Hoops

Shane Heal to the Saints

Kings are currently 9-9, not 9-10.

In amongst all that dredging up of old news, you do actually make one half decent point... While I have no doubt that his primary focus would be on finishing this season strong and getting to the playoffs and doing everything we can to get as far as we can go, (good for the team, good for him personally) having any sort of distraction isn't ideal... I don't think the NZNBL gig would ever be prioritised over the NBL one, but who knows...

There needs to be a distinction between Management issues and coaching issues... You won't get me defending the Kings management at any point, they're a mess behind the scenes and something really needs to change there to improve the whole situation...

Not sure what team you've been watching, but I think there's been a bit to get excited about as a Kings fan at times this season... We managed to lure back AJ who has turned into one of the best big men in the league (his defence has been a huge surprise), all the while being under utilised... we're going to disagree on Madgen, I think he's been great since he's gotten healthier, (often leading team in assists, his role is changing, you can't expect miracles, he's used so much on offence, he can't be a defensive stopper all the time), Ellis has been worth waiting for, (he hustles a lot, still a bit lost at times, but he's only got a handful of games under his rookie belt) and Tommy has stepped up his game and has really worked tough... Other back up players have stepped up at times, but that's the core I can see going forward and it's a good one... Half the players you mentioned down the bottom aren't even on the team anymore and were there long before Hammer came along, when he got the reins, he cut them... Crosswhite retiring is just that. He was always coming back to finish his career back home... Did you ever see him after a game? Iced up and hobbling... While him retiring was a disappointment this season, especially the timing, maybe he saw AJ coming in as his chance not to leave a giant hole in the team and is currently kicking back in his rocking chair on his farm...

As for disconnect, not sure what you're talking about... The community involvement I would wager is at an all time high, all the players do a great job engaging fans after games, Madgen often staying back long after the siren has gone and the handlers are bugging him to get up and head out the back... If the Management aren't making the most of these opportunities, that's not Shane's fault, neither is filling the stadium (you wouldn't want him to take time away from coaching responsibilities, would you?).

The Sanders/Young situation has been done to death and rumour has it that it was out of his hands, again, a management balls up. Hiring his mate in Harvey and possibly Gleeson would be things that we can attribute to Hammer, both long term wrong choices, despite Harvey having that one and a half good games, I think there could have been a better option, but if not, it is what it is...

JW21 I do understand where you're coming from, it's frustrating when you're passionate about a sport and a team yet that passion doesn't seem to be reciprocated by management.

But what about the photo with Chris Gayle and Sam Young, surely people cared about that?

NZNBL is April - July, I agree with bowtie that there's nothing that has to be done that can't be done remotely, or once a week if he ducks back to Sydney for two days...

Returning players should be stitched up by then (hopefully) and any training schedules/plans should be able to be done remotely by the time players get back from whatever breaks they have planned...

As for Sam Young, the assumptions that that tweet is about Heal is a bit of a stretch, could be about anyone or any thing...

Sam Young pull ya head in
Shane Heal . cant coach a potatoe into being a chip

Brett Brown went from NZBL now hes in the nba

Heal won't be back at the Kings. Lots of rumours around regarding dissension in the ranks. One of the players not happy with him personally nor his coaching style. Good riddance if true - Heal has always been poison anyway.

I think Heal has done more good than bad with the Kings and I wouldn't call it poisonous at all... If anything, the mismanagement from the business is what has hampered the team... Hammer has worked hard with Madgen to help him transform into an 11th player on the end of the bench to runner up MVP candidate and league leading scorer. A lot of that can be put down to Madge's work ethic and determination, but again this season, Hammer is working with him to develop his skills and become not just a great scorer but a more well rounded player...

I haven't agreed with everything that he's done, but I also never agreed with everything that Goorj did either (despite his record and the fond memories, he wasn't perfect either). If he's gone, I will be disappointed, but I would hope that if he stays he develops as a coach and is given the budget and the scope to build this team properly...

I'd be curious to find out these supposed players that are unhappy with his style... Madge seems happy enough, Tommy is flourishing, even Hill when given enough time is going well, if Young isn't happy, I don't really care, the only one that I'd be worried about is AJ, and I would have thought that Hammer had been working on him hard over some Euro off seasons to join the team... Perhaps the reality isn't as advertised? I think he's the premier big man in the league, although maybe not getting the touches, despite what he says in interviews, is getting to him?

Either way, the team needs to be looking ahead to next season... With Ellis the only player signed for next season, star players need to get stitched up: Madgen, Garlepp and AJ should be a priority... Graduating NCAA seniors also need to be looked at, hopefully upgrading the Brandt family and also entertaining a few "local" options when they're in town...

a few Coaches in the NBL cut their teeth in the NZNBL (Dennis, Vickerman etc)

If this is true then he needs to move on immediately.

It's a business, and if he's planning on doing stuff in the off season, that's fine... The NZNBL is relatively short (runs April to July?), and when do we expect him to organise it? Same as players organising extensions or sussing out new deals, it happens... I'd certainly like to hope that they're having those discussions with a few existing players to make sure they're re-signed for next season before the Free Agent period is happening...

It's fairly similar to a player playing Waratah, SEABL or the like in the off season, developing his skills... When he was coaching Ipswich he split his time in Sydney and QLD, he did scouting, he worked players out, the off season isn't as one on one full on as during the season, I'm sure there will be plenty of time once that's done and dusted to get back into Kings business...

Seems to be confirmed on twitter/NZHoops.

Corey Webster is close to signing for the Saints again in the NZNBL.

I am concerned of the contractual issues this may raise i.e. Webster playing for the Saints in the NZNBL but for the Breakers in the NBL.

If, or WHEN the Saints enter the NBL do they then need to drop out of the NZ league..and allow a fresh Wellington team in with new management??

Might be a good sign for a second NZ team perhaps. Everyone is talking Wellington.

Good opportunity to grow as a coach.

Players can workout/improve over the off-season when there are no games on.

Coaches don't really have that benefit -- their development is limited really to scouting etc.

So it is a good opportunity for Heal to get some experience and continue the exposure necessary to develop as a coach (in game decision making).

The fact that it is in a different country, in a different league, with a different style will only help his development.