Hoops

NSW Metro win both golds at 18s nationals

Nick Duncan had an awesome game for NSW looking at LIVE STATS, I think his overall game result was a +20 with Ben Simmons being one of the stand outs for Vic.

Most of the National team going to China will be made up from these two teams, rightly so...

It appeared that NSW relied more on their 3 point game overall than Vic when you check their previous games and sometimes that is what either hurts you or keeps you in it, especially in close games like this one.

Wish I could have seen the game, I wouldn't think a DVD of it was available, now that would be great to get ones hands on......!

Yes and I was watching the grand final and would in no way say that the Vic boys crumbled. Infact they had control most of the game. NSW stayed in touch with a couple of 3s that were a bit lucky and an outstanding game by Nicholas Duncan (I think No. 7). It was a very entertaining game to watch with excellent shooting by the Vic's in the first half then NSW in the second. I would say the boys on the bench were more than happy with the win by their reaction, you have to win the whole tournament to get the medal not just the final game. Even players that get injured in earlier games have still have their input. An excellent effort by all involved they should be congratulated.

Come on guys, Dante hits the 3 pointer with 3 seconds on the clock and wins the game for Vic Metro and we are all singing his praises...

55 points each and NSW hit a free throw so a time out is called with 3 seconds on the clock and Vic met is down by a point!

That's why we love the game, close finish with a shot at the end that could give you the grand stand ending!

Give these boys all some credit, they played their hearts out and gave all they could, you don't play 6 preliminary games and two finals if you crumble at the first real test and I don't call a one point loss a crumble, really...

Yeah, coaching is a tough gig no matter which way you look at it!

Here is a quote once given to me:

"Sport does not build character as much as it reveals it!"

That goes for coaches, players, parents, spectators and officals I'm sure...

Anyone who has coached junior basketball in a tournament that means something, like State Champs or Nationals, or even less impressively credentialled tournaments out there knows that when you get to the finals it is a different ball game.

As a coach you are damned if you do and damned if you don't!

Try to do the diplomatic thing and give all your team court time and get it wrong by losing the final and you will be criticised, keep a couple on the bench and win and again you can be treated unfairly...

Yes, give them all a run as best you can during preliminary games and in situations where they can gain experience, even during tight situations when the opportunity arises.

Then make sure they watch from the bench to learn from the more accomplished players, then make sure you communicate what you are looking for and what every player is expected to do and their roles within the team...

Then at least you can feel you have done your best regardless of the result!

Those who comment without the experience of coaching in such circumstances should qualify that their opinion is not fact, just their opinion, I think!

Congratulations to NSW Metro Women's U/18 coach Justin Brayley ex country Vic junior. Good to see that varied pathways to coaching positions can lead to success and a break from predictable formulas and pathways. Look forward to watching his progress in the future.

Don't usually stutter, sorry......

Lots of negativity around out there regarding stereo types and the athlete versus the player...

The same arguement is often spoken about footballers these days, what a performance by Jobe Watson, a footballer through and through, not so much an athlete turned into a footballer!

Conversly, basketball is what it is and you can't tell me that coaches all over the world don't want tall players, especially if they show some potential...

There it is, that word (POTENTIAL), those of us that see taller kids grow up and develop slower or those who suddenly shoot up in their teens understand that they develop their hand - eye skills a little later and that is often overlooked...

NITP programs focus so much on shooting these days, maybe we need to understand that coaches at the elite level know what they are doing and accept that you can't have a team of 6 foot shooters up against a team of 6"8' players, they will not always win regardless!

Lots of negativity around out there regarding stereo types and the athlete versus the player...

The same arguement is often spoken about footballers these days, what a performance by Jobe Watson, a footballer through and through, not so much an athlete turned into a footballer!

Conversly, basketball is what it is and you can't tell me that coaches all over the world don't want tall players, especially if they show some potential...

There it is, that word (POTENTIAL), those of us that see taller kids grow up and develop slower or those who suddenly shoot up in their teens understand that they develop their hand - eye skills a little later and that is often overlooked...

NITP programs focus so much on shooting these days, maybe we need to understand that coaches at the elite level know what they are doing and accept that you can't have a team of 6 foot shooters up against a team of 6"8' players, they will not always win regardless!

Using the link to LIVE STATS I was enjoying every minute of the games I could follow from Victoria, what a great system, 30 second updates and all the stats you would want...

Congratulations to all the teams who participated, well done to the medal winners and in particular to the Vic Country men and women just missing out on making semi finals and ending up in 5th - 6th position games.

Really looking forward to the next Nationals being the under 16's in Tamworth in July...

Hard to beat the weight of numbers in Melbourne and Sydney, especially when we consider how far the country teams travel for their training and the difficulties they have to overcome compared to their city/metro team mates.