NBA Chat With Anthony Macri 10/9/12

1. B. Carroll

   Do you believe that the NBA should invest more money into the D-League? Given the success that the minor league system has in baseball and in hockey I think that it would be in the NBA’s best interest to employ a system in which each team can own its own D-League franchise. What can the NBA do to improve its feeder system?

   • Anthony Macri

     Happy Tuesday everybody! I’m in Singapore for a few days, so I’m doing my chat live from a lovely hotel room. Don’t get too jealous! Let’s get to your questions…

     An emphatic YES that the NBA should commit more resources to the D-League. Not certain that it is necessarily about a financial investment, but more one of time, effort, and strategic planning. I believe a healthy D-League, where each NBA team has their own affiliate, coupled with a strong farm system out into other areas around the world, is a great way to integrate the basketball community and develop a steady pipeline of talent. I think at the very least the D-League can be a cost-neutral enterprise, which is good enough for most owners to want to do it right (because the underlying investment is sound). I think we are a ways off from seeing this, but I wish more teams would be committed to it!

2. Ben

   Coach, what’s the best way to play off the ball as a small PG? I come down, give up the ball and circle to the corner or a wing looking for a backdoor cut but other than spotting up, I’m not sure what else to do until I get the ball back. I mean just in pickup, not in a full game with plays. Should I be cutting for a 15 foot jumper? I can hit the 3 but not consistently enough that I like spotting up in the corner. Thanks !

   • Anthony Macri

     The number one most important thing that every player can do when they don’t have the ball is to occupy their defender with constant movement. Cutting and screening are great ways to do this. Really good defenders / defenses happen not because of individual defenders, but because offense really struggles to score when five defenders are working as a group. If you can occupy your own defender, you make it just a little bit harder for your opponent to guard the basketball. Cut for jumpers, screen for bigs to cut into the lane, and sneak on the baseline for gimmes that no one notices. Those kind of plays matter in the long run and make your teammates love you!

3. Hallack

   Great chats, Coach!
   I think most NBA writters are sleeping on the Celtics…again! They are deep, talented, expirienced and YOUNG. 7 out of the 10 man (likely) rotation are 27 or under: Rondo, Green, Lee, Bradley, Bass, Darko, Sullinger. If they can stay healthy, I can see them beating the Heat. Actually, I can even see a ECFs between the Cs and the Pacers (another sleeper), who IMHO can also beat the Heat.
   Your thoughts?

   • Anthony Macri

     The more and more I evaluate the Celtics roster, the more and more I agree. My mentor, Coach David Thorpe (ESPN analyst), has been singing the praises of the Celtics from early this offseason, and I am certainly a believer now. They have a chance to be very special and should challenge the Heat for sure. I’m not as sold on the Pacers as a true Eastern Conference contender yet. I need to see that it really can work. I’m not selling their stock, but I’m also not buying.

4. Robinson Asitimbay

   Hey goodmorning, i would just like to say and point out everyone seems to be doubting the knicks and mike woodson. Why does everyone here seem to place them in 7th to 8th place, why do they doubt melo’s game if he is one of the best clutch players, remind you the chicago game last year, and the only reasons they did bad was, d’antoni’s system no real training camp, and honestly everyone was rather new. Do you think differently of my NY Knicks, please be blunt and why do you think they are going to suceed or not. Thanks have a great day

   • Anthony Macri

     Good morning to you from Tuesday night on the other side of the planet.

     I don’t think any apprehension about the Knicks is rooted in doubting or hating in Melo’s game specifically. I think it’s a question of how well that team is fit together and can they excel given their inherent roster limitations. As I’ve said in these chats before, I grew up a Knicks fan. Just like many NY fans, I yearn for the day MSG can once again host a meaningful playoff game outside of the Big East Tournament. However, I don’t see this team being particularly good at anything, and I am not sure their two stars make sense together.

5. mario

   When is nikola mirotic coming to Chicago coach and do you think the hype is real with him

   • Anthony Macri

     I think for obvious reasons it is dangerous to assign too much hype to a player. I don’t think, for example, that he is the savior of a franchise by any stretch. However, he looks like a guy who can step in and be very effective from Day 1 and grow into a decent sized role with time. I think the Bulls are a great organization for finding and then being patient with the growth and continuing maturity of young, foreign bigs. I don’t know when he’ll make the move, but I would think that when he does Bulls fans will be pretty pleased.

6. Gorazd

   How is the current situation with basketball in Asia? Do you see a lot of young talented players that could play in NBA and not be just a bench warmer there? Any new “Yao Ming”s coming up?

   • Anthony Macri

     I’m in Southeast Asia, not in China specifically. Down here, basketball is hot and cold in terms of popularity. In the Philippines, it is the national sport and just huge in terms of interest and development. In some other countries, like Vietnam, it is really an unknown quantity, so we have to teach what the sport actually is. This region in general is not known for tall people, but some of the guards are pretty talented. I definitely have not seen the next Yao Ming, but I have seen a few guys that with the right work at the right time, they could be NBA level players. No stars, though.

7. Bryan

   Is it fair to say just in terms of pure talent this is the best supporting cast Dirk has ever had? And How do you see the Mavs doing this season?

   • Anthony Macri

     If this is the most talented team Dirk has ever had in Dallas, he should get the Medal of Valor for previous years achievements. I don’t really think this team is too much more talented than their championship-level years at all. Don’t get too swept up in names like Vince Carter or Elton Brand like they are more than shells of their former selves. After Dirk, where will efficient, consistent scoring come from? There is just a lot to learn about Dallas, and I think this year was largely a “throw-away” to be really active next offseason.

8. MIke Lippard

   Realistically what can bobcats fans expect out of our team this year? i dont think they will be the worst team in the NBA maybe second worst

   • Anthony Macri

     Pretty high praise – lots of expectations – the Bobcats certainly have a lot to look forward to in your estimation.

     Seriously, I wouldn’t expect much. That way, if can take a handful of positive, modest steps, you can be pleasantly surprised. To my mind, the real key for a successful season in Charlotte has nothing to do with the record at the end of the season, but rather with the tough-to-measure but really important “building a winning culture” mindset. If the Bobcats can put that kind of mindset into place, where losing hurts and winning (small achievements in each game, then accumulating this success over time) matters, then that is all you should ask for, and then cheer mightily when you see evidence of it.

9. Raps Fan

   Who are potential Calderone suitors? It seems his time in Toronto is done and I want to see Lowry get majority of the burn at PG and no I don’t want to the atrocious 2 PG tandem, it just doesn’t work.

   • Anthony Macri

     I’m not certain from a rumor mill standpoint on which teams would like Calderon to call their own. However, I would argue against your final premise, that a tandem doesn’t work. I look at situations where teams play two lead guards together and I tend to think it can be very effective when done right. Look at Denver!

     So we are only a few short weeks away from the NBA season – I’m certainly excited. I’m sure there will be a lot more questions next week, so be sure to get into chart early, and leave questions often! Thanks and see you next time.