Jonno
Years ago
Talking Hoops Recap!!
Talking Hoops Recap 26/10/06
Hosted by Paul Bell and Brett Maher
Bell asked Maher how he was going, Maher said he was over the flue, but his calf hasn't fully recovered yet, he was getting as much treatment as possible, needs to improve before he can sprint, and do shooting drills, he said he wont play against the dragons and then have 10 days to get fully right before the next game, which will also give him a chance to train before the game, and hopes it will be 100% by then.
Dana called in: Asked Brett about his plans after retirement, joking about Mahers comments about older players last week, and Maher said how good was Lenard Copeland, Dana said he was brilliant and looked happy, and Maher said Copeland did well, and said his injury has taken a few more weeks than hoped.
Bell and Maher spoke about the 1-1 36ers weekend, Maher said they played very well against the crocs, with a ugly first quarter, and they responded well in the 2nd quarter, he said a good sign was the defense as even though they shot poorly they forced the crocs to shoot poorly, did a good job on Robertson, Rillie to 0, and did good job on Abney and Gardner, he said the ball movement was fantastic for the 36ers and guys were getting there shots out of the offense, they spoke about Sutton, said he was very good for a debut and handled the pressure well, Maher said Sutton was shocked to get on, and he looked like he belonged out there, Bell said Sutton moving the ball through the offense aloud Copeland and Farley to get better shots.
They spoke about the Melbourne game, they said Melbourne are looking exceptional, Maher said he watched the Dragons v Tigers game, said Dragons were exceptional early, but the Tigers are just so big and efficient, and have every position covered, said they ooki real dangerous adding Dench and Crosswell, he said the coaches told him that it was only a few lapses for 4 or 5 minutes which caused them to lose by 30, he said last year the went 2-2 with the tigers.
Bell said the next 4 games are winnable which would bring them back to 6-6, Maher said they have to do well, as the next months games are away, so they need to get back to around the 500 mark.
Bell asked Maher about Wheeler, he said he felt a twinge in his leg whilst he was stretching, it's a strain in his other hamstring, and they are expecting him back for the game against West Sydney along with Maher.
They read out the Round 5 results (see the nbl website)
Shawn Redhage Interview: Bell said he would have to be in the top 3 or 4 in the MVP at the moment. He said the key was coming together early in the pre season and they wanted to start off well and get some confidence and ride it for the rest of the way. Said it was ok coming back 2-2 from the road trip, but they did hope to win atleast 3. Asked when Rogers will be back, he played against Cairns and oplayed well in the first half, and they are looking forward to having him back properly against Melbourne as he is a big part of the team. He said he is happy with how his career has gone, and is happy to play for the Wildcats, he just wanted the opportunity to play coming out fo college, and he has been blessed to have the opportunity. Maher asked him about the coaching staff with the new assistant coach, he said its working well, and the players are coming better on the court aswell, and said the turmoil has bought them closer, and they just want to keep winning. Bell asked him about his position starting the 3 spot, he said they try and find the mismatches on the court, and utalise them, and the big pre seaoson helped them know how each other plays and build the chemistry, having the right chemistry can make the difference in the seasons successs. He said having the new owner has added more enthusiasm around the club, he said he thinks it will keep getting better, and the future is looking bright. He said Brooks is fitting in well now.
Maher and Bell spoke about the Wildcats, said they are killing it, have good chemistry and playing good defense and executing on offense, they said it will be interesting to see if they can keep it going, said they have all positions covered and good depth on the bench, said they are pretty tall, with Redhage, Ronaldson, Rogers and Justin Brown, and are one of the taller teams going around and can match any team physically.
Spoke about the Dragons Tigers game, with the size difference, they said it was good to see the start of a good rivalry back in Melbourne.
Tony Rocca called in: (36ers Team Manager), said he was looking forward to tomorrow night, and hoped to do his best and watch the team win. He helps the boys out the back to prepare for the game where ever he can, and will do what ever he can do to assist, and will give advise on things such as diets, and will do what ever he can do, said it looks like they have things back on track, he said he has a lot of belief in the team, and no matter win or lose he will follow them and they are always winners in his eyes.
Bell and Maher spoke about the Dragons, sacking Mark Price. They said there was rumours as early as last week about what was going to happen, they said they asked Price for his resignation after the Singapore game, they said it's a bti strange for a new team to sack there coach, 2 imports and there first General Manager within the first 5 games. They said it's a interesting decision, financially, with the guys having to be paid out, Price rumoured to be on $500k, Fuller $200k, and then they have to pay Guy Molloy and there new Import Rossell Ellis, it would add up to over $1million for nothing. Bell said he has had a few dealings with Cowan, and he was great to deal with, he said there is 2 ways to look at it. Having a owner who will do anything to win, or that it is an unstable franchise. Maher said you have to take into account the fact that it is a new franchise, and they always have a rocky first couple of years, and they said it wasn't as if they were playing too badly, as they led in most of there games, and you look at a team like Adelaide who has bought in 5 players you always start rocky, let alone bringing in a whole new team, said Singapore has the advantage having most of there players played for Hunter, and it takes time for the talents to blend and get the chemistry going.
They have heard Price wasn't the best communicator and left a lot of the day to day running to Ninnis, Maher said that could be how its done in the NBA, and that could be the system that he is used to. Said Price has come out swinging, saying he was devastated, given no warning, and that he had never seen an undermining of this type before, and he couldn't believe Heal would do this whilst he is trying to bring the team, and he believes the Dragons have used him, for his stature in the game to launch the team, Bell said he thought it was a fantastic marketing ploy, and you cant fault how they promote the team, and said Heal probably thought it was a good opportunity to get into coaching, whilst he is having back problems, they said its very difficult to be a player coach, Cal Bruton was the last one to do it in the 80s and he said it was too hard back then, said they would need a very good assistant coach behind you to run the games for you, they said that guys like Bauer tried it at ABL level and found it too hard so just went to coaching. They said over history when things like this happen you get a win, which they hoped wouldn't happen and hoped the 36ers come out swinging and get the win, and the Dragons are without a Centre at the moment, they would expect them to play a trapping defense, play 5 out and attack the big guys off the dribble, and the key for the 36ers was to use the bigger guys and out rebound them, and encouraged everyone to get out and see how they go and Ingles and Holmes in action.
Tracy Gaham, Lightning Import Interview: She is from Dallas, playing over seas for about 4 years; she was playing in SEABL for the Thunder, where Lucas saw her play. Said its been a great experience so far, said Lucas is great, looks after them well off the court and is good to play for on the court, said its great to see the progress and talent in Australian basketball, didn't know any of her team mates other than Phillips and Foley before she got here, she had played in Greece and Ireland, and she enjoyed every place she has gone, and it's a great life style. She said her position has changed each year she came in as a 4/5 but is trying to move to the 3 aswell, said she should be a 3/4, she went to Iowa State College, they were ranked in the top 25 in her 4 years there best was in the elite 8, said she copes with the early morning trainings by going to bed early. Asked if women imports are allowed to have other jobs, she said she doesn't think so, and isn't sure on the full regulations.
Scott Ninnis arrived into the studio after the Dragons Team meeting, he said its nice to be home after the events of the past few days, They asked him what is happening in the Dragons, he said as everyone knows, Price resigned was replaced by Heal, his first descion was to cut Fuller, they are replacing him with Rossell Ellis, who is 6'6, they are hoping urston will be back soon and stay healthy, then they bought in Guy Molloy in as assistant coach, who is known as a good defensive coach, which he thinks the Dragons need. Last Wednesday night the Dragons board met, they decided that night to ask Price to reassign, after the tigers game, they also decided to offer the job to Heal, who decided he wanted Molloy, and didn't want Fuller, Sunday morning, Molloy came on board, and Sunday night Heal played knowing that he would be coaching the next game, Price found out Monday, Ninnis was going to scout at home on Monday then got a message from David Rehn, saying Price has resigned, and Heal is now coach, and he had to go in to the team. Maher asked where does this leave Ninnis, he said it was the first question he asked, they said his position wouldn't change, with Heal playing Molloy would be the game coach and he would assist him, in reality he is 2nd assistant coach which is disappointing, when he got there they said they wanted some one with experience who could hopefully take over down the track with price probably only being there 1 year, he had the opportunity to stay in Townsville as first assistant to Gleeson, and what has happened certainly wasn't expected. Maher asked if they realise what they have done is a laughing stock around the league with what they have done, sacking coach 2 imports within 5 games, and appointing an assistant coach who was sacked from Cairns, Ninnis said he had no malice towards Molloy all he has done was accept a job, and if he took over he would of bought some one in like Molloy or Frank Arsego as his assistant, said the Dragons have done a good job with the marketing, with good crowds at there games, he said they have to be careful of becoming a laughing stock. As everyone he has spoken to is very surprised.
Dana called in: Said she had ABC on, they spoke to Price, who made the comment that he believed there was some scheming going on behind the scenes; Heal said he had nothing to do with it, but can understand what Price said.
Bell read out some quotes from Price saying he felt he was undermined, and Ninnis said from the outside it did look damming, and to be fair to Price he did struggle at times, and it would be difficult to come to a new country and league, and he would of felt the same way, Ninnis said he is still in shock and doesn't know how its going to work, he expects them to play well tomorrow night.
Dana said it was ironic, pre season everyone said how professional the Dragons were and this sort of undermines it.
Maher said there were rumours at the start of the season that Heal and Price and Heal and Fuller didn't get along, Ninnis commented on the rumour of when Heal missed the first 2 games, that Heal had been suspended because he had a falling out with Price, he said that wasn't true, having seen what Heal went through to try an dplay the 2nd game and his injury is ligitmate, in the game v Sydney him and Fuller had words, on the bench., but he didn't think it had gone to that level.
Dana said it was good to see the heat has gone off the 36ers old guys.
They said Heal had the desire to coach, Ninnis said Heal is knowledgeable about the game and he had enjoyed bouncing ideas off them, and the question is wether he can translate it, Heal is a confident person and thinks he would be good, e said it would be difficult playing, as you see things differently playing, Ninnis said he didn't think it was due to his back problem, as he doesn't think he wants to sit there and watch, and he thinks heal planned on playing for more than one year, and establish himself again. Said they had a good training, doing break down drills and concentrated on specific defensive things, and have guys who probably were looking for this direction, he said the guys he had spoken to were like him, surprised and wondering where they will fit into the equation. Bell asked about the team, Ninnis said there were frustrations with Fuller defensively, he was big and good close to the basket on offense, and some guards were frustrated with him on defence, and he said Fuller probably wasn't the hardest trainer and was a good guy, tried to fit in, but gave them some size. Said Price wasn't a great x's and o's coach, but a great guy and the most high profile nba player to come to Australia, he said he expects them to win against the 36ers and the rest of the season will be very interesting. He said it probably will inpact on similar profiled guys coming to the NBL, as he was well respected in the US, voted the Cavs most popular player of all time, Ninis has spoken to Price, who was very professional, and was a great guy to chat to. Said it is always difficult bringing your family over, his daughter had just started school, and a son was struggling to settle in. They said you would think the relationship between Dragons and Cavs would be gone.
Kris called in: asked if Ninnis could tell some stories Price had told him: Ninis said his best mate is Craig Ehlo, who copped a lot of grief about Jordan hitting game winners on him, and he always said it made his career, Price played in a golden era, and he always use to score well against the Jazz as they always used to double down and leave him open. They said he was probably in the top 3 or 4 point guards in the leugae at his time, Ninnis says when he shoots at training he swishes everything. Ninnis said his best story was in his freshman year at Georgia Tech, they bought the 3pt line in which aloud him to lead the ACC in scoreing, which is a conference with North Carolina and Duke, and the bloke who came 2nd in scoring was Michael Jordan. Said it wont bother him financially, Ninnis isn't sure when he leaves, he hopes to go around and say thanks for the opportunity. Said he probably will get out of here pretty quick. Ninnis signed for 2 years, hoping things would go as planned, said everything would be re assessed at the end of the year, wether Heal wants Ninnis, or if Ninnis wants to stay, he had the opportunity to stay in Townsville and be involved with guys like Newley, Vanderjagt, and maybe bring Ingles up there. Bell said there has been some upsides, with Ingles and being in everygame, Ninnis said things havnt come together when in trouble, he was surprised it happened so early, wouldn't have been as shocked if it happened later in the year if they were still not winning.
Bell and Ninnis did there Tips, Tigers V Perth, tipped the Tigers, said they are a hardened group that knows how to win, and are huge in every position, 36ers V Dragons, said they will have a fight on there hands, and Horvath will be a priority for the Dragons, given they are small at the moment starting Frank Drmic in Centre, Bell tipped the 36ers, Slingers V Taipans, they tipped the Taipans, Breakers V Crocs, tipped Breakers, Tigers V Cocs, tipped the Tigers, West Sydney v Bullets, tipped Bullets, Dragons v Taiapns, tipped Dragons, Slingers v Kings, tipped the Kings, but wouldn't be surprised if the Slingers beat them.
Another great show, Look forward to next week.
