The IronDog Chronicles

** ‘Big Mac’ - I was at the Mavs/Heat game on Wednesday night, and like all NBA games, I prefer to show up early to watch assistant coaches working with the young projects on their shots and their moves.  (Just like catching batting practice…Just by watching, you receive a ‘true’ private clinic up close.)

Now, I’ve been blessed to watch young phenoms work with NBA vets who depended upon a craft to make things work for them in the NBA.  The best have scenes this blogga has witnessed is Kurt Rambis working with Kobe Bryant and Kevin McHale tutoring Kevin Garnett.  On Wednesday night, I was blown away by how Miami Heat Assistant Coach, Bob McAdoo worked with the forward and young buck, Jamario Moon on his jumper.

Moon’s ‘J’ is not only a player with one of the worst forms that I’ve seen since former Tar Heel, Jackie Manuel, but Moon also is one of the more distracted players that I’ve seen in terms of spacing out during games.  I was stunned by how McAdoo was able to keep his attention through talking and using hand-motion followed by launching consistent swishes from the top of the key like he was throwing paper in a waste basket.

McAdoo has what you think one of the weirdest jumpers. Yet, the height that he was able to obtain with his reach combined with one of the quickest releases that you’ve ever seen makes for one of the more mesmerizing jumpers that you’ll ever see.  It’s like watching a cigarette lighter flash…Yes, that quick…And that efficient.

Do your history check, peoples…Check NBA Films, whatever you have to…

Just look at McAdoo’s stats during his 1974-75 NBA MVP year…Just plain red clay bombin’, 34 PPG, 14.5 RPG, almost 3 blocks per game, and 10 defensive boards per game.  He was the original ‘Mack’ in this blogga’s book.

His Buffalo Braves teams should have won a title under Dr. Jack Ramsay, who arguably may have been one of the greatest basketball minds in NBA history.  The Braves teams were fresh as mangoes with the Ernie ‘Ernie D’ DiGregorgio, Randy Smith, Jim McMillian, Gar Heard, and Marvin ‘Bad News’ Barnes.  Don’t forget that Jack Marin was on that team, and he was also an All-Star throughout his career.  I’m wondering if the Braves would have won a ring, would they have ever moved into the deep NBA hole of San Diego and Donald Sterling.

Coach Pat Riley landed him in ‘82, and look at the immediate impact that he made in the Lakers’s Championship run in 1982.  The best testament to his game is that Riley had him right next to him on the bench during his coaching days with the Knicks and Heat.

This blogga thinks that Mac is probably one of the best assistants in the game. It shouldn’t be a shock why young talent blooms like Dwayne Wade, Udonis Haslem, and others bloom under his tutelage.  This blog just hopes that he doesn’t get forced into a head job because he seems perfectly content working as an assistant with the Heat.

Editor’s Note:  First pair of suede Ponys were a pair of McAdoo’s…You millennial sneakerheads just don’t know…You’re sleepin’..What’s better yet…He’s a Greensboro, NC native, and he honed his game at the legendary Windsor Center, which was known for years as one of the best indoor court in the state of North Carolina for years…Florida Street still reps ‘Mac’ to this day.

Smith High…’Do or Die’,

BD