Hoops

Crocs Sign G. Ervin

Well just yesterday, Smythe said that there hasn't been a US point guard signed. If he said it, it must be true, he has never mislead anyone in the past.

Still doubters that he is signed? I can guarantee his signing.

No news on Ervin, just that they made a number a couple of offers - given his $ value is pretty high and he is still euro based, I think there is higher chance of him staying over there than coming back to Aus (not to his favoured hawks). It would be a massive improvement to the Crocs if he signed up and I hope crocs fans stop bagging a very successful club and support it. Hate Smythe ? get the owners to get rid of him but get behind your team - this is coming from a Cairns supporter and typing that burns me fingers...(:<)

Hawks couldn't get him cause of $'s at the time - given the Crocs needed investor / sponsor top up just to finish last season and be viable (this is hotly debated - Luke S leaving was strongly linked to his need to be paid up front and issues with the clubs $ position/falling revenue/membership), you have to wonder why top $ Ervin would sign with a club if there is a risk he wont get paid: and player agents do check on the club and all this info about the Crocs is public knowledge.

Club made a statement a little while ago that there was no news on the import - I wouldn't expect them to suit up until rnd 2 with visa requirements regardless of who it is. Boti reckons Ervin or Eddie Shannon - my money would be on Eddie Shannon or someone similar - Ervin is out of the Crocs $ bracket.

It's always the same argument with volume scorers - Does their scoring garner a big net gain or does it detract production from other guys on the team.

Kobe, Carmelo, Westbrook, Monta Ellis, Derrick Rose, T-Mac, Michael Redd, Brian Scalabrine.

The Crocs don't have an underwhelming Aussie lineup, jesus. I really think the problem is that when fans don't watch many broadcasts of a particular team, they automatically think less of that team. That's why NQ teams don't get the props they should.

It's like "well I watched the team X match, they played well and won, but I didn't see the team Y match. Team Y still won, but I saw some pretty good play from team X, so Team Y probably didn't do as well as team X."

fact is, Team Y probably did some pretty good things as well but generally armchair critics will just base a prediction by seeing only one side of the story.

If they get a Reggie Evans type (no skill but plays hard), they will be doing well.

Not official yet, answer either way will come today.

Julian, totally disagree. I think people forget how far they went last season. Ervin is so much better than Gill, providing more penetration which will open up all the Townsville shooters. Mims turned out to be a waste of an import spot, taking minutes off Blanchfield and the likes. All the young guys have stood up after another year. The only question mark is the strength of the bigs and whether Ben Allen can sustain it. Also, anyone could see whenever Schenscher was on the floor, they suffered big time in defensive rotation, not so much this year.

hope he does come, I wanna see him and Cedric go at it.

Go ahead and get det moneh moneh. Crocs will need another import to be a serious contender, and the one they do have (as great a player as Ervin is) didn't qualify for the playoffs last time he played here.

Just a little reminder, Sportsbet has the Crocs at $10 to win it all.

Need confirmation ASAP so I can get dat moneh moneh.

Wow that is amazing! When will it be announced?

I like everyone on here loves basketball and love the Aussie players and teams &amp; it probably too late in the week to start this discussion but here I go anyways. I just can't handle the product anymore - the NBL is weak and outdated. I think there are too many teams, too many teams that have no history and therefore have no following. We almost all would remember the halcyon days of the mid 90s when basketball was booming, great players, great fans, great games, great rivalries - it was a great time to be involved in the sport. We could attract decent imports - and they would hang around. Good times! We all now know how it has panned out - the NBL has made some crucial errors marketing and structurally to dilute the league and the teams. The league is still pretty good, the players and coaches are still passionate ... I just get the feeling that the league is heading the way of the old National Soccer League. If we as fans of basketball need any proof that a shake up could change things around for the better let's just look at Soccer and the A-League. How did they do it - the major thing they did was get rid of half the teams - make cities a one team town and promoted the hell out of it  created passion for your home town team. Teams that were getting 1000 - 2000 people to games are now getting 10000 - 15000+ a game (the victory get 40000+). They are attracting big name players - not only Aussie like Aloisi, Agostino, Craig Moore, Laziridis, Colosimo, Archie Thompson, Elrich, Popovich but big international names at the tail of their careers Juninho, Bridges etc. You go to your own home games not just to support your team but also to go and see great players on other teams. The talent pool in soccer as in basketball is finite - the best aussie players get lured o/s and leave the 2nd tier guys here. Don't get me wrong I think the 2nd tier guys (in both sports are players CJ Bruton, Anstey, McKinnon, Maher - but it is the 3rd, 4th and 5th tier guys that diluted the NSL cos there were too many teams and it is the same now with the NBL. Easy solution - get rid of 5 teams - make cities one team towns and tighten up the talent pool. Off the top of my head - get rid of South Dragons, West Sydney, New Zealand, Singapore and Gold Coast. Make a Central NSW team for Newcastle and Wollongong. Try and lure back all the aussies o/seas - Newley, Neilsen, Andersen etc - not with money but "for the good of the sport". Fox could then get rid of non-basketball guys (ie Casey - just cos I don't like him) and surround the league with ex stars. It worked for Soccer - it could work for basketball.