NBA Chat With Anthony Macri 11/21/11

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 at 3pm EST every Monday.

  1. Carlos A

    Ok 3questions! just wondering if there’s any truth if nothing works out stern could go ahead and make all the players free agents?
    If it is how many bulls players will sign back with them? And what would front office do different? Thanks #lockoutsucks

    • Anthony Macri

      Happy Monday everyone! Crazy day at the office – major technical issue prevented my access to the internet, and I have a meeting immediately at 4:00p today, so I’m on short-chat. There is room in the queue for more Qs, though, so send them in and I will answer as many as possible. Sorry for the delay.

      The NBA has said that if the Union does decertify, they believe they can make all contracts null and void. I’m not sure how that would work and if it is really what owners want. Because while there are owners who have mismanaged money, do you really think the Clippers want to have to pay Blake Griffin fair market value? What about the Bulls and Derrick Rose? Sounds to me like an empty threat, but what do I know? I didn’t think it would get to this point to begin with. If the NBA did go through with it, when they eventually resumed business, entire balances of power would shift (assuming everyone is a free agent). Weird!!! It would be like starting a whole new season in the old NBA Live Franchise Mode and playing it with a full free agent player pool. That used be fun.

  2. Al Raddy

    How about his trade?

    CHA gets Paul George/Bandon Rush/Steve Blake

    IND gets Shannon Brown/ Boris Diaw

    LAL gets DJ Augustin/ Dante Jones

    Works on trade machine. ‘Cats get youth @ SG/SF spots & a vet to help Kemba. Pacers get starting caliber SG&PF & ease Granger’s worries of being replaced. Lakers get young scoring PG & defensive SG to back up Kobe.

    • Anthony Macri

      Not sure if Augustin is the right fit in LA but I don’t hate it. I need to see what Mike Brown plans to do there with regard to how they attack offensively. I actually think Blake will be better in the new Lakers system than he was in the previous season. I also like the deal in Charlotte at first glance. Not sure about Indiana. I am a big fan of Diaw’s talent, but I don’t feel he’s really performed to the level he’s capable lately.

  3. Matt

    Do you think a fast paced “out score your opponent” team could win the NBA?

    • Anthony Macri

      Only if they also out-rebounded their opponent. Ultimately, if you are going with that style, the real key is generating a ton more possessions than your opponent, and if you don’t consistently outrebound your opponent, there simply aren’t enough other possessions through creating turnovers to make up the difference. I do think this style can work in HS or even college basketball, however, because there are enough possessions gained through turnovers to make up for it.

  4. Al Raddy

    Best fit for Iggy?(assuming teams are able to acuire him without giving up their top 2 players)

    HOU w/ K-Mart & Scola(& Lowry?)
    LAC w/ Griffin & Gordon(& D. Jordan?)
    PHO w/ Nash & Gortat
    IND w/ Granger & Hibbert(& Collison?)

    I like the Rox personally.

    • Anthony Macri

      I think you listed them in order from top to bottom. Tend to agree on the Rockets – I think he is a good do-it-all guy next to Kevin Martin.

  5. Robby Davis

    When will we begin to see Dwyane Wade’s production fall? He’s the oldest of Miami’s big 3, and he’s had numerous surgeries on his shoulders and knees. I don’t wanna see his game change but I feel like he’s beginning to reach “THAT” age…

    • Anthony Macri

      He has at least 3 and maybe as many as 5 strong years left, counting this year as well. If he takes care of his body he could still be productive in 7 years or so. He does take a beating, though – so this assumes no additional freak injuries.

  6. Josh

    With Aaron Brooks signing in China, how does Phoenix solve the backup point guard situation? Who’s a good fit? Hypothetical trades? Your thoughts?

    • Anthony Macri

      I think before the solve the backup point guard situation they have to decide what they are doing with their starting point guard situation. I’m not sure keeping a hold on Steve Nash is in the best interests of the organization in a long-term sense. They may be better off dumping Nash and picking up additional ping-pong balls in this upcoming draft, because while they won’t get an all-world point guard out of this draft, there are a number of guys in the top 10-13 who I think have potential star and at least one potential super star.

      If we assumed, however, that they kept Nash and you wanted a more traditional backup, it’s hard to imagine trade scenarios without knowing the makeup of the CBA or the way sign-and-trades would work (assuming they are allowed at all).

  7. dyrese

    do you think the players can create a league something like the aba was before the merger?

    • Anthony Macri

      I’ve been asked this question a few times, and my standard answer is no, because I think there is a major underestimation of the kind of logistical expertise required to run a league like the NBA. However, if the players were to put together a league that wasn’t like the NBA, with fewer teams, fewer games, fewer players, and could find a national TV contract in the midst of everything – that’s a whole different story. I’m not sure if it is feasible, but I don’t mind them trying to find out.

  8. dyrese

    now that checks are being missed is it deal time in the owners eyes?i think they were ready to make a lil more cincessions they just want the players to see who’s boss

    • Anthony Macri

      I think both sides are locked into a game of chicken now and I don’t see it moving anywhere for the next month or so. I am hoping that I just spoke too soon and a deal comes out tomorrow since I now believe a deal is impossible. C’mon, deal.

  9. dyrese

    have you done any scouting on jerome jordan yet?i would like to gauge his play style before i actually see him play

    • Anthony Macri

      I did not get a chance to see Jerome much at all last year, but I have heard decent to good things about the tools he brings to the NBA. I will be interested to see how that translates into actual game play just as much as the next person. My focus now, with the lockout on, is watching NCAA players, so expect a lot more breakdowns of guys currently in school in the next few weeks.

      Alright folks, sorry for the shortened chat today. I promise I will make it up to everyone in the future. Please post more questions in the comments section down at the bottom and I will answer them over the next few days. In the meantime, have a Happy Thanksgiving and talk soon!

  10. Joseph

    Do you think the lockout will ever be over? If you do, when?

    • Jason Fleming

      Yes, I do think it will be over, eventually. The NBA isn’t going to just disappear and never come back (at least, I don’t believe it will). However, I remain pessimistic there will be any form of a 2011-12 season. Looking forward to 2012 free agency.