Talking Hoops Recap

Here is my Talking Hoops Recap for anyone interested!

Talking Hoops Recap 26, September, 2006

Hosted by Paul Bell, Brett Maher

They spoke about Maher's clutch shot, and the tough road trip they had, with the team going 1 win, 1 loss, said most people would of probably expected them to win the Singapore game not the Wollongong game, said it's a tough trip to Singapore then to Wollongong, then playing Sydney in Adelaide and going to Perth the next day, said with the new team they need to have some good training sessions to gel, but they havnt been able to train properly due to the schedule and travel, said they did a good job against Wollongong defensively, and want to do as good against Sydney.

Said it was a tough trip going to Singapore, with the flight, and when you arrive its very hot and humid, said they shot around on game day, had no air conditioning and Maher said it was like training in a sauna. Maher said the 36ers didn't put it together, said he doesn't think Singapore is a shocking team, but doesn't expect them to get heaps of wins, especially on the road. Said it was a bit disappointing to lose the game, but they have learnt some lessons, and with a new team it takes time to gel, said they had a much better start against Wollongong.

They spoke about the Starting line up and rotations, said it was good, gave them strength on the boards with Wheeler and Horvath and put Nash on Saville to do the defensive job, and then they rotated the bench, Maher wasn't sure why Brad Hill didn't get on the court, said its hard with a 10 man rotation to get everyone time. Said Horvath has fitted in well, presents well in the block, and should figure in All Star voting. Maher spoke about his own performance in the Wollongong game, said it wanst looking good, and they turned it around late, and largely due to there defense they managed to hit the front, said it helped having Cortez Groves out of the game for the last quarter or so, he hurt himself guarding Willie Farley, and then it was left with Joyce in the point guard spot.

Maher said it was a important win for the team, as they quite conceivably could have been 0-4, after losing to Singapore, so its good for the confidence. Said it was nice to get a road win against Wollongong.

Jan Stirling, Opals Coach Interview: Congratulated her on the Opals Gold Medal Success, she said she was very proud, and as coach she knows the hard yards they put in, and said it was a great reward for there huge efforts, especially with many of the players being part time players. Asked who impressed her, mentioned Jackson, Taylor who won MVP, Kristi Harrower as the point guard, Whittle inside, said they all had there moments, said Summerton has come of age internationally, and said Phillips made the most of her opportunities and is a strong candidate for Beijing. Said it was a great experience to play infront of the very vocal and loud crowd. Asked if she wanted a crack at the Americans, she said she didn't really care and said Russia was more in sync in the tournament anyway, and she thinks the USA team are going through a bit of a transitional period, and it wouldn't have mattered who the Opals played. Asked about the preparation for next tournament, said many of them are going to Europe and the WNBA, but need to make themselves available for longer leeding upto 2008 if they are going to win Gold there. Spoke about there preparation games, said they have had good games but have been a bit to spasmodic. Said it was good having a team with most of the girls being available for 2008, said the average age was 26, said Bevelaqua and Whittle are the older players who may not be there but the younger players should be better for the experience. Asked about if she wants to coach WNBL again, she said she was on a 2 year contract, which she has to re apply for the Opals coaching role, she also works for the Office for Sport and Rec, said she has to make a decision on what she wants to do. Spoke about being re appointed, she said there is no sure thing in coaching, Maher spoke about the rumours of people trying to force her out.

Maher and Bell spoke about Stirlings coaching record, with the Lightning and the Lightning, carrying on from Tom Maher and leading them to gold and having a exceptional record all round, said she also is a great motivational speaker.

John Rillie Interview: Round 1 NBL player of the week. Said it was a good first up performance, said its good to kings to play the kings early with them being away with the national team, and having 2 new imports, said it was a good chance to show the fans they are a new look team, said it was a good off season for Kelvin Robertson and he has been on fire and was happy with the new Import (Gardner), asked about Gardners background, said he tried for the NBA after college, then played in France and said a lot of imports tinker between NBL and France, mentioning Feaster and Wethers as others who have done it. Said he took a rest in the off season, had a injured toe. Asked about the differences between Gleeson and Stacker, said the difference is in there offensive approach, said Stacker sticks to the triangle and Gleeson likes to keep it open and free flowing, said he has come in with lots of new ideas and everybody is enjoying playing for him. Asked about the kings imports, said Elliott was very solid, and will be good once he adjusts, said Rowland wasn't too flash against them but the jury is still out on him. Said there next game is against Cairns, and it will be a bit of a grudge match. Asked about Scotty Ninnis leaving the crocs, he said Scott will have a great coaching career and was un lucky to not get the crocs head coaching job, and will do well at the Dragons.

Bell and Maher spoke about Friday the 13th of October, Celebrating the 20th Anniversary of the 1986, 36ers Championship team. They are having a luncheon to celebrate, at the Argentinean Bar and Grill, then the 36ers are playing Brisbane that night, said it will be a good chance to celebrate there achievement.

Bell and Maher spoke about the Dragons V NZ game, Bell read some stats Forman 6pts, 2 rbds, Ingles 29pts, 7 rebounds , Holmes, 6pts, 6 rbds, said it wa s agreat way for ingles to introduce himself to the league. Ingles probably started with Heal hurting himself in the warm up. Spoke about the game, which the Breakers won, said they are going to be tough at home and getting guys like Wethers and Forman makes the Breakers a well rounded team, said it wasn't a bad first up loss for the Dragons, said they must be disappointed losing Heal to injury, if its like a calf or hamstring he could be out for a 3 or 4 weeks, said the draw is a bit average, with the travel and games, said the people who do the draw over seas may not know the exact locations of each team, and he said every team has it hard, but said they may have been able to make it a bit easier. Bell asked Maher if he remembered his first game, he said he remembered his first shot, made a 3 pointer.

Dana called in: said she was upset, as she traded Inlges from her dream team for Copeland, Ingles would have been cheaper, she congratulated Maher on the Wollongong game. Said Lithuianias Free throw shooting coach Eddie Pavoniskis. Said he was Shaqs foul shooting coach for a year or so.

Scott Fisher Interview: Who was in Singapore, spoke about there previous game against the Slingers, said they looked ok, will upset some people, still learning there stuff, Perth are expecting a more lively team, and are not expecting it to be a easy game, Asked about the crowd in Singapore, said he didn't have any idea what the crowd would be like, hasn't been in Singapore for long, said they should have kept in mind, that when the Wildcats came up to Singapore they got sponsors for promotional materials and went out to school and worked hard to sell the game. Said the training venue was humid, they had the doors open, but no air conditioning, Said he is looking forward to playing Adelaide, interview was cut short due to phone getting cut off in Singapore.

Maher and Bell spoke about the Perth team, Maher said Brooks had a good debut for the team, after not really impressing him in the pre season game, and he is more of a shooting guard than a point guard which was going to be his original position, Bell said the pre season is a bit different, Maher said it is approached differently, especially mentally, he said it's a still a pretty good guage, said he is playing better now, said Ronaldson is a good gage for Perth, Said its going to be a good game with Sydney coming in, said he agreed with Rillie its bets to play the Kings early, said Perth are a big team, Maher said the 36ers can match them for size, have a good mix with athletic guys like Crawford, said Perth are lacking a real point guard, with Brown being a 2-guard, said Hunt is more of a shooter, and Leven is ok but not a full time floor general and Caporn is good, but better defensively, said if you win your home games and around 1/3 of your away games you will finish ok, said you do have to win as many as possible of road games.

Maher and Bell spoke about the 36ers having there singlet presentation on Tuesday night at Sammys on the Marina.

Went through there round 2 tips, they think the Wildcats will beat the Slingers,both tipped the 36ers, both tipped taipans to beat the hawks, Bell tipped the 36ers to win, after watching the preseason game, hopefully the 36ers have a better balance than Perth, they tipped the kings to beat the Dragons in Canberra, said it will be interesting to see Goorj v Heal, if Heal plays.

Johnny called in: Asked how the team was going, Maher said they were going pretty well, Jonny asked how they think the 36ers will go this year, and how they can improve this year, Maher said he thinks Phil did a good job with recruiting having good depth, with youth and experience and all positions filled with good players and people, and where they finish will depend on how they gel, many have them tipped to finish around the middle of the league, Maher said if they get it going both end of the floor, they have the most talented team in a few years. Asked what they try to do to win away games, Maher mentioned skins, re-hydrations, and being looked after, being professional, and he thinks a lot of it is the mental side of being away from home and out of routine. He said its fantastic that they are able to make the long trips and still play well, Maher said that was one good thing about beating Wollongong, after being in Singapore, he said teams will have trouble going to Singapore with the heat. They spoke about New Zealand struggling on the road in the past.

Maher plugged coaching clinics at Mars, him, Farley, Brooks, Sapwell, etc will be coaching.

Paul Prior interview, Forestville president: Said Ingles is lighting it up in New Zealand 4/4, he is watching the replay on tv, Maher said it makes it difficult to stop when he is hitting out side and is also good at driving. Said they are still on a high from the premiership, spoke about Dix retiring, he said they will have to do something to acknowledge him. Asked if Sutton will suit up, Maher said he would and hoped there would be a opportunity for Sutton to get on court.

Spoke about the 36ers V Sydney tomorrow night 7pm tip off!!

Another Great show, look forward to next week!

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