Hoops

Height = Might

Australian basketball has never really been a big mans game. As a result of how they are seen and taught in the juniors, many of the NBL's 6'10 - 7'+ players tend not to dominate like the big men do in overseas leagues, especially the NBA. Of course, there have been exceptions to this. Guys like Mark Bradtke and Chris Anstey have shown big man dominance, although it must be said that while Bradtke excelled in crashing the boards and doing a lot of the 'dirty' stuff underneath the basket, Anstey often played more like a small forward in regards to his shot selection, he was more a medium range shot taker than one who'd grab an offensive board and slam dunk another 2 points, although he was quite effective at that when he wanted to be IMO.

I think 36ers fans (probably me included) expect more of DJ than what he knows. He plays more like his ex-Tigers team mate Anstey than Mark Bradtke. To be more dominant on the boards and generally in the paint he would most likely need to add bulk to his frame and change his game from that of a finesse player to being a banger. Personally I think he can be a great NBL centre in the mould of Chris Anstey. He just needs more court time than he is currently getting and more experience.

Have to agree re: how easily the bigger guys get into foul trouble because of how games are officiated these days. IMO the overall standard of the NBL refs is pretty abysmal. Way too much is let go, especially travelling.

Agree with what you said above Big Marty. I feel little guys are able to foul bigs with impunity most of the time. I'm sure you too have noticed how often tall beanpoles like Schensch and Johnson have shorter defenders stepping up underneath them and pushing them out of position. Yet the instant the big guy actually uses his bulk and puts someone on their ass they get called for a charge! Schenscher in particular would be much more dominant than he is if he wasn't hamstrung by the way the refs call the game right now.

^ Agree, Agree & Agree!

In fact it's ugly to watch an offensive player with absolutely no hope of doing anything except force his arms into the upright arms of the big .
I'd call it a force. But I don't think there's forcing fouls anymore.

Yep, too right Camel. Unfortunately alot of fouls that are called are really soft; so when a soft foul isn't called, you tend to see players complain out the arse.

The only reason is due to the lack of experience of reffing games. Even after 5 seasons of reffing in the NBL, you are as experienced as a 1st year ref in the NBA.

It makes me question how many refs are doing the job outside of the NBL season. i.e do we have these guys reffing World Championship games, International games, ABL, SEABL etc.? To build up the exp?

Standing still with arms straight up used to be a legal guarding stance.
But now the offensive player can force their arms into the upright arms and draw fouls , go to the line and get Ira Clark, Schenscher,Forman,Saville sent off.
Not pretty to watch.

Part of it too is that the NBL has never been a tall league. Now that there is an influx of height and we're starting to see an overall height increase in teams, the refereeing has to adapt; that's where the problem is.

Charges, Fouls, Screens. The standard on how these situations are viewed and monitored needs to change. That will only come from experience on the reffing side.

If we had longer seasons, then that experience would come thick and fast; unfortunately since that isn't the case, it will take a few years to transition. I think until that happens, we won't see the full potential in alot of bigs due to the limitations caused by the fouls they will get etc.

In going a step further, I believe that a number of coaches have struggled in fully utilising the strengths of their relevant big men.

As for Majok, he has what pretty no other current NBL player does not possess: a tantalising mix of height, athleticism and length. That is what makes him an attractive proposition. Given his background in that he has had limited playing time and has not spent more than 5 minutes anywhere (UConn, Turkey & Perth) I think if a team gave him 2-3 seasons to settle in, get familiar with the league and the team's systems, he could mature into a very good player. Whether he has the work ethic and desire is another issue altogether.

...but Might don't always make right!

I actually think we've had quite a decent injection of bigs that can defend the paint this season Quag. Unfortunately Nevill has now left, but we've also got Khazzouh, Schenscher, Ira Clark, Burston, Davidson, Matty Knight and a couple of young guys with some potential in Majok and Johnson.

Curious, I think you're making a pretty harsh, early call on Majok. I don't know if he has the drive to maximise his physical talents, but I saw him block shots and make plays in his first couple of games I have NEVER seen from an NBL player. If he wants to be an NBL great, I think he absolutely could be. We'll have to wait and see if he sticks around and develops his game or not though. I do agree that he has a lot of work to do.

I noticed that the AFL are going to the US to look for some 7 foot Basketballers to stick up forward in the goal square.
Could be interesting seeing they haven't got a
3 second or off-side rule.

I just said Majok COULD be that type of guy...never said he was now.

Bradkte did very well in the NBL too...as did Simon Dwight.

Ater Majok could be that guy in the NBL too. He is big, athletic and loves to block shots.

I tend to agree with Quagmire in that an athletic big man that defends the rim can be far more valuable to a team that just points scored.

Because for some reason we forgive scorers who cannot defend a tree but our bigs have to not only run the floor (the whole floor - not just foul line to foul line), rebound everything, bang bodies, make every 'easy' shot they take (which is always accompanied by contact) and block shots and if they dont have a sweet 15' jumper as well they are 'gumbies'.

Points scored seem to be worth much more than points denied?!!