Hoops

Sixers vs Townsville, Sep 9 at the Dome

X, I love how you always keep the conversation beyond reproach! :D

the kids under 15 thing worked a treat. I think the show stand exposure probably helped. havent been to the show and dont want to. but families generally wander around everywhere and im sure they came across the sixers stand and the 10 dollar ticket with kids under 15 free sounded like a good night out.

+1 for the crowd turnout - was great to see. Extremely vocal, too. And they were treated to a great finish.

So, the refs let some rough stuff, singlet holding and the like go, but called some of it.
Winder stepped in the middle of Schenscher-Ballinger push and shove, later gave an unsportsmanlike for takling Schenscher.
When we were behind Winder pushed it along with a few drives and shots - got us in front. He can do both - push it along himself and feed it.

Tornado, I know the rebounding count was even. Tville still have 2 bigs in Freeman & Hinder to come back in. Rebounding guards are great (Mahersy was oe of the best) bu they will find it hard to rebound and finish at the other end of the break. Not knocking anyone just notice we struggled in that department last year and Burston is probably a better rebounder than DJ.

Big Sexy - You're probably right. Besides, it's early days and we're already improved on last season's structure.

There were still a few too many 4 guys flat footed, one-on-one situations but that happens.

I think Tom Daly was introduced as a player at the start, but i don't think he got on the court.
5-10mins a game from Sam Harris would be handy for this team, although I've mentioned that before.

Nutwork, not if Devries and holmes do what they were doing last night. they handled a lot of boards.

I couldn't make the game, but in the box score I noticed DJ & Dowdell combined for 1 rebound in about 35 minutes, are we gonna get spanked by the bigger teams on the boards?

Oh I forget...

Refs - Mother of GOD! Just... I mean... what the... ARGH! So frustrating. Was it work experience night? Just horrible.

i agree with previous comments that the sixers let in a little too much from the perimeter, it seemed whenever the crocs passed it there would be a double team waiting and then someone else is free for the three. but defensively the structure there last night is better than anything we had last season. everyone seemed to be working for it and trying to get steals wherever they could where as last season that effort wasnt there. its too early to judge how its going to turn out but as mentioned earlier the foundations are definitely there for a top 4 team easily, its just going to come down to the team working together and the coach.

the one thing i did love was at the end of the game looking at the personal points for our team and it goes to show we dont just have one danger man anymore, our entire team is putting points down which will make us harder to defend.

I seriously liked the intensity of the team, everyone seems to be on the same page and they are all willing to work for each other. That goes a long way.

My main point of concern was Balls at centre....it took him completely out of the game on the offensive end. We need him to get more minutes at PF than C if we are going to get anywhere this season.

This to me looks like a team that will be competetive against anyone, providing we work on the perimter D.

Was a good hitout to start the season, we have plenty to work on, and by the sounds of it a plyaer to replace.

Winder - Agree with Isaac. I might be paranoid, but I see a bit of the "I'll be the hero here!" in him. Made some big plays but also had some ugly turn overs / decisions. That foul with 2 secs on the shot clock had me cringing. Looks to have a good handle, sweet jumper (gets up when he shoots it) and some good elevation. I like that he seems to want to direct the team in TOs etc as a PG should.

DeVries - Good solid 2 guard, kinda like the SG version of Dusty. Blue collar, reliable hustler. I likes.

Carter - Started slow but showed a decent handle getting into the game. Good back up option to Winder.

Ng - I'm still a huge fan, but we knew that. I'd like to really see him step up this year. Still believe he will.

Herbert - Poor guy. Heart goes out big time.

Hill - Showed his athleticism is still there. Confidence seems up a little. Here's hoping he progresses and becomes the penetrator he should be. Being left handed is a huge asset.

Holmes - Did as Holmes done; bangs body, rebounds and don't take no guff from no one!

Dowdell - I was impressed to be honest and I didn't think I would be. Seems like another solid guy willing to bang. Not overly tall, but showed glimpses of decent touch and handle.

Johnson - Why did we sign DJ if he's going to sit down most of the night? Very frustrating. Must be a reason in there somewhere, I'm sure. Only pre-season still.

Ballinger - As you'd expect, but here in lies my biggest fear for this team; we just can't have Balls play 5 all the time. He gets over worked and taken out of his natural game. We saw it all last season - he's forced to work twice as hard defending against a taller 5 spot and he winds up exhausted. DJ needs more minutes and Balls needs to go to 4. Marty was saying as much in press conferences.

Clarke - Very early days and unfair to judge the guy on a pre-season game. Still, not a lot of structured offence that I could follow.

Overall - AWESOME entertainment and great advert for the league / team. Intensity was up on D, which was great to see.

Looking forward to the season.

Mottram was in the crowd last night. Ballanger, like he did a few years back, and Dowdell are too small at centre and I expect will struggle against teams like the Crocs and Tiger if expected to defend the opposition big guys every game. Sixers might struggle to close out shooters if they need to provide help in the pivot.

DJ needs to start at the 5; with Balls rotating around to replace him and have Dowdell slide into the 4 spot.

Holmes, still a fantastic rebounder.

How many Blocks did Winder get in the end? I counted something like 3-4 total.

De Vries could have got a double-double (close enough) with all the boards.

props on the win and it's nice that you guys finally have some imports that you are happy with lol

Ballinger started at centre. Devries started well. Schenscher started well. While we had 29points at qtr time, it looked like we'd get our 100points.
We looked a little short at times. I'd like a little bit of Harris. Winder did a lotta good things. Maybe highlight otf the nite were his rejects.
Maybe 2500 ish - quite a lot had never been b4 and a 1point win would see a lotta people coming back in a little bit of excitement.Players signing a lotta autographs for 10 mins after.
So very sorry Herbie - happened right in front of me- agonising.

i agree with Isaac there regarding Winder, he went about his job quietly, didn't look to catch fire, but that is a good thing because he could be the type of player like Willie Farley, that when he catches fire it is over for the other side...

Yea great first up game, like the intensity, and Winder looks the goods from that performance if he can do that as his average game he is gonna be good, i agree with Isaac he was good without really setting the world on fire i reckon he could have some big scoring nights in the season.
Spewing about Herbert, i was sad to see him go down he is a quality player, who can we get to replace him? I hear gold cost are going for guys like Bruce and Tait, though we dont necesarily need a PG they could be handy, what other decent aussie options for Herberts level of points and cash are availble.

Would say

PG Winder/Carter
SG Devries/Bruce or Tait
SF Holmes/Ng
PF Ballinger/Hill
C Johnson/Dowdell

work??

What about a guy like Mottram or Vasiljevic, we could do with someone to guard guys like Schenscher.

All the best Herbert, I hope you recover soon!

I also hope the 36ers find a quality fill in for him.

blaylocks 4 points were unstoppable.....lol

sixers did well some minor glitches but damn we look good out there. Defense was damn impressive. So much for being short we were getting boards all night. Schench did a bit of damage but once the d stepped up he had minimal answers. Very impressed. De vries is looking awesome same with winder. Carter too was impressive.

Will Herbert's unfortunate demise open the door for Sam Harris? The sixers looked seriously short on the defensive end at times.

Sixers win by a point with a block by Winder to deny Crocs with seconds on the clock.

This squad has a spine, I thought they were gone after Herbert messed up his knee. THey faltered initially but showed guts in the final quarter.

A solid team effort with no stars, just a team all on the same page.

why wouldnt there be tickets at the door?

Looking forward to this like mad. It's been too long since we were at BMC for a Sixers game! hopefully we can get a least 2000 there tonight, 3000 would be even better...

yes tip off at 7:30. should be good fun.

yeah i'll be there, Sixers by 11

I cant wait for this and its only the pre season lol

Go You Sixers!!!

Did Isaac ever come up with that "Ignore Anons" toggle functionality?

An article on foxsports.com.au about CJ in Brisbane says:

"Meanwhile Brisbane is not counting on having swing guard Stephen Black on the court this season after undergoing major surgery recently."

they are looking at an import replacement shooting guard.

hopefully not anon regarding the fading bit, otherwise we may as well just have kept ninnis

yeh i think with all the mucking around of plays and moving players around it will make it a close game the whole way through, but it will be hard to topple the sixers. will be great to give winder a nice warm welcome too

Sixers will be hard to topple at home, Sixers by 5

Sixers by awesome.

It's been a LONG wait, but I'll be upstairs at Apollo dining with the old man before returning to my long lost home on the center aisle.



* warms arms up for patented protestation pose *

"AWWWW! C'MON!!"

Yeah, there it is.