NBA Chat With Anthony Macri 11/6/12

Coach Anthony Macri writes the weekly Coach’s Notebook column for HOOPSWORLD and is the CEO of the ASEAN Basketball League, the first regional professional sports league in Southeast Asia. Coach Macri gets started at 10 a.m. EST every Tuesday.

  1. smoke u with my nsx

    Wassup coach? Any news about asian ballers under nba radar? Oh just wana hear your opinion on coach brooks saying harden plays good BUT he is not a glue guys like,perkins,nick,westB and kd? Plus alot of drama on court with westbrook and thabo needed to be seperated at times, kd shouting at ibaka and ibaka and perks pointing at each other on who’s fault leaving a rebound or a guy open? Is this opening blues? Lastly sir if the spurs pick up delonte and kenyon martin who can accept minumum salary now i believe they are better than the lakers clippz and the out of rythm okc… With me???

    • Anthony Macri

      Happy Election Day Tuesday everybody! If you’re in the US, go vote. My home is in Virginia, and I voted weeks ago (absentee from Asia) and I’m watching it all unfold from a world away. One thing I will say – the whole world is watching this election. It is really impressive to see it from outside the country. Alright, let’s get to the NBA questions!

      No real under-the-radar news except I have been told by multiple people that I need to see San Miguel Beermen coach Bobby Ray Parks’ son, who plays college ball in the Philippines, as he might have a chance. At some point I’ll take a look and report back. In regards to OKC, there will be plenty of adjustments, and that team has to get used to existing without James and they will. They are still really good. And I may be biased since I’ve worked with him, but that Kevin Martin guy is pretty darn good. I wouldn’t worry too much about in-fighting as they just hold each other accountable. I have no idea on the salary situation in San Antonio but it would be a team like the Spurs to clean up their careers and give them a chance to contribute.

  2. Cain

    Can OJ Mayo be an All-Star this year and future face of Dallas Mavericks?

    • Anthony Macri

      I certainly would have said no before the season. However I will be honest, having watched him in pieces a few times this season, I have been impressed with his approach. Considerably more mature and focused. I want to see if it is a temporary maturity or indicative of a long-term change, but I’d be pleased if I were a Dallas fan. Not sure if he can be an All-Star this year yet, but (and this is hard for me to admit) he may be someone you can put pieces around.

  3. Cain

    Mavs fan here, brighter future – Lin and Harden or Collison and Mayo?

    • Anthony Macri

      Harden shines so bright right now it is hard to know if he can carry Lin for too long. I like the Collison / Mayo pairing more than expected. I actually think the Lin / Harden pairing can be fantastic but will need more time to marinate.

  4. Nick DC

    Hey Coach,

    With the way JJ Redick has performed so far, (22.5 ppg 6.0 apg) and given how heavily he will be featured in the offense this year do you see sixth man hardware in store for him?

    While I’m on the topic of JJ, what teams do you think will be closely watching his performance this year and giving Hennigan a call closer toward the trade deadline about his availability? I’ve kind of assumed he’d be traded given his contract and production, but what do you think realistically the Magic could get back for JJ’s 6.5 million expiring if he’s able to average say 16ppg and 4apg coming off the bench? Fringe lottery pick maybe?

    • Anthony Macri

      I love how you think of the asset value, which is the right way to view him right now. Not sure about 6th man hardware but his impact will be considerable. I think it could be a lottery pick plus – maybe rights to a player over in Europe that a team has stashed. Those guys always have some value.

  5. Eric123

    Once defenses zone in on harden what do predict his statline would be?

    • Anthony Macri

      I don’t know if I can do statline, but I think his opportunities will normalize a little more and his pure production will diminish over time. I don’t know that he can play 40+ minutes for very long either. I don’t mind watching him try though – it’s been a lot of fun to see!

  6. Aristotle

    Hey there Coach,

    What do you think of Jordan saying that he thinks the backcourt of Henderson and Walker is one he’s impressed with? How do you rate that backcourt and also throwing in MKG into the mix which he said reminds him of a Pippen.

    • Anthony Macri

      I love that Mike Dunlap is putting guys in a position to be successful. I really enjoy the way this team attacks you defensively and doesn’t let up. I will try to watch the individual pieces a little more over the next few days – I need some time before assessing.

  7. kevin Rashidi

    Can Kyle Lowry become an allstar this season? Hes been UNREAL so far!

    • Anthony Macri

      Can he? Yes. Will he? Borderline. I’d use the phrase “small sample size” but it seems a pretty easy way to copout of an answer. I just don’t think he can maintain this level of performance. However I think if he can keep above 18 and 6.5, that would certainly qualify him for All-Star discussion.

  8. Aristotle

    Hey there Coach

    If you were the coach of the Pistons, what do you do when your team is getting hammered and you have guys like Charlie on the bench getting paid to sit and watch. Do you not just throw him in and tell him earn your money? It kills me that players with crazy contracts who stop performing can’t be cut. It’s a job… you’re counted on your work performance.

    • Anthony Macri

      This is an issue with guaranteed contracts. It really goes to the ability of an organization to look beyond talent and prediction and understand what makes a player tick at a more fundamental level. As my friend and colleague (and boss) Jason Levien said in his CEO intro for the Memphis Grizzlies yesterday, signing the wrong player can have huge long-term consequences. If the guy isn’t going to help you win, and putting him out there prevents you from assessing other pieces effectively, there isn’t much that can be done.

  9. Eric123

    other than holiday, do think anyone not named bynum would step up their game?

    • Anthony Macri

      Look at what else is there to work with. Not sure who you think the rest of the roster morphed into. One thing is for sure: they need to figure out how to score, quickly.

  10. Chewbacca

    Say you were the Thunder’s GM and you HAD to choose between Harden or Westbrook. Which player do you keep?

    • Anthony Macri

      It depends on what I’m getting for each of them. In a vacuum, I keep Westbrook. Too unique a player to simply say goodbye to.

  11. blue dragon

    Have u seen the laker win? I saw the young kid dmorris already getting his calmness on court.. can he be the laker’s mchalmer? Or we r hoping we can be rondo? Wishful thinking?

    • Anthony Macri

      I did not watch their win yet. Perhaps I’ll double back to catch it, but probably not. Will watch to see how their pieces are starting to fit together. It’s hard to learn and execute a system that isn’t reliant on sets, and they are integrating a bunch of new players. Morris being more like Chalmers is much more likely than him become like Rondo. I’ll take a look.

  12. Eric123

    I know they’re 4-0, but if you had to make personnel moves for the Spurs to make them better come playoffs, who or what type of players would you be looking at? thanks for answering all my questions.

    • Anthony Macri

      Quick, long athletes would be a priority, since I’d be more worried about my defense than I am about my offense. I also like a bit more physical toughness. If I can play Blair more I would but save for that, length and “punch you in the mouth” toughness would be high priorities.

  13. marathon barbershop

    Please give kudos to my fellow filipino coach spoe…. Alot people said he will be fired but he won a ring as a coach! and now with the style he plays(small ball) dont u think alot ofbteams world wide should take a look on the way miami plays coz not every one has a center? And do u think pat riley’s show time style was the blue print of coach spoe?

    • Anthony Macri

      I’m glad they stuck with Spoelstra and happy to see him succeed. Anytime someone wins a championship, everyone tries to figure out how they did it and then they copy it. I’m sure both from a personnel perspective (3 megastars!) and from style perspective, the Heat will be a model for future franchises. I don’t think of the show time Lakers as the blueprint. I think more of the Seattle Sonics of Payton and Kemp and realizing expectations those two never could.

  14. Locatelli

    Hello Coach.
    Whats your thoughts about Dequan Jones of the Magic ? Can he bring something positive to the team ? He didnt perfom well in college, can he change that in the pros ?

    • Anthony Macri

      Not enough evidence to say. I think most players in the NBA can contribute if given the right opportunity, but a ton of guys don’t get the chance, or they simply have a bad day or two in the chance they do get.

  15. paprika

    Did your diet change already coach? Whats your favourite team? Player ? And coach in the nba?

    • Anthony Macri

      I have always been an Asian food fan, and that hasn’t changed living here. Rice is a big time staple for me anyway, so that’s been easy. adjusting to the spicy nature of food hasn’t been easy. I don’t have a favorite team, but I grew up a Knicks fan (haven’t watched them this year yet, though). LeBron is my favorite player, has been for a while. Before him, it was Kobe all the way. I have a lot of favorite coaches, but right now I’m digging Rick Carlisle. Hope that helps!

  16. Josh

    What are some workouts you would suggest to pick up some speed on defense for lateral movement?

    • Anthony Macri

      A ton of quickness comes from proper body positioning and balance. Do things that force your core to generate power and precision simultaneously. Also, don’t think of lateral quickness in itself as being the key. Instead, your ability to anticipate movements and predict patterns is every bit as important as pure speed.

  17. ben

    can glen davis keep it up?

    • Anthony Macri

      Ask me again in two weeks. I guess I’ll have a better answer!

      Alright folks, time for me to roll out for the day. Get out there and vote! I’m going to sleep soon here on the other side of the globe, but when I wake up, I hope to hear about how people blew away expectations when it comes to voting numbers, and counting will take some time! Good luck and see you next week.