Hoops

Press conference from Coach Clarke & Stevie Weigh

True - but fans will always speculate and voice their opinions either way. It's why we're all so passionate about sport in general.

No doubt there's a lot more complexity behind the scenes than we're aware of.

I was going to use the Goorjan argument myself. It applies to any number of top coaches. If last, second to last and now second to last again doesn't warrant or prompt significant change, then spectator frustration is absolutely more than justified.

I genuinely believe Clark has no business coaching at an NBL level - just my opinion. His lack of PR training due to his AIS background is definitely not helping either - hence the current siege mentality.

We'll have to wait and see what comes out of this press conference. I doubt any of us would be surprised to hear that Clark will ride out the season and that Admin will take resumes for next year's coaching gig ASAP. It'd go a little way towards placating the masses without costing the club anything.

Personally, I'd have one on ones with every player in the group and guarantee the anonymity of their feedback to gauge what they really think before the board convenes.

Regardless of whether the fans are behind the coach or not, that doesnt determine games in winning or losing. we go with the mentality that we hope to see our team win. if it doesnt happen, as global supporters and in every sport, someone cops flack for behind held responsible.

MC is to blame, cos thats how the world works; love it or hate it. Crosswell's free throw was poor and he copped flack for it, but when u have a player playing and scoring hard in a few mins, and a coach benches him, hello?

Marcus - at risk of falling into the trap of responding to your crap what you just said us the polar opposite if what I'm seeing.

The team is not giving it a good crack, and the coach is displaying an attitude that to me says while he'd rather be winning its not that big of a deal that he is not.

The time for calm is long gone - rip in and show me that you give a shit!

OK so We keep hearing that the players are behind the coach, after being at the game Saturday night that doesn't seem too far fetched to me. I do however think there is problems within the team itself. There was a heap of bickering between the players in dead ball situations and it seems that not everyone s on the same page. Having players still unable to remember where they shoud be in an offensive set (no matter how complex it is) as the PG is bringing the ball up the floor is unacceptable - to me it says one of 2 things - either the players are flat out dumb or they just don't actually care and are wanting to do their own thing which is pissing the other guys off.

The team right now is a shambles, confidence is gone, nothing is going right and there doesn't seem to be a way out. For me I can handle more losses but lets actually look like we are leaving it all on the floor. Let's get after loose balls, box out on the boards and aggressively go for rebounds. Let's sprint back on defense EVERYTIME and when you are completely stuffed call fr a sub and get the next guy in to do the same. Shw us your giving as much effort as yiu can and we will get behind you, look for the easy option and you will hear all about it!

And Marty, show us you're pissed, get loud in a timeout, jump up and down, pull DJ when he blows a play or doesn't box out, do something but please SHOW us you care. You seem to have an "us against them" mentality and that's not the way we want it, we want you to win, to be successful more than anything, we all want to be part of your "us" Show us you want it as much as we do and we will back you all the way - treat us like we don't matter and - well I think you know what happens then

you can watch the press conference from the kings game on nbltv

At some point when losses are coming like this a line in the sand must be drawn. A public statement setting a standard should be presented by either player or coach. The best chance for this was probably the loss to the Breakers.
Clarke credits players for not splitting, and sticking together and condemns people,ie fans for negativity.
Weigh credits coaching staff for tremendous job they do.

Madgen from the Kings apoligizes to fans for a loss A WEEK ago. Tells how Shane Heal does not accept that sort of performance.

Can somebody tell me why these teams are poles apart on the ladder?

Good post Very Old.

I don't think Clarke would ever resign. Turns everything into an us/them mentalitity, and will stand his ground with his back to the wall. hence the bunkering down.

Your point on being a stickler for doing what the coach says points to a lack of flexibility which shows in his long term consistency. It also shows in his recruiting as all seem to be guys who won't ask questions. That's a problem for fans as we will ask questions, doubtful will get any answers.
A shame when politics gets in the way of the game, but the inside scenarios could be very complex. Money is very hard to come by for sporting organisations at the moment and sponsors even harder. Sometimes waiting and just letting it ride out is the best thing to do.
I don't think many from this roster will be here next season anyway.

Do Marty Clarke and the team need positive comments from keyboard warriors to win games?

I love the club. But the team is being beaten the same way game in, game out. The opposition team makes adjustments at half time and gets the W. That suggests there is a fundamental problem with the system. The coaching staff are RESPONSIBLE for the system, they just don't seem to be ACCOUNTABLE for the system. Nothing is evolving and hasn't done for the last 2.5 years... Clarke and his assistant must go. I will be very interested to see which players return next year if he is still there.

The Captain is dark on 8 straight losses .
It's the passivity of Weigh . He will just say whatever the coach wants.

re sixties rock star

http://www.hoops.com.au/forum/30453-press-conference-from-coach-clarke-26-stevie-weigh/#p397114

There was at least one NBL premiership winning team that the week after winning the GF series, 3 different player agents contacted the club to explain that 5 of the first 8 rotations ( including 1 import) would not regisn for the next season if the coach remained. The coach went and they made finals for the next 3 years

I think that there are many reasons why Clarke will be staying

1) he wants the boomer jobs

2) he honestly believes that his coaching and his systems will work and there is no need to change them.

3) If he is sacked, he and Radford get a bonus compensation payout that must be big enough to put a sizable dent in the 36ers budget for next season. Its tough to attract a full new set of coaching staff and convince them to move to adelaide, particuarly if you are paying out an additional ( and totally unbudgeted and avoidable) $300,000 cost impost just to get your existing coach to leave 10 weeks early.

4) Marty has always been a stickler for doing as the coach says , and for following the official line. He will absolutely despise every "fan" who dissents in anyway from the party line. He simply could not back down in a situation where he thinks that to do so would be to "Lose" to such people. He will adopt a bunker mentality and take the team all the way to whereever it is that they end up.

Blunty , given that situation, I have no option to support the team and the franchise. I honestly believe that the SOS group are steadfast in trying to do the right thing by the history and future of the club.

But fan support in professional sport is not unconditional, total blind adherence to treating the coach as an infalible superior being.

I believe that at the AIS an existing or potential scholarship holders whose parents questioned or disagreed with Marty too often or too loudly - simply did not get selected or invited back. Simple as that. In his justification it was written up more along the lines of "lacks maturity" or " would be best developed within a club structure" or " ranks behind X, Y and Z in potential at this time".
But his decision was both final and absolute

In his view dissenting fans are in the same category, and have lost all rights to be taken into account. They should just leave.

I'm certain that this is not in anyway the view of the ownership group , or the management group, but they have been left with no control over Marty at all. He simply has noting to lose at the moment, and infact unless the 36ers go deep into finals so he gets resigned, he would probably be better off financialy being sacked before the season ends - so why should he back down now ?

I digress somewhat, but didn't the Bad Boy Pistons and the 3-pete Bulls hate each other for the most part?

Camby-

I gave credit to clarke for forming such a tight culture. Maybe read again?

Of course not. Why would i prefer the opposite? The players and coaches do seem like a tight group for sure (to their credit).

So basically, wtf?

The players aren't likely to come out in dissention against a coach. I guess I'd question if the unity between staff and team is genuine or a bit of marketing from Marty. No way to tell really unless you know the guys personally.

Difference between being negative and being critical of coaching/team performance

Have heard this "staying together" story for so long now, it's really frustrating. Doesn't mean anything.

Have to give Clarke credit for forming such "unity" amongst group. Has not achieved much else this season.

Responses are so robotic and p.r related though. Just annoys me, in all sports.

'Clarke will get fired/not get re-signed and will still win an NBL championship at another club before the 36ers do.'

Ha - that's a beauty!! Clarke as the orange boy 4 the Wildcats?

Pickup - to put it in context, I've been a member for 20+ years now.

I'm sure you can appreciate the frustration of the last 3 seasons. I support the Sixers and want them to do well, obviously.

I'd be amazed if Clark is back next season. We won't make the finals this season. My point is why not cut losses and trial a new coach for the remainder of this season (apart from the expense).

I'm not particularly concerned if they finish bottom, second to bottom or third to bottom in that scenario.

After a while there's no point being continually upset at the losses - I just expect them. And to be brutally honest, each one puts more impetus towards sacking Clark.

Just my point of view.

Who cares if the players and coach are united. I would prefer they hated each other and did their jobs well rather than what they dish up. I don't care if the players support their coach. Not all the players would and they certainly wouldn't admit it publicly if they knew the coach had no idea.
Even if Clarke coaches next season how many of current players will still be here?

From what I can read most people on the forum are long term supporters of this club who want nothing more than for it to win. They were supporters long before Clarke and will still be supporting the club long after his times is up, spending their hard earned money week after week, year after year. They know what they are seeing and are not willing to accept it. If anybody accepts what's been going on lately then expect to be losing for a long time to come.

If we're not going to make the finals, who cares if we win or lose at this point?

We're here to win titles, not hold hands and think positive thoughts together until we're all warm and fuzzy.

It's pro sports, not kindy.

Unfortunately for the 36ers, they've preached repeatedly over the past 5-6 games that they know what the reason for them losing is and what needs to be done, then proceed NOT practice what they preach.

You could understand if the team lost thanks to a buzzer beater, then the next game lost a game by 10 where they weren't in it from the start (aka, different reasons for losing); but when your losses repeatedly come from 'being ahead by comfortable margins, then collapsing after half-time' then there are reasons to be angry.

Besides, the flak will always go with the coach if the team goes bad, just as the manager cops the flak if his team doesn't perform. It's up to manager and the coach to hire/fire the weak links and make a group that performs.

Whether Marty likes it, acknowledges it or otherwise; he will be the target whether he is the fault or not.