Talking Hoops Recap

Talking Hoops Recap 31/10/06

Hosted by Paul Bell and the producer Raj

They spoke about the Dragons first win, and the reaction of people thinking they had won the grandfinal, spoke about how they had gone throught a lot of changes with coaches, imports, etc and said that they are talented and will win some games.

They spoke about the All Star game coming up, spoke about 36ers, said Horvath probably would make it along with SA boys Ingles and Newley, both being exciting free flowing players, they are using the World V Aussies format, Glen Manton will be announcing.

Spoke about the half time entertainment at the 36ers, said it has been almost non existent with people just shooting, which isn't always exciting, and with new owners expected new entertainment, and said they were a bit disappointed with the crowd at the dragons, with Holmes and Ingles returning and all the controversy leading up to it, they said the school of thought may be, due to the late ownership change they may run through this season and make changes next year, said even the celebrity game was entertaining, and also mentioned the ownership transfer has only really recently taken place.

Spoke about the Academy playing pre game and they said that one problem is you have to be off the court a lot before the game,

Spoke about Schenscher being waived by the Bulls, mentioned the 36ers and other NBL teams probably going after him, but Bell said he expected him to play in Europe.
Spoke about Jan Stirling re-appointed as Opals coach after winning just about every tournament they have played in.

Spoke about Brett Maher. His virus and calf has cleared up but he now has a groin problem they are not exactly sure what it is.

Andrej Lemanis Interview (New Zealand Breakers Coach): They joked about the Oscar Forman add on the show, asked about the start of the season, said its been a bit frustrating to date, as they have been in a position to win in most games, but haven't won most of them, part of it is a new group finding there way and being more ruthless to winning. Said they are working with the assistants and support staff and managing half time better as they have won every 1st and 4th quarter they have been in just need to fix up the 3rd. Asked about the import combination, he said they are 2 good players and 2 quality guys who fit into the group within the structures and are able to put the ball in the basket. Spoke about Aaron Olson, early didn't shoot as well as they would of liked, last week he did a lot better, and is feeling a lot better, and was fatigued from the World Champs, etc. Asked about Oscar, he said he is doing great, he is glad he became a breaker, brings a lot to the team on and off the court, is enjoying coaching him, and is glad to have his 3pt shooting on there side. Said Oscar and his girlfriend have been good in offering them selves to help the club. Said that home court wins are important, spoke about the Tigers game, said he thinks they are the best team in the competition. Defending champions, play well together, run systems well, bother you defensively with there size and crash the boards well, said if they can get over the Tigers it will be a real confidence boost, Bell asked if he also thought that they are better than last year adding Crosswell and Dench to the team, said he agrees, Crosswell giving experience and penetration from the point, and Dench giving them another 3 point shooter, and said it makes it difficult to guard them with the offense as Anstey and Dench are there 2 best 3 point shooters, so you have to change your defensive strategies against them, Raj asked him about Peppers form, he said he is doing a good job, he is the most experienced player on the team, spent a lot of time talking to him about leadership, which he has embraced, and said he thinks the group has done a good job making sure he is involved in the offence more this season, as last season they went through times when he didn't get many touches, and said Pepper has stepped up, asked about playing and coaching in the NBL, he said it would be tough, due to the amount of work, he and his assistants put in, and the amount they ask from there players, he said nothing shocks them, as they made the decisions based on the information they have in front of them, asked about coming to Adelaide, they played twice last season in Adelaide, said Adelaide's free flowing offense suits there style and enjoy playing them.

They spoke about Lemanis, said he was a bench player for the Magic and an assistant under Stacker for a long time serving his apprenticeship like Ninnis is doing now. Spoke about the crowds said they have been a bit down, probably due to not having huge amounts of wins, and spoke about them trying to embrace the sport, with the NZBL, said they have some exciting imports, who dunk and jump around, and have some characters like Oscar, Henare and Pepper as well, and said they have good players it's a matter of getting it right and spoke about the travel how its an international trip every time which makes it harder for them, said it looks like they may be settling down a bit, and have to make the most of there home games.

Lenard Copeland Interview: Raj and Bell said he had big couple of weeks with back to back 21 point games and a good start against the Dragons, asked Copeland about the 36ers Quiz night which was that night, asked about the reports of Copeland retiring, said he remembered doing the storey when he left Brisbane, but since being in Adelaide he hasn't said he was going to retire, but if its his time its his time, said they have lots of talent and it's a matter of gelling, said if they can get back to 6-6 and beating New Zealand and West Sydney this weekend, and anything can happen from there, (phone cut out) Bell said he has had his critics being 41 and especially after his 0-9 game, (Lenard is back online) he said it would be great if they could get Maher back on the court with his leadership and player, he said he didn't think anyone could play and coach successfully at this level, as you have to concentrate on one or the other at this level. Asked if that's what he told Heal before being ejected, he joked and said yes, they asked him what happened, he said he doesn't know, him and Heal are the best of friends, he said heal drove to the basket and he spoke to Horvath and told him to wipe that trash out of there so Heal let lose on him, he said he enjoys being a 36ers, said he took a while to get used to it, after playing against them and coming 2 or 3 times a year for 15 years, said it took him a while to get used to the crowd but he is getting used to it now, spoke about him supporting Gaze on dancing with the stars, he said he isn't the best dancer and he now has a new dance teacher, he said its his smile and personality keeping him in it, said it will be interesting to play West Sydney at home, he said at home you are more comfortable, and there are no easy wins, and with Brett they give themselves a big chance and without Brett he said a few guys have to step up so they can take the win, the spoke about Brad Hills form, he said he has been fantastic the last couple of weeks and he is looking forward to seeing him get more time, and asked about Sutton, said he came in and ran the offence and showed them they needed a point guard on the floor.

Bell spoke about Copeland, said he hears from the guys that he is a great guy to have on the team and is always up beat and talks a lot, and the sixers are a quiet team, he is one of the only guys who does talk a lot, and they said that when his confidence is on he hits shots from everywhere and he is great to watch, and the confidence has come out with him, and they think the 36ers should win the next couple of games, should beat West Sydney but the New Zealand game will be interesting.

Read out the round 6 results (see nbl.com.au)

Ian Stacker Interview: He is starting a scouting service of Australian basketball, which he is going to market to NBA and college teams in the US, said he was trying to find a way to use his contacts to make a income in basketball, and mentioned Ingles and Newley have generated big interest in the US, he said he would rather be coaching a NBL team at the moment, said he has a good relationship with many of the Crocs, said he was out to dinner with Newley and Vanderjagt, and hopes to still have a positive influence on there careers, said his family is settled in Townsville, but if he gets another coaching job he will move to where that is, asked about going to the US with Newley, he said it was a great experience, going to all the different clubs and seeing what they do, said he thinks if he stayed in the draft he would have been drafted late in the 2nd round, but thinks he will be a late 1st round pick next years draft, asked about the overall experience, he said they have 4 players and just take them through a series of drills, he said nothing eye opening happened, he said some NBA clubs were very professional some weren't, said the biggest difference is the amount of money they are all paid, asked about his thoughts on Heal player coaching, he said Heal has probably ended enough coaches careers to be the next victum, said many coaches have been fired with Heals teams self destructing, said he has had great experience as a player and will be interesting to see if he can convert that, said he doesn't think it can happen in this day and age, and that the only way it will work is having 2 great assistants in Molloy and Ninnis, who are more qualified to be the head coach, and doesn't think it will work as it doesn't happen anywhere else in the world and more clubs would do It if they thought it would work, Bell mentioned it was interesting with the assistants, Heal and Shanahan all in the huddle, he said the buck has to stop with someone, and its different coaching from the side in the heat of battle, so confusion may reign supreme for a while, said that he does have some talent which is a important thing in getting your first coaching job, but they have to get the talent to win. Asked if he goes to Crocs games, said he doesn't, and he will be at the Swamp pre game for a interview on fox, then he will head home and watch it on TV, asked about how he ended up at the Crocs, said the termination was fine, but things have happened since then which has made it hard to move on basketball wise, and he thought he gave them 8 good years, he said he hopes to get back into coaching, the most important thing is a team that wants to win, and wants to get to a capital city team, as its easier to recruit players, as he has recruited players well to North Queensland, he said he had Ingles committed to play for them until the coaching change, said it would have been an exciting team with Ingles and Newley, and that alone should of kept him in the job, joked they should of signed Ingles first, then fired him, asked about the emphasis he put on scowering the country for young talent, he said he had to do that to get them up to North Queensland and develop a program where young players thought they would improve, he likes coaching young players, mentioned the last year Mackinnon was there, how he was inline for the MVP before hurting his knee.

Bell and Raj spoke about Stacker, said he is good at scouting around the country and it was a real possibility of Ingles and Newley playing together in Townsville.

Chris Anstey Interview: Asked how he feels the tigers are going, said ok, they havnt played real well yet but are happy to be beating good teams still, and have some improvements, said they are in the middle of a tough 3 week schedule, said he is ok, had a interrupted pre season, he is trying to help the guys out, but they have been carrying the team and it's a good sign of the team that they don't rely on one player, asked about the additions of Dench and Crosswell, adding a new dimension, he said they make them real deep, spoke about Mottrams defense on smaller power forwards like Redhage being a loss and allowing them to go big, and he said they are big and there bigs like shooting from the perimeter and guards like posting up which makes them difficult to match up on, asked about the Dragons, said they are struggling, but hopes they are successful and do fall like some of the other teams have, as hopes to build a big rivalry with them in years ahead, asked about Westover, said he hasn't changed and is probably a little more prepared and is a bit like Smyth but is known to let lose a little more often, hes happy if you do things right and work hard, asked about playing and coaching, said he doesn't think it could be done, as a athlete needs to be a little bit selfish when preparing for games which you cant do as a coach, Bell said he hoped they continue on, and Anstey said yes it was good and the crowd bought back some memories and said if they can get a good crowd when they play them it wold be great, said he removed himself a bit from the World Champs after having to pull out only a few weeks prior to the tournament with injury, said he expected Goorjian to be reappointed until Beijing, he said he has done a good job, and there are always going to be issues with things like selection, asked about the game against Perth, said he thought they were really tough last year aswell and have improved, and they were happy they kept it close against them, asked about the upcoming games, against New Zealand, said they score well and play pressure defense, they play the bullets twice in a row, and he looks forward to see them as they are rated highly and likes beating the top teams.

Bell spoke about the tigers, said look out, as Anstey is just cruising at the moment, and when he gets back to top form, along with Thomas, Tucker and McDonald, and expects them to win again, he said being able to cover injuries will put them in good sted.

Erin Phillips Interview: asked if she has recovered from her illness, she said she has still easing up to 100%, was hard missing the game, but the girls did a great job without her, said that she had pain in the stomach, and went to the doctors, and got sent to Hospital, and had to wait for a while before she could get some pain killers, asked about playing for the lightning after the world champs, said its been good and having played for Chris before, said he has put a good team together with some great recruits and Marino putting up the money signing good imports mentioned Kirsten Rusmessen, saying she is really down to earth and gets along with everyone, asked about the world champs experience, said it was great, they were like a family, and it was unreal, and they watched the Russians beat the US, and they were confident they can beat the Russians, said it was special, to finally get the gold, Bell asked if she reflects on everything she has done in her career, said its hard to sit back and reflect to much, and it keeps going and changing, and never stops and still has a long way to go with her game, and wants to have a really good WNBL season and win the championship and fight for a starting spot with Connecticut in the WNBA, said they are playing Dandenong in the double header on the weekend, which will be a tough game and she hopes to get a good crowd out to the game, spoke about Stirling being reappointed said that it was good to see after what they have achieved and hoped to get the gold in Beijing.

Bell and Raj tipped round 7: Perth v Bullets, tipped Perth, Crocs V Dragons, Bell tipped Dragons, Raj tipped for Crocs, Breakers V Tigers, tipped Tigers, Razors v 36ers, said it's a danger game, tipped the 36ers, Bell said he doesn't think Maher will play, Kings v Crocs, tipped Kings, Dragons v Bullets, Bell tipped Bullets, Cairns v Slingers, tipped Cairns, Tigers V Bullets, tipped the Tigers, Breakers v 36ers, bell tipped Breakers,
Raj tipped 36ers, Hawks v Crocs, Bell tipped Hawks Raj Crocs, Perth v Razors tipped Perth

Another Great show look forward to next week!!

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