TR
Years ago
Funny Write Up: Hawks V 36ers
Okay guys and girls... here is a little write up about tonights debacle.....
We began the game very well in the first quarter. The boys ran the floor very well and were also filling the lanes. Davidson pushed the ball up and we looked very good in transition. We were crashing the boards hard and people were running. A few times Balls beat the defence for some easy baskets. In the first quarter Hodge was unstoppable. I think on back-to-back plays he got 'good and one'. He definately showed that he has a place in this league. The Hawks didn't have answer for him.
Defensively the Hawks pounded the ball into the post on the first few possession, and we were giving up baskets each time. Life was pretty easy for the Hawks inside to begin with, our interior defence was average. Campbell's three at the buzz bought the crowd into the game and left them only slightly trailing with momentum.
The second quarter got underway and it was totally different to the first. We stopped running, things slowed down and the Hawks upped the ante and started to run. Hodge was still on his rampage but we went away from him at times. Copes had a few nice baskets, especially a nice pick and roll with Mottram.
Sutton entered the game and well...... One shot for an airball.... soon benched never to be seen again until Davidson fouled out in the last.
The 36ers committed a few turnovers which led to fast break points. Simply steals by Franklin whilst bringing the ball up....
We had the Hawks in early foul trouble in the second, but never utilised it. I think we had them with 5 fouls at the 8:00 mark.
'Coach' didn't call a time out in the first half.... zero...
Third quarter pretty much went the way of the second, stagnet basketball without much movement and some 'coach' issues (get into that later). At one stage early we had Davidson covering Campbell....
The 36er were in early foul trouble. 5 fouls by the 8:30 mark and the Hawks utilised it to push out a bit of a lead.
Around the middle of the third (I think), Ng inbounded the ball to Davidson and Kench or Phillips (not sure which) launched Davidson towards the baseline with a blantant two handed shove. Davidson ended up on his back and got up gingerly. Motioned to the bench he needs out, but that took a while to happen.
By this stage we were behind by about 10 (from memory) and it was the Hawks first real run. The 36ers got it back to 6 and 'coach' subs Balls out of the game....
Towards the end of the quarter, Copes had his brain explosion. The game had been niggling with at least two little shoving matches before hand. I didn't see what set Copes off, but a foul was blown by Haslam (average average game) and Copes just turns and charges towards Haslam and gets into his face. To be honest, it was a very agressive act by Copes and worthy of an ejection. The turning point of the game and the chain of events which followed was the game...
Campbell had 4 free throws (making 3) and possesion to the Hawks. On the next three plays they made three 3 point shots without Adelaide scoring.... Rigby the first, Phillips and second and Franklin on the buzzer.. Game over.....
The last quarter we finally starting hitting some shots from outside and narrowed the gap to around 10 with 5 to go. Didn't get much closer as it became a foul-fest towards the end.
Now to some observations and I'll be critical..
Dench: How he got 15 mins this game is beyond me. He offers absolutely nothing to this squad. The bloke is seven foot tall for god sake, stop parking your ar$e at the three point line and start playing like a big man should. Your services should not be required for next season.
Sutton: Saw little action, but was okay bringing the ball up under pressure, anything else was too hard. He shot an airball and when he was on it was easy to see it was a game of 4 on 5 in our offensive sets. Not sure what we do with this kid as I like his hussle and defensive pressure.
Davidson: Great.... I like the way he hustles and busts his arse. Hit some clutch threes in the last to keep the 36ers from totally flatlining. I like the way he came back from the injury. A true warrior and someone we need to retain.
Hodge: Unstoppable in the first half, especially the first quarter. I think he got into a war of words with Trahair and Campbell and he seemed to be in the thick of things. I like his game and I wouldn't mind see him next season. I like how Hodge goes to the boards and appears to be a pretty hard worker.
Ballinger: Pretty quite in his return to the Gong. Nothing outstanding but still put up 15 and 7. We needed more from him tonight.
Cooper: Hmmmm... not much to rave about..
Mottram: Well, the lad likes to foul, he seemed the only person that knows how to set a hard pick. I like his energy, just needs to keep his fouls under control.
Ng: Outstanding.... Along with Hodge and to a lesser degree Davidson kept us in the game. Made some clutch baskets, but didn't shot well from the arc. Still a great game...
Copeland: Not to sure what caused the brain explosion, but it changed the game. Made some very nice plays and played under control. Didn't take any bad shots from memory and made some nice drives.
Now things get dicey and I expect to get flamed.... The coach....
One rule as a headcoach, you defend your players... When Copes had his brain explosion 'Coach' got up out of his seat and walked towards Haslem. He muttered something, turned around placed his hands into his pockets and returned to the bench and plonked himself down. Brehney (spelling) then spent the next 30 seconds talking to the refs whilst 'Coach' slouched in his chair. Sort of tells me the attitude of things. One Hawks fan said that was the worst thing he'd seen a head coach do in ages and I tend to agree.
In the last 5 mins Adelaide got it back to around 10 points, and the 36ers started pressing. 'Coach' sat on his perch and didn't move. Sorry, but it's the coaches job to motivate and drive the players, stand up and make some noise, walk the line, be involved in the game. The body language screams "not interested" to me.
I really don't like his time out methods. Strolls about 3 metres away from the group an shoves his hands in his pockets, Brehney does the same. Once again shows lack of interest.
Tonight Cooks totally outcoached 'Coach'. The Hawks ran different offensive sets utilsing back door cuts, high posts sets and low post sets. Adelaide's offence involved the PG passing to a wing and then the movement stops. Our sets were terrible. They showed no imagination and thought at all.
Some other observations:
- No idea on what to do when Hodge gets doubled in the low block. He got caught out a few times without an outlet pass. No movement, people just stood and watch him... He needs an outlet, plus some cutters cause I believe he has the passing ability to hit them.
- No idea on how to set and/or utilise an off the ball screen to free up a players on curls or backdoors.
- We can't let the likes of Phillips and Kench score double digits
- Franklin would look great in a 36ers jersey
Well that's pretty much it, we really need to find something before Brisbane or it's going to be even more embarrasing....
