Gaze won't get sacked. He might resign though if the pressure becomes too great but even that's unlikely. You can tell by his coaching, he's got a stubborn streak.

JVG won't get sacked either, not as long Harvey Lister owns the team. Its Harvey that personally headhunted and lured JVG from the QLD government to run the Kings IIRC.

The anger is growing but they'll keep ignoring it unless it hits their pockets big time.

Gaze is being paid way too much as Kings coach to walk away, IMO.

I feel for Kings fans I would be ropeable with what has been going on there last season too.

Duke Fan is correct, Kendall should get the gig.

They were actually playing great D in the 'Kings then daylight days, but you really wouldn't expect an offensive force like Gaze to have a team playing good D, would you?

Please keep Gaze, he's great the the rest of the NBL.

Honestly,

Looking at the lineup Sydney has do you see any coach getting them to play at elite level?

They just have too many guys who drift in and out of the game with hardly any consistent defenders.

Is Gaze the best coach in the NBL? Possibly not but what he has to work with is limited.

Manu

" but you really wouldn't expect an offensive force like Gaze to have a team playing good D, would you?"

it actually does not always go like that, Boy Goj was a open gate in his playing days, and Phil "just let them go and play" Smyth was a Defensive all star.

That said Gaze is still fairly clearly the second worst Australian born NBL head coach of this century.

I hear another BJ, Brendan Joyce, is trying to worm his way into another coaching gig.

It was just a joke, but people somehow think there's a legitimate connection there

Any footage of the press,conference?

Kings line up, as I predicted, will struggle against taller physical teams. Kings are relying too much from the outside game, and if they're not dropping, will struggle. Ellis as good as he is, can't do everything every week. Need an import centre and an inside game, otherwise the Gaze/JVG experiment is over.

Unfortunately for you, its not a joke.

An excerpt from Matt McQuade interview with JVG:

Q: You've been out of basketball for a few years. When you were approached with this proposal to lead the Kings, what were your initial feelings?

A: It’s interesting, because I’ve really enjoyed that broadening experience I’ve had over the last five years. The years I spent with the Broncos were tremendous - I think the club leads the NRL in most commercial categories – and my time as a chief advisor to the Queensland Sports Minister was a real eye-opener. Once you’re in that role you really get a chance to get to know the sporting fabric of the state.

So while it was interesting for me to hear there was this potential basketball role and Harvey was keen for me to consider it, I still had to really consider my decision because I was in a phase of my career I was enjoying. But in the end, your first love is usually your strongest love and that’s no exception for me and the game of basketball. I’m glad I’m back in it.

Some of you guys are being pretty savage just quietly.

Team chemistry has plenty to do with it. Dean Vickerman wasn't catching too much heat last season as assistant, and we generally accept that he can coach.

Sydney, every year since they rejoined the NBL, have 3-4 returning players each season. Its almost start from scratch every year. I have only been watching them closely again for 2 years, in that time I have seen Al Harrington, Damion James, Josh Childress, Marcus Thornton, Steve Blake, Josh Powell, Greg Whittington, Michael Bryson, Garrett Jackson, Travis Leslie, Perry Ellis and finally Jeremy Kendle. That's just the damn imports! Can anyone find a team with less lineup stability than Sydney?

It's also hard as a fan to buy into the team when its such a high player turnover rate each season. That's probably why the Garlepp situation hurts fans, he along with Cadee are the only links to even 2 seasons ago.

Gaze's lack of offensive development from year 1 to 2 is astounding! Its no about talent its about the lack of development from year 1 to 2 with the same lack of cohesion occurring and the execution of the same sets he ran out of timeouts still being used!

Paulie Henare is Gaze's only saving grace as he is even worse with the most puzzling rotations in the NBL and running the same sets that Lemanis put in when he was there just not knowing them as well!

Some of you guys are being pretty savage just quietly.

Gaze won't get sacked. He might resign though if the pressure becomes too great but even that's unlikely. You can tell by his coaching, he's got a stubborn streak.

There are four simple factors at play here.

1 Only four returnees when every other team has eight or nine.

2 Not signing an experienced centre.

3 Not replacing Lisch with a genuine PG who can pick things up quickly.

4 Having an inexperienced coach who can't make adjustments on the fly.

Get two of the first three right and this team is good, get three of them right and it is a contender, but with none of them right number four becomes a real issue.

Just out of curiosity does anyone in OZ (i.e. BA or someone else) run high level coaching courses? You hear about potential AFL coaches completing 'Level 4' coaching accreditations.

I think people are being slightly unfair on Gaze. Is there anyone in Australia who knows and loves the game with the same passion and intent as Andrew Gaze? I'd doubt it. His results are not dissimilar to how Andrej Lemanis started, and at least Lemanis was an assistant for a few years; they've really thrown Gaze in the deep end. Gaze will take time to be a great coach but I think he has the potential to do it. It just wont happen over night.

What is really, really not helping are the player recruitments, and that comes down to management. Who in their right mind makes a 19 year old the squad's main center? Who holds back on an import when you clearly need a proper team-running point guard and a proper center? This comes down to JVG, who deserves much more of the blame than Gaze does.

Good points paul, 1 & 2 allude to the mistake of letting Aleks Maric go. In hindsight, that was a grave error with unfolding significant consequences.

His stint in Bahrain has concluded and he is back in Sydney I believe. There is a small window to rectify that error, but would the decision makers have the courage to do so?

As for 4 players returning, with the exile of Garlepp, effectively its only 3.

If I might add another point, its establishing a winning culture based on defense and hard work, not PR rubbish of nice blokes with good character.

Yep, that's a pretty good point 5.

Not in the article, but it was known in certain circles that he was Harvey's first choice and approached. If you wish, you could do some research and politely ask them yourself. They have a long working history before this latest collaboration.

1) More like 3.15 players returning... But out of last seasons team, apart from Maric (see my hundred other rants on the topic) how many should have come back? Sure, it goes back to recruiting properly and for the long term, which I hoped they could have started last season, but it hasn't happened this season either...

2) Maric, Maric, Maric, Maric... I know he's getting on and his numbers didn't reflect his true worth last season (despite Gaze doing his best to not use him properly), and I'm all for locking in Isaac for at least 3yrs (although they only managed 1) and planning for the future, but who could have been better for Isaac to learn from and bang against in training? As of last night when I stalked him and asked him if he can please please please come back, the Kings don't want him... A huge bloody mistake and they should go back to him on bended knee begging forgiveness...

3) This more goes back to not recruiting a proper PG to begin with... Even with Lisch, the team looked disorganised... Lisch IS capable of handling the ball and pulling of some nifty passes, but a proper PG that does not make and I'll say it again, as JvG and Gaze are quite happy to bring the fact that he's won the MVP twice, his MVP seasons weren't at the PG position... Fix this initially, and there would be no need to knee-jerk the wrong player now... However, even not taking that first step, not going with a top shelf PG NOW and then moving Lisch to SG when h e comes back, is a huge mistake... Daly showed enough in the pre-season to fill in for a dozen minutes when needed and apparently held his own last night, which only reinforces that... But now the Kings are STILL without a decent pg AND big...

4) Gaze proved this last season and I can't see why he would have changed this season, and that was with a really good assistant coach behind him that he didn't seem to listen to most of the time (but at least had the players ears at training)

If I might add another point, its establishing a winning culture based on defense and hard work, not PR rubbish of nice blokes with good character.

Can't agree with your 3, Wookiee. Cadee and Lisch between them are more than capable at PG, they showed that early last year.

Some might prefer a different style of PG, which is OK, but the reality is very few teams have been successful with import PGs in the modern NBL.

But now, with Lisch out, they needed someone who could defend pick-and-rolls and pick up the offence quickly so it wasn't all left to Cadee.

As for 1, it's not how many should have come back, it's more about the reality of putting a mostly new team up against established teams. They are at a disadvantage early in the season.

FWIW, I think Maric, WMW and Moller were all players worth keeping for different reasons if possible.

FWIW I actually thought WMW as a development ? playerin his first season, was twice the PG Cadee ever was, for the whole of cadee's time in Adelaide

Chatting to someone involved in the Kings last pre-season they thought Maric was going to be a star in the NBL because he had come back from Europe.

I was stunned by their lack of knowledge of both Maric and world basketball. Perhaps they didn't want to re-sign him because they thought he'd underperformed, whereas he did exactly what Aleks does.

Moller and WMW yes, completely forgot about them, my apologies :)

Moller especially leaves a holea nd I was really looking forward to seeing how he would go with more responsibility, but with an off season with the team and proper pre-season with the intention that he'd be getting more minutes, WMW could have come along gangbusters this season too...

With Moller, I'm curious as to how much he actually got as the Kings probably caught a whiff of being able to get Blanchfield and obviously it's an either or and went for the higher profile name, instead of the player that would fill a need and also a Sydney local and breed some local depth and connection with the fanbase...

Will have to agree to disagree with our initial PG choices, Paul and fully agree on them dropping the ball on the replacement player... However, if they DID get that type of player to start with, like the player I suggested, they wouldn't have this issue now... They would have been more organised on the court to start the season with someone who could get the ball to so many of the offensive weapons... But again, each to their own opinion...

I'm not saying you're wrong, just that there are more than one way to skin the cat and they can be equally effective.

They were very organised to start last year with Cadee and Lisch playing PG, and they would have also been organised with a good import PG.

The two best import pgs in the nbl are ware and cotton. I just think someone like lisch should be sg as he didn't get any open shots this season so far. They needed to get McKay. An athletic tall who could get boards and block shots. Cadee is a shoot first pg who makes James harden look like defensive player of the year.

"the reality is very few teams have been successful with import PGs in the modern NBL."

Could you elaborate, Paul?

Perth with Damian Martin at PG is the only example in support I can think of, and even they had to recruit Cotton last year to take them over the top. NZ had Cedrick Jackson and most recently Dillard, Adelaide had Randle, Illawara had Rotnei Clark etc. Maybe Cairns with Gliddon, but they also had Trice last year.

I'm trying to think of successful teams recently that haven't had import point guards outside of Perth with Martin. CJ at NZ is the only one I can think of, but they had success after that with Jackson.
My memory isn't the greatest mind you!

Some of the comments (and thread title) are a little harsh, but nonetheless the consensus is still that Gaze is a sub-par professional head coach at best.

If the Kings are content with a sub-par head coach (Gaze or otherwise), that's another issue.

If Gaze had completely zero say in the team I'll cut him a tiny bit of slack. I think a coach who has zero say in his team is a fool, but I'll cut him that tiny bit.

If he was involved in putting the team together then he deserves every bit of criticism coming his way.

Player turnover...blah blah blah
Injuries....blah blah blah
X's & O's....blah blah blah

My biggest gripe is how he reacts to adversity in games. He gives up! When he sits down with the arms folded and the pouty look on his face he's telling his team that not only does he not believe they can win, he believes they can't compete. It sh*ts me completely and the players follow his lead and give up too.

Some teams are lucky to have that one or two special players who drive the team culture. Apart from that it comes from the coach. If your freaking game plan isn't working you have plan B, C & D that you've worked on at practice and the COACH changes things up. Coach the damn team or let someone else do it. Show your team you're going to compete for 40 minutes no matter what the score is and they might do it too. Use the bench. Gorj had a great saying "I only need 5 guys". Stop being their buddy and be their coach and find the guys who will play hard

That's if anyone still wants to play for him after the disgusting performance at the press conference

You would have to think it would irk the players knowing the coach is being paid more than all of them too.

Perth with Damian Martin at PG is the only example in support I can think of, and even they had to recruit Cotton last year to take them over the top. NZ had Cedrick Jackson and most recently Dillard, Adelaide had Randle, Illawara had Rotnei Clark etc. Maybe Cairns with Gliddon, but they also had Trice last year.

Kobe, since when is a small guard that brings the ball up more than occasionally, initiates offense and guards opposition PGs not a PG?

'Combo guard', whatever you want to call them. It's just semantics dude.

I don't know how to link to the press conference, but to paraphrase:

"My game plan was ace! But you'd never know because my team is shite and couldn't execute it"

Quite possibly true but the sort of thing that should be said to the team behind closed doors. If there was a problem with team harmony before there certainly will be now. When players can't trust their coach.....you're done

Here is part of the interview and what Duke Fan was paraphrasing.

www.nbl.com.au/video/direct/1tZGYzZDE6Tv7vWx4snINqI4taJ01ggt

To be fair, he never said his plan was great.

In fact, he said it could be 'shitty', but he would have liked to see it executed.

At the end of the day the buck still stops with the coach.

As of last night when I stalked him and asked him if he can please please please come back, the Kings don't want him

At the end of the day the buck still stops with the coach.

Cotton kicks his legs out, Adnam makes contact. Ref rewards Cotton.

Protected species?

Well done Wesley. I honestly have no problem with that foul.

Where was the foul on Cooke first?

Refs trying to bring Adnam back to earth here?

Cooke is manhandling Wesley here. Twice on the last play. No fouls though.

Refs are worth 10+ points a game to Perth in this arena

Oops wrong thread

Kobe, since when is a small guard that brings the ball up more than occasionally, initiates offense and guards opposition PGs not a PG?

Spot on, Duke Fan, leadership is just not coming from Gaze and it's having a very adverse effect throughout the team...

I commend your bravery in stalking a 6'11", 125kg balding behemoth that can headlock Wortho into submission Wookiee...

Out of interest, did he actually reply?

"I'm trying to think of successful teams recently that haven't had import point guards outside of Perth with Martin."

This century, Charles Thomas and Cedric Jackson are the only imports to win a title as a starting PG. Kevin Braswell won one coming off the bench.

The breakdown of starting PGs on GF teams this century is:

Aus/NZ: 21
Naturalised: 5
Imports: 10

In the past decade it is:

Aus/NZ: 13
Import: 7

Link to your NBL lego?

If after tonight game, Gaze doesn't give it in within the fortnight, I will be very surprised...

I actually don't want Gaze to go. He has been very good for my Sportsbet balance.

@Wookiee, I wonder if he would want to join a sinking team now. Wouldn't be a fun workplace you'd think.

After tonight, I'd cut Kendle and Thoseby. Tommy and Singh have to be moved up the rotation above Pineau. You may not like Singh but you have to admire his effort and fight, in fact he's been positive in almost all the time he's on the floor.

Time to put a phone call to Dimma.

I actually don't want Gaze to go. He has been very good for my Sportsbet balance.

@Wookiee, I wonder if he would want to join a sinking team now. Wouldn't be a fun workplace you'd think.

After tonight, I'd cut Kendle and Thoseby. Tommy and Singh have to be moved up the rotation above Pineau. You may not like Singh but you have to admire his effort and fight, in fact he's been positive in almost all the time he's on the floor.

Don't know anything about Jurlina, but the last thing we need is another fresh out of college kid... Daly would be a stop gap for two, maybe three games until we get someone proper in... There's still time to save the season, but they have to bring the bigger, more experienced players... and quickly...

Can't think of anyone better for Isaac to bang against in training than Truck...

but it's the fact that there is Isaac ahead of him and the fact that we're lacking a starting quality 5-man, so that would push Isaac to the bench (where he's starting from anyways) and really no spot for Singh...

@Anon - I think Cadee is on his last contract year and Newls, Lisch and Blanchfield have this and another one? Isaac was only signed for one season... Can anyone honestly say that any player looks like they want to be here, let alone stay here for another season if it's just going to be the same again?

What about Moose? That was a pretty dark era... But even with that giant losing streak, I can't recall them ever giving up like they did in the last two games... They still gave a toss...

You make a good point, Steve, and I think that there might have been a time or two where Singh and Isaac were on the court together and I think it could work... i'd rather IH at the 4 and have Singh as the backup even with an import 5, but who knows what sort of import big we're going to scrounge up now, especially if they're only just starting to look...

After reading that article tonight, it has made me wonder how much input Gaze actually has, and whether he's drinking the kool-aide or just having to put up with a boss that thinks he knows everything but doesn't... He's surely got to be drinking the same wacky juice as JvG doesn't he? I mean, if not, he can just pull out the "I'm the G.O.A.T" card to throw some weight around? Either way, it's his reputation on the line, so if he's just being a pussy and taking it, he deserves what he gets...

I remember an episode of Overtime in 2011 where JVG spent quite a bit of time talking about how in the NBA, the front office picks the team and the coach coaches, and that's a much better system than having the coach involved in recruitment.