The Phantom
Last week

Is Brian the most overrated NBL coach of all time?

With the latest excuse that Sydney need another ball handler, this explaining their struggles on their apparent inability to bring the ball up and initiate their offence, is Brian overrated?
Commentary are always mentioning his past credentials, but most of those titles came with an expensive roster famously leading to teams going belly up. I did like him many years ago with the Magic and Titans and how they played tough aggressive defence, but now he just makes confusing subs and for the money that's been spent, are in the middle of the pack.
Obvious problems with Oliver, would have thought a mutual decision to leave would be in best interests of both. But was one of key signings in offseason with Cooks and Kuol. Now suddenly it comes up their backcourt isn't up to it, Brian would definitely have had input into roster construction and whilst Bruce is disliked for a lot of things, he and Le'Afa are capable back up guards. Not to mention Cooks often leads the break after getting a defensive rebound.
He got the bronze but really just took over a ready made team, and ever since was disappointing leading the Boomers, again with bad game plans and rotations. And could be argued a few surprising omissions.
So simply, is he totally overrated. Wouldn't even have him in top 5 coaches currently and most of his press conferences are always making some excuse.

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word14  
Last week

'Wouldn't even have him in top 5 coaches currently’.

Roth, Vickerman, Tatum, King, and one of Forde or Schueller?

Wouldn’t disagree

Reply #956708 | Report this post


AussiePride  
Last week

His time with the Boomers proved he was over rated!!

Reply #956712 | Report this post


hoopie  
Last week

Overrated internationally and in the NBL right now, but he was one of the best in the 80s-90s

Reply #956716 | Report this post


Dunkman  
Last week

I think maybe you over reacted a bit early.

Reply #956718 | Report this post


FelixVonSnort  
Last week

Lol.

Gotta love tall poppy

Reply #956721 | Report this post


Luuuc  
Last week

yeah he's no Josh King hey

Reply #956722 | Report this post


Ben  
Last week

We talking bout Brian Kerle right?

Reply #956726 | Report this post


word14  
Last week

Serious question- Kerle still alive?

Reply #956729 | Report this post


Ben  
Last week

Yep.

Reply #956732 | Report this post


Zodiac  
Last week

What's Simon doing with himself these days? Last I heard he was doing something like yoga or meditation instructing.

Reply #956733 | Report this post


AlexK  
Last week

Good salesman, primarily of himself.

Reply #956735 | Report this post


Dunkman  
Last week

Goorj has runs on the board, he's been excellent for a lot years, has got older but still very good, probably not the best in the business anymore.

Reply #956737 | Report this post


Dunkman  
Last week

Goorj has runs on the board, he's been excellent for a lot years, has got older but still very good, probably not the best in the business anymore.

Reply #956738 | Report this post


Dotman  
Last week

Gets the wins. Like Rillie against the odds. Don't get to this level and can't coach..Finals bound enough evidence

Reply #956740 | Report this post


LV  
Last week

Goorj was a great coach back in the day.

But given recent stint in Illawarra, Boomers work and this season, he's not what he used to be.

Reply #956746 | Report this post


Luuuc  
Last week

He was always successful whenever he had way more talent than the other teams. That's the sign of a coach.

Reply #956747 | Report this post


Zodiac  
Last week

Goorj has a 6-7 record in NBL GF series. That says everything the salary cap busting rosters sometimes got him there, even if the team then folded, but plenty of times once there he couldn't adjust on the fly like when those Smyth coached Sixers teams ran over the top of him in 98 & 99. Still 13 GF series will never be seen again, even Gleeson's great run in Perth was 'only' 7 GF series.

I look at Goorjian's NBL coaching career there was the main part that ended in 2009 when the Dragons folded after winning the championship he then went to China where he spent the next 11 years.

Since Goorj returned to the NBL in 2020 I think it's been clear both in the NBL and with the Boomers that time has passed him by. He never should've gotten another NBL contract after that humiliating choke job by his Hawks in the 2021 SF series losing to a Wildcats team with Cotton out injured despite the Hawks winning the opening game in Perth.

Goorjian's weird departure from the Hawks demanding an extension in the media, then saying he might retire instead, then annointing his right-hand man Jackomas as the future coach, then wanting to be a paid advisor until ultimately stepping down was unedifying. Like a desperate old man turning to his old media tricks to pressure management but falling on deaf ears every step, other than the Jackomas recommendation they did that and it proved to be a disaster.

I was glad Goorj pulled out of/didn't want yet interviewed for the 36ers job he probably would've run the team into the ground financially inside 12 months.

Reply #956748 | Report this post


Zodiac  
Last week

On the broaded point of is Goorjian overrated the answer is no. No coach comes close to Goorjian's record of sustained excellence the most titles in history, six, from a staggerring 13 GF series across 2 decades of dominance.

Whether you like the guy, his methods, antics or whatever and I hated how physical his teams were pressuring the refs at all times knowing they wouldn't call everything along with his belating intimidation of them on the sidelines but the reality is he stands alone at the top of the NBL coaching mountain.

Reply #956749 | Report this post


Zodiac  
Last week

*broader

Reply #956750 | Report this post


Dunkman  
Last week

There was a lot more to the Illawarra exit, his mate was the owner, only in name, all the funds were coming from the real owner who has run it since with his crew, not the Goorj guys. Jakomanis already had the job so they kept him and the rest is history. When they didn't fund his requests Goorj bolted and the pretend owner who was really just a middle man also left.
Again re coaching, he’s always been very good, yes he’s slipped a bit but still very creditable. He has always done his work in the gym, his subbing at times has always been scratch your head stuff, it’s why he got no hair left but his record speaks for itself to anyone who has watched nbl for decades.
Re other coaches and success, Vickerman has always had very good rosters, Gleeson as well, no matter who coaches, you got poor players you don’t win. Pop in the nba is a classic example.

Reply #956754 | Report this post


AssistantsPen  
Last week

Tall Poppy Work here.

I'm not sure you can judge this season that he is overrrated or a couple from the past, earned his reputation like many of the others. Not sure you coach in any pro league for this length of time and then be named overrated.

Reply #956755 | Report this post


word14  
Last week

At the end of the day, you could always go worse with Abdelfattah

Reply #956757 | Report this post


Ben  
Last week

Re Simon Kerle.

He's still running a popular yoga studio in Albion, which is smack between two of Brisbane’s most affluent suburbs (Ascot and Tenerife). Seems to be going well for him.

Fwiw I liked him when he was a colour commentator a few years ago for Brisbane home games. A time where we had players doing colour on games that had a wealth of league experience and knowledge. Better times then.

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word14  
Last week

Cheers for that Ben, glad to hear he's doing well

Reply #956759 | Report this post


Zodiac  
Last week

I always really liked Simon as a player he was so intense and hotheaded but although never quite a superstar he could go off from downtown for big games. I remember he fancied himself as a bit of a boxer too, the irony of him getting into yoga isn't lost on me.

I can't remember him doing commentary on games but not long after he retired Fox used to have some Overtime-type show with Casey, Carfino and a guest and they got Simon on there a few times he would 'even scores' and tear strips off guys he played against that he didn't like. One time he ripped the shit out of Ian Stacker who I think was coaching Townsville at the time about how crap he was as a player. It was hilarious but a bit uncomfortable he was scarily intense Simon.

Reply #956762 | Report this post


Perthworld  
Last week

Goorjian is overrated internationally, although I'm not sure anyone rates him.

Domestically he basically had his way with the league during the early 2000s, I think most are forgetting this. Perfect example was him getting the best out of BJ Carter, a local DP, it wasn't all about spend. During this era he essentially cock blocked the Bullet$ from winning more titles.

Simon Kerle and Bruce Palmer should have been mainstays of the media covering NBL if it were a larger industry. Palmer on the old NBL Radio was brutal and is the GOAT.

Reply #956774 | Report this post


Anonymightymouse  
Last week

"During this era he essentially cock blocked the Bullet$ from winning more titles."

Brisbane's biggest spending window was probably 06-08 in which time Melbourne won 2 titles and the Bullets won one.

Reply #956777 | Report this post


Perthworld  
Last week

They were already spending before then and lost two seasons in a row to the Kings at the semi final stage.

Reply #956840 | Report this post


Anonymightymouse  
Last week

I think when Brisbane picked up Sam Mackinnon and Mark Bradtke for NBL06 was when they really started throwing money around, adding Bruton and Ere the year after. Bullets roster in NBL05 was just ok, they finished 17-15 and were never a threat for the title with a roster of:

Brannen / Eversteyn
Matthews / Egan
Castle / Hill
Kerle / Black
Rucker / Darragh


Reply #956852 | Report this post


Basket 91  
Last week

Goorjian is/was definitely good but has also had the best talent/large budgets but has also developed a ton of players. over the years. For example Gordie always did well with lower budget teams and less talent could Goorjian have done the same?

Definitely think his subbing this season has been erratic and not sure he has got the most out of his team compared to others. Would take his team over most.

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Perthworld  
Last week

Bullets underperformed in 2005 during the regular season.

The reason why Groves started spending in a second wave was due to Goorjian.

Reply #956904 | Report this post


Maybe, but that 2005 roster is nowhere near an NBL championship roster. Add Mackinnon, Bradtke and then Bruton and Ere and you've got the big spending Bullets, but not prior to NBL06.

Reply #956919 | Report this post




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