When Brian Goorjian accepted his championship ring at the conclusion of last season’s NBL Grand Final, he paid tribute to the team his South Dragons had just conquered, the Melbourne Tigers, by calling them the standard-bearers of the National Basketball League.
And Goorj was spot on. This team has been to an astounding four consecutive Grand Final series, winning two and taking last season’s classic to a fifth and deciding game.
Unlike their epic victory over the Sydney Kings in 2008, they couldn’t get over the hump this time, but no matter – this is the club that has established a standard of excellence all other clubs strive for.
The Tigers hope to continue that this season, but their task was made exponentially more difficult with the news that the single most dominant player in the L, the fulcrum of their lineup, Chris Anstey, was going to have surgery on his troublesome hip and would be lost until at least the middle of the season.
Anstey’s loss is massive in so many ways. Not only do you lose a guy good for at least 20 a game offensively and someone whose size and range out to the perimeter make him virtually unguardable, you are without a player who changes the game at the defensive end of the floor.
Be it blocking shots, or disrupting passing lanes, the 7’1” Anstey was a major factor in shutting down teams, especially within Melbourne’s half court defence. No one wanted to attack the middle when the pterodactyl-like centre was in there, intimidating all with his massive wingspan.
That’s gone now – at least in the short to medium term. And the Tigers will need guys to step up and try to compensate for what is now an enormous void in the middle – easier said than done.
Melbourne does welcome back Sam Mackinnon from his second career-threatening injury, and how much he has left will determine a lot of where the Tigers progress this season, but on the flipside they lost one of the league’s rising stars in swingman David Barlow, who left for Spain and the all-too tempting lure of those Eurodollars.
Their big pickup was championship-winning captain, Mark Worthington, who was suddenly left without a club when the South Dragons decided not to participate in this season’s competition. Wortho is one of the best forwards in the league, a genuine inside-outside threat who is just as tough on the perimeter as he is on the block.
Ben Knight, the ultimate journeyman, was drafted in after a less than auspicious season with the Perth Wildcats, and he at least provides another big body on the frontline, while swingman Ryan Bathie comes in after a solid collegiate career at Nicholls State and youngster Tim Lang is a long-range project at 6’10”.
At least to start with, the Tigers will be going down the All Australian route with zero imports, trying to follow in the footsteps of the 2004 West Sydney Razorbacks, who very nearly went all the way before falling in five games to the Sydney Kings in a Grand Final series for the ages.
With Anstey, they could very well go one step further than the Pigs did. But without him, one wonders how long they’ll wait before pulling the trigger and getting in at least one import, especially if they struggle early and can’t overcome the loss of a supreme athletic talent in Barlow.
It will be strange to see a Tiger squad without Anstey prowling around – and interesting to see how they respond and how other teams go after them while the seven footer watches on from the sidelines.
Mark Worthington was maybe the biggest prize in this offseason free agent class, and he comes in after winning his first NBL title. There’s little doubt he’s a guy opposition fans love to hate – especially those in Perth – but also little doubt that anyone who wants their team to win ballgames would welcome him on board with open arms. He’s become a guy who presents matchup problems for virtually every team – while slightly undersized at the four he’s as strong inside as you’ll find in the league and has developed some decent post moves. Add in the fact he can go out to the perimeter and hit from range and you’ve got a guy who is too big for most wing forwards and too quick for most other fours at this level.
Luke Kendall (8.8ppg, 2.2rpg, 2.5apg, 51.4% 3PT FG, 83.3% FT) played just 13 games last season but shot the ball pretty well in his brief stint, and while he’s probably more suited to the point the Tigers will ask him to play the two and look for him to hit some big outside shots. Kendall is a solid defender with good size, although he does struggle with the more athletic types, and he should be better after a full preseason with his new team.
NEW ZEALAND BREAKERS SEASON PREVIEW
Last season: 18-12, third in regular season, 1-2 in playoffs, lost to Melbourne in NBL semi-finals
Points For: 103.5ppg, first
Field Goal Percentage: 46.6%, second
Rebounds: 38.9rpg, seventh
Assists: 23.1apg, first
Blocked Shots: 2.6bpg, sixth
NBL Titles: None
NBL Playoff Appearances: 2 (last time 2009)
Homecourt: North Shore Events Centre, Auckland, capacity 4500
Head Coach: Andrej Lemanis (5th season with New Zealand, career record 55-74)
Incoming: Awvee Storey (import), Alex Pledger
Outgoing: Phill Jones, Tim Behrendorff, Adam Tanner
Projected Starters: CJ Bruton, Kirk Penney, Awvee Storey (import), Tony Ronaldson, Rick Rickert (import)
Bench: Oscar Forman, Paul Henare, Dillon Boucher, Tom Abercrombie, Alex Pledger, Corey Webster
Boy, these New Zealand Breakers sure have been a bunch of teases ever since they entered the National Basketball League to great fanfare in 2003 as the competition’s first overseas entrant.
Coming as it did on the heels of Australia’s historic series loss to the Tall Blacks in 2002, a great deal was expected immediately out of a team that had the resources and support of an entire country behind them.
Some even expected them to challenge for the title immediately – but it hasn’t quite worked out that way for the Breakers, at least, not yet.
But in the past couple of seasons, they have shown they are definitely on an upward curve. From a 16-14, seventh place regular season finish and first round playoff exit in 2008 to an 18-12 regular season mark, third place on the ladder and their first trip to the Final Four in 2009 – New Zealand is a fast-rising commodity.
There’s a palpable sense of how good this team could really be in 09/10. They boast the league’s best backcourt; have recruited one of the more highly-credentialed imports to visit Down Under and have some young, exciting talent – especially one Thomas Abercrombie – who are really going to open some eyes this season.
For Head Coach Andrej Lemanis, it’s really a season where no excuses can be made. He’s been given a squad that on paper is easily one of the strongest, deepest teams in the NBL, a team that looks devastating offensively and promising defensively. Lemanis has had just two winning seasons in his five year career but the time is now to go to the next level.
They have promised so much, but so far delivered not enough on their undoubted potential. However, for the first time in franchise history, the Breakers are legitimate, no kidding title contenders. For the first time, there is an expectation they should at the very least make the Grand Final. And for the first time, there will be tremendous disappointment if they don’t go and win the entire thing.
That’s what this squad has been built for – to win a championship. They’ll be virtually impossible to beat at home and if they can at least go .500 on the road they should find themselves with a top two spot and homecourt advantage in the semi-final series. That will give them their best opportunity yet to make it all the way to the Big Dance.
It’s how they deal with the pressure of those expectations that will determine how far these New Zealand Breakers go in 2009/2010.
CENTRE
Import Rick Rickert (13.5ppg, 8.3rpg, 52.8% FG) anchors the middle for the Breakers, and while he doesn’t fit the mould of a typical five man, he’s nonetheless a key component for this ballclub. At 6’11” he outruns most opposing centres up and down the floor and is very effective in the low block once he establishes good position. He will also face up and hit from fifteen on occasion. Whilst his shotblocking numbers aren’t what you’d hope for given his athleticism and wingspan, he will alter some shots and can be an intimidator in the middle. While the Breakers don’t necessarily need big scoring numbers out of him, they do need decent production from the former Minnesota Golden Gopher and ex-sparring partner of the Boston Celtics’ Kevin Garnett.
FORWARDS
Awvee Storey is an interesting story, if you’ll pardon the pun. The 6’6” swingman has had an interesting career that has taken him all over the world and has included three stops in the NBA with New Jersey, Washington, and most recently Milwaukee, where he played 26 games and averaged 3.5ppg in 10 minutes per contest.
He’s played in Venezuela, South Korea, China, the CBA and USBL, and had some notable off the court incidents including one when in 2007 he punched out a teammate at the NBDL Dakota Wizards, Martynas Andruiskevicus, had his contract with Dakota terminated and was suspended by the league.
He comes to the NBL looking for a fresh start, and if he can put his troubles behind him should be very effective for his new club. On court, he’s shown he can be a great defender – that’s what got him those gigs in the Association more so than his scoring. He can defend every spot from one to five, is hard-nosed and doesn’t back down from anyone.
He’ll get some points for you at this level, but that’s not why the Breakers brought him in. With a backcourt that is offensively brilliant but defensively challenged, they needed someone to come in and be a real difference maker on D. Storey fits the bill perfectly.
Lemanis could go a few different ways with the power spot, but I think for size and experience he’ll start with old campaigner Tony Ronaldson (13.1ppg, 3.8rpg, 4.0apg) who is still getting it done even after all these years. The NBL’s all-time leader in games played, he can’t jump, can’t run and the bumps and bruises have taken their toll, but his great basketball IQ and tremendous experience – the guy has seen it all – still makes him extremely valuable.
GUARDS
This is where the Breakers have a tremendous advantage over most other teams in the NBL – with a superlative, world-class starting backcourt that is arguably one of the best the league has ever seen.
Start at the point, with three-time championship winner CJ Bruton (16.2ppg, 5.4apg, 3.4rpg, 1.7spg, 49.2% 3PT FG, 86.1% FT). Even with some niggling injuries to his elbow and ankle that required some off season surgery, he was still as dangerous as ever in 08/09, finishing second in the league in free throw shooting and hitting a blistering 49% of his attempts from beyond the arc.
He’s not afraid to have the ball in his hands with the game on the line and has developed into an excellent passer over the last few years, blowing away the notion that he is a scorer, first and foremost, and his defence has also improved – okay it’s still not great, but it’s at least serviceable.
Every time I see his backcourt mate, reigning league MVP Kirk Penney (24.1ppg, 4.3rpg, 2.8apg, 81.5% FT), it’s scary just how much he reminds me of one Andrew Gaze – a guy who could also score the ball just a little.
But it’s not just the scoring; it’s how he does it – the movement without the ball, the almost supernatural ability to put himself in the best position to score, the way he can get guys to foul him in almost any situation, that reminds me so much of the G.O.A.T..
He basically cannot be stopped at this level – you can double him, or try to take the ball out of his hands, it just doesn’t matter. He will find ways to score no matter what, and he’ll hurt you whenever he has the rock. Paired with CJ, he presents a defensive nightmare – you have to man him up because he’ll rip a zone D apart, but if you decide to cheat off another player he’s got the smarts to find the seam and get the ball to the open man.
Or he’ll just use that remarkable intelligence to find a way to the basket, and get 20 on you before you can blink. Right now, there’s no question Penney is the man.
BENCH
Oscar Forman could easily start for a lot of teams in this league, and he might even start for the Breakers, but I like him coming off the bench as a perimeter-shooting big. He’s good for double-figure scoring most nights and his range means you can’t throw a zone out there when he’s on the floor. New Zealand got bigger with the addition of seven foot centre Alex Pledger, whose performance for the Tall Blacks in the recent Oceania series illustrated his enormous potential. Speaking of potential, Thomas Abercrombie is a coming attraction. This guy can flat-out jump out of the gym and his upside is enormous. Then you’ve got a couple of wily veterans in backup point guard Paul Henare and swingman Dillon Boucher – both great defenders who always put their bodies on the line.
BURNING QUESTION
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – how will they deal with the weight of expectation that comes with being championship favourites? On paper, their immediate challengers look to be only Melbourne, who are not what they once were, and the Perth Wildcats, who have on paper one of the greatest frontlines the league has ever seen, although there is a question mark over their backcourt. There is enormous pressure on this group to finally get the job done, and barring a season-ending injury to one of their key guys, there will be hard questions asked if they don’t perform as you’d expect them to.
PROGNOSIS
This may finally be the season that an overseas team takes away Australia’s national championship. The Breakers have promised so much for so long, and now looks like the perfect time to deliver. They are positively loaded at every position, can score on anyone, have a ton of veteran experience and boast depth right across the line, including a couple of youngsters who could really be factors this year. They’ll be dominant at home, and the only question mark is how they’ll overcome their road woes – something that has been a bugbear for the team. If they can perform consistently on these shores, they’ll finish in the top two at the end of the regular season with a great chance to reach an historic Grand Final – and if they make it, it’s going to be hard to bet against them.
Season Preview - Perth
PERTH WILDCATS SEASON PREVIEW
Last season: 17-13, fourth in regular season, 0-1 in playoffs, lost to Townsville in NBL quarter-finals
Points For: 96.0ppg, seventh
Field Goal Percentage: 45.7%, third
Rebounds: 39.3rpg, sixth
Assists: 20.2apg, third
Steals: 7.0spg, fourth
Blocked Shots: 3.4bpg, fifth
NBL Titles: Four (1990, 1991, 1995, 2000)
NBL Playoff Appearances: 23 (last time 2009)
Homecourt: Challenge Stadium, capacity 4500
Head Coach: Rob Beveridge (1st season with Perth, career record 21-39)
Incoming: Martin Cattalini, Kevin Lisch (import), Luke Schenscher, Damian Martin, Jesse Wagstaff, Drew Williamson
Outgoing: Darnell Hinson (import), Isiah Victor (import), Alex Loughton, Peter Crawford, Ben Knight, Adam Caporn, Chris Goulding
Projected Starters: Damian Martin, Kevin Lisch, Shawn Redhage, Martin Cattalini, Paul Rogers
Bench: Luke Schenscher, Jesse Wagstaff, Stephen Weigh, Brad Robbins, Drew Williamson
There is not a better record of success that any other club in virtually any other sport can claim than that of the Perth Wildcats.
Go ahead – show me another team anywhere that has been to the playoffs more than 23 consecutive times.
It is an amazing record when you think about it. The last time the Cats didn’t feature in the postseason was 1986 – yep, 23 years ago. That means there are more than a few current Wildcat fans who don’t even know what missing the playoffs is like – they just take it for granted that Perth plays in the NBL, Perth makes the playoffs. Simple.
But with that remarkable achievement does come a certain level of expectation that the Wildcats will be one of the elite teams in the NBL every season. Lately, that hasn’t really been the case.
While their record is phenomenal, the facts are they haven’t been to a Grand Final series since 2003 when they were crushed on their home floor by the Sydney Kings, and they’ve only appeared in two semi-final series in the past six seasons.
Last season they couldn’t even win a single elimination game on their home floor, the most intimidating gym in the L, as they were beaten by the Townsville Crocodiles and a sensational turn back the clock shooting performance from John Rillie.
For the Wildcats and especially their outstanding fan base, which is unquestionably the best there is in the National Basketball League, this recent state of affairs is unacceptable. The franchise is all about contending for championships, not just bolstering their formidable playoff record.
With that in mind, the team went through a fairly significant overhaul in the offseason.
Gone are both imports and a large portion of their 08/09 squad, including standout forward Alex Loughton and athletic swingman Peter Crawford, while Head Coach Conner Henry was also let go after failing to lead the Cats past the quarter-final stage.
In their place is a recruiting class which ranks amongst the best in the NBL.
Start with giant centre Luke Schenscher, who was a tremendous pickup, coming on board to give Perth a potential Twin Towers look with returning captain Paul Rogers. That combined 14 feet of basketball talent could terrorise the rest of the NBL this season.
The admittedly huge loss of Loughton was offset to a degree by the return of Martin Cattalini to the fold. The Cat, who last played for the Wildcats in 1995 – and if you’re looking for good omens, that was a championship year for the black and red – comes in to provide scoring, rebounding, and a dose of toughness to a frontline which on paper is the best in the league.
Damian Martin, the feisty, scrappy, workaholic guard from the Sydney Spirit, will likely start in the backcourt, and he’s the type of player whose contributions to team success cannot be measured by stats alone.
One potential question mark is new import guard Kevin Lisch, who at 6’2” is a bit undersized to play the two. He put up some decent but not eye-popping numbers for the University of St Louis Billikens, who compete in the always-tough Atlantic 10 conference in the NCAA. It will be interesting to see whether he will be able to generate the kind of offensive production the Cats will need from their thin backcourt.
And then you’ve got gifted rookie Jesse Wagstaff, a 6’8” forward out of noted NBL basketball factory Metro State University – a college that has produced Mark Worthington, David Barlow and Luke Kendall amongst others.
The other major recruit was New Head Coach Rob Beveridge, a man highly respected throughout the league. His career record isn’t great to be sure, but this will be the first time he’s had this kind of talent at his disposal.
Schenscher’s arrival has elevated the Cats into genuine championship contenders. They boast yet another version of the famed Perth Wall, feature one of the league’s best all-around players in Shawn Redhage and have quality depth up and down the roster.
No question Perth fans should be excited about their team’s chances. Expect ‘The Jungle’ to be rocking in 09/10.
CENTRE
Paul Rogers (9.0ppg, 4.5apg) played just two games last season before succumbing to injury. The 2000 NBL MVP is, when healthy, one of the best big men in the league and the Cats will no doubt be sweating on his fitness, albeit they’ve got a heck of an insurance policy in Luke Schenscher. The team captain plays hard every night, is an outstanding rebounder, a tough and committed defender, and sets excellent picks for that high post action the Cats love to run.
FORWARDS
He may not have won last season’s Most Valuable Player, but there’s no doubting the importance in Perth of Shawn Redhage (19.2ppg, 8.0rpg, 3.5apg, 51.8% FG, 84.9% FT) who was named to the All NBL Second Team last season. The 6’8” combo forward is super-efficient and extremely productive with an excellent midrange jumper. He presents matchup problems with his quickness, attacks the boards with gusto at both ends of the floor, plays solid D and is very unselfish. Add to that his great intangibles and you’ve got the key to the Perth Wall.
Martin Cattalini (15.9ppg, 6.1rpg, 2.1apg) returns home to the Great West and will be welcomed back with open arms, particularly with the departure of Alex Loughton. He’s suffered through a few issues the past couple of years and is slightly past his prime, but he’s still going to provide you with quality minutes every time he steps on the floor. Like Redhage, he’s versatile enough to play the three or four and can guard both positions.
GUARDS
Damian Martin was the league leader in steals last season, a testament to his bulldog nature as a take no prisoners lockdown defensive specialist. The former captain of the Australian Emu junior team that won world championship gold in 2003 is a product of Loyola Marymount University, where he had a fine career, and he’s looking to make a mark in the NBL. Injuries have been a problem for him since entering the league, but when healthy he’s a quality baller who has a great work ethic, punches well above his weight and is getting better as a leader on the floor.
Kevin Lisch played both the one and two in college for the University of St Louis, but projects as the shooting guard in a thin looking Perth backcourt. His background suggests he won’t be a big-time scorer at this level, and although he has a reputation as a stopper defensively, he is going to need to knock some shots down from the perimeter to earn his keep on this squad. A point of interest will be how the 6’2” guard fits with the rest of the Wildcat lineup this season.
BENCH
Having a 7’1” guy who averaged 16 and 10 last season is one hell of a luxury for any team, and the Cats have got that in former Georgia Tech standout Luke Schenscher. The Wildcats can now play two seven footers at the same time if they so choose – good luck trying to grab rebounds against that lot. The rest of the bench features a couple of potential stars in Jesse Wagstaff and Stephen Weigh, a hard working guard in Brad Robbins and a shooter in Drew Williamson who is now on his third NBL club and still trying to make an impact on the league.
BURNING QUESTION
The backcourt. Is it deep enough, and can it produce enough offensively to take the pressure off that great core of big men? Lisch may be a dogged defender, but he also might not be the best fit for this team – one wonders what a genuine 2/3 swingman like an Ebi Ere for example would do in a group like this – and if the backcourt can’t feed the big guys and hit some shots consistently, teams will be collapsing on Perth inside like a cheap tent.
PROGNOSIS
I know I said it last season, but I believe it even more now – there is enough talent on this roster to take Perth to a championship in 09/10. Sure, there’s a big question mark over their backcourt, and there is always the possibility they could be a little top-heavy, but they’ve got tremendous versatility at the 3-4 spots, they’ll be a monster on the glass and will play very tough defence, especially in the halfcourt. Fast-breaking teams may cause them some trouble, but the flipside is they will be able to overpower most other clubs if it gets into a grind it out battle. With Chris Anstey out of Melbourne’s lineup, they should have a real chance at finishing in the top two at the end of the regular season, and who knows – from there, anything is possible. Chalk up the Cats as one of the elite teams in this National Basketball League season.
Season Preview - Townsville
TOWNSVILLE CROCODILES SEASON PREVIEW
Last season: 17-13, fifth in regular season, 2-2 in playoffs, lost to South Dragons in NBL semi-finals
Points For: 97.1ppg, sixth
Field Goal Percentage: 44.7%, sixth
Rebounds: 40.1rpg, fourth
Assists: 17.6apg, seventh
Steals: 7.4spg, second
Blocked Shots: 2.4bpg, eighth
NBL Titles: None
NBL Playoff Appearances: 6 (last time 2009)
Homecourt: Townsville Entertainment Centre, capacity 5257
Head Coach: Trevor Gleeson (4th season with Townsville, career record 57-44)
Incoming: Rolan Roberts (import), Peter Crawford, Stephen Hoare, Jeff Dowdell
Outgoing: John Rillie, Brad Sheridan, Rosell Ellis (import), Daniel Egan, Steven Broom
Projected Starters: Corey Williams, Peter Crawford, Stephen Hoare, Russell Hinder, Rolan Roberts
Bench: Cameron Tovey, Kelvin Robertson, Michael Cedar, Brad Williamson, Jeff Dowdell
Ian Stacker may be the only coach to have taken the Townsville Crocodiles to a Grand Final in their 16 seasons in the National Basketball League, but you can’t beat current Crocs’ coach Trevor Gleeson for consistency.
In his first three seasons on the job he has taken Townsville to the playoffs every time, with a pair of first round exits to start followed by last year’s somewhat surprising semi-final appearance when they took the eventual champion South Dragons to the limit before falling in three.
I say surprising because very few people would have tipped the Crocs to have beaten the Perth Wildcats in a sudden death quarter-final at the venue rated across the league as the toughest place to get a W for visiting teams.
But that’s exactly what Townsville did, riding a magnificent shooting performance from John Rillie to claim a stunning victory and advance to the semis, where they gave the Dragons all they could handle.
It was another step towards re-establishing this team as one of the power teams in the NBL – another step towards getting back to those glory days at the Swamp where the place was packed every night and the Crocs were virtually invincible in their home gym.
Every team needs to try and get better every offseason with the goal in mind of contending for a title. And Townsville have done an extremely good job for the most part of bringing in quality talent – the new blood is going to make a difference in 09/10.
The one head-scratching move was the release of JR after his playoff heroics. Clearly his age was a major factor as the Crocs looked to get younger and more athletic, but while his production last season was admittedly down, he could have filled a role as a veteran sixth man off the pine providing experience and a threat from the perimeter.
That said, the Crocodile hierarchy did make a smart move by enticing athletic swingman Peter Crawford back to the place where he started his NBL career nine years ago. Crawford will be an ideal complement to explosive point guard Corey Williams, especially in transition where the flashy import is most effective.
Big man Rolan Roberts comes on board and will fill the middle – literally. The ‘Mack Truck’ is the definition of a wide-load down low, an intimidating force back to terrorise NBL bigs – I know one ex Hawk and current 36er in Adam Ballinger won’t be pleased to see Rolan back on these shores after he was destroyed by the 6’7” powerhouse in the 2005 NBL Grand Final series.
An underrated signing was Stephen Hoare – a two-time Sixth Man of the Year who was shockingly let go by Melbourne. Hoare projects as the starter at the three spot for the Crocodiles, and he’s the ultimate glue guy – an unselfish, intelligent, experienced player who is a great passer, doesn’t take bad shots, plays D and gets on the glass at both ends.
No question the Crocs deserve to be mentioned among the early favourites for the 2009/10 NBL crown after a very productive offseason. There are still question marks – one is a bench that hasn’t really improved all that much from last season – but then virtually every team in the NBL has issues.
The Crocodiles’ overall talent level is very high – and more importantly in Hoare and Roberts they have picked up two guys who know what it takes to win championships in the National Basketball League.
With a steady hand on the sidelines in Coach Gleeson and a game-changer in Williams running the show, this is going to be a highly competitive team at the very least.
CENTRE
It’s great to see Rolan Roberts back in the league again after his season and a half stint with the Sydney Kings from 2004-2006 was cut short by a terrible pectoral muscle tear he suffered when attempting the Vince Carter stuff it up to the elbow dunk at the ’06 All Star Game. Since then he’s been playing in Europe, putting up some good numbers, and if he returns as the guy who was such a big factor in the Kings’ third championship he is going to bring a lot to this squad. Once he establishes himself in the low block you can’t move the man out of there, and his great quickness and leaping ability make him a nightmare to defend inside. At the defensive end he’s an intimidator even at 6’7”; he will block shots and he rebounds like a man possessed.
FORWARDS
Russell Hinder (9.7ppg, 6.3rpg, 2.8apg) played centre last season alongside Rosell Ellis, but Roberts’ arrival sees him slide across to the four spot where he should be more effective with his ability to roam outside and knock down the twenty-footer. He is one of the most cerebral players in the game, an excellent shotblocker, and he runs the floor very well. ‘Rusty’ has shown to be better over the years with a bigger presence alongside him, so I’m expecting a good season from the 6’10” forward.
The Crocs could go a few ways with the starting three, with Cam Tovey or Brad Williamson putting their hands up, but I would be surprised if at some stage this season Trevor Gleeson looks to the ultra-experienced Stephen Hoare (9.0ppg, 4.9rpg, 2.0apg, 54.2% FG, 45.9% 3PT FG) to be his man on the wing.
Paul Kennedy wrote in his latest column about the need for efficiency in the NBL’s new 40 minute game – well for that you need look no further than Mr Hoare, who has been the definition of efficiency since coming into the league. This guy almost never takes a bad shot, finds the open man – especially from his favoured spot at the top of the key – and his nickname ‘Sneaky’ fits him well as he always seems to pop up and get baskets when you least expect it. This was a great pickup by the Crocs.
GUARDS
Over the years, there have been some great entertainers in the National Basketball League. Names such as Calvin Bruton, Derek Rucker, Dwayne McClain and Leon Trimmingham have all sold tickets and brought people into stadiums across the country.
Well, add the 6’3” Corey Williams to that distinguished list as a guy who brings people through the doors. He’s as explosive and dynamic a player to hit this league in years, a one-on-one killer who is basically unstoppable in transition and loves to compete every night. The book on him is to lay off and dare him to shoot the perimeter jumper, but he’s shown he can make that thing if you don’t pay him enough respect. What you love about him aside from his showmanship is the fact he never backs down from a challenge – in fact he relishes it. With the Crocs looking to play more up-tempo this season I expect a monster year from ‘Homicide’.
Peter Crawford (12.6ppg, 3.1rpg, 3.4apg, 1.4spg) will start at shooting guard for the Crocs, and his ability to fly down one wing and finish the break strongly should mesh very well with his backcourt partner Williams. He still turns the ball over way too much, but he’s an excellent defender, can hit from the outside and is an above average passer at the two spot. This could wind up being one of the best backcourt combos in the league when all is said and done this season.
BENCH
Gleeson may decide Hoare is better suited to be the Crocs’ sixth man this season, a role he has made pretty much his own over the past few years. Regardless, what stands out most about the reserve group is a distinct lack of size. Jeff Dowdell comes on board looking for a new start after an undistinguished stint at Perth and he currently projects as the primary backup big. There’s talent at the two and three with Cam Tovey, Brad Williamson and Michael Cedar, while Kelvin Robertson is a feisty competitor as a backup PG to Williams, but overall, Townsville’s depth is a little suspect.
BURNING QUESTION
Is there enough size on the bench? When you look at some other contenders, they have decent bigs in reserve – the same really can’t be said for the Crocs, unless Dowdell breaks through and has a big season. It may be that Gleeson decides that Hoare is that man to give his team frontline production from the pine, but looking at this squad the frontcourt depth is an area of some concern.
PROGNOSIS
Townsville has been ranked as the third favourite by TAB Sportsbet to win the NBL Championship, and given their recruiting drive and the return of the league’s best point guard in Williams it’s easy to understand why. Of all Trevor Gleeson’s teams, this is the one that looks the most capable of going all the way. They boast a potentially lethal import combination, plenty of experience and play in a great environment. They’ll miss JR more than they think, and I’m not sold on their big man depth, but you would expect them to be well amongst it at the end of the regular season. It would be a surprise if the Crocs miss the playoffs, and not a surprise if they wound up going all the way to the Big Dance in 09/10.
Season Preview - Wollongong
WOLLONGONG HAWKS SEASON PREVIEW
Last season: 11-19, seventh in regular season, missed playoffs
Points For: 97.5ppg, fifth
Field Goal Percentage: 47.2%, first
Rebounds: 39.3rpg, fifth
Assists: 19.2apg, fourth
Steals: 6.7spg, sixth
Blocked Shots: 3.7bpg, third
NBL Titles: One (2001)
NBL Playoff Appearances: 15 (last time 2006)
Homecourt: WIN Entertainment Centre, capacity 5800
Head Coach: Gordie McLeod (1st season with Wollongong, career record 104-134)
Incoming: Tywain McKee (import), David Gruber (import), Tim Behrendorff, Tim Coenraad
Outgoing: Kavossy Franklin (import), Dusty Rychart, Lindsay Tait, Anthony Petrie
Projected Starters: Tywain McKee (import), Mathew Campbell, Glen Saville, Larry Davidson, Cameron Tragardh
Bench: Tim Behrendorff, David Gruber, Daniel Jackson, Rhys Martin, Tim Coenraad
As a basketball fan for just over thirty years now, I believe there’s a lot to be said for history and tradition.
Sometimes you lose a great deal when you don’t pay enough attention to the past, when you don’t look to honour that which came before you. Sometimes, it’s history and tradition that defines who you are.
For that reason I was very happy to see the last foundation club of the National Basketball League, the Wollongong Hawks, fight off extinction in the offseason and return to take their place in what will be their 32nd campaign in Australia’s elite basketball league.
The Hawks were one of those ten pioneering teams all the way back in 1979 who decided to become a part of this great competition. In those 30 years they have been a tremendous representative of their community, became one of the very few regional teams in any sport in this country to win a national championship, and have provided their fans with a ton of memorable moments.
And now they stand alone as the remaining team from the inaugural NBL season.
That is thanks to the extraordinary hard work and commitment from a number of people in what for mine is one of the great basketball towns there is. A town that refused to let 30 years of history and tradition go by the wayside – and they will represent the entire state of New South Wales.
There’s no question that since the Hawks went to the Grand Final in 2005, things have been pretty tough for the Steel Town franchise. Their golden period was between 2000 and 2005, when they secured their NBL title and won at least 18 games in four of five seasons, but from 2006 onwards they’ve only been to the playoffs once. In fact, they are coming off three consecutive campaigns where they haven’t made the postseason and haven’t come close to even sniffing the .500 mark in the regular season.
Eric Cooks stepped aside in the offseason to make way as head coach for one of Wollongong’s favourite sons, Gordie McLeod, who represented the Hawks with great distinction as a player in two stints from 1979 to 1982 and 1984 to 1988. McLeod has an overall losing record as a coach in his career, but he did lead the West Sydney Razorbacks to two Grand Final series and will instil that typical Hawk work ethic and toughness in this group.
The Hawks’ star player signing was that of import Tywain McKee. The 6’2” point guard out of Coppin State University has been wowing all and sundry in the preseason, drawing favourable comparisons to former All Star Butch Hays, and if he’s as good as advertised he’ll join the group of great Hawk guards over the years like Alphonse Hammond, Doug Overton and Cortez Groves.
David Gruber was rescued from the wreckage of the Sydney Spirit and his style of play fits in well with the blue collar, no-nonsense attitude of this program. He’s not a guy who will score the ball that often, but he will give you energy and hustle and should be an important cog in this lineup coming off the bench.
An underrated pickup was that of seven foot centre Tim Behrendorff, who very quietly has improved his game over the last couple of seasons. He looks to be one of those bigs who’ll mature later in his career and should provide some decent minutes in reserve.
With ‘Operation Sellout’ in full swing hoping for a full crowd at the Sandpit this Friday night for their triumphant opening game, the community behind them and excellent support from local media, the Hawks are ready to soar in 09/10.
McLeod will have them playing hard every night and they want to turn that gym of theirs into a veritable fortress, just like the old days at the venerable Snakepit when opposition teams feared a visit into enemy territory.
They may not be among the fancied teams, and they may not have as much talent as a few others, but I’m still expecting a great deal from this team, especially if McKee turns out to be the superstar some in that organisation believe he can be.
CENTRE
The runaway winner of the 2008 NBL Most Improved award, Cameron Tragardh (14.7ppg, 4.7rpg, 54.5% FG) showed that season wasn’t a fluke with another solid campaign in 08/09. And he’s already made a significant impact in the preseason, dominating the Top End Challenge in Darwin, winning Tournament MVP honours and leading the Hawks to a surprise championship. He’s a difficult matchup at the five due to his underrated quickness, variety of post moves and ability to face up and put the ball on the floor. He’ll need to crash the boards a bit better than he did last season, but there’s no question he’s set himself for an outstanding year.
FORWARDS
The great Glen Saville (15.1ppg, 7.7rpg, 3.7apg, 1.7spg, 78.0% FT) should be a first ballot Hall of Famer once he ends his stellar career as one of the best all around players this league has ever seen.
The do it all forward was his usual productive self once he returned to the nest last season following a Grand Final appearance with the Kings in 07/08, and although he may have lost half a step, he’s still got the great motor, the outstanding athleticism, and the tremendous work ethic. It’s only fitting that he will finish his career (eventually) at the place where he has established himself as one of the legends of the franchise.
The career of Larry Davidson (6.5ppg, 4.4rpg) has been one of injury and unfulfilled promise. At one stage the 6’11” left-hander was touted as a potential Boomer, but he’s never lived up to that for various reasons. He played just 17 games last season and it’s been a struggle for him, but he still has sublime talent and when he puts his mind to it can be a weapon with his size and ability to nail it from the perimeter. If the Hawks get a complete season and good production out of him they’ll be very satisfied.
GUARDS
Wollongong captain Mat Campbell (9.8ppg, 2.7rpg, 2.4apg, 41.9% 3PT FG) was one of the driving forces to save the franchise, and he worked his butt off to help make this season happen. For that alone you gotta admire this guy enormously.
And like his mate Saville, he’s one of the all-time greats of this team. On court, he’s clearly slowing down as the inevitable passage of time catches up with him, but he’ll still good to hit that pull-up J off the break and splash a few treys here and there. He’s an inspirational leader and it’s great to see him back for another go-around in the National Basketball League.
The excitement level in the Gong around new import point guard Tywain McKee is about the same as I remember it was when Doug Overton arrived for his one magical season in 1992.
McKee had a stellar career at mid-major university Coppin State, and in his senior year led the team in scoring, rebounding, assists and steals and was named the MEAC conference player of the year. Heck, he was even profiled in ESPN The Magazine.
By all accounts he’s been nothing but an absolute pleasure to deal with, a kid willing to learn and work extremely hard, with the added bonus of possessing incredible talent.
He’ll be one of the standout imports this season, and John Rillie, who brought him to these shores in his new role in sports management, wrote in his blog “Tywain McKee will have people out of their seats during the game”. You better believe it.
BENCH
David Gruber is not a scorer at this level, but will provide tremendous energy, hustle and intensity, plus at least one floor burn every game. Tim Behrendorff will provide decent relief minutes up front, Rhys Martin is a scrappy, feisty combo guard, while Dan Jackson has a lot of upside at the three spot and swingman Tim Coenraad comes on board after a good career at NCAA D2 Nova Southeastern University.
BURNING QUESTION
Do Sav and Matty Campbell still have enough juice left in their legs to lead the Hawks to what in many eyes would be an unlikely playoff run? They’ve played a combined 896 NBL games – that’s a lot of mileage logged over the years, and given the overall talent level on this ballclub isn’t as strong as on most other teams, a great deal will be placed on the shoulders of these two outstanding veterans.
PROGNOSIS
One of the big things about this 09/10 NBL season is that there is not a single team in the eight you can point to and say they have zero chance of making the playoffs. So even though the Hawks are listed as the biggest outsider by TAB Sportsbet, it would be incredibly foolish to write them off. They’ll be difficult to handle in their home gym, particularly if they get the kind of fan support they are looking for, while McKee will be a difference-maker, Tragardh is emerging as one of the league’s best big men and Saville and Campbell provide excellent leadership. Gordie McLeod will have these guys playing hard every night; they’ll cause their share of upsets along the way and will be fighting hard for a playoff spot right to the end of the regular season.
