Hornets.com’s 1-on-1: ESPN’s Greg Anthony, Tim Legler

March 4, 2007

Hornets.com and Hoop Magazine writer Jim Eichenhofer interviewed ESPN analysts Greg Anthony and Tim Legler prior to Sunday’s nationally televised game against Utah in the Ford Center.

Anthony and Legler were both NBA guards who played 11 and 10 seasons, respectively. The pair teamed with play-by-play broadcaster John Saunders on ESPN’s game coverage of the Hornets-Jazz game.

Anthony

ESPN analyst Greg Anthony
Q: There is a group of six teams vying for the last two playoff spots in the West. Do you expect the Hornets to make the playoffs and why or why not?
A: I think they will, but a lot of it is going to revolve around the next eight games or so. I think six of the next eight are on the road, so it’s going to be critical that they can play about .500 (during the upcoming stretch). From what I heard, Peja is going to be back to give them a big lift down the stretch. You’re talking about a guy who can lead you in scoring and obviously could have a big impact.
The one advantage that they have is that they have a very young core that is going to continue to get better. Tyson Chandler is growing as a basketball player, and you’ve got Chris Paul and David West back – while those injuries set the (Hornets) back, they’ve still been able to find ways to win games without them.
If you look at the Hornets since the All-Star break, they have the fifth-best record in the league. That tells you about the mindset right now. I like the Hornets, and I like Denver to get in the playoffs.

Q: As a former NBA point guard who played over 10 years in the league, what is the most impressive thing to you about Chris Paul’s game?
A: What’s eerie about him is that he makes the game look easy out there. That’s probably the greatest compliment you can give someone, because having played in the league – and obviously, you know from having covered it – that nothing could be further from the truth. It’s not easy. He has tremendous instincts and he’s also a phenomenal leader.
He’s not one of those guys who forces his will on (teammates); he does it naturally. People talk about great leadership, but guys have to be willing to follow. Everybody knows that he is out there to win. The way he plays the game at that position, he makes it that much easier on everyone else to play.

Q: What areas do you still think Paul can improve in order to become a perennial All-Star? 
A: I think he just needs time. I felt that if he hadn’t gotten hurt this season – if you look at the way the Hornets started the season and how well they were playing – I thought Chris would have been in the All-Star Game this year.
You look at him and Deron Williams, both of those guys are All-Star-caliber players from a talent standpoint, but realistically, you’re not going to just usurp Steve Nash and some other (point guards) who still have some good years left in their careers. But I would be somewhat surprised if (Paul) isn’t in the All-Star Game next year and beyond.

Q: How surprised are you by the way Tyson Chandler has performed with the Hornets this season after being traded by Chicago?
A: A couple things have benefited him. First, this system is more geared to his strengths. Second, he’s playing with a pass-first point guard here. Kirk Hinrich and Ben Gordon are both great guards, but both of those guys look more to score first. They’ve been able to incorporate (Chandler) more here, especially with the way Chris Paul runs the offense and Byron coaches.
The other thing about Tyson is that he has great character. I played with him in Chicago, and he’s the type of person who understands that great effort leads to great results. The move here really benefited him. Plus, he gets to play with a David West, who is a proven scorer and his game complements Tyson.

Q: Does Byron Scott deserve Coach of the Year consideration based on how many major injuries his team has sustained and the fact that the Hornets are still in the playoff chase?
A: Byron is in my top two or three for Coach of the Year. Not only has he done it with all the injuries, but even more impressive, he’s done it with a young team. This is not a veteran team that has been conditioned to win, or a team that has been together for six or seven years. To have their top three scorers out and still be able to win, that is to Byron Scott’s credit. They were able to maintain that mindset of still winning games without those guys. Byron also has a great coaching staff. I played with Kenny Gattison (in Vancouver) and against Darrell Walker. They all understand what it takes to win.
Now having said all of that, I still am picking Avery Johnson to win (Coach of the Year). I wouldn’t be surprised if Byron got it, but if you factor in everything that Dallas has been able to accomplish, I am leaning toward Avery.
I played with Byron, and he is a great human being. It’s great that he’s been able to show how great a coach he is, especially after he got kind of a bad rap in New Jersey. You see what’s happened there after he left. He’s come here and done a great job.

Legler

ESPN analyst Tim Legler
Q: There is a group of six teams vying for the last two playoff spots in the West. Do you expect the Hornets to make the playoffs and why or why not?
A: I do think they’re going to get in. One of the reasons I say that is because of the teams that they’re fighting with – Denver, Golden State and the Clippers – the Hornets play harder than all of them, and compete on every possession. Now, the Hornets’ schedule is definitely tough; they have a rough couple weeks coming up here that will be difficult. But I like them a lot now that they’ve got some of their guys back – and they say Peja may be back in two or three weeks, to help them for that last part of the season. I don’t think any of the other teams (in the West playoff chase) are playing well enough to seize (a playoff spot), but the Hornets are good enough and play hard enough to get that spot.

Q: As a guy who went undrafted and played in the CBA before carving out a 10-year NBA career, what is your opinion of what Devin Brown has done for the Hornets this season?
A: I’m a big fan of his. I know Devin pretty well, as well as his agent. I know the struggles that he’s been through and the road that he’s traveled. I’m very familiar with that from my own career. It’s difficult, and it takes a lot of mental toughness to continue to believe in yourself, when a lot of people are closing doors on you.
You just have to get the right opportunity, find the right niche and be in the right system. The same thing happened to me in Washington, where I finally got my break. I finally got to a place where they appreciate what you bring to the table. It allows you to get your confidence and be a consistent player. Once you do that, you can play in the league for a long time. That’s what happened to Devin Brown this season.

Q: You WERE drafted by Major League Baseball’s Pittsburgh Pirates as a pitcher and infielder. What kind of a baseball career do you think you would’ve had if you chosen to play that sport instead of hoops?
A: [laughs] Well, if you would have asked my father, who has since passed on, he would tell you that I would have been in the Hall of Fame! That was the sport that came naturally to me and something I played since I was 4 or 5 years old, but basketball was my passion. I think I would’ve had a nice, long (baseball) career, but you never know. In baseball, who knows what could happen with the long road you have to take, going through the minor leagues in an organization.
Plus, I was a pitcher, and a lot of those guys get arm problems before they even get to the majors. I don’t have any regrets about (focusing on) basketball.

Q: You hold the all-time record for most total points in the NBA three-point shootout at All-Star weekend, with 65 over three rounds. You’ve been retired from the NBA since 2000. How often do you still play or shoot?
A: I actually tore my ACL about a year and a half ago, but I just started playing again recently. There is a phenomenal summer league in Philadelphia that a lot of college and pro guys play in. My goal is to go in there this year and try to be the MVP of the league at age 40. [grins]

Q: Speaking of players who’ve won the NBA three-point contest, how much impact do you think Peja Stojakovic will make if he returns to the lineup in the next few weeks?
A: A big impact. You’re talking about a guy who spreads the floor, and any time you have someone like that, a player who can score out to 25 feet, it widens out the driving angles for guys like Chris Paul and Devin Brown, guys who can attack the basket.
Any time you have a player of his caliber, it makes the game easier for the guys who are trying to get into the gaps. It’s unfortunate that he’s been hurt, because I thought he was one of the top two or three biggest offseason acquisitions in the league. For him to not have an impact because of injuries is a shame, because you really don’t know what this team could have been.

Q: How much potential do you see in the Hornets’ first-round draft choices, Hilton Armstrong and Cedric Simmons?
A: Those guys have not really even had an opportunity to get their feet wet. Hilton has maybe a little bit more than Cedric (recently). You don’t really know what a guy is going to be until he gets consistent minutes. I know that the Hornets like both of those guys’ athleticism and both of them are in the future plans in terms of adding depth. But it’s difficult to say whether anyone is going to be able to stick long-term until you see them play more.

Q: You’re a Philadelphia native who played at La Salle, like Rasual Butler. What is your assessment of Butler?
A: Rasual is very versatile and long. He’s a guy I saw a lot in college, and I knew then that he was going to be an NBA player and be able to make an impact on a good team.