Hoops

Bullets interested in Travis Trice

With all due respect to the Bullets front line but without Bairstow fit, that front line is not a playoff making front line.

The only positive thing is Jervis may get the minutes he left Perth to get. But it seems towards the latter half of last season that Lemanis gave Young more opportunities.

Bairstow isn't coming back. There was a story a few weeks ago, his return wouldjbe so late in the year that they're not going to try and bring him in.

So what's with the Bullets roster, now? They have Holt, Trice, Gibbo, Bruce and Matt Kenyon to man the two guard spots, Craig* and Te Rangi at 3, Kickert and Petrie at 4, then Jervis and Young at 5, with Bairstow to make his return (possibly) at some stage.

How do they line up?
Holt/Bruce
Trice/Gibbo/Kenyon
Craig*/Te Rangi
Kickert/Petrie
Jervis/Young

That's 11 players, so either: one of Bruce, Kenyon, Te Rangi or Young is not signed for this year, or Bairstow is not coming back... then there's the other option, which is the asterisk beside Craig's name. Maybe he's not coming back. Then who's gonna play 3?

Lovebroker: "Lemanis' most successful seasons relied on a PG called Cedric Jackson. What is it about Lemanis that makes you think the PG position is not critical to success to him?"

It's not so much that I think the PG is not as critical to Lemonass as it is to Fearne, rather that I think Fearne is harder on his PG than Lemonass.

I heard similar things CT, unfortunately.

I can’t fault you analysis of his game either. I think a lot of his deficiencies will improve as he matures, I hope so anyways becuase he’s damn talented.

There was a letter to the editor in today’s paper about it that was amusing too....

Trice, Craig and Holt not a bad import combo at all if they can pull that trio off.

"Trice may be better off under a coach that doesn't expect as much of his PG as Fearne"

Lemanis' most successful seasons relied on a PG called Cedric Jackson. What is it about Lemanis that makes you think the PG position is not critical to success to him?

Bullets are merely a placeholder team so their recruiting makes sense. "Don't rock the boat."

How long are the Bullets going to persist with a strategy of only recruiting promising but flawed existing nbl players from other teams? Are they genuinely allergic to scouting new talent? I don't get it. Do they expect to take a streaky inconsistent player like Torrey Craig, Adam Gibson or Travis Trice and coach an exceptional performance out of him every game? At this rate they'll have Jason Cadee as captain when his contract at the Kings expires.

Those 'meet the fans' are always a bit awkward, the only people who are ever really into it are the marketing team and Alex Loughton. But you know, it's 2 hours out of your life to hang out with a bunch of people who pay your wages because they love what you do so much. Just smile and shake some hands, it's not rocket science. When you finally get to the Nba you won't have to do it anymore, until then grow up, say hi to my kids and stop being such a little bitch.

By the way, is there any official notice of this, yet?

I'm with CT on this. Trice may be better off under a coach that doesn't expect as much of his PG as Fearne, but I agree he's soft. I don't think CT was suggesting Trice only ignored CT, either. I wasn't at the "do", but I understand he was pretty aloof.

Fearne basically suggested if Trice came back looking for a roster spot, he'd have him, but there was no way Fearne was going after Trice.

I hope and trust he comes up with a great PG import for this season!

bullets have now signed him.. check davidpick twitter

I wouldn't say hello to someone that doesn't like me either. And how dare he wear what he wants to.

I went on and on all last season about how I don't like him. He's mentally weak and passes up the big shots, constantly batches and whines and is maddeningly inconsistent.

From what I saw of him he's also a massive twat. Who turns up at the club fans Xmas party in their old college gear and then ignores everyone who wants to come over and say hi? Better off in Brisbane I say.

Does Andrej run the same sets as he does with the Boomers? That was some beautiful basketball

I think Trice will be their main shooting guard playing the role Mills plays for the Boomers, that's the type of player they were missing last year in Lemanis' system. But Gibson and Holt are also combo guards so they will have versatility.

I like this as a potential signing. I have doubts Gibson will stay healthy from this time on, moving forward, calf injuries usually spell father time is rocking up. Trice gives you immediate impact and knowing the league always helps. Trice, Craig and Holt not a bad import combo at all if they can pull that trio off.

I originally read the topic as "Bulls interested in..." and thought WTF??

I believe so. I think the Bullets need a Shooting Guard personally with Holt, Gibson & Bruce. Someone like Ramone Moore would fit well in my opinion

Are Gibson and Bruce still signed?

The few games I watched of Trice last year I think he could play off the ball. He played college ball with Denzel Valentine, who was a ball dominant player, and that wasn't much of an issue for him.

Would make them a bit loaded with pg's wouldn't it...Holt is the only one who could really play SG and where does that Leave Gibson & Bruce?

Thought they would have gone for more of a SG/SF and a big to replace Bairstow.

Although they dropped a game for the first time on their tour of China, the Gems still managed to win the Shuozhou Tournament, their second tournament in a row following their unbeaten triumph in Shangluo.

Here are the results from Shuozhou:

Game 1: defeated China 66-52.
Gretel Tippett 14 points, 6 rebounds; Rebecca Cole 12 points; Tayla Roberts 10 points; Sara Blicavs 9 points
Gems beat China in game one of second tournament

Game 2: lost to USA 58-61.
Tayla Roberts 16 points, Nadeen Payne 11 points, Carley Mijovic 9 points, Sara Blicavs 9 points
Gems fall to USA in Shuozhou Tournament

Game 3: defeated Czech Republic 62-42.
Tayla Roberts: 22pts, Gretel Tippett: 14pts, Sara Blicavs: 12pts, Carley Mijovic 8pts.
Gems take first place in Shuozhou Tournament

The four teams now head south to their final destination Ya’an in the province of Sichuan.