Hoops

36ers confirm signing of Cortez Groves

I think you will see it perhaps raised to under 24 as if you look at kids coming out of college they are all 23 years of age.

Veteran players - I meant ( not vintage)

Isaac, let me re-phrase to . Under 23 rule and (for example Maher is a 9 now) reduces the number of vintage players on the court.

Groves only 8 on nbl.com !
(not reading it properly-late at nite.)

Looks like player rankings - Hill Cooper Herbert are 5
Ng 6 Burston=7. Holmes 8. Ballinger Groves Gilchrist are 10s. ( spose u23 is 1) = 67 points.

I have no concerns about Cortez being another Chappell. I am more concerned that he could fill the role of a fast fading Farley c. 2005.

I wish Cortez all the best with us, and hope he brings that devastating passion he had at the Hawks to his time here.

I still have nightmares of that game at the Dome where Groves had everyone on the team try to defend him during the game. He was just blowing by all of them and, I recon, must have made about 6 baseline dunks. Totally unstoppable.

U23- designed to get rid of Davo, JR , Darnell and the like... I hate the rule..

This U23 player thing is a bit confusing. If a team has 2 development players, wouldn't one of them qualify as the U23 player provided he is U23? Why is it throwing a spanner in the works having to recruit an U23 when you normally recruit 2 DP's?

Thanks Big Sexy. So if I read you right, that means that the u23 player CANNOT be a development player? Bit of an odd distinction if that is the case I would have thought? Why not just require three development players? You have to ask how many dev players are over 23 anyway?

I can see this U23 thing soon being raised to U25, or getting dropped like fart in a lift

Is Adrien Sturt any chance of being the U/23 player? Gives us another big presence inside and someone who can knock down the 3?

Media - There was plenty when Gilchrist arrived at the airport and first training day (in number 5) ..
none when he signed - the media was that he was our new import , on arrival...
Groves - no media yet . I'd guess when he arrives , there will be media at the airport and/or first training day...

Heal had no system in 2008. And Groves fitted in fine in Goorj's system.

I would have thought so. Has been listed at 6'5 all his career, and looks similar height to other 6'5 guys.

Nice to hear that stat about 8 threes in a game for Groves. He was clearly an elite scorer only two years ago, and is only 31 now.

Now that I have a little more info on him, I'm starting to feel pretty good about this signing and the shape of the Sixers for this season.

Thanks for the height info Journo, and I agree, we have enough size in general. Only size issue is with our bench big men. If Burston or Balls get in foul trouble we are relying on Coops, who gets pushed around a lot, and Holmes, who is too short. I'd like to see a young guy at least 6'9 and a solid build given a shot as our emergency big behind Coops and Holmes.

I like our age profile now as well. The Sixers are no longer fielding a bunch of geriatrics! Only Groves (31) and Coops (32) are over thirty and we have a group of young Aussie players that we can expect to build a team identity around.

Am I right in thinking that we must now sign three more players (to make 12) with one required to be under 23? Since Hill is only 22, but no-one has suggested him as our under 23, I assume they must also be a rookie?

I foresee good times ahead for the Sixers, which will be nice after five years of mediocrity!

KingJames- Which guy are you talking about? Matt Dubrich? I don't know if I would say he is raw, he has been through the state system and SASI for most of his junior career. I think more so he's starting to mature and develop as a big and realise that he is better suited to the keyway than outside. Has the size, has a very sweet shot and underestimates himself in strength. Would and could be unstoppable if he put his mind to it. Time will tell with him, but is only still 19 years of age.

FIBA list Hill at 198cm. I reckon Cooper is taller than he looks, he is a stooper.

Good sign, now for U23.

Who was that lad that went to the AIS? Would he qualify?

Totally agree with you Isaac, the signing gives Ninnis now the flexibility to pick the best Under 23 player available not a PG or C.

Hopefully he flourishes under our system. Will be interested to see how this team does - many variables.

PS - Skip, where did you even find a Canadian Club alarm clock?!?

I hope we see more dunks like that one he threw down at the dome when he was playing for the gong.

Groves 2008 season, along with most Dragons that year, was tainted by Heal's inability to coach a young side.

Groves can play.

I would say Hill would be 197cm. I would imagine his wing span is quite a bit longer too.

Has the points cap details been released yet? Do we know how far under we are?

By the sounds of things his character and attitude have been major influences in his signing and have outweighed any fears they may have had about his drop off in scoring at the Dragons.

Hopefully this team can now all get on the same page and play some up tempo exciting ball

Like most Goorj teams though, last season he scoring took a hit due to the way Goorj runs his team and likes to spread the scoring load.

The season before is a better indicator where he is at I reckon...

This should be good...adds a scoring punch.