Hoops

Breakers sign Rickert; Dave Thomas to be replaced

Dave Thomas definatly has class and I would agree, shame injury has stopped him being a breaker.

I have said it before, but three to four years ago DT would be the first person I would have chosen to build a team around. I have always loved the way he goes about the game: exciting but not overly flashy, an individual contributor without needing the ball, an honest defender, good hussler, the ultimate team man. Despite being a Tiger, he has always epitomised class.

I would like to think that it is not all over for his career, but I suspect it is. Congrats to DT for his contributions, it is a shame he never played for the Sixers in his prime. :-)

That's right Isaac, Whitehead would not be a good fit for New Zealand.

Would have fit much better at Gold Cast under Wright -he is an open court, freelance type player.

I think Forman is better suited to the 4-spot in the NBL. So a rebounding, defensive swingman who can hhit an open three would work.

Tremell Darden fits that description, but maybe the Breakers ahve higher aspirations than that??

Boucher doesnt come cheap, but he aint expensive anymore either.

Rickert is a good, solid player. If his back has recovered he could be even more than that.

Smart signing, and with the form of Pledger for the Tall Blacks, the Breakers may have a pretty decent combo in the middle

Rickett is a good signing for NZ as he is respected by the players and brings hustle and a bit of size and agility to the paint to go alongside the Bear.
I struggle to see what was so horrible about all the boards he pulled down last year? NZ don't need flashy Imports, they sell games out anyway, the need people who are going to contribute and hustle with good character who are going to put the team first not their ego.
Props to Dave Thomas for being honest and looking out for the Breakers interests by withdrawing from his contract. Tom Abercrombie is getting his shot now, Phill Jones is gone and will be contibuting elsewhere, Abercrombie is looking like the future while Phill is the past, NZ are moving forward and hopefully towards a championship. Abercrombie has been starting for NZ in the recent tour of Europe and put up some good numbers in some tough games. Be interesting to see who the next Breakers Import will be but I agree that it's a pretty strong outfit on paper already.

That is a pretty strong team. The Breakers have an advantage if they push it. There's no reason they can get a clean sweep at home and aim to win at least 50% on the road.

Lindsay makes comeback for GET Sydney Uni Flames Narelle Lindsay flew into Sydney on Thursday to fill the void of point guard for the G.E.T. Sydney Uni Flames. Lindsay received a phone call from her former coach Karen Dalton after the Flames lost their first home game against the Adelaide Fellas on Friday night. "Ive had a year off so Im nervous but very excited to be playing again. The team has changed a lot in two seasons so it will be a new challenge for me," said Lindsay. After three seasons, Lindsay left the Flames as the starting point guard to pursue a career with Sports Medicine Australia in her home town of Adelaide. Lindsay, 26, played in three consecutive grand finals in her three seasons with the Flames, winning the championship in 2001/02. She had previously won a championship with the Adelaide Lighting in 1998 (ironically it was against the Sydney Flames). In 2005, Lindsay was voted to the ABA National All Star Five team as the point guard. The position has so far been ably filled by league newcomer Vicki Brick but the game on Friday was the third loss in four matches for the Flames, despite an amazing forwards lineup which includes Opals Natalie Porter, Trish Fallon and Belinda Snell. After finishing last years Price Attack WNBL as runners-up, the G.E.T. Sydney Uni Flames recruited two star point guards including Opals Alicia Poto and Kristen Veal. Poto tore her anterior cruciate ligament during an Opals match in August, sidelining her before the season had begun. Veal, who spent five years with the Canberra Capitals, is also injured until December. Lindsay will be reunited with the team this Saturday night when the G.E.T. Sydney Uni Flames do battle with the Canberra TransACT Capitals, in their second home game at the Sydney University Sports and Aquatic Centre from 7pm.

He's about the only player who played for the Tigers whom I respected as a player and a nice personality off the court.
Hope he has a speedy recovery.

Whilst DT would should have been a great fit for the Breakers the injury cloud would surely have been a worry.

I don't think we will see DT pop up anywhere else.