NBA Chat With Anthony Macri 9/26/11

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. Ben Ireland

    What’s the best way to draw contact or fouls for a smaller PG?
    Also, do Cleaveland retire LeBron’s jersey? I say no, but I think they should… Miami could, but he’d have to do something for them first, no?

    • Anthony Macri

      Happy Monday everybody! Just got back from a trip to where I grew up – my sister got married this past weekend. Pretty tired from being in the car that long, but hopefully it doesn’t affect my answers too much. Sounds like we might have some more concrete lockout answers this week… keep your fingers crossed! Alright, answer time…

      A simple rule I use is that a player should launch off of two feet if they feel their attempt has a shot of being blocked or bothered. That gives them maximum control to take on contact and still finish the play. Smaller point guards have had to adjust their release points and timing since they were kids, so I tend to avoid changing a lot of that stuff – but I do focus on take off.

      I don’t think LeBron has done much to merit a jersey retirement anywhere at this point. Still too premature to make any final judgments on his career – he’s still young!

  2. Ben Ireland

    What’s the best way to pressure an opposing PG bringing the ball up and setting up a play? How can you improve lateral quickness? Thanks !

    • Anthony Macri

      There are two major schools of thought on this score. If you have a strong individual defender, and he is able to turn the defender multiple times in the backcourt, that should be the goal. In other words, your defender works to get in the way of the offensive player, forcing him to change direction (it also causes him to slow down and gives more chances for a mistake). Then, the defender should do the same thing, working to make the offensive player constantly change direction. If the ball-handler’s focus is on that, it is hard for him to run offense at the same time.

      The other option is to throw multiple defenders at the ball-handler in a variety of ways. If I was coaching a team, we’d work to keep the ball-handler sideline as much as possible (out of the middle of the floor). If the ball-handler managed to turn middle, we’d execute a quick run & jump switch using another defender. My goal is to get the offense playing faster than they are used to, which leads to errors later in games. There are a lot of different ways to approach this situation, though.

      As for improving lateral quickness, there are many muscle groups that can be strengthened, but in most cases, additional lateral quickness actually comes more from awareness and body positioning. Taking good angles is many times more important.

  3. Peter

    Hey Coach! Just wondering, who do you think is the best Strength and Conditioning coach in the NBA? Denver’s Steve Hess? Portland’s Bobby Medina?

    • Anthony Macri

      There are a lot of good ones, and some that are not so good. Hard for me to say which is the best, having not really worked with them all (and in most cases, I can only go on what the players say about the trainer). I’ve been doing a little work at a local HS this preseason, and they have a guy doing their strength and conditioning stuff who I think is pretty good.

  4. John

    Bill Simmons wrote about Iverson attacking the basket in weird angles no-one else could see… How so? Any specific examples? What’s the best way to attack the basket in normal circumstances?
    Thanks !

    • Anthony Macri

      Iverson was a master shot-maker, meaning he found a way to get his shot off in almost every circumstance. His awareness of body position and release points has had very few equals in the NBA. Actually, I think a kid like Josh Selby is very similar – just able to penetrate, judge where opponents are going to be, then jump, hang, and fire off a shot without defenses being able to react. It is a true gift – very hard to develop unless you are constantly battling against older, bigger players when you are young. As for “under normal circumstances,” I think the easiest thing to say is that players should remember the shortest distance between two points is a straight line (Intro Physics baby). In other words – try to cut out on the curviness when attacking the basket, and find sharp angles that yield quick lanes to the hoop.

  5. Dong of Dayton

    Hello Coach,

    What are you thoughts on Paul George? It appears he can defend a couple of positions, what else can this player do?

    • Anthony Macri

      I’d like to see him with a better overall plan on the offensive end – just a better understanding of taking efficient movements, attacking the middle, countering baseline, etc. I’d also like to see him more active on the offensive glass. He really should be a ++ rebounder, and he should be looking for at least 1 tip-in per game. Long way to go in his career.

  6. Eric

    tyrus thomas and exchange of pick/s for bargnani?

    • Anthony Macri

      I like Tyrus a lot (truth be told, I worked with Tyrus for two seasons a few years back when he was with the Bulls). However, I’m not sure I like moving Bargnani for him. Bargnani is a very unique kind of player that allows you to invert some things on the offensive end, which I like to do if afforded the opportunity. Also, I think Ed Davis needs to occupy more space around the rim and not sure he and TT would be a good fit together.

  7. devonte wilson

    how does a great offensive coach get non-offensive players to be more productive on that side of the ball?

    • Anthony Macri

      Part of the challenge in coaching is figuring out how to bring out the best in players. Many have talents that shine through in particular situations, but their talents are not generalized enough to work in all circumstances. Some coaches are exceptionally talented at imagining the way they can get a specific player a certain shot given other variables – and so their players perform better hitting shots they are better at. Finally, there is a certain amount of motivation that really works on any level of the game to get players playing better. Some coaches are just really good at getting guys to believe in themselves.

  8. Mac

    If you were the GM of Portland and were offered Ed Davis for Nic Batum straight up. Would you accept? Why or why not.

    • Anthony Macri

      I probably would, yes. Batum strikes me as the kind of guy that might need a scenery change to really live up to his potential, and if that’s the case, sitting on my roster isn’t going to get it done in Portland. Plus, the chance to grab a young guy like Ed Davis who could be special would be hard to pass up.

  9. Sweet Dee

    Last week, you said Demar DeRozan `has a ton of pure ability, but doesn`t use it.` Can you please elaborate on that statement.

    • Anthony Macri

      Sure. I think DeRozan is very talented, but he doesn’t really get after it 100% of the time, nor does he take advantage of his physical gifts. His approach the game is a little immature, meaning he has room to grow and can develop a more robust approach, but there are no guarantees that will happen.

  10. chris

    Why is everyone so adamant that Dwight is going to leave Orlando? He keeps saying that he wants to stay in O-town, but the Magic need to build a contending team. I am sure that Otis can make that happen…oh wait..

    • Anthony Macri

      I don’t think much is guaranteed in either direction.

  11. justin

    Holiday,AI, Nocioni for Millsap, Harris, Okur, Philly gets vets and cap space, plus playing time for Evans and Young to develope. Utah rebuilds and now has a young core of Holdiay, Burks, AI, Favors, Jefferson with a strong bench of G.S. pick, Miles, Hayward, Kanter. Win win for both teams?

    • Anthony Macri

      For me any deal that involves Jrue Holiday is a non-starter. The 76ers becoming the Nets from a few years ago does not sound altogether too appetizing to me.

  12. John

    What are the different types of screens, and how their used? Thanks !

    • Anthony Macri

      When I was coaching teams, we used to talk about defending the ABCs of screens:

      A: Away screens – typically a perimeter screen where someone screens from the top to the wing.
      B: Ball screens – pretty self-explanatory.
      C: Cross screens – typically a screen in the lane, screening from block to block.
      D: Down screens – screening from perimeter to post to bring a player out to an open position.

      There are other screens as well, but these are the main four I’d focus on.

  13. Sweet Dee

    Would anyone on the AND1 roster (past and present) be able to make a team as the 12th man on a NBA roster?

  14. alex

    which if any of the following small forwards is lebron ( the supposed DPOY) better than on defense?
    tayshaun prince, andrei kirilenko, josh smith (really a SF), shawn marion, luol deng,andre iguodola, ron artest, luc mbah a moute, tony allen (guards SFs too),thabo sefalosha…

    • Anthony Macri

      I think LeBron is miles ahead of everyone on this list on the defensive end except Tayshaun Prince, Luol Deng, Andre Iguodola, and Tony Allen (I might be convinced to include Luc Richard Mbah a Moute). Then I would have to break down certain segments of the game where LeBron is better or one of the players I listed is better. I would not have a big problem if anyone came up to me and said they felt any of the players I listed are better defenders.

  15. matt

    i’ve noticed that there r a lot less questions+ and answers since the website changed

    • Anthony Macri

      I have not seen a big difference personally – remember, in a normal season, we’d be discussing tons of free agent maneuvers and trades right now – without that backdrop, there are only so many times I can guess as to where Bargnani may end up after it’s all said and done. Hopefully this week will get us posting about real hoops again!

      Alright folks, that just about does it for me – planning to get into underrated players in my Coach’s Notebook this Thursday. I’ll also be back next Monday for my chat – hope we have good news by then! Enjoy the week and see you next time.