PeterJohn
Years ago

Should the Kings have changed coaches earlier?

The Kings appear to be a different team since replacing Robilliard with Heal. Regardless of my personal opinion of Heal, the team is playing differently and has returned good results since he took them over. In particular, Grant seems to be playing a more significant role in their offence.

Do people think that this is a flash in the pan and just the players playing for contracts or that Heal's coaching is the key factor in their improved performance?

Secondly, the Kings owners waited until finals were no longer practicable before pulling the pin on Robilliard. I always find that a pointless exercise - closing the stable door after the horse has bolted. If they had made the change at the mid point of the season, do people think it would have improved the Kings' finals chance?

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greg
Years ago

Paying two coaches salaries is no small feat....
But...the answer to that question IMO is YES.

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Observer
Years ago

Kings have done well since Heal has taken over.Give Heal a one year contract c how he goes.

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Anonymous
Years ago

Yea Heal has done a good job imo, would like to see him given a full season and the chance to select the team.

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Anonymous
Years ago

The Kings owners waited because until Robbiliard was moved on they hadn't agreed to get rid of him.

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Wookiee
Years ago

Probably a question with the most obvious answer... ABSOLUTELY!

I think most of it comes from we've finally got someone who knows what he's doing and is making the players work for it...

Heal has brought out the best in players and is mixing things up so it's not just a "throw it into Jules" offence that has to recover when he gets double teamed... He's making the most of the rest of the talent on the team and players are really starting to find their groove...

I say if this is what he can do in just a couple of rounds, he deserves the job full time if he wants it...

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paul
Years ago

It has definitely been a good move.

Re the timing of moving on Robilliard, it is important to remember they were 8-9 and half a game off fourth place when Bruce - who had been their second best player - went down injured. Then they lost in 2OT to Townsville and at the death to Perth, so while there had been some woeful performances the overall results werent atrocious.

The wheels fell of after that and the decision became an easy one. Bringing in Robilliard for a second season without an experienced assistant wasnt a good decision in the first place though.

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Wookiee
Years ago

I guess the point is, if Moose could have gotten them to 8-9 before the Bruce injury, what could a proper coach have done with the same team?

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paul
Years ago

Correct.

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paul
Years ago

Correct. Or even Moose with Dickel or someone similar as an assistant.

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Anonymous
Years ago

Blame Turner, he should never have picked Moose and half the side in their first season.

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tropical booz
Years ago

Heal as a non playing coach will kick ass next season. Moose was a terrible choice!

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Wookiee
Years ago

I think we can blme Turner for Moose, but looking back at the lateness of the approval of the Kings coming back into the league, as a lot of teams were able to re-sign most of their talent after teh first of the NewNBL season and there was still that bit of "what's the league going to do now?" uncertainty, and there wasn't really THAT many quality players to choose from... He picked some duds mainly because he went for local players, but remember he got Jules back (dunno how hard that was though) and discovered Madgen, who I think we will all agree was a great find, even Cooper in those early four games before his injury was surprisingly good and it could have been interesting to see if he maintained anywhere close to those numbers...

But not getting a decent coach, that will always be the biggest mistake of that first season... especially with the team lacking the quality of existing teams (for obvious reasons) they REALLY needed the experience on the bench... It's not enough to have quality assistants, the guy in charge needed to really know what he was doing... and he didn't...

At least we know if Heal doesn't get the job and the new guy doesn't work out, we might be able to cut him and bring Heal back for the same boost ;)

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Anonymous
Years ago

Remember the selection of Grizzard and McCullough.
Khozzoul's mother is in Syd. One good reason.
Bob was advised not to pick KHaz as well.
Looked players into contracts for too long, hired and asst coach for too long as well. Did what he wanted to do to the short term detriment of the Kings.
Now of course the Kings apopoint Moose as gM cant blame bob for that.

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Emu
Years ago

Heal should bring back Patrick Sanders. Triffic import IMHFO.

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Hoops

Should the Kings have changed coaches earlier?

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