Hoops

Hopes and plans for the Sixers

Bruce shot 39% from 3pt in college, finished with career stats of FG 43%, 3P 39%, 14 pts, 3.5 assists, if he can replicate them in the NBL at some stage i think he could play SG and provide some consistant 3p shooting, and give us more than Ng, Williamsons, etc, or use Daly as the shooter (if thats his game) or his spot to find a good 3pt shooter to play spot minutes, and if the import is someone who can also shoot the 3pter along with Ballinger i dont think its too bad.

Probably true though it probably will end up being 2 of Shannon/Import, Bruce, Carter, if thats the case im chosing Bruce/Carter and a stud import SG/SF and going after the best Aussie/NZ SG/SF we can get, may be worth taking the risk on Harvey's injuries and use him as the 3pt shooter,

Maybe a team of

PG Bruce/Carter
SG Harvey/Newley (ask the question no matter how unlikely) or Import/Daly or 3pt shooter (Greenwood)
SF Creek/Hill
PF Ballinger/Dowdell (or Harris or someone cheeper if not enough points or $$)
C Schenscher or import/Johnson

would be better

Ah intersting times ahead for the 36ers, even though i dont think we will make the playoffs this season but with good young(ish) aussies like Creek, Bruce, Johnson, Carter, Hill, Dowdell around the club we have a good core to build around and we have to try and keep as many of those guys as possible and target top players like Schenscher, Newley, or good imports and we should improve.

oops i missed Creek, leave him in as back up SF or PF instead of Hill or Johnson

My team for the 36ers next year is

PG Shannon/Carter
SG Bruce/Herbert
SF Creek/Hill
PF Ballinger/Dowdell
C Schenscher/Johnson

Just run with Schenscher as our 2nd import

I have always liked Holmes and Ng, but both are 2 of the older Aussies on the team and probably 2 of the most one dimensional, i like them both but if we can keep both Carter and Bruce and Herbert recovers well i think they are upgrades on Ng, and then for me its between Dowdell and Holmes for back up PF, i picked Dowdell mostly because he is bigger and younger, but wouldnt mind Holmes as back up PF at the same time,

i just cant see a team with Ballinger and Holmes at starting PF and C being great, so we have to recruit someone like Schensch and let one of them go or give Johnson the green light and plenty of minutes at C and run Holmes off the bench, which is what i hope they do the rest of this year.

I'd use Bruce at SG in a Maher like role, i could be wrong, but didnt he play mostly SG in his awesome college season? It also gives us 2 good ball handlers and play makers on the court most of the time which helps against some of the high pressure teams.

Part of me thinks we should also go for a 8 man rotation and activate say Harris and Daly as our 9 and 10 man, while hopefully upgrading say 2 of Hill or Herbert or Dowdell ( i left Hill in as he is having his best season and is younger than Herbert and not coming off injury) and bringing in a 2nd import along with Schenscher, giving us a roster of

PG Shannon/Carter
SG Bruce/Daly
SF IMPORT (Ebi Ere would be awesome) or a top Aussie like Redhage or Wortho/Hill
PF Ballinger/Johnson (or Dowdell if Johnson is more expensive and too much higher on points)
C Schenscher/Harris

Will we see the sixers run one short , without Ng, on Sunday?

Was discussing the subbing situation with a friend before social last night. Given the new 40 minute format, why are we running 9 and 10 deep on any given night?

Surely guys can run a game out with more minutes than they're currently getting. Seems to prevent a few guys from getting into their rhythm.

Agree Brad my man. Wasn't arguing with you, just continuing on your post.

It seems the general consensus with news writers and commentators when it comes the Marty Clarke's tactics is "what the?".

No one seems to get the lineups and/or the subbing. We've seen mixed results from it.

To para-phrase the subject title: I hope there's a plan for the Sixers.

The Brad, height isn't the only factor in rebounding. Guys like Holmes are the perfect rebounders because they read the deflections before the ball hits the rim and know where to be. Holmes also has the drive to actually "bang" under the rim and get the ball. Wilkinson isn't exactly a "banger", he just didn't get boxed out and got the easy putbacks

Balls can read the rebounds well but doesn't exactly seem to work well with 1-2 people on him. Wouldn't call him "Premiere" in relation to rebounding.

While Ng is a good shooter, he doesn't have the pick n' pop yet. Certainly can shoot a set shot but he's not Maher yet. Once Ng can come of a screen regularly and drop a 10-15ft shot at will, then he's set. He's been stepping up this year though; if he becomes more of a focal point, he can arguably start and become a centerpiece.

Re: Howard. I think Howard is realising what alot of other imports do in this league and that's "There is alot less space to move".

D-League and NBA usually have plenty of space to drive and make room because the style of play allows for more individual gameplay.

In the NBL games, I tend to see the lane collapse alot quicker; you'll find that the majority of slasher type imports don't react quick enough or are put off by the lack of lane. Guys like Homicide and Ervin prefer the collision and/or are quick enough to wiggle past the defence and still score.

Unless there is some kind of NBA iso play (highly unlikely) then guys like Howard won't get that many shots. Unfortunately it's all based on the mindset of the player as to whether they can or can't.

Howard is a problem, because he does not seem a catch and shoot type. He wants to put it on the floor before he shoots ala Sanders. He does not have the handle to face up and sit the guy back to give him room to get off his shot. His shooting form looks great but he is not getting open looks so he forces stuff.
Sixers have no margin for error when they play. Few easy baskets, so your guys are always under the pump.
It's hard to get results under that scenario.

Lol at Loco

My primary concern with shifting Hill to the shooting guard roll is that he can't shoot.

And honestly, if Clarke doesn't care about height at the 5 spot, then put Holmes at the 5-spot and at least let balls have his natural 4-spot back.

Personally anything Holmes takes shotwise that isn't within 5ft isn't wasting your time on.

As Isaac has mentioned, some believe starting DJ and Ballinger = bleeding points, but something needs to happen in the big man department or we're toast.

Personally, I'd:

- Start DJ at 5 and see how he reacts with increased minutes and responsibility. Dowdell as back-up.

- Keep Ballinger starting at 4 and structure a lot more plays around his low post game / penetrate and dish to mid-range jumper alla Grace / Fisher back inthe day. Switch to 5 for limited minutes only as required.

- Keep Holmes starting purely for his interior presence, rebounding and maturity.

- Keep starting Shannon with a view to the penetrate and dish to mid-range / wings as mentioned above.

- Experiment starting Howard for a couple more games before pulling the pin. Use him as a purely spot up 2 with plays structured for him. If he can't deliver, bench and look at Creek to start until Carter is back.

- Hill to come off the bench as an impact player with minutes dependant on form on any given night.

- Keep Bruce getting solid minutes off the bench and see how he progresses. Solid back-up to Shannon and handy in a press.

- Offensively: I'm not sure why we have so many plays with no motion and 4 flat footed guys watching one guy go 1 on 1, but it's street hoops stuff and not helping. More structure required.

- Defensively: Gamble with the press more often, especially when Carter is back. If nothing else, it'll lift intensity. Rotate Daly in if required.

My 2c as an arm chair expert.

If Howard is a dud for the next half a dozen or so games with increased minutes, then re-evaluate. Possibly cut with no replacement if the season is a write-off.

Yeh apart from the one off 17 point game he had he has done nothing. DJ starting would be smart and im hoping if we pick up a few more losses that Clarke really starts experimenting a bit more and see what some of these guys can do.

now with Ng injured i would like to see Harris suit up, but we will suffer a little more from the 3.

Easy answer. If Marty's all about experimenting with lineups and what will suit best, he needs to look at trying out DJ as the Starting 5-man already.

Next, he needs to bench Howard and start someone in his place; probably look at rotating Hill down to the 2-spot to cover for a missing Darren Ng and get Creek to start.

Yeah... Howard is an import, but he hasn't done diddle so far. I'd rather follow the idea of teams like New Zealand and Wollongong and have one import off the bench.

It's time again for the 36ers Quiz Night:

Tuesday, 31 October 2006
@ 7.30 pm
Distinctive Homes Dome,
Apollo Restaurant
44a Crittenden Road, Findon

Tickets $50 for table of 10

Bring your own nibbles
Bar open with cheap drinks
(BYO drinks not permitted)

36ers players in attendance

Great Prizes, Great Fun

To book a table contact the Distinctive Homes Dome during office hours on 8444 6444 or see the Supporters Group on game nights