Dazz
Years ago
Have the Cats "Nailed It" this season?
I had a very interesting conversation with someone, whom I will just say is in a much better position than I to know what's going on.
I don't believe I'm giving away anything confidential, as it's effectively past-tense, and there are really no "secrets" involved.
This is NOT a "rah rah Cats are great" thread, more a "things are not always what you might first think" deal. At the start of this season, I was worried that the Cats's squad was unbalanced, and that their recruiting whilst good was also curious.
However according to my friend, the Cats went into the off-season with a 5~6 point plan, and have effectively nailed every one.
In no particular order (and I'm not sure I can remember everything) the goals they set at the end of last season were as follows:
1) Get a genuine backup PG for Martin, not only to spell him off the bench, but they recognised that an injury to him would otherwise be disastrous.
2) Replace Redhage in the starting line up with an Australian PF, preferably a "Brock Motum type" to give them two genuine post players.
3) Use their import slot to find a swingman, someone who could partner Beal to give them two wing players.
4) Improve their overall 3-point ability, but not he insisted by bringing a so-called “3-point specialist.”
5/6) To effectively “rebalance” their squad to account for the lower minutes played by their bigs, and provide greater depth to guard against injuries to Knight & Redhage.
And so,
1. This was supposed to be Greenwood, but they are also happy with Kenny. And how “prophetic” were their concerns over an injury to Martin?
2. They have in effect done exactly that, moving Knight to the PF role.
3. Prather is really starting to grow on me. Once you get rid of the notion that he should be a Forward, you realise what a great player he is and the value he adds.
4. Greenwood apparently would have helped, but Kenny can also hit them. Prather is much better than DD from outside, and as he explained it to me, whilst Knight and Jawai can't shoot 3’s, their presence collapse the D and gives space to the outside shooters.
5/6. And here was me thinking the squad was unbalanced. Its ironic that the injuries to date have been to the smaller players, but in the run home they still expect they will need that depth in the forwards.
Not to say that their plans were perfect or will have a perfect outcome, just that its interesting how something that looked a bit like pot-luck was anything but.
NB: There were a few questions he basically laughed off, which I took as a "no comment," on Lisch, Ennis, and Jawai.
