NBA Chat With Anthony Macri 10/02/12

1. Charlie

   Bill Ingram believes this is the last year of the Kings in Sacramento, citing Seattle’s new area deal and other cities with empty arenas just waiting for a pro team (ex. KC, Tampa, St. Louis). Can this actually affect the on court product from the Kings this year? Do players really care as they have guaranteed money regardless of where they play. I’m trying to predict wins for the season, should this factor be taken into account and how much affect do you think it has on the players, coaches, etc.

   • Anthony Macri

     Happy Tuesday everybody! Things here on the other side of the planet are just fine. I’m looking forward to the season starting, we’re just a few weeks away now. I’m sure you are too. Plenty of room in the queue for more questions, so send them on!

     This is a two part answer. Yes, it matter to them insofar as everyone in the organization is a human being and uprooting your situation and moving on is not the easiest transition in the world by any stretch. However, NBA players, coaches, and front office personnel are a pretty resilient bunch when it comes to dealing with changes – it just kinda comes with the territory. While I would certainly keep it under consideration watching the season unfold, I think that will be the last thing that prevents Sacramento from having success on the floor. They have plenty of other, more tangible issues to address than potential relocation.

2. Frank

   With John Wall out approx the first 12 games of the season. One can easily see them with a 4-8 type start or worse. Do you think they can recover from this to still fight for the eight spot. Or will this injury put them behind the 8-ball too much to start the season?

   • Anthony Macri

     I think 4-8 with John Wall might be considered “fair” so without him I’d expect that to be considered pretty darn ok. I see them being around 10th either way. Wall will come back and the team will make some strides but I didn’t expect them to contend for a playoff spot this season. Next season, I think they make a big leap, if natural progression holds.

3. Sweet Dee

   George Hill averaged a mere 9.6 ppg and 2.9 apg last year (albeit behind Darren Collision). But this didn’t stop Indiana with rewarding Hill with a 5 year / 40 million dollar contract. Having not watched many reg. season games, did George’s impact on the floor outweigh his boxscore. Seems like an awful lot for those numbers and am skeptical the Hill/Augustine combo will work half as well as the Collison/Hill combo last year? What do you think of Hill as a player and what type of statline do you project him having this year? Should his low assist numbers (even in the playoffs) be a concern?

   • Anthony Macri

     I don’t think you acquire George Hill expecting him to get you assists, and if you did, “oops.” You want him to be able to give you around 14, 4 and 3 in a perfect scenario. I tend to think in a vacuum that might be a little steep a price, but the market largely dictates value. I’m not sure that I would have paid that price though. He was a fantastic piece in the Spurs engine a few years back – just a guy you could not ignore because he would burn you if you did. If he can serve the same role in Indiana, then it’s a fine move. I’m not convinced, however.

4. Dat one guy

   How come everyone keeps making excuses for Ray Allen? It’s not like the Celtics were terrible and he left, I think most people would understand that. They were one game away from beating the Heat and then they improve and he leaves? I know people say he was bitter about management trying to trade him but his loyalty should be to KG and PP, not to management. He let them both down and Celtic nation down and is a trader indeed. What’s your opinion?

   • Anthony Macri

     I don’t think it was a combination of problems with management and with other members of that team. Celtics are probably better without him, and perhaps the Heat too. I don’t think either side should feel badly, to be honest. I think traitor is a word that is thrown around in sports a bit too often. I’m not sure what you do for a living, but I hope that if you change from one division of your company to another, or if you got a job offer with a place that may not pay you as much but offers you a better total package, you wouldn’t be be branded a traitor.

5. Putt Saddler

   Hey Coach can you give me some friendly advice for my son for the upcoming season Wat the scouts are looking for at the next level ?? Thx Putt Saddler

   • Anthony Macri

     Putt it’s great to hear from you. There are a three primary things that can help separate a fair prospect and make him a great prospect, and this assumes that athletically he is able to at least compete. First, the ability to read the floor, and I don’t mean getting assists. I mean the ability to see second line defenders, read them, and adjust accordingly at the point of attack. Second, the ability to change speeds – a great guard should have at least 5 distinct burst speeds, and the ability to switch between them at will is critical. Third, the ability to do something that other players won’t or can’t do – if you’re a point guard, it might be that you are a fantastic rebounder and can rip boards and push the ball in open space all by yourself. If you’re a wing, maybe it’s the ability to initiate offense. These kinds of skills, demonstrated over more than one game and extending throughout seasons, make scouts sit up and take notice.

6. Ran

   Hey Coach!
   Fun question for you. If you switch LBJ and Durant to each others teams, which team is better and why?

   • Anthony Macri

     Let me preface this by saying I am not a Kevin Durant hater. I love that guy. But LeBron is the best player in the world. He would make any team better. He is a 6’8 260 train but moves like a Ferrari. There just aren’t many of those kind of guys. He also would be a pretty scary fit next to Westbrook, don’t you think?

7. Seth

   Will the pistons retire ben wallace’s jersey in your opinion?

   • Anthony Macri

     So much of the discussion about the retiring of a jersey goes way beyond statistic production or direct championship contribution. Rather, it speaks to the connection a player had with a city and franchise, and the level to which fans feel that player connects with the franchise fundamentally. I am not sure any player of that championship era personifies what Detroit is more than Ben Wallace. I don’t know if they will – but I certainly would not be opposed if they did.

8. John

   i think it’s conceivable that kyrie jumps westbrook, rondo, and nash, and plants himself as the 4th best pg in the game after this season. i think he could even jump past williams if he has a bad season. where do you think kyrie will rank among pgs after this season?

   • Anthony Macri

     Seems to me the discussion is centered on Chris Paul, Derrick Rose, and then a group that includes Rondo, Westbrook, and Williams (no particular order). I think it is certainly possible for Irving to elevate himself into that group of three, but past it would be really impressive. I might be willing to concede he could ascend to the forward edge of that group, but I don’t think he leapfrogs it.

9. Graham

   1. Wonder if e curry can still play, every year reports say hes lost weight, but rarely sees floor, is he done?
   2. Keep hearing leonard compared to bowen n marion, if u were goin to give him a mentor like coach thorpe does, who would u suggest?

   • Anthony Macri

     From the outside looking in, I don’t see much left for Curry. That could change but I’d need to see some on-court evidence of such a possibility before assigning it any real credibility.

     I like the Bowen and Marion ideas, but I might also challenge him to look at guys like Andre Iguodala and Tayshaun Prince. I think he can use his length to be disruptive on the defensive end, and I’d challenge him to push the envelope a bit on versatility.

10. Kendu

    How do you see the Knicks finishing in the eastern conf. What do you think about their additions? Thanks

    • Anthony Macri

      Full disclosure: while I am not a fan of any team in particular, I did grow up cheering on the Knicks. However, I don’t like the way this team is constructed. The Knicks kind of feel like an elementary school that has the trailers outside, that were purchased and designed to be temporary, but then they discover they need them for longer than expected, and they become permanent classrooms. The roster just feels like an amalgamation of loose parts. I think most of the predictions I’ve seen for them are anywhere from 3rd to 8th in the East, and I agree. It can either all fit together beautifully, or it all falls apart spectacularly. I tend to think the latter.

11. Graham

    One more question for you. According to Paul Pierce, Rondo is making shots from everywhere on the court for 1 or 2 months in a row. If this is true, is Rondo the 3rd best player in the NBA?

    • Anthony Macri

      I am reminded of a great scene from the Jean Claude Van Damme movie, Bloodsport. “Bricks don’t punch back.”

      In other words, let’s see what happens when it is in the context with defenders and all the other realities that enter into a game situation. With that said, a Rondo who can knock down jumpshots consistently without hesitation would be scary.

      It was a slow day for questions today… perhaps the calm before the NBA storm hits. The season is just a few weeks away! Everyone is and should be ready for the future to start for their own team. Let’s get some excitement pumping in next week! Until then…