Hoops

Marty Clarke quote - pumping up the Sixers coaches

That's for more game-style training, in a year of bombing Imports.

The Age on Sunday - he's asked the NBL to go to 15 contracted players and one Import.

Fans want him to sign more Nevills or Aters.

I'd hate to work for you anon. Marty has coached 13 professional games of ball. He has walked into a club that has been a basket case since 2003. He has one established star in Balls, an experienced but very limited role player in Holmes and a bunch of guys still trying to prove they belong. What, do you expect him to do a Smyth and win the championship his first season?

I do think further roster changes need to be made next season, but in the meantime, all that Marty can do is get improvement out of his current roster. I think he is doing that.

Marty needs to rethink the quotes he gives the media. That's a couple of shockers now. But I don't have a problem with how he is coaching the team.

Results aren't there yet, but this is a work in progress. Aside from Balls, Shannon and Jacob, we have a roster of players that haven't established who they are as NBL players yet. We are very green, with most of the rest of the roster under 25.

In general, I think the WAY this team plays is much better than last year. The Melbourne game we were horrible, but in the games I have watched this year, I have started seeing us put together stretches where all five guys are playing defence together! I rarely felt that way last year. Likewise, the ball has moved more and *gasp* I have actually seen the Sixers play smart TEAM offence at times!

Brad Hill is playing so much better now that he knows his role on the team. He knows he is primarily in the starting lineup for his defence and rebounding, which it looks like he is starting to take some pride in. Offensively, he has had the confidence to start knocking down the open three and is smarter when he puts the ball on the floor.

Ng has started shooting the ball with confidence - you could see it in his eyes on NYE. For the first time ever, I have started believing he could be a decent NBL player!

Dowdell, who was a discard from two clubs, is playing very well off the bench.

Carter has been a revelation at the point.

Now sure, Marty's making mistakes (I think DJ needs to play more, esp against big teams like Melbourne) but even Goorj does that. But its the 1st year for him in the big time, he has a young team and so far only 1 of his 4 imports has been a success. (Lets face it, imports are a crap shoot, esp for a guy whose background is developing young Aussie talent - I don't blame him for bad imports).

I think we will continue to be up and down this season, but we have the makings of a good team here.

" It's not an effort thing. " He told ABC TV News at Adelaide Airport , just then.
" Lost confidence. You lose confidence at the defensive end and it causes you to lose confidence at the offensive end. "

( Imagine Maric .. no.. Nevill did that damage to us I'd guess. )

He'd been stung by the criticism.
'The other team has a coach, too . ADL fans should know that.' Was he pulling our collective legs.

We trained hard Wed Thurs. Very hard. Peaked Friday.
Don't think we got 40 deg. C here. on friday.
Don't know what they did Sat ? Hopefully rested.
Flew to MEL on Sun and played the second worst game ever.
Something went wrong.
Imagine we'll train hard agen this week and NZ game will be close here and interesting to look at Ater
Wildcats game here.

Howard our best shooter in his first game.
Shot terribly next 2 (and at training) Wonder if somethings wrong.

EC, you're quite correct. I thought after beating the Hawks, we might see a different team with balance and structure. Tonight we saw how a team can capitulate in less than a half of regulation time. Not one bad quarter but 4. I think this week needs to be all about teamwork, team orientation and going back to basics considering we are set to play NZ at home.

I sit corrected guys - just seemed like a lot

Cairns did well before the season started due to a drink driving offence.

To be fair, everyone except Perth I think has changed at least one import so I wouldnt be too hard on Clarke for that one. However, talk, unlike bad personnel decisions, is cheap - wins will do a far more towards his credibility.

Obviously feeling very confident after the win against the Hawks.

I don't mind a coach who stands by their convictions so long as the team supports the coach and wins games.

I prefer to hear Marty talking with conviction than feeding the media with cliches and analogues.

One of the best remembered sports related comments (in this country at least) from this past decade was that of Mr Mark Williams. Apparently Allan Scott was wrong.