Murf
Years ago
It's about style and selection stupid
The answer to the malaise that has become Adelaide is mainly about style and selection.
The decision on players that are recruited to Adelaide in the past years has been extremely poor and it is obvious that this is an area which needs major overhaul. The latest recruit being praised as the answer to the team's prayers and then when he doesn't play like Jordan the blame starts to head towards him as he has now become the latest scapegoat.
Recruiting size for the sake of it is simply poor decision making. You need to recruit to compete with competitors certainly but you need to also establish the philosophies of game play that will enable you to compete, if not in the very immediate term but long term. Adelaide takes players other teams cast off. The criteria seems to be wait and take second choice. If Adelaide could develop players to improve then that would be one thing but you are not goint to develop a 7' 30 year old who has been shown the door twice before.
What players are required to win now, what players do we need to recuit or develop that give us an opportunity to win in the future both, relative short term and long term?
Adelaide's recruiting and style played are out of synch and no one takes responsibility for the poor decisons. Maybe a head of recuiting needs to be established who can oversee this area and not leave it just to the coaches in between seasons. Not enough importance is given to this.
Adelaide is not good enough to use the free style type of game they use! They do not have a point guard able to maintain the reins with the correct amount of pressure. A point guard allows the team to run when they can and keeps a tighter hold when they need to keep control of the tempo. A more disciplined game procedure is what is needed and for that to work you need a true point guard, not one who has done a pretty good job over the years such as Maher, a decent point guard but a great off guard.
Have him getting the ball where he needs it by a young Ricky Grace, Butch Hays, CJ Bruton, McDonald. Someone able to score but looking to get the ball to players where they want it.
Better utilisation of Chappell, he should be kept,he is a good player that would benefit greatly from having someone deliver the ball to him at the correct time. Run a few set plays for him. Unfortuately that means releasing Balinger and he may be the best performing import but he can be offset by Adelaide's Dench, Mottram and Cooper. Chappell has a far greater upside.
More stucture in offense and dynamos in defense not the soft team of the last five years. Defense is 90% hard work and the rest desire!
