The Official NBL 2006/07 Thread

[koberulz]

i didn't see it, but whatever it was, it was the game played on fox the night previous. either the full game or highlights, no idea.

[Zoom]

Half an hour so it would only be highlights.

If it's onyl highlights, I would find that boring but if they had like talking about the league standings and the week and any news, I would find it more interesting.

Nonetheless, I'm a hoops junkee, so I will check it out!

[koberulz]

do you have foxtel?

[Zoom]

Nope. That's why I can't watch any basketball.

[Dan's Brain]

channel 9 will take that off as soon as the afl season starts. with eddie in charge you cant expect anything else. i also couldnt see it remaining on once the cricket tests start either. hopefully they'll find a different time for it.

[Zoom]

Yeah, maybe thery can have it early morning or in late night or a different day. You're right, once Cricket starts, the show won't be kept on...

Is Nine gonna be doing AFL from now on???

[koberulz]

god perth is awful. the first quarter was brilliant, but the second and third played somewhat like the last quarter of an nba live match with cpu comeback logic on full bore.

[Zoom]

Who did they play?

[koberulz]

alright, that last three quarters was the worst display i've seen since perth gave up a 25 point 3-quarter time lead against adelaide.

Field Goal Percentage: Teams do not win games shooting >40% from the field, including a 25% quarter. it just doesn't happen. townsville, on the other hand, barely missed a shot all night.

The Refs: Ouch. when a team is in the backcourt with 15 on the shot clock, blow the damn whistle. Screwed up on a couple of occasions tonight.

The Commentary: Perth have six undefeated wins? what, one of their wins was a chance to be beaten or something, and leave them with five undefeated wins, and a defeated win? Also, since when was a fould after the shot worth freethrows? jeepers casey, get it right.

Luck of the Irish: I guess it was only fitting it went to the guys in green. justing brown's tip-in early that sat on the rim for two full seconds before falling in was the only example of luck being on perth's side for the entire match. the incident i mentioned earlier about the backcourt violation: the ball bounces off five hands and falls in the lap of abney, who is all by himself. there was a similar incident in the townsville keyway, the ball bouncing off three or four shins before bouncing straight to the chest of a townsville player for a wide open 15 footer.

Game of the week?: it sure looked like it in the first quarter. neither team could miss, and it was a very even fast-paced match. it all went downhill from there.

Paul Rogers: Perth really could have used the extra body in the paint, being outrebounded severely.

Pace: Perth got a brilliant start, and faded from about halfway through the opening term. they never really recovered. they've been on the road for a week now, they need to pace themselves a little more against cairns on saturday/sunday, whenever it is.

Perth: 5/10
Townsville: 9/10
Refs: 7/10
Game: 4/10

[Zoom]

How did Daniel Egan play?

[CMJ3]

The show on channel nine was like the full game... it was alright, it was just taken straight from fox sports, but i guess its better than nothing for free to air tv.

[Zoom]

True, I will check it out this Sunday then... Kings vs Razorbacks...

[koberulz]

Interesting to see Brisbane go over New Zealand there.

MATCH REVIEW: Bullets @ Breakers (October 18)

Aaron Olsen: This guy really needs to get his shooting back on track. He’s been misfiring most of the season.

Joey Wright: Why would you leave Sam McKinnon on the court with 3 fouls in the first quarter?

The Commentary: The Kiwi team sucks. Honestly, they are clearly overly biased towards NZ, it’s ridiculous. I think I’ve even heard them refer to the Breakers as “we” in the past. Also, they seem to throw jargon around just because they can. I’ve never heard the words trailing, behind, traveling, wide open, dunk, or ball in their commentary. It’s always in arrears, taking steps, naked, flush, or rock. Aaron Olsen is also referred to as the “Canadian-Born Kiwi” way too often. They also jump to the inside of players’ heads way too often. “Ere says ‘Add that to your highlights reel.’” “’Splash,’ says CJ Bruton”, and so on, and so forth. It’s alright to do that on occasion, but when you pull it out every time something slightly better than boring happens…

Freethrows: What was up with Brisbane? Freethrow shooting that poor is not going to allow you to win matches, period.

The 3rd: New Zealand should not have given up that big a lead in the third quarter to end up behind at the last change. They got lucky to win, really, because most nights they would have been put away.

The Arena: It’s about a 1000 seat stadium, and it’s barely half full. New Zealand really need to start pulling a crowd.

The Referees: Missed a couple of blatant 3 second calls, but no-one seems to care about that rule anymore anyway. Seemed a little quick on a couple of foul calls too.

Carlos Powell: He really impressed me in the season opener, but I barely noticed him at all tonight.

Hustle: New Zealand won the game right here. Getting to loose balls, interceptions, and saving balls from going out. Getting hands on passes allowing interceptions. New Zealand were all over the court tonight, and it worked wonders.

Handles: Brisbane pretty much sucked here. They gave New Zealand too many chances at the loose ball, and it cost them.

Intentional Foul: Of course it was intentional. It was always going to be. But outside of that there was no reason to whistle Black for it. That should have been just a hands foul.

New Zealand: 8.5/10
Brisbane: 7/10
Game: 7.5/10

[CMJ3]

Saw an article about Ronaldson in the West this morning, he cracks his 550th match next game and only sits about 50 games from Andrew Gaze's games record, Ronaldson plans on breaking it and said hes willing to continue to play for another 3-5 years. I'm so glad hes still goin strong, this guy is so consistent despite his age he is still in the best form of his life.

[Zoom]

I know an assistant on the Townsville crocs Was my High School basketball coach

[Andrew]

The Commentary: The Kiwi team sucks. Honestly, they are clearly overly biased towards NZ, it’s ridiculous. I think I’ve even heard them refer to the Breakers as “we” in the past. Also, they seem to throw jargon around just because they can. I’ve never heard the words trailing, behind, traveling, wide open, dunk, or ball in their commentary. It’s always in arrears, taking steps, naked, flush, or rock. Aaron Olsen is also referred to as the “Canadian-Born Kiwi” way too often. They also jump to the inside of players’ heads way too often. “Ere says ‘Add that to your highlights reel.’” “’Splash,’ says CJ Bruton”, and so on, and so forth. It’s alright to do that on occasion, but when you pull it out every time something slightly better than boring happens…

I didn't catch the game but I know exactly what you mean. Basketball lingo is fine and all but NBL commentators have always used it a little too much and often sound a bit awkward using it, probably because they're forcing it.

[artestfighttrainer]

http://www.nbl.com.au/default.aspx?s=newsdisplay&aid=4068

Price and Fuller gone from Dragons.

[Jugs]

Fuller is a joke.

Weird to see Heal as Player and coach. Hopefully he goes all Bill Russell and win the championship

[Zoom]

Hmm... after all the hype of having Price as coach, it got stopepd pretty quick.

Surprised to see Heal being called on to coach, I wouldn't think he would be a good coach. He could be a good captain but I don't thnik he can coach that effectively... We will see how it goes tho...

EDIT: Fuller didn't play half bad in the last game... 22 and 12 boards isn't too shabby but he hasn't made the type of impact I thought he could have made...

[Andrew]

22 and 12...perhaps we were about to see another Acie Earl situation unfold?

[The X]

22 and 12...perhaps we were about to see another Acie Earl situation unfold?

that's why it was in the league's best interest to get rid of him before that happened again

[Zoom]

Why wouldn't you like a 7 foot white dude dominating the NBL?

[Andrew]

The more I read about Price's departure, the more disgusted I become.

Price blames Hammer for knife

DUMPED South Dragons coach Mark Price yesterday accused his successor, Shane Heal, of leading secret moves to have him removed from the job.

While Price said others were party to his forced resignation on Monday, just five games into the NBL season, he blamed Heal for being the architect of his demise.

"I'm not bitter, (but) I think Shane's the one that's got to live with himself," Price said.

"My thing was trying to get us playing together as a team and obviously before our last couple of games Shane and other people were working on replacing me."

The Dragons board voted on Wednesday to remove Price and install captain Heal as the playing-coach after Sunday's home loss to the Melbourne Tigers.

Price did not realise the extent of the back-room work until Monday's media conference to announce and explain the change.

A veteran of 12 seasons in the ruthless NBA, Price described the level of skulduggery behind his removal as unprecedented.

"It's most disturbing to know that . . . there was another agenda going on behind the scenes," he said.

"I've been in professional basketball for a long time and I've never seen the undermining of a coach quite like this before.

"Obviously he (Heal) had his own agenda going on the whole time. I read a quote from Shane saying he needs the full support of his players to be successful and I thought that a bit ironic since I never got that from Shane."

Gotta love the professionalism in the NBL...

Heal yesterday declined to respond in detail to Price's criticism.

"It's disappointing he feels that way," Heal said. "But he obviously has no understanding of what it's going to take and what's needed.

"It's pretty easy to see he was here on a holiday."

That's appalling. "It's pretty easy to see he was here on a holiday"? A pathetic cheap shot by Shane Heal there.

Price, who will receive a payout from the Dragons, spent an emotional day on Monday with his family, who relocated from the US two months ago and will return after a short holiday.

He conceded he did have some shortcomings as a coach, but said he always gave 100 per cent effort.

He also denied he was unapproachable and claimed he had not been told by the Dragons his job was in jeopardy or was asked to address certain issues.

"I do feel used to a certain extent," Price, who was on a one-season deal, said. "I really came over here thinking I would get an opportunity to do the season. I do feel a bit used because obviously I wasn't in the long-term plans.

"I wish the club well. I'm not a vengeful person."

Again, the way the club handled the situation is extremely poor.

Price also contends that letting Fuller goes was a mistake.

SOUTH Dragons player-coach Shane Heal has already made the first mistake in his new job, according to the man he replaced.

Dumped Dragons coach Mark Price said Heal's decision to sack ex-NBA centre Todd Fuller from the new NBL club's roster was set to backfire.

Price said Heal wanted Fuller axed from the day the Australian Olympian arrived at the club, telling Price he was not suited to the league.

Fuller was cut yesterday as part of the Dragons purge which also claimed Price after a 0-5 start to the club's life in the NBL.

The 31-year-old American had arguably been the Dragons' best performer so far this season, averaging 18 points and eight rebounds a game despite being the Dragons' only recognised big man.

"Todd was my most consistent basketball player," Price said.

"I think anybody with half a brain watching the games would understand the load he had to carry being the only big guy on the floor night in and night out.

"He did a great job ... he'll be missed by this organisation."

Fuller scored 22 points and 12 rebounds against the Melbourne Tigers in his final match for the Dragons on Sunday night.

But Heal's first point of business after replacing Price yesterday was to sack Fuller, saying the centre did not have the work ethic required.

Price vigorously defended Fuller, who he brought to the club, saying he had tried his heart out.

"Shane didn't want Todd from the get-go. He told me that. We disagreed. I wasn't going to get rid of Todd," Price said.

"We played the best team in the league the other night – Todd comes away with 22 points, 12 rebounds.

"Good luck going and getting somebody else who can do that night in, night out. Shane had a personal thing with Todd.

"He busted his tail every day and to be treated the way he was treated by Shane over the course of the season, the respect he wasn't shown, it's just uncalled for and very unprofessional."

I never thought I'd be defending Todd Fuller but come on, getting rid of the only legit big man on the roster? Looks like Shane Heal's ego is getting in the way already.

[Dan's Brain]

This whole week has turned me off the NBL again. The reason i got back into the NBL was because of this new Victorian team, and seeing Mark Price (one of my favourite NBA players ever) coaching them.

As a victorian, i never liked Shane Heal when he was playing in Sydney or Brisbane or wherever, and i didnt want him to be the marquee player on this new team that i had high hopes for. But i decided to let bygones be bygones, because i was just happy that i could support a different team to the Melbourne Tigers again.

And when you realise that Price and Fuller and their families had to relocate in order to be a part of the league, only to have this shit happen to them. it's a fucken disgrace.

i know i said before that Fuller has been a let-down, but that was only because i was expecting total dominance, which was unreasonable of me. I can appreciate what he was doing, and he deserved a longer period of adjustment, as did Price.

So, to Shane Heal and the Dragons, you've lost me for good.

[Zoom]

It's only been 5 games into the season. I thought it was a bit quick to cut those two but I thought Price had re-signed and Fuller was cut by the coaching staff.

Now that Price said he was plotted against and Fuller was cut by Heal... this is pathetic.

Sucks to be the two of them and it's a pity that the Prices need to go back to America... but I hope Fuller at least gets picked up... although I don't think it will happen since all the other teams should have the maximum two international players on their teams already...