NBA Chat With Anthony Macri 5/29/12

Coach Anthony Macri writes the weekly Coach’s Notebook column for HOOPSWORLD and works for the AirAsia ASEAN Basketball League, the first regional professional basketball league in South-East Asia. Coach Macri gets started at his new time of 10am EST every Tuesday.

  1. Tom

    Unlike the Mavs, can the spurs bring back the same squad next year to defend a possible championship?

    • Anthony Macri

      Happy Tuesday everybody. Things are hot here in Jakarta, but I understand it’s the same way on the east coast. The playoffs are reaching their culmination – let’s get to your questions!

      I have learned never to count the Spurs out. I think that team just keeps coming at you with wave after wave of greatness. I think they might have another year of being very good before time finally catches up with them. I’d love to say they have a bad contract to deal with, but they really don’t. Weird.

  2. Shawnymoe

    Hello there I have a 2 part question. What is tthe amnesty clause and does it give teams salary cap space too sign free agents?

    • Anthony Macri

      In as simple terms as I can explain it, the amnesty provision allows a team to wipe a player’s salary from counting against the cap. The team still has to pay that player, but their salary doesn’t hurt the team’s cap space. It can provide teams with the ability to sign free agents if by wiping out the contract hit they fall under the cap.

  3. Marlon D.

    After watching the Spurs come back to beat the Thunder and the Heat pull away in the second half to hold off the Celtics, is that enough to perdict who will the NBA Championship, my money is on the Spurs…

    • Anthony Macri

      I also would wager my Indonesian Rupiah on the Spurs. I’ll even bet 100,000 Rupiah! That must be a lot of money, right?

  4. Mutang

    Hey Coach, wondering whats going to happen between Utah and GS? Utah has that 28% chance or whatever it is of landing GS’s pick. GS know is trying to secure that pick for themselves. What do you think GS is going to be offering? Should Utah take it?

    • Anthony Macri

      It depends on what they are offering. I’d have to see a breakdown of any potnetial deal to really comment, but I’m not sure Golden State should be too worked up about their pick. This draft doesn’t feel quite as deep to me as I had once thought.

  5. Fraser

    Anthony, what are your thoughts on Dion Walters as a possible 8 pick for the Raps?

    • Anthony Macri

      It seems to me that Dion Waiters needs to decide what he wants to be. I see him as a pretty good facilitator, that is a guy who can get in the lane as a playmaker, grab a few rebounds, lead the break and finish a little in transition – essentially, a utility guard. However, I don’t know that his mentality suits that very well. He seems to want to be more of a scorer than a facilitator, but I don’t know that he is really the best guy to take on that role. He seems stuck without a position – and #8 seems a little high for a guy like him.

  6. austrian powers

    what do you think about the lowry story? i think he wants to force a trade to the lakers

    • Anthony Macri

      Not sure what to think except that I think part of a player’s value stems from his ability to play for different coaches under different circumstances.

  7. schnik

    Do you think the lakers and nets would consider a bynum for deron trade? i think the lakers would be better if they keep pau and trade drew for a star caliber player

    • Anthony Macri

      I seriously doubt there is much outside of Dwight Howard or Kevin Love that could pry Bynum away from LA. I’m not sure I’d be so ready to get rid of Bynum either. One thing I would not do is trade him for a point guard who seems pretty fickle on playing hard all the time.

  8. devonte

    what can you tell me about orlando johnson, jard cunningham, kevin murphy, alex young scott machado, tyshawn taylor? who is the best point guard and shooting guard out of this bunch?

    • Anthony Macri

      The one guy I’d draw attention toward in that list is Scott Machado. He is unlikely to ever be a full time starter as a pro, but he can defintely be a change-of-pace guard or the kind of guy that allows you to shift your point guard over to the two for a few possessions at a time. Great court vision and passing skills, but seems to lack fire when the chips are down.

  9. Aristotle

    Heya Anthony,

    I am a HEAT fan, but for some reason my gut says Timmy gets number 5. However, with all 4 teams a chance to lift the trophy, if Miami did win it all this year, just how much more dangerous would the Big Three be next season with that pressure lifted over them? Do you think there’s more hell to unleash once they get that ring?

    • Anthony Macri

      Yes, and if / when the pressure came off, I would expect them to continue to assault the league. However, I tend to agree with you that the winner of the West will be the winner of the ring.

  10. Tim

    Anthony, please give me your take on the officiating of last night’s eastern conference finals game 1.

    Regards,

    Tim

    • Anthony Macri

      Seemed a little quick on the T’s though it really didn’t have an effect on the game at all. Other than that I thought it was good, with Miami being a much more aggressive team and getting the benefit of the whistle as a result.

  11. devonte

    whats the likelihood of the knicks trading toney douglas for a draft pick? would it be late first, early second or late second round pick?

    • Anthony Macri

      I think they’d need to know they are locking in Lin first. Is that a done deal?

  12. Quan

    Hey Coach, love your analysis every week. I just want to know your thought on the situation of Pau Gasol. Do you think a trade to Chicago will be good for both the Bulls and Gasol? If the Bulls agree to trade for Gasol, which way will they deal with the point guard position as Rose is out for the entire next season?

    And by the way, a non-NBA (and optional) question: What do you think about Saigon Heat and their recent season? What they should do to be successful in the future? Hope you will answer it, thank you very much :)

    • Anthony Macri

      I am a huge Pau fan. I think he can fit into nearly any situation and do well, including Chicago. It would be difficult if they didn’t have Derrick Rose, and I don’t see a lot of plans to replace him making a lot of sense. However, if they can acquire Pau and supplement the roster with a steady but unspectacular point guard, their defense might be good enough to get wins (in other words, I think they would still be a playoff team for sure, and maybe even a top 5 playoff team).

      And regarding the Saigon Heat, they have the best fan support in the league and a coach that is very well respected (after he joined on, the team went on a tear to end the season). Can’t really get into roster situations in international basketball, but I would expect their ownership to want to make a run next year.

  13. Tim

    Please explain to me how the defensive player of the year does not make 1st team all nba defense?

    • Anthony Macri

      I don’t know how they do the balloting for those awards. Seems odd to me too.

      Editor’s Note The All-NBA Teams are chosen by a panel of 120 sportswriters and broadcasters throughout the United States and Canada. The media voted for All-NBA First, Second and Third Teams by position with points awarded on a 5-3-1 basis.

  14. Tim

    I am also curious to hear your opinions on the top 5 players in the nba right now by position. Who would be your all nba first team?

    • Anthony Macri

      C: Dwight Howard but I’m not happy about it. He is just so dominant.

      PF: Kevin Love is the best power forward in the game, and may go down as the best one of the next decade or more.

      SF: LeBron James is the best player on the planet, no one is all that close. Kevin Durant is the next best, and then there is another big chasm between him and the next best.

      SG: Kobe is still great.

      PG: Probably Chris Paul though he looked a little broken down in their last series.

  15. devonte

    what if the knicks cant retain players like lin, landry, baron, steve novak how would we replace them? it would be hard to do it in free agency because we have no money and we only have one draft pick. my take on it is the knicks will resign maybe two or three guys and then look to get some draft picks to make our team get younger. whats your take on it?

    • Anthony Macri

      My honest opinion? Blow it up. That team isn’t winning a championship anytime soon. It was put together wrong when they decided to trade everything for Carmelo. Putting your eggs in that basket was a huge mistake that New York will be paying for a long, long time.

  16. devonte

    ive heard that it would be hard to trade amare with his terrible contract but theres gotta be some up and coming teams that would be able to take up his contract?

    • Anthony Macri

      They wouldn’t be up & coming for long if they took on that albatross.

  17. Mario

    Hey coach what moves do you think the bulls should make or what should they do in general thanks coach

    • Anthony Macri

      Get Derrick Rose healthy as quickly and safely as possible. Add either a scoring threat from distance (not necessarily a star), and more depth in the backcourt.

  18. Josh

    Hi Mr. Macri! If you’re cavs mgmt, and you’ve been given a proposal for a trade that sends out Andy Varejao for Marcus Thornton – what do you do? True Andy is the better player now, but by the time the Cavs are ready to contend, he’ll be a shadow of the player he is now. Kings have a logjam at the guard position and this shores that up as well as giving them a great energy guy/character guy.

    • Anthony Macri

      Sounds ok in theory – I’d want to think about it more. Not sure Vareajao is a great fit with DeMarcus Cousins, but there aren’t many players who are a great fit with him. On balance I think it works though I don’t think the Kings would be in a rush to say yes.

  19. George

    Do you think the Knicks will throw all of the Midlevel to Lin? Should they do it, I mean he had 16 good games… or let him walk and make a run after a guy like Felton?

    • Anthony Macri

      Rather have Lin than Felton – Felton would need to prove to me he really wanted to play. In Lin’s case, having him as an asset impacts much more than just what happens on the floor. I don’t think either guy puts the Knicks that much closer to a championship.

  20. 123Eric

    people are saying that the sixers should amnesty brand. wouldn’t it be better to let his contract expire or at least trade his expiring contract for some assets? or is amnestying him help the team in re-signing some of their free agents?

    • Anthony Macri

      Hard to move his contract. Letting it expire means waiting a year when they feel they could start the process more quickly. I’m not as sure. I think they are a pretty flawed team – Evan Turner still hasn’t done much to impress upon me the idea that he is a starting shooting guard in the league, and Jrue is still wildly inconsistent. The rest of the guys are decent players, but I’m not sure what assets they could string together to become relevant overnight.

  21. 123Eric

    after seeing game 1 what adjustments, if any, do you think the spurs should do heading into game 2?thanks!

    • Anthony Macri

      I think moving Tony Parker off the ball a little more, so he can attack Westbrook off the catch, would be a great adjustment. Also tend to think San Antonio surprised itself with that defensive performance down the stretch – I wonder if it can continue.

  22. Justin

    Hey coach…how is it going? I coach a 8th grade girls bball team and was thinking of running the A-set (Horns) offense. Your thoughts or suggestions for a team with a few good bigs and one good pg?
    Thanks

    • Anthony Macri

      Horns can be good because it will allow you to get into ball screen action which will probably be a bread and butter for your group. Get out on the run first though! Girls basketball is about the ability to get scores in transition a lot more than even the men’s game is. You also may want to look at any number of continuity sets to get your bigs involved in the post. Finally, teach them pursuit of the basketball… if they want the ball more of the time (loose balls, rebounds, etc.), they will be tough for 80% of the teams they play to stop them.

      Alright folks that just about does it for me. Have a great Tuesday and enjoy the Spurs / Thunder game later!