dont forget norton. when he gets on the court he makes good plays and does get the crowd somewhat semi involved. rumor has it smyth wont leave and if he does a big sponsor will walk

Wow that was full on.. But i enjoyed reading it.

Other positive for me is Mitch Norton, a real big fan of his game and what he can be/will be.

Yeah I'll agree with that, Norton has been good as well, especially when you consider his confidence and calmness for his age. Just needs to fix that shooting stroke and get rid of that sideways-spin from the ball. Used to be a dead-eye shooter but hasn't shown it at the NBL level yet. Definitely has a bright future.

Was strange that he didn't get on until the third quarter against Cairns after playing major minutes all season long. Not sure what was going on there.

Schenscher was almost always going to leave as long as a good enough option was presented to return home.
PC is a Boomer and so should be paid accordingly and is. PC was the one who went to the press first , not the club. Having said that look at what he has produced this season thus far.
The Crocs used to be the only show in town , now they have to battle with V8's , soccer til recently and the Rugby for the corporate dollar.
Signing Holmes was a mistake, the guy is good stats wise but his W/L % would be one of the worst all time in the NBL. Just like Vukona always sees to be on wining teams Holmes seems to be a loosers. Plus the money spent on hime would mean Ervin + a superstar import of game changing capacity.

Holmes is an absolute chemistry killer on the offensive end. He shoots the dumbest shots I've ever seen.

His rebounding is game-changing though.

It's up to the coaching staff to tell him his role is to grab rebounds and not F up the offensive sets with stupid shots early in the shot clock with no offensive rebounders under the rim.

I'm starting to think that Eddie Gill played a bigger part in the team structure and keeping everyone in line than I thought. Gary Ervin is starting to yell at guys for doing dumb shit and I like it.

Spurs Fan ...did you say you rate Townsville in the top 3....nah bottom 3 more likely!!!!!

Earvin .....good choice
Abney ...... his days are done ,get another solid import to lift the team Ron Dorsey???off the bench

Yeah anon, I agree on holmes too. He was almost solely responsible for getting the crocs back into the game in the 4th. He was a monster on the glass, with about 5 boards in a row in one stretch and putting the ball on the floor and attacking the rim. The good definately outweighs the bad for me.

Ervin, pc and holmes are the only guys capable of putting up good numbers consistently or changing a game with blanchfield maybe as well.

Compare that to the great players from top teams.

Perth:
Martin, Robbins (on d), lisch, redage, Wagstaff, Knight. With tovey and hire at least as good as Blanchfield.

NZ: Pledger, Jackson, Abercrombie, Vukona, Hudson, CJ.

Woolongong: Deleon, Saville, Forman, Hurdle, Davidson. Gruber (much improved) Martin (better than either norton or c cedar at this stage)

Adelaide:
Johnson, Schensher, Gibson, Petrie, Weigh. Creek and Cadee as good as townsville's opposites numbers.

I love the Crocs and will continue to support them, but I can't see they have the cattle to turn it around.

The problem is, can you give Abney the ass now after already letting two imports go?

2 ppg to go along with an 0-6 record says yes.

On top of that he is carrying an injury. Elvin Mims would be a massive upgrade and wouldn't be asking for much money, or you could spend a little more (which they won't) and get someone bigger.

Even QBL guys like Greg Vanderjagt are a huge upgrade over what Abney is bringing to the table.

They need an overhaul for sure something like:

Coach: Offence looks so stale, new coach with some structure ideas.
Assistants: keep who is there I guess.

C : Workhorse (Import or otherwise) (30)/ Allen (10)
PF : Holmes (30) / Hinder (10)
SF : Crawford (20) unless on fire / Blanchfeild (20)
SG : Proven Shooter (Import or otherwise) (20) / One of Cedars (10) / Ervin (10)
PG : Ervin (25) / Norton (15)

The budget of the team is really showing I think. Cedar boys seem to be a liability on court imo Norton brings alot more but his minutes are victim of too many small gaurds on the team. Abney doesn't bring anything, there must be someone in the QBL or SEABL who would play for the same money in that role. Crawford isnt playing half as well as he did last season, I would like to see more of Blanchfeild on the court. Ervin is finding his form but can't do it on his own. Ben Allen is not up to big minutes yet, he needs to be coming off the bench behind a big that can make an impact.

Marketing : get some people in the stadium it looked empty, I think the taipans fans who made the trip were almost as loud/involved as the home team.
DJ/MC : Turn it down! only play songs that go with the game SPARINGLY, start de-fence or lets go crocs chants more often instead of songs blasting, NO MORE HAAAANDS UP - its shit.

Crocs won't go for Dorsey - Woolpert & Gleeson best mates!

They do look really bad & not up to NBL level.

Abney - embarassing
Hinder - no longer has it
PC - not a shadow of last season
Cedar bros - if not hitting the trey are totally useless
Allen - Starting 5? What is Woolpert smoking?

Paul Woolpert is a great guy but he's got his hands full this season or at least part of this season depending on how long he lasts!

The major problem with the front court is the complete lack of athleticism and toughness. Ben Allen couldn't jump over a piece of string. Jacob Holmes is great on the boards but can't score inside or jump either. Russell Hinder is only useful as THE last player off the bench. Not as the sixth man. Larry Abney can still do amazing dunks in the warm ups but when the game starts he could get out-jumped by Ben "Rare Air Indeed" Allen.

I won't play the minutes spread game, but the roster could look like this without even breaking the bank:

C - Proper Blue Collar Centre like Ian Crosswhite (ie. not Ben Allen), keep Ben Allen only if he takes another paycut or agrees to have his head shaved, or replace him with someone of similar value who doesn't care more about his hair than winning. Maybe keep Hinder but only if he is last off the bench. If not Hinder than some sort of big stiff that can soak up a few fouls for five minutes a night and at least convert an open layup if a drive-and-dish falls in his lap. A Greg Vanderjagt or Jeff Dowdell level player.

PF - Holmes, Import PF who can play a little C (nothing fancy, just a blue collar guy - no need to break the bank here).

SF - Blanchfield, plus a back-up college returnee wing, or a mid-priced NBL bench wing who can shoot the long ball. Someone like Steindl would have been perfect here.

SG - Crawford (Blanchfield, Ervin, Backup SF, and Norton can play a little here)

PG - Ervin, Norton

See Ya Later: Maybe Ben Allen, probably Hinder, definitely Michael Cedar, Chris Cedar, Larry Abney, Brendan Teys, CEO, entire front office and marketing staff.

Mick Cedar should have left the club in the off season when they low-balled him with the contract offer. If he had an offer elsewhere he should have taken it because it would have been better for him to have a fresh start some place else. Chris has no place on this team now Mitch Norton is healthy, so I hope for his sake he goes somewhere else and makes a name for himself because he has all the tools to be a succesful player if he applies himself (please though Chris fix that overhead line-drop-out throw-in of a three point shot you have, it's hideous).

If you smart asses remember, I said if they start well, they should get top 2.

Mick, they are flooded with outside shooters, the ability to put the ball in the hole isn't the problem. It's getting people in the position to put the ball in the hole. Ervin did a little better at keeping the offense consistent, but it clearly needs more work.

If they win their next couple games - they aren't far away - I think they can make the playoffs and challenge for a championship for sure.

Although, I overrated Woolpert. I was at the game so I didn't see any of his other timeouts, but I got home in the last couple minutes of the last quarter on TV and his timeouts are an absolute shambles. I HATE his 'players have the say' way of coaching. It does not work (this season at least) because there are way too many people addressing the team, you have Holmes, Ervin, Woolpert and others randomly chiming in during the one timeout. I'm no coach, but it's the same principal business is it not? You need one domineering figure called the leader who knows the right things to do and leads by example. It's a massive problem.

The problem is that no one can score inside except for Gary Ervin and Todd Blanchfield, so the opposition has the freedom to just overplay the three point shot knowing half of the roster can be routinely goaded into shooting dumb, hotly contested threes because they are too scared to take it to the rack or make a play for their teammates.

A lot of them can score inside, but Ervin is the only one who can get to the rim with regularity. Michael Cedar can also do it running curls off downscreens.

But anyway, Schenscher was a big part of what the Crocs did last season, as you know they ran a lot through him. So using Schensch, they used to get the ball a fair way inside the arc very early in the offensive sets. That's how the Breakers were so effective in the past couple of seasons, they would get a boucher or vukona to just get a catch at the free throw line at the start of a set, opening up everything. The defense gets nervous once the ball gets inside the three point line, the offensive players get more intrigued and actually try to make off ball plays and actually want to run the plays they have been told to run. But when the ball stays on the perimeter the whole set (which is what happened with the Taipans in the last five minutes of the fourth quarter last night), nothing enterprising happens.

Defensively, I don't know. A lack of talk maybe. I guess they have no big guy noted for defense. Don't know if you saw, but Fearne has got Trigger jawing on defense for the whole possession, every possession, giving hand signals and all that shit. I haven't looked, but I doubt that's happening with the Crocs. Even if the Crocs don't have guys slashing up their defense and getting to the rack, leaving guys open is still probably a result of bad communication. Everyone needs to talk, especially the center (the anchor), whose job it is to see the whole floor and direct traffic.

On a side note, fuck I love this game. I'm watching the grizzlies @ warriors atm. grizz were up about 14 and the crowd started booing. then curry went whack, whack, whack. eight straight points and now the crowd loves them again two minutes later. that's what is so great about this game.

I'm just glad there's at least one team more woeful than the SIxers

The second Allen, Holmes, or Abney make a catch inside the perimeter, they are only looking to toss up a shot. In fact, when they make a catch anywhere it's all they are looking for.

Schensch would evaluate his options and look to score, or to create. That's the difference.

I am told they tried to change Norton's shot in the off season. Not sure why go back and look at the kids record big big shooter and massive with assists most of his rep career. To change someones shot at 19 is crazy, If you go back and look at Norton's game you will see no one scored on him in the Cairns game. He did go to the rim, he feed Holmes the ball he had the hot hands on the night. Perth game only one big scored on him when he contested a 3 point shot because the big was left out at the 3 point line. NZ game he was not used to his strength in the Gong it was all just Ugly, last night they decide to play a player with a defensive threat very very little. I agree he needs to sort out his shooting and go back to what worked for him. Him at the point he doesn't need any help bringing the ball up which is allowing the boys to set up the plays and Gary just goes to work at the 2. Chris can sub in for the Point of the 2 spot but man. But i am seeing a young player doing what he is told. As for anyone else don't know much my boys played against for years. I just think at 19 he is worth a chance.

Mick, no doubting you are right. Most of the team is taking bad shots, but if they get an actual system and stick to it, players will find a groove.

Crazy that they tried to change his shot. He was one of the best shooters in the country, for any age group...

Insane.

He now has a flat, sideways spinning shot that never drops. Who taught him this new style, Jacob Holmes?!

Abney is warming up a little, but he has absolutely no touch (I'm not sure if he used to). I don't think he will produce much more an he is currently.

And I haven't watched everything he's done this season, but I don't think he is very strong either.

But that's the thing, anon, they already put Mick Cedar and Ben Allen on notice if they wanted to play THIS year, and they turned around and re-signed them both again. Albeit with paycuts, but without spending the money they saved on those two on better players elsewhere on the roster. Ditto for releasing the two imports. They sign Abney to a minimum salary and elevate Ben Allen to a starting job, to save even MORE cash.

Everything they do is just a ploy to be cheap.

It's that shadiness that goes along with the cheapness by the front office that is pissing fans off big time.

I'm going to make a big call, the crocs will come good (not that it matters much to me, my boys are 4-1)just wait and see. They may not make play-offs but they'll def be better!

the word was that ivan mcfarlin had been signed- maybe abney then became available?

Wonder if Abney was an attempt to rekindle fan interest given he'd played there before?

I think a few decisions were made due to lack of strong alternatives. Mick, you've brought up Steindl a few times - I had one Crocs fan in the off-season wanting to bet me that he'd never play NBL. At the time, I'd already heard Cairns had signed him. I wonder now if that opinion of underrating him was shared by the coaches?

I think one of the big reasons fans get annoyed at Ben Allen (apart from being 7 foot and getting outrebounded by guys half his size) is that he looks so casual and disinterested. Always chewing gum, spiked up hair and doesnt look interested.

Needs to show some heart.

You can't really teach heart. He will never change. Not to say he won't get better, but he will never change.

McFarlin is still a SEABL player so he wouldnt get more than NBL minimum anyway. Who is to say he would be doing good in the NBL anyway? A bit hypothical.

Didnt Abney just have a good season in the NZNBL?

I just wouldnt think McFarlin would have been offered that much more than NBL minimum. He would be on about 40k for SEABL, so to turn down the chance of playing in the NBL (and a greater chance of exposure/contract)for a similar amount would seem a bit odd. I guess he is a former NBA player who would have been on big money about 5 years ago.

It is said on here that Massingale is on about NBL minimum or there about.

The Crocs offence was dependent on a 7 foot red head posting up and drawing the defence with shooters lining up around him. Pretty basic and the shots seemed to drop.

So when they lost the 7 foot red head they replaced him with a combination of Abney, Hinder & Allen.

Kidding themselves.

Why? Becasue its not bad for 6 months work and if he does well he might get offers from mulitple clubs the following season and get paid more.

Yeah 40k from SEABL and another 45k from NBL would be about 100k a year with free accomodation, car and some bills paid for. Not bad money to get paid for something you enjoy. The NBL would give him exposure as well playing in a respected league.

Exactly. They've also gone cheap so they can get Ervin, a previously proven league MVP. Reasonable decisions though I think the roster is weak regardless.

The problem isn't the decisions, it's the excuses to go cheap. Like using a couple of good Ben Allen preseason games as an excuse to have the second import be a bench calibre player instead of putting a proper ball club together. It just doesn't cut it.

The fact is, the current regime has done such a bad job of attracting local fans and sponsors that they are losing money, so in turn they can't afford to spend much on the roster, which in turn means corporate sponsors and fans don't give a shit, which means less dollars and a cheaper roster with each season. It's a vicious cycle and the only way to break it is a clean out.

Abney is not getting the chance to do his thing, you have players around him jacking up bloody 3s, they should be getting the ball inside to the bigger guys.

You won't win many games from the 3pt line it's about time the bloody coach pulled them up on it.

I'm sure if they gave Abney more minutes he'll prove a lot of guys wrong.

I mean, if they don't pass the ball to him he can't put points on the board it's that simple.