes: 1No: 10
Tyler Herro, Miami: “Uh, I don’t like that.”
Holiday: “We’ve got the Play-In now and that’s been good for the league, so why not?”
Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland: “Eh, I kinda like it the way it is. That’s a long break.”
Anthony Edwards, Minnesota:“Nah, I’m not for that, this ain’t the NFL.”
Haliburton: “No, 1-8, 2-7, those are the best, they’re real competitive. And I think you’re going to see that this year, especially with the Play-In in the West. If the Lakers are able to make it, I think the Lakers will be a tough out in the playoffs if healthy. I think there’s other teams in the West and the East – we’re going to be tough. We’re fighting for a Play-In spot. We know that if we’re able to get into the playoffs, anything can happen.”
George: “No, I don’t think so. Because you might get a 1-8 upset.”
Huerter: I would hate that. Think home court is a pretty good incentive already to be one of the top two seeds, especially if you’re a one seed, somebody’s gotta come beat you on your home court.”
3. Should the NBA go back to a five-game series for the first round?
Yes: 3No: 12
Jordan Clarkson, Utah: “The first round, that’s actually a big round. A lot of guys don’t actually make it out of the first round. If the Finals was like 1-1, and it was win or go home, I think that would be cooler. Honestly. Less flying, one location, that would be amazing.”
Holiday:“That would be great from a physical standpoint, but there’s something about the long grind that makes winning even sweeter.”
Jackson Jr.: “Who’s in favor of that?”
DeMar DeRozan, Chicago: “I think people love exciting basketball and want to play seven games.”
George: “I would like it, just because of how long the season is, how long the postseason is. I would like it, because the real battles happen later in the playoffs.”
Gilgeous-Alexander: “No, no, no. Best of seven is perfect.”
Tatum:“Playoffs are long, right? Four seven-game series, that’s a lot. So if I had a vote, yeah, I’d go back to five.”
Jokić: “No, probably not. I think (a five-game series) is less interesting. If you beat someone in a seven-game series, that means you’re really better than them.”
4. How many games should a player have to play to be MVP?
62: 4No minimum: 3
42: 2
82: 1
75: 1
K.J. Martin, Houston: “That’s a tough question because I mean, a guy could play 75 percent of the season and have ridiculous numbers. It just depends. You have to play at least more than half the season. If you play less than half the season, you shouldn’t be in the conversation.”
Clarkson: “Early games, guys compete trying to get to the All-Star, and then after, in terms of the playoff push, maybe the last 15 games in terms of teams tanking and sit guys out – I think to that point those guys shouldn’t be chosen for those awards.”
Adebayo: “If a guy plays 50 games, but he’s the best player in those 50, it’s kind of hard to justify not giving it to him.”
De’Aaron Fox, Sacramento: “I’d say 65-ish (games). I don’t know the percentage of 65 out of 82.”
Haliburton: “I don’t think there should be a requirement. I think it’s overblown. I think the idea of having to set a game minimum, amount or whatever, I think is dumb. If this guy gets hurt, how can he control that? And if he’s the best player in the league that year, having the best year, what can you do? I think the voters take that into consideration.”
DeRozan: “All of them. All 82. … Minimum? 78.”
George:“I think if you play at least 75 to the full 82, it just says a lot about that particular player to be able to do it for that many games. To go that long into the season with consistency requires to just be healthy and available on a nightly basis. You got to play the majority of them.”
