Hoops

Childress gone, Connelly in?

Ahh if only... stupid management... *grumbles*

Rotnei Clarke seems to be fairly quiet by his standards overseas... I wonder if he's really happy... Hmm...

Yeah, but Cadee isn't a proper PG... Needing to have the ball in your hands to score isn't the same thing as being a proper PG that we need to run the team (and what I had hoped we had gotten in Markovic).

I think he's come on great though, and hope he sticks around... We need a really strong guard rotation and I think that can happen if he's the first off the bench though... I mentioned on the other forum that even though he's in the tail end of his career, I think Damo should still be someone that they target (again), brings the talent, the leadership and defensive toughness that would set the standard for the team... I know it would be super tough to get him back to the correct side of the country, but it should be a priority I think... Would set the tone and lift the bar for the whole team...

The first signing however, needs to be the coach... The ownership and management need to get that right, get the coach in ASAP and then let them build their team... No more waiting for players to get back and start training in August or maybe September, whenever they feel like... We were the last team to start pre-season training this year and I think it was a big factor...

There are three players signed for next season, Jules, Angus and Jeromie... Jules and Gus should be locks, but I don't know if Jeromie is the right choice to keep... The kid didn't get much of a chance this season for sure, and worked his butt off when he did get the time, but he's still stuck in that position where he's not really spot on for a combo forward or a proper PF...

I think if you look at it we (NZ) were rubbish without Webster and Abercrombie, ADL have struggled without Randle, the Hawks had a tough start without Martin and Lisch, Perth had a rough patch without Martin IIRC.

Yeah, while there are other issues to criticise with the Kings on and off the court, take certain key players out of each team for a large chunk of the season and I'd like to see how they go...

NZ started off fairly crap with Webster missing at the start of the season, didn't they? And of course Randle missing has hurt the 36ers and take Martin and Prather out of the Wildcats and they'd falter as well...

Childress is cooked and can't stay on the floor. Time to spend that money on a player who will add to the team and actually play!!

LOL... How many minutes has he been playing since his return from freak injuries and what have his numbers been? Idiot...

re: Lisch... When I heard they knocked him back I seriously wanted someone's head... Even with Chill out, just having Lisch on board would have won games and kept that focus and winning attitude within the team... Such a lovely guy, great role model all with being one of the best players in the league with no bad ego... The only guy that I'd put in his overall class would be Rotnei Clarke... Put him at the top of my wish list for next season...

Pretty sure the Kings have already released Markovic so highly doubt he will be back.

Well that would explain why he was nowhere to be seen at their final home game... Jules was behind the bench, but no Steve... A shame it ended that way, as his last season in Townsville even with his injuries, he was still one of the better local PGs and as said above, with no Martin or Gibbo available, he was next in line...

It means a lot. Yesterday we learned that Childress > Redhage.

Please do not look to Carter as being some sought of saviour.
There is a big difference in standard between BNSW Waratah so called league and the NBL.

Just because he is an ex Kings layer does not mean he will succeed.
The only thing in his favour would be Management might support him more.

Damian Cotter is a far more credentialed coach than Carter and look what happened to him.

Until Management allow the coach to do his job the Kings will remain cellar dwellers or eventually go broke AGAIN.

I think it's tough to judge coach Connelly this year, he has really had any strings to pull as it seems like there's many puppeteers putting on the show & making the decisions leaving coach Connelly to do the best he can with very little control.

I don't think any coach could do much better in the situation he's been faced with...

If the Kings don't keep Joe for next season, I think they need to go for a young, fresh Aussie coach. There's a few options out there of course, but being a Sutho Shark through & through I'd Luke to see BJ Carter given a role in their. He's done wonders with Sutho's Waratah team for the past two seasons, is an ex King, local, honest, respected & GETS THE BEST OUT OF HIS TEAM WHO CONSISTENTLY over achieve.

I think that would be a perfect type of coach for the Kings moving forward.

Just my 2 cents.... : )

Isaac: Would you keep Markovic on your roster if its possible he may not even play one game that season?

I dont know how long his contract was for but I dont see him at Sydney next season. I think Childress will also move on.. Back to Europe? Not sure. Its possible however remote he COULD play for a different NBL next season.

Isaac: Would you put Adelaide in the same 'sphere' as Sydney? Ie if Childress isnt playing for Sydney, barely any ways to replace the effect and for Adelaide the same with Randle?

A rabbit's foot that works wouldn't go astray either...

great post Luuuc. had a chuckle

To be fair, Sydney have been playing without a) a player who was probably intended to be their starting PG/starting guard and b) their starting C and arguably their best player on the team.

On top of that, they've had Childress miss a key part of the season with injury, they've got a young import guard who is well out of his depth.

I think if you look at it we (NZ) were rubbish without Webster and Abercrombie, ADL have struggled without Randle, the Hawks had a tough start without Martin and Lisch, Perth had a rough patch without Martin IIRC.

Missing a couple of key players can have a big time impact.

Still, I acknowledge that that in no way excuses some of the Kings' players efforts this year. Defensively, they have being very lazy at times and lacking in effort (save for a few lone-rangers). Offensively, selfishness has plagued their game plan.

It's a pity Ice Cube left the group. Last week he fucked around and got a triple double.