Didn't Flynn try something similar against Perth or NZ and got shown up twice in one possession?

Bevo says that Damian Martin might be the best defensive player in the history of the NBL?

Statisticians everywhere just asked....."who?"

"Bevo says that Damian Martin might be the best defensive player in the history of the NBL?"

He'd have to be in the conversation. Not a lot of players can turn games with their defence.
Darnell Mee comes to mind as another.

Mackinnon? Dwight?

DMac would be another one

C'MON HAWKS!

and don;t forget Darren Lucas - used to defend Gaze like white on rice

Terry Dozier - great defender, 3 times NBL best defensive player

Phil Smyth - likewise and 4 times best defensive player

Leroy Loggins - not just a great offensive player but his length, quickness and footwork were so hard to beat

Oh, I forgot, Beveridge was only 12 when Smyth and Loggins were in their primes and winning those awards. That's the problem with GOAT claims, they make you look like one

Anon - might be *one* of the best - I'm okay with that
might be *the best* - not quite.

Give him a few more years and playing against a wider variety of really good players. I'd also like to see the Australian selectors pick him for the Olympic team or him get an overseas contract - like the players named above (except Lucas) did. Note also those players used to defend a wider variety of imports and good Australians than today's NBL players (Olympians were all playing NBL then). The players referred to above used to play against 10-15 other NBL teams each season (not 7) and had to take on players like Green, Gaze, Loggins, Rose, Grace, Davis, Crawford the really good imports who played in those days. i.e., they had to defend the players who are always mentioned in the top 3 NBL players of all time conversations. The ones with all the NBL scoring and rebounding records - those guys.

Martin is unfortunate to be playing when there are fewer teams and players with less variety of offensive looks; most of the best Australian players play overseas in their primes; and there are fewer top shelf imports (see "fewer teams" reference above).

It's hard to compare eras, and he can only defend whoever is in the league at the time. Who is to say he couldn't defend some of those better guards from years gone by? Considering the top 4 MVP vote getters from this season were guards, I think that means he is playing against some decent opponents.

But I agree, a bold statement could have been delivered better by saying "one of the best" instead.

It was late in the evening when there came NBL Finals on channel 12 ' 10.30pm - 2.30am ' . Not sure what happened after midnite .
' How did Bevo interview for Boomers ? ' Gaze was asked . Seems Goorjian and Lemanis also interviewed .

^ 10,900 and 8300 in NZ. Those are exceptional crowds for the NBL so I'm not sure your point is being achieved. I do agree that Easter was not a good time to play finals, however the crowds from both games were very good and I don't think were too badly affected by Easter.

As for atmosphere, I was there and the atmosphere was one of the best all season, even if there were few more empty seats. For a blow out win (yet again) the noise was very loud and I thought the crowd was right into it all game.

I agree with anon, the breakers game was by far the best crowd and atmosphere all season, however last nights final still had a good atmosphere.

Yes if your comparing the quality of the opposition, then the game against NZ was better. Obviously we have a strong rivalry with them right now, along with the fact that the Breakers are the best team in the league. So in that regard, there was massive interest in that game which is why it was sold out, and one that I'm sure most fans would have wanted to see a good high standard game, which it was.

But I disagree with the comment about last nights game being empty, no atmosphere, and blaming Easter for the low attendance. It certainly wasn't empty, every team would love a crowd of nearly 11,000, and the atmosphere was one of the best that I've seen anyway.

U can see it on t.v aswell, that game should of been a sell out. It is semi final time and i understand it is a big crowd but u would think they would of sold out a semi.

Why should that game "of" been a sellout?
- Heaps of people had other plans for Easter (clear evidence being the bumper-to-bumper freeways heading out of town as I drove to the game)
- Not much advanced notice or promotion time for this game
- Cats have had a huge run of home games lately, so there was also a home game fatigue factor
- No one knowledgeable was excited by the prospect of playing an understrength Hawks team
- Ticket prices were jacked up
- With the Cats being likely GF participants, plenty of people were happy to save their money for that series

For those reasons and more, plus the fact that semi final games are historically poor sellers, I was actually pretty impressed that so many came along.
Anyone complaining about an NBL game attracting "only" 10,900 needs a freakin' reality check IMO.

Yeah, but it was empty in there.

How so?

He's taking the piss.

Iv'e been watching the NBL since before it was the NBl and I've not seen a better defender than Martin. Maybe a few as good but none better.