NBA Chat With Anthony Macri 12/20/11

Coach Anthony Macri is Director of Business Development and a Player Development Consultant for the Pro Training Center. Anthony works closely with NBA trainer David Thorpe, and writes the weekly Coach’s Notebook column for HOOPSWORLD. Coach Macri gets started 5:00p EST this week.

  1. Saulo

    Beasley really looks great. He had a great offensive showing in the first preseason game, but he got after it on D at times and seemed to really hustle. I still think he can be a franchise player if he gets his head together.. now am I a little crazy? Also, what did you think of the wolves first game?

    • Anthony Macri

      Happy Tuesday everybody. Sorry for the weird time. I am coaching at a national high school basketball tournament – the Chick-fil-A Classic in Columbia, SC – and our game was at 11:20a so I had to push back to this start time. We won our quarterfinal and play in the semifinals tomorrow at 4:00p against Word of God (NC). Really tough matchup. In the meantime, let’s get to your questions…

      i think the best thing that could have happened to Beasley was competition from a guy like Derrick Williams and a coach like Rick Adelman who treats you like a man, holds you accountable for the way you play, but gives some leash to guys to be creative. Franchise player is a little much for me, but great scorer who can really hurt you in a lot of ways will be good enough. I like the way they are already buying in a little and you can see small changes in their approach. It will take time to get them all pulling in the right direction, and let’s see what happens when adversity hits, but overall, I am pleased if I’m a Wolves fan.

  2. Saulo

    what did you think of Rubio’s performance? And what do you think of his future?

    • Anthony Macri

      My mentor David Thorpe (follow him on Twitter @coachthorpe – and me @coachmacri) tweeted the other day that the scout on Rubio will be to play him for the pass. That may slow him down a bit – so he has to learn how to score on an elite level as well. He’ll get there – I think he could still be really good.

  3. Saulo

    Is Kemba walker MJ’s best draft pick? He really took care of business in his debut..

    • Anthony Macri

      I’d need to see a full list, but he looks good in a huge sample of one game. Need to see more to make any kind of declarations. Kemba seems like a winner, and those kind of guys are not grown on trees.

  4. Shad

    I can’t stand KOC rebuilding plan! I keep hearing the Jazz shouldn’t trade away AJ or Milsap because its too risky. If their not going to make the playoffs than whats the risk in playing Favors and Kanter big minutes? The sooner these two develop the quicker the Jazz rebuild. Am I wrong?

    • Anthony Macri

      I don’t think you are necessarily wrong. However, the real key is to remember that you don’t trade guys just to trade guys. You want to make moves that help your team get better. If there are no great deals, it isn’t a rush job that leaves you wanting more later that gets the job done.

  5. Robert

    Which team do you think is more likely to make the playoffs this year, Denver or Utah?

  6. Steve

    Hi! What is your playoff bracket like? Who makes it, wins it all? Thanks!!

    • Anthony Macri

      Don’t want to say my full bracket yet, because I want to be finished with most movement first. I think the HEAT are going to be pretty darn tough to beat this year, though.

  7. KevinC

    Hey Anthony,
    One preseason game is enough to give a Rappie fan hope. Defensive effort was there. If defense is supposed to be coachable,why don’t all teams make this priority one from the start? I’m assuming talent takes care of the offense.

    • Anthony Macri

      All you can do is take it one game at a time. I actually think the Raptors roster of assets and productive players can be a real benefit to them within the next year or two. They look like a team on the rise to me. As for teaching defense, the thing about it is that it’s hard, and it requires a daily emphasis that many coaches and players frankly don’t want to put the effort into.

  8. JR

    I don’t want to get too excited because it is only preseason and they were beaten badly. I watched the Jazz game last night. It appears Favors has really worked on his game in the off season. He was playing with a purpose and dominated portions of that game. I was also impressed with Karter’s ability to rebound the ball. He was rebounding in his space and grabbed a number of rebounds out of his space. It seems to me that he can be a bonafide rebounder in this league. Your thoughts?

    • Anthony Macri

      In watching some tape, he did look like a guy that rebounds in and out of area. That is a very important trait. However, the real question is whether he will do that in early February or is it just an early season thing? The really great glass eaters do it all day long.

  9. Peter

    Am i the only one that thinks Memphis is still somehow underrated? I honestly feel they have an outside chance to win the West if people are considering OKC the favorite. They took em to 7 WITHOUT Rudy Gay. I believe they are a top 4 West team. It so wide open unlike the top heavy east.

    • Anthony Macri

      I think it’s hard to pick a team out of the west, because you are right, it might be a dogfight every single night. That makes the regular season even more fun, especially when it’s shortened. I do like OKC, but I think Dallas will fight tooth and claw for every possible victory. LA will be in the mix but not a real contender, I don’t think.

  10. Tim E

    What do you envision Owner of the
    Charlotte Bobcats is trying to do with his team? Is he looking to stock up draft picks for next year and beyond to rebuild? There are certainly alot of bigs coming out

    • Anthony Macri

      I’m not sure. I like this draft for a fair amount of players, so I would be inclined to find ways to get into the top 12 or so at least twice if possible.

  11. Tim E

    Can a player be traded to a team this year and then subsequently be amnestied by that team?

    • Anthony Macri

      I think so but that’s a question for @stevekylerNBA.

  12. i am houston

    Why is it I can’t find anybody talking bout my Rockets?We need alot of help here.Why arent we making a push for D-Howard?Why no top caliber players or players want to play here like Chandler,Okur or Nene?

    • Anthony Macri

      It’s a good question. Hard to know exactly what the core is there in Houston right now – and what it would be if there was a lot of moving and shaking.

      Sorry for the delay, by the way, had a problem with the internet connection in the hotel.

  13. Josh

    If Dwight doesnt end up with Nets I assume that Dwill will leave. Wouldnt it be smart for him to return back to the Jazz with their young guy and extreme upside. It would also make the Jazz management look like the smartest organization in the NBA.

    • Anthony Macri

      Long way to go to get to talking about where Dwight will end up. In Orlando is not the answer I expect.

  14. Ray

    two way big men are so rare guys like time duncan and kevin garnett whom are equally dominant on offense and defense are non existant any more… I look at guys like DeAndre Jordan and shake my head. so much potential but I dont ever think his offense will catch up to his knack for defense and blocking shots… sidbar wooooo! Deandre Jordan gave me chills last night with those dunks…

    • Anthony Macri

      Hard to be a two way guy. I think Anthony Davis can be like that. DeAndre Jordan’s career with Chris Paul will be vastly improved.

  15. Richie

    Nothing against Devin Harris, but he is not a good fit in Utah. The Jazz need a pass-first PG that makes his teammates better and can hit the open jump shot. Heck I’d even take Mo Williams over him b/c of what Mo did when he was in Utah. Is there any team out there that would be interested in Devin Harris?

    • Anthony Macri

      I don’t mind aggressive point guards who look to score (in fact, some of the best are this way). However, I’m not sure Harris’ shot selection is consistently the best, which hurts his overall value and how he interacts with his teammates. There are always teams willing to take on a guy like Harris – everyone thinks he can be better for them than he was at his last stop. His best role was as a change-of-pace guy off the bench in Dallas.

  16. Mac

    There were rumblings that Jonas Valanciunas may actually be able to be bought out of his current contract, and be in TO this season. Any chance of this actually happening??

    • Anthony Macri

      I don’t do the rumors – sorry. That would be nice for Toronto, though in some ways I think it’d be good to see what Casey can do with the group before Jonas arrives.

  17. Bobby

    Can the Bulls beat the Heat with Rip?

    • Anthony Macri

      I wrote about this the other day. I do think he poses some interesting matchup questions for the HEAT – but only if he is making shots. Of course, that’s the whole reason they got him in Chicago. I do think Chicago has the best chance of beating Miami in a seven game series out of the East.

  18. mike

    hey coach , with their recent moves where do you rank the knicks in the east…..and how do you think their year will end the year/

    • Anthony Macri

      I am interested to see if they can be a consistent unit that feeds off of Melo (and, by extension, if Melo can be consistent himself in terms of effort on both ends, etc.). If he is, and Toney Douglass gives them strong play from the point, then I like the Knicks as a top 4 club in the east, maybe even #3.

  19. cj

    Do you think or know if the cavs are going to do any trades/signing this offseason/ season?

    • Anthony Macri

      It’s a long-term plan for Cleveland. Sit back and enjoy the ride.

  20. steven

    hey AM congrats on your victory !!what are your top 3 teams in east this year? with baron davis signing do you see knicks in conference finals ? thanks

    • Anthony Macri

      I don’t think Baron Davis gets them any closer than they were, necessarily. Tend to think the East is Miami, Chicago, New York, and Boston, though I think Boston might be a little high here.

  21. Jason

    So with the additions the Pacers have made do you see them being a 2nd round playoff team? and who gets more minutes at SG: Paul George, or George Hill and does Lance Stevenson fit somewhere in this increasingly crowded backcourt?

    • Anthony Macri

      It is definitely possible, especially if they can find a way to draw Boston in the first round. I think that team is the most upsettable for the likely top 4 in the East. I tend to like Paul George as a starter and Hill off the bench, and you go with what is working with regard to minutes. Stevenson will have to work out his own situation over time.

      Alright folks, time for me to get on out of here. Check out our team, Paul VI (ranked #24 in USA Today’s Top 25 in the country) as we play in the semifinals of the Chick-fil-A Classic tomorrow afternoon at 4:00p. The game will be live streamed at: http://www.ihigh.com/chickfilaclassic/index.html – enjoy and see you next time!