AAP.
WOLLLONGONG, NSW.
The Townsville Crocodiles have slumped to an 0-4 record to secure bottom place on the iiNet NBL ladder with an 84-66 road loss to the Wollongong Hawks on Sunday afternoon.
The Crocs, not content with possessing the NBL's worst offence, decided to make their mark on the other end of the floor, inviting even the most incompetent of Hawks' scorers to waltz to the rim at will.
Townsville coach Paul Woolpert described the loss as season-defining,
"This is a team that comes out to make statements every game," the second year Crocs' mentor said,
"I was disappointed with the way we were playing one half of the court in the first three games, so I said to the guys before this game, 'do you want to go down in history or do you just want to be forgotten as mediocre?' If we are going to have the league's worst offence, why not throw in the towel at the other end too? I was really pleased with the way the guys grabbed the bull by the horns and allowed Wollongong the freedom to score in the keyway without too much effort all night long.
"There were a couple of plays in that third quarter where our bigs almost contested some Wollongong layups, but I quickly called a timeout and reinforced the game plan to Ben, Jake, Rusty and Larry."
Having lost the first three games of their 2012 season coming into the Wollongong matchup, Woolpert was adamant to learn from the Crocs' early season missteps,
"I was a little worried with the way the guys were working too hard in New Zealand, diving on loose balls, running hard off picks, and actually on one or two occasions running at fall speed. I told them in no uncertain terms that if they want to stay on the floor on this team, any bodily movements faster than a power walk or light jog will not be tolerated."
The Crocs game plan of keep their four front court players on the perimeter again misfired, with Jacob Holmes, Russell Hinder, Larry Abney and Ben Allen once again failing to fill the role of spot-up-shooter normally reserved for smaller players with actual shooting ability and play-making skills.
"I don't like playing the big guys on the inside," Woolpert said, "when you've coached the game of basketball as long as I have, getting a seven-foot centre shots at the rim is bit of cop-out. It's too easy."
The Crocs have the lowest field goal percentage in the league for 2012, and are on track to set the all time record for worst marksmanship in the Australian competition if they keep up their remarkable early season form.
Captain Russell Hinder was open about the Crocs' strategy coming into the game,
"We know that if there isn't an open three point shot first thing down the floor, we have to pass the ball around the perimeter until the shot clock expires or we pass it out of bounds. It might seem unorthodox but that's how we surprise the opposition," the Crocs' skipper said,
"As the captain of this team I like to lead from the front by giving the opponent as many quick scores as possible so we can get back to our offensive sets in a timely manner."
Wollongong Hawks veteran Glen Saville said the Crocs' were an interesting opponent to face in a 21st century basketball game, "They seem to place no emphasis on effort, scouting, efficiency, passing the ball or running fast. As an opposing player it's quite refreshing. Several times I gave Ben Allen and Jacob Holmes an open lane to the basket but instead they chose to step backwards and shoot a twirling fade away. It's almost as if they don't want to score a layup."
"Layups are for under 12 girls," veteran Crocs' forward Jacob Holmes commented,
"Open layups are even girlier. Twirling, blind fadeaways under full pressure defense is how a real man shoots a basketball. Scoring from efficient spots on the floor is what the opponent will expect. We are smarter than that."
The Crocs were not entirely without offensive punch, with young-gun Todd Blanchfield bravely defying the North Queenslanders' prematch game plan and attempting to score the basketball from historically-efficient spots on the floor,
"I made a couple of strong moves to the basket and hit a couple of open threes," the third year swingman recounted,
"but then I realised I was deviating from the game plan. If I am going to be a great player in this league I have to learn from the veterans like Larry, Jake and Russ. If you've got height, skill and athleticism, don't let it get in the way of the team strategy which is to pass the ball around the perimeter until the shot clock expires or the other team steals the ball. I guess in that regard I was selfish. I just hope my teammates can forgive me and won't go too hard on me at training this week."
Captain Russell Hinder said the athletic Mackay product still had lots to learn about professional basketball,
"Vinny (Blanchfield) was completely out of line tonight. The kid's heart is in the right place, but he was making plays at the basket, attempting to get teammates involved, and shooting open jump shots with his legs underneath him and a decent follow-through. That's not Crocs basketball. It's something we need to iron out in training this week, but it will continue to be a learning curve for the kid. If he wants to make a name for himself in this league, and on this team, he needs to shoot the ball from the perimeter and the perimeter only, preferably under a tight double team when there is an open Crocs player under the rim screaming for the ball, like everyone else does. At some point or another, he's going to have to tow the line."
Third year centre Ben Allen couldn't find the basket in what appeared to be a constant attempt to avoid contact at all costs, but managed to put the whole night in perspective,
"It's a road game, the hotel didn't have a hair dryer, and I still managed to make my hair look this good. If that's not a road victory in this league, then I don't know what is..."
Next up, the Crocs face fellow cellar-dwellers Sydney in Townsville on Friday night.
