Hoops

Nate Jawai

Actually, I noticed that too, the replays showed him to travel quite a bit, but officials turn a blind eye for some players don't they?

#LeBronwalkseverywhere

And, while I'm a Nate fan, I'll say it again ... based on what I saw in Adelaide, if he is required to play by the rules of the game, including the footwork rule, he won't be the force people believe he can be. I know he has quick feet, but that doesn't mean he should be allowed to take three and four steps with the ball, even if they're quick steps, or run through defenders.

I always thought the best way to reduce the influence on a guy like Jawai was to attack him offensively and get him into early foul trouble!

Not super sophisticated I know, but could be more effective because I don't think he would be the same on 4 fouls in the last quarter, just saying...

At the Boomers , alley oops from Mills to Jawai..-..I was just hoping the ring would stay on.

I'd love to see Jawai consistently fronted with a tall, agile player. Force the team to consistently pass over the defender to get the ball to him which is THE toughest pass to make.

Of course, for that to work we would need the refs to stop ball watching and call the two-handed pushes.

The other aspect to Nate's 'effectiveness' is his footwork. He won't be nearly so 'effective' if he is not allowed to take three and four steps with the ball - sometimes while running straight through a defender!

Against the 365ERS he was most effective later in the game when he became a ball distributor out of the post, which goes back to my 'fronting' defence suggestion.

In a small league, the excitement is like steam in a kettle.

Kobe24, DJ getting major foul trouble - Seriously?

He had two fouls for the game. TWO. One of those was in the first 23 seconds of the game. 30 seconds later, he defended Jawai face up and drew a charge. You don't think he could have afforded to get a few more fouls?

Petrie had 3 fouls. Hodgson was the only Sixer in foul trouble, but I don't recall those fouls having anything to do with Jawai.

Not saying you don't ever double Jawai, of course you do, but you choose your poisons and you mix it up.

We get it, Jawai is a great player, but you are making out like he is the real Shaq in mid 90's form playing in the NBL.

Let's not act like the guy is unstoppable.
I'm looking forward to watching his battle with Pledger. If he plays smart I think he's physically capable of competing with Nate.

Isn't it great that we can have so much conversation about an Aussie in the NBL, being one of the more dominant players in our own league :)

It is actually defensively where Jawai was more damaging last Saturday. Wow did he change a few shots.

Kobe, Sixers made mistakes on about three plays in a row with weak side players doubling and tripling Jawai, leaving perimeter players free shots (and in one case a back cutting guard an uncontested layup!)

You can't double Jawai if it involves leaving such big defensive gaps elsewhere as he is such a good passer out of the post. His pass is more far more dangerous than his short range game if you can keep yourself between him and the basket.

Gibson had some good examples of good double teams against Jawai, where he was hedging between defenders and Perth's spacing was not good enough to make him commit.

I agree with Paul in that you have to make Jawai prove he can score on you in the post routinely and regularly as his touch from 3-5 feet is suspect (can't let Hire or Knight grab the boards though) and he is prone to getting charge calls if he can't get past you.

Only a couple of Jawai's scores came from genuinely beating his opponent in the low block. As long as those shots are challenged, you would give those up. If he gets around you, well it is goodnight, so you just have to keep a body in front of him.

He presents a unique defensive challenge in this league, but it is far from insurmountable. Teams around the world have been playing against him for years with reasonable success, otherwise he would average 90% shooting every game. The Sixers did a good job at certain times in the game, and lost it entirely at others.

Offensive teams are going to score points, it is just a matter of the defence choosing the lesser evil as to what looks you want them to get off.

Based on what I saw of him with the Boomers I was always hopeful that he'd be useful from game 1. It was how long he could stay on the court that was the main worry, especially when an opponent tried to go into track meet mode, which many will try against our top-heavy lineup I expect.

21 minutes was a more than useful first game from him.

Thanks Luuuc!!!!!!

www.wildcatsviews.com

Majok will get killed by Jawai. He struggled to handle both Conklin and Ogilvy, what do you think Jawai will do? It's a huge weakness for United.

So catchy and timeless... "Perth Wildcats are ONNNNN DA PROWL."

Back in Tassie last I heard. Pretty sure Trahair is still round though.

Yeah, well ... get Wroe and Prather to knock down the threes then :p

Get Kenny/Martin knocking down threes when teams double team Jawai and teams will have to stop double teaming him, then he will be scary.