NBA Chat With Anthony Macri 5/15/12

1. Brendan

   Hi Anthony,
   The HEAT benifited from Roy Hibbert getting into foul trouble.

   Do teams ever target opposition players by driving at them to draw fouls so they have to sit, or was this just the way the game played out?

   • Anthony Macri

     Happy Tuesday to all from my new location: Jakarta, Indonesia! Some of you may follow me on Twitter, where I announced I have taken a position consulting to the ASEAN Basketball League, a pro hoops league with 8 teams across six countries in southeast Asia. It’s 9:00p on Tuesday night here in Jakarta… so I watch NBA games in the morning now! Let’s get to your Qs…

     Yes teams do this a lot. In fact, we always called it going into the shot blockers chest. A great shot blocker needs to possess great timing and the correct spacing in order to block shots effectively. By getting into the shot blockers chest, you eliminate both advantages. There is no doubt in my mind it was a strategy for Miami – though I think they emphasize that idea against just about every opponent.

2. Aristotle

   Hey Coach,

   I’ve been looking at the draft, and also came across a few articles today on Miami and it’s small front line (6’9″ Centers).

   Can you explain to me why there’s a 6’9″ C and 7’0″ PF’s for example? Is it based on skills? On physical attributes like size and speed? I just don’t see why they wouldn’t be seen as a C/PF.. then again I don’t know the technical side to it all.

   • Anthony Macri

     A lot of it, to be honest, is player self-image. Many taller guys (like KG) are fearful of being labeled a center because it seems limiting to them. For the longest time, KG refuted his own height measurement (7’0) because he did not want people to call him a seven footer. The easiest way to categorize a guy is just to say that you can play a position you can guard. If you are a fantastic perimeter defender, it might be a lot easier to put you out there even if you are 6’10″+.

3. Aristotle

   Anth,

   If the Bobcats do end up with the number one pick and draft Anthony Davis, what do you make of a team of Biyombo, Davis, Walker as the Bobcats future, and does Charlotte then try trade away Augustin, Henderson, White, or whoever else to try get one more top 5or 10 pick in a Bradley Beal or Michael Kidd-Gilcrhist for example.

   • Anthony Macri

     I don’t think they make a trade to grab additional picks i this year’s draft just because they are so young. However, I would expect anyone and everyone to be on the block there. No one is untouchable (except Anthony Davis – when they pick him, they better expect to hold on to him forever).

4. Saulo

   What do you think of Evan Fournier? He reminds me a bit of a young Ginobili.. not that he’s as good as Manu coming in, but I see similarities..

   • Anthony Macri

     In the limited film I have seen Fournier, I don’t mind the general comparison. I will need to watch a lot more to have a more comprehensive opinion. I love how shifty he is and how he reads the floor. Manu is a big guy to live up to but a great model, at the very least.

5. Rory

   The Raptors are in a very good position this off-season to add additional talent. Who do you see them targeting in the draft and via free agency/trade?

   • Anthony Macri

     I too like where the Raptors are right now. Their position in the draft will give them a lot of options. I actually love Kendall Marshall right around that pick – he might be a good fit there. Haven’t really looked at specific team needs at all but will do that as we get deeper into the postseason.

6. CJ

   Correct me if I’m wrong coach, but watching Memphis play the Clip in game 7, I felt that Memphis gave in once the game hit aout 4 minutes. As a fellow hoops player, I can’t fathom how pros give up like that on a relatively close game. Your thoughts?

   • Anthony Macri

     I think “gave in” is a little bit of an overstatement. I just think they were not as good as the Clippers, and sometimes when you put that much in, recognize that you are deficient, you tend to try too hard. Sometimes that can lead to success, but far too often, trying too hard ends up hurting your team strategy. Once a bad thing happened, they couldn’t control the momentum.

7. Derric

   The blazers need a point gaurd and Dragic’s name has been mentioned a lot. What do you think about his potential of being a starter in the league?

   • Anthony Macri

     Love him as a change of pace guy, I like him a lot as a starter but not completely sold yet over the course of a season / career.

8. Charlie

   Last year, Jeff Van Gundy volunteered to become the NBA’s disciplinary commissioner. His role would consist of only watching all NBA games over the year and start fining players who are caught on replay blatantly flopping / overly embellish contact. Love this idea and doesn’t seem that unreasonable. A couple 10 and 25 thousand dollar fines might start to keep the Derek Fishers and JJ Barea’s of the NBA in line. What do you think of Van Gundy’s idea? And do you think a rule similar to this will ever exist?

   • Anthony Macri

     I don’t think making the rule is that hard. I think enforcing it, like any other rule to be enforced, leaves it up to interpretation, which means you may have a fair number of folks who disagree constantly no matter what judgment is made. Just a note: with the rules as they are written right now, I have no problem with any team or player emphasizing flop-taking as part of their overall strategy. It’s just smart.

9. Suspicious

   The NBA knows full well a Finals with the most popular teams will be the most profitable (ex. Los Angeles Lakers vs. Boston Celtics). As a result, some have questioned the intention of refs in certain series (see Lakers/Portland from a few years back = undeniable proof). Because of blatant favoritism such as this, I am very suspicious of the call at the end of the Atlanta / Boston series. Replays show the foul occurred clearly before the inbound pass, which results in a free throw and possession. Was this a simple case of a missed call or supports the theory refs may “conveniently” miss calls like these to let the powerhouse / media attractive / profitable teams advance in the playoffs. Your thoughts.

   • Anthony Macri

     I don’t buy the most popular as most profitable – keep in mind the league has signed sponsorship and TV rights deals LONG before the series are determined, let alone won. I actually think the most watched NBA finals (out of remaining teams) would not include Boston at all – Miami would be “that team.”

10. Josh

    Hi Coach! Wouldn’t it make sense for both sides to do this trade – Cavs trade Andy Verajao to Timberwolves for Derrick Williams. (throw in whatever makes it work in $ value) Timberwolves are trying to get into contention now and having a hustle player like Varejao running with Rubio and Love would be insane and push them further into the next level. Cavs get a promising young forward to grow and learn with their young core of Irving, Thompson and who ever they pick this draft. Who says no?

    • Anthony Macri

      I don’t like it for the Timberwolves all that much. I like Vareajao a lot, but Kevin Love does all of the things he brings. I like keeping Derrick Williams if I’m Minnesota in the scenario you listed.

11. Jazzfan

    Coach thanks for your time and the info last week on my shot I worked on it some more and it’s slowly improving. What do you think Derrick Favors ceiling is? All Star? Super Star?, I see super star written all over this kid.

    • Anthony Macri

      I think borderline all-star. Superstar I am not convinced of yet, but he certainly could continue to blossom.

12. Eric in Manila

    Hi Coach! Welcome to this side of the world! So are you working for the league (ABL) itself or a particular team? Will you be swinging by Manila anytime soon? Any player that has intrigued you yet?

    • Anthony Macri

      I will be working with the league overall, but part of the league’s mission is to support the individual teams and to create an environment where they communiate more readily and with a purpose in mind. Not really here to do player evaluations so much as help find ways to encourage the league’s ongoin growth and maturity.

13. RaptorFan

    Why are people acting like flopping was invented yesterday… i still don’t buy the Paul Pierce injury in the 08 Finals…
    Any senario where Tyreke and maybe dragic end up in raptors gear? Those 2 with Valanciunas in the middle thats a decent core right?

    • Anthony Macri

      Has been around for an awful long time. I am ok with that core, but only because Valanciunas is still the sexy unknown. My general disdain for all things Tyrke Evans is well documented.

14. Mac

    In Jason Flemmings response about flopping in the NBA, he is quoted “You can’t blame the players for being smart enough to trick the refs.” Will have to respectfully disagree with this statement and the use of the word “smart.” Attempting to deceive the referees about the amount of contact made is borderline cheating and most definitely constitutes “unsportsmanlike” behavior (not a shrewd, intelligent way to manipulate the rules). Who’s viewpoint do you favor? Mr. Flemming and players can’t be blamed for being smart to flop to get calls. Or flopping can be blamed on the players as this represents unsportsmanlike behaviour.

    • Anthony Macri

      The reason I don’t like flopping has nothing to do with borderline cheating. My concern is the way it could lead to injuries. Do you also think things like the hard count in football and leading off in baseball are bad for their respective games? Look, I’m good if they create a call to take it away. However, I tend to think that this rule would have no real huge discernible impact… while situations where a player flops stick out in your mind, they happen like once every 4-5 games on average, maybe even less. In short: just not a big enough deal to get all worked up over.

      Alright folks, I have not slept since Sunday morning before embarking on the journey, so I’m about to pass out… see you next time!