Hoops

Boti: Time to start Johnson at C, Balls at PF

Regardless of whether he starts or not DJ has to play more minutes given fouls.

fstos, S m y t h e used Balls very effectively (as well as any coach) and always got the most out of him, but at a time when the Sixers were also blessed with a three pronged offensive structure (as were pretty much all of the S m y t h e teams). Of course, those were the one-and-done days.

Nice to see that Boti also picked up on that first play run for Winder. I posted in the get rid of Winder thread. I thought during the game that the 6ers would have exploited the hell out of it because they could have surrounded Winder with players who could all knock down the open jumper and also put the heat right on the duminutive and defensively challenged Ervin. One of two things must have happened. 1. The genius Gordie took the play away by some brilliant and previously unknown secret defensive stategy. 2. Marty f....d up big time by forgeting the sucess of the one and only time he used it. Poor recognition by all concerned.
As far as Ballinger goes I have not seen a coach yet (Joyce was very poor) who can best use his skill set. He has to be the focal point and you need to direct a large part of your attack through him and for him. I don't think it matters if he is the 4 or 5, its where he gets his shots.

You would think that a Johnson and Balls would go together though wouldn't you? ; )

Ballinger fan,
correct. There was a lot in there about the cunningness and cleverness of Gordy and how he basically has turned Oscar into a machine who has realised his potential, plus the two "old coges" of the NBL in the starting 5, where they wouldn't get a run as waterboys in other teams.

*sigh*

There's height on the team, but most of it is benched atm.

If DJ isn't going to start at the 5, I'd look at rotating Dowdell into the lineup to play it with Balls at the 4.

I know he's not really built for the position and is more of an impact player, however he can certainly a hustle player and seems to work well with Balls down in the post. Decent touch with low post scoring too.

My first suggestion over this though would be to bring Carter in as the Starting PG and bring Winder off the bench and see what that does for a game.

I have been impressed with DJ so far. He plays a good solid game, so I assume he hasn't started because Marty doesn't want to throw him to the wolves.

Sydney is going to be a big test for our talls. Sydney has got Kazzouh who is listed at 209 cm and 100 kg. I would have thought JK at about another 10 kgs. DJ is listed at 212 and 108. Balls at 205 and 113. DJ has the height and strength over Kazzouh, but I know Balls is like a brick sh#thouse at the moment and would push Kazzough around the key like a snag on a barbie.

Kazzough is averaging 29 mins and yielding 18 ppg and 11 rpg. Certainly someone we want to neutralise. Taj is the other problem child at Sydney. 16 ppg is a good stat by anyone.

We need to ice the next game against Sydney. Reckon a strong starting 5 of:

Winder; De Vries; Holmes; Ballinger; Johnson

This puts Balls on Taj, although a matchup with Holmes might take the Taj Mahal out of the equation and free up Balls to be fed the ball. I would give DJ the first 5 minutes on Kazzough, and if he gets beaten, then swap it all around.

Having Johnson start as C may provide a greater opportunity to get that vital first play from the tip off.