Hoops

Bednall on 36ers: What to do this off-season

Tornado, nice post.

Unfortunately money doesn't judge the quality of a player. You're relying on past games and stats generally to give a player worth; whether that level is justified and more importantly, maintained, while that player is under contract to you is another.

Technically all our imports had backgrounds and stats that would potentially warrant big bucks, but in play, that didn't turn out to be the case.

Ng can score and hit 3's. You need at least 1-2 bench players capable of doing that at least. He's worth keeping for that scoring punch; until you can find someone better.

Anon #314241, I've heard rumors that "Open Space + Well Versed shooter = High Probability of a shot going down".

I see you attended the school of the blatantly obvious as well.

MACDUB, they're nice gaudy numbers from Rush, but how good is the Swedish league realistically? I'm thinking significantly below NBL standard. Would Rush be an impact player or another role player? I agree with you that if the Sixers could find two gun imports it would solve all our problems, but on our recent track record, the chances of that are slim.

I do think our roster needs a serious overhaul, but I fear it may be hard for SOS to part company with Ng and Hill. If we have to keep those two and we have already signed DJ, Balls and Creek then its hard to truly blow the team up.

Herbert could be retained as a starter as long as he can do three things: defend his position, play smart and make open threes when teams try to shut down Balls or DJ. Pretty sure he can do the first two things and from Marty's comments, they think he can do the third too.

If we get Gibson, then I think we need a top notch offensive player, probably an import, who can shoot from range, handle the ball, finish at the rim. Basically a do it all guy. They seem hard to come by though.

The need for a star SF like this and having a guy like Creek waiting in the wings does make Hill expendable in my view. Its gonna depend on SOS finding that star player and signing him though.

If we ended up with a starting five like this I'd be happy:

DJ
Balls
Mythical Star Import Scorer
Herbert
Gibson/ Ervin-like PG

Failing that, plug Dorsey or Gilder in at SF and it wouldn't be too bad.

Then fill in the gaps on the bench. Holmes would be okay as one of the bench bigs, but we need another guy with a bit of size off the bench to cover us when DJ or Balls gets in foul trouble.

Creek is an obvious keeper and I think Daly should get another year as a development player too.

I'd keep Carter as the backup PG.

Ng I thought finally showed me something and then he got injured. Probably would be ok off the bench, but it depends on who else pops up.

There are going to be some difficult decisions ahead as to who to axe so as to make space for new talent in the team.

We have a lot of 'second-tier' players who are great off the bench and who have pretty even skill and talent levels. Who doesn't make it will have to depend on how well those players complement the first-tier talent we have to bring in, what their player points ratings are and how much dosh they are asking.

I don't think that there is room on the roster for a true finals contender for:

1. both Carter and Bruce at PG;

2. more than two of Herbert, Ng and Hill at SG/SF; and

3. both Holmes and Dowdell at PF/C.

It is a difficult task because I think each of the above are fine in backup roles, but none have proven they are first choice starters at NBL level (I include Holmes in that, who has probably been starting for 4 years now. That might be telling us something).

Whoever gets left out needs to be replaced with starter-quality players in each spot, which can include two new imports.

I am glad I don't have to make the decisions though, because the choices are line ball in each case for mine. It should depend at the end of the day on team balance and points/salary.

There are those that think we must be poor and are acting the part.
There are 36 that went to a 36ers supporters meeting , last season and were told that we spent
$965,000, leaving a bit for insurance.
While some will post that it's time to spend more.

Ng stays - His defence is under rated and we're not making the most out of his range.

Hill - Meh.

Was Harris an experiment that didn't work ?
(Playing seabl, now . Even stuff which people loathe about Cortez Groves, I like. As an Aussie off the bench.)

Rather than going for imports that already exist, why not go ahead with a US trip and scout for an import?

I don't see the need for 2 imports nowadays. There's enough local talent of a set caliber that will get us a winning team.

Gibson and Schensher are decent targets and upgrades on what we have. The "single" import that everyone seems so keen on getting should be ignored completely.

I dont think he was that off the mark,

personally id add atleast 3 new recruits being 2 imports and a top aussie like Gibson, only if we can grab 2 top aussies like Schenscher and Gibson would i go with only 1 import,
my ideal scenario would be grab 2 imports and Schenscher and Gibson.

But yea the only change id make 2 his team is say the recruit pg is Gibson, id grab Galen Young as back up C, playing Johnson 25+mins per game, and replace either Hill or Ng with a import Sg/SF ala Ron Dorsey.

I personally would chose Bruce over Carter but wont be too upset either way there, as he said its a 50/50 in many ways, i just think Bruce is/will be the better player.

This would give us pretty much the team Issac suggested a while ago of

Johnson/Young
Ballinger/Holmes
Dorsey/Creek
Herbert/Ng or Hill
Gibson/Carter or Bruce

as apposed to the line up in the paper, not too far off and id say thats the worst case scenario and is better than this years team, but am hoping for a little more than Bednalls team being atleast 3 new starters, if possible my ideal would be to grab another Aussie starter ala Schenscher or Barlow along with Gibson and 2 imports and drop Holmes or Ng or Hill or whoever to make it fit

You are all wrong!!

Change the coach!!!!

If your not going to be a good defensive team, then you better have enough firepower to outscore your opponents ala the Breakers.

The 36ers this year had neither -- No real offensive firepower (lack of production from imports) and some lacklustre defence.

IMO, the choice of imports for next season becomes unbelievably significant.
Mainly because you can't rely on Holmes, Creek, Ng, Carter/Bruce, or even Johnson to go out and score CONSISTENTLY. Offensive production from all these players is hit or miss, unfortunately.
36ers need two stud imports that can score consistently--two imports that Clarke can have faith in and say pre-game "X and Y will give us their 45 points combined tonight".

If I was the 36ers, I would be going after Liam Rush.
Rush would help out the 36ers big time.

Averaged 19.3 ppg over in Sweden, struck at 43 % from 3, and 56 % FG.

Furthermore, he is 6"8 so im sure he could help out in the rebounding department and interior defence.

Newley chatted about europe , when he was here playing boomers v argentina. He called almost everything "great , just great."
($650,00 for 2 years)

Dorsey looked pretty good on Friday.