NBA Chat With Anthony Macri 2/7/12

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 at his new time of 11am EST every Tuesday.

  1. Sweet Dee

    Is shooting guard the greatest weakness for the Minnesota Timberwolves? If so, which players (within reason) would you target to fill this role during this season via trade and in the offseason through free agency?

    • Anthony Macri

      Happy Tuesday morning everybody! Beautiful set of days here, and as a long-time NY Giants fan (I grew up just outside of NYC), I have to say that Sunday was a good day as well. Doing pretty well with the group I’m coaching – we’re 20-2 (12-0 in the toughest conference in the US) – but a long way to go to win a championship. Hoping to get better everyday! Let’s get to your questions…

      I would say their greatest weakness is actually just youth and inexperience. Would like them to have a solid shooter on the wing whose main job is to knock down shots, but I don’t think that is the main thing holding them back right now. If they could get a little more experience and a guy who can shoot like that, it’d be ideal. Guys like Arron Afflalo or Courtney Lee make sense (I use those two guys whenever I talk about shooting guards that can fit anywhere). Like I said, however, the real key for them is getting experience playing with and around one another in a system that features their talent.

  2. Gunnar

    Can every player play defense? Is defense mainly effort or is it skills? Which is more important?

    • Anthony Macri

      The simple answer is yes. There is definitely a combination of skills and effort to make good defensive players. No one would have argued that a guy like Ray Allen was a great individual defender or Hedo Turkoglu. However, they needed to give a certain of individual effort combined with a system and set of defensive teachings to perform at a high level. Anyone can fit given the right set of parameters and the willingness to prepare and execute on the defensive end.

  3. JPE

    1-If you are Kahn and you have the first round pick: Would you select Anthony Davis or Andre Drummond and why?

    2-Is it possible for Davis to develop in a KG type of player with more shot blocking ability but less assists playing mainly as center?

    3-Who can Drummond be like in his prime in your opinion?

    4- Who is the better player and who the better scorer of this two: Lamb and Beal?

    5-Which player would you like to see as SG for years to come in Minnesota?

    • Anthony Macri

      I think it’s hard to forego selecting Anthony Davis. I just love him a ton. However, Drummond might be a better fit long term for Minnesota assuming he accesses his full potential. I want to watch both a little more and see what other moves Minnesota makes in the interim. I don’t think you can go wrong selecting either guy. I do think Davis can be a KG type of player, though I also think there would be some unique differences, among them the kind of offensive player Davis would be from jump. Not sure about Drummond at his prime, because he has a lot of different growth paths he can take. Not sure on better scorer, and have already answered the SG question…

  4. Aristotle

    G’Day Coach Ant,

    Kosta Koufos…I believe the Nuggets signed him to 3 more years. What are your views and future outlook on this player? It seems he’s starting to come along nicely in the last few games for Denver.

    • Anthony Macri

      Tend to agree. I think he has a lot of ability and will get better as time goes on. He had a lot of potential as a younger player and sometimes, as Coach Thorpe says, it just takes someone believing in him and giving him a little “royal jelly” to finally get to what he’s capable of.

  5. Aristotle

    G’Day once more Coach,

    Who makes the final decision on when an injured player is ready to play again?

    For example, if you have a player out for 4-6 weeks or say 3 months, why don’t the medical staff give him 8 weeks to recover or add an extra month and make sure they are ready to return healthy. Grant Hill, TMac, Yao, Oden.. I’m sure if they were rested instead of being made to return in that bracket they probably would be healthier now. You see it all the time at all levels from amateur to pros that player have career-ending injuries from being rushed back.

    Your thoughts as a coach?

    • Anthony Macri

      There is a line you have to balance when it comes to performance versus the safety and long-term health of an individual player. In a lot of cases, the player is the one who is demanding to return to play, but there has to be a discussion that involves the medical team, the coaching staff, and the player himself. In the end, this is somewhat of a roll of the dice – you act on as much information as you gather and hope for the best.

  6. Mario

    Hey coach just wondering what do you think the bulls would do if they fall short in the playoffs again this year would they look to make major changes or tweak things a little. Thanks

    • Anthony Macri

      I would not look to make major changes unless something gave me a reason to do so. I have a feeling that the difference between the HEAT and the Bulls in a playoff series might be a few balls bouncing in one direction or another. If that’s the case, then the two teams may be just even enough to do battle for the next few years, with minor personnel changes every year.

  7. Daniel

    Do u think o.j. mayo for derrick Williams would be a good trade. Throw in some fillets if needed to even out the trade. Thanks!

    • Anthony Macri

      No. Not a fan of OJ and I like Derrick Williams’ potential a lot more than I like Mayo’s chances to produce. I would rather have a more consistent shooter as Rubio’s backcourt mate than a slasher whose shot selection isn’t always the best. Of course, Rubio’s play might make Mayo a better player – but hard to operate on possibilities.

  8. ryan

    Do you think the sixers should try and make a movie for Beasley? Trade meeks and their first round pick for him. He could start at the 3 and iggy at the 2. I think it brings scoring to the starting line up. I think it improves them and gives them a legit scorer, whats your opinion?

    • Anthony Macri

      I like the way the 76ers are playing right now, and Beasley is not a big enough star to make me want to change the roster right now. I’d be looking for a way to make a big splash, or I’d stay the course they are on right now.

  9. JPE

    1-What are your thougths on Derrick Williams so far?

    2-Can he be a great small forward and form a big three with Rubio and Love?

    3-Is Anthony Randolph going to full fill his potential?

    4-Your thoughts on Rubio development as starter?

    • Anthony Macri

      1) I like him. He has a fair amount of polish, but I think he is a great combo athlete and complements Love well while being a great guy to draw defenders and make defenses adjust to when Rubio has the ball.
      2) Potentially but not guaranteed. Need more data.
      3) Magic 8-ball says: “Outlook not so good.”
      4) Starting really never has meant all that much to me – he’s getting a lot of important minutes, which is the most important thing. He will get better over time.

  10. j. Bizz

    The Raptors are said to be looking for the pg of the future and an upgrade at sf. Does that mean that they don’t believe Bayless is the future and they don’t believe in guys like Kleiza and James Johnson? They all seem to be playing well is there bettter options in the upcoming draft to fill those supposed voids? p.s. I feel bad for you guys who always have to answer the where do you think Dwight will go questions you guys are are patient pros.

    • Anthony Macri

      I think they have to look at all the options, including the possibility that Bayless is not the future. Kleiza and Johnson have been solid but there are definitely other better players out in the world that could be good fits.

      Dwight who? :-)

  11. Rocky

    Is this Washington Wizards team quite possibly the worst NBA team ever assembled?

    • Anthony Macri

      There have been some really bad NBA teams. They did win last night – Andray Blatche being out is definitely addition by subtraction. Unfortunately I think there are at least 3 or 4 players on that roster that would be addition by subtraction if they were unavailable. The Nets team from a few years ago was putrid – an interesting comparison for sure.

      Time for me to get going … big game tonight for Paul VI at Archbishop Carroll… we are up to #12 in the country according to some, and the goal is to get better everyday. Looking forward to the end of the season! Enjoy the week and see you next time.