Anonymous
Years ago

Shane Heal coaches Wellington to NZNBL title

SHANE Heal's Wellington Saints - the very club making some NBL overtures – won the NZ NBL on Saturday, winning the Final 85-69 over the IMS Payroll Hawks.

The Championship was Heal’s first as a coach, his lineup including several players well known in Australia such as Corey Webster, BJ Anthony and Lindsay Tait.

Everard Bartlett led the Hawks with 23 points.

"1st championship as a coach! Thanks to my players... Such good guys that bought into everything. Much appreciated for support and belief," Heal tweeted after the success.

http://www.botinagy.com/blog/theres-nbl-mileage-in-the-menace/

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The Dream
Years ago

He didnt coach them into winning
they are a champion team

his rotations have been off all season , coming into the finals webster has been the team

Saints have the $$$$$ and the resources , had 2 great imports and 3 Tall Blacks

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Anonymous
Years ago

He's a muppet coach AND..who cares.

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NBomb
Years ago

^ Yep.

Heal badly mismanaged the squad for the whole season, but was fortunate enough to have an owner with the pockets to buy 4 of the league's 10 best players AND swap around 5 imports during the season.

The fact they were 12-6 is crazy, but I guess fair play to him for getting it together at the end. Still, the most talented team in the league by far so no real feat.

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Rex
Years ago

Hopefully a life time position is on offer and he accepts.

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proud
Years ago

A championship coach is a championship coach, it's not like you can dismiss Trevor Gleeson as easily as he has a championship.

Makes the resume look better, Go Hammer

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MACDUB
Years ago

NBomb, you have missed the mark by a long way.

The owner got rid of the imports - he makes all the decisions.

The owner is known to do that year in year out.

I do agree that it is not a big deal winning as they were talented.

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NBomb
Years ago

That's what I said (or meant):

fortunate enough to have an owner with the pockets to buy 4 of the league's 10 best players AND swap around 5 imports during the season.

Although I do know that Heal was involved in the decisions to jettison those players - he was lucky he has a rich owner who agreed and signed off on it

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