Hoops

Who has the best bench in the NBL?

In Perth, someone like Wagstaff is about as effective as half of any other bench in the league. Always underrated.

I'd argue Weeks is the weakest link of that bench. McCarron is much improved, a real threat and playing with confidence.

Taipans have a great bench... if they can get some of their bench out of the starting lineup! If Taipans start with Fearne's ideal lineup, it's:
Scoochie
Gliddon
Carrera
Weigh
Egwu.

That leaves a bench of:
Weeks
Heuir
McCarron
Loughton
Jawai.

Heuir is probably the weakest link of the group, but he can definitely ball. He has a good deal of self confidence, is a very good defender, shoots the three and can drive and score or dish.

A lot of people will argue that McCarron is too short to play 3; but he's very athletic. He did a sensational job of shutting down Prather in the home game a few weeks ago (seems like months, doesn't it?), rebounds well and has the ability to score from a lot of different spots.

I've listed Jawai on the bench, because that's what Fearne wants to do, and it's the smartest way to play him. Egwu is more than capable of holding down big minutes, and Jawai coming in for 5-8 minute spurts can absolutely wreck an opposing team. I can't wait for him to get back on the court.

Pineau and Thoseby wouldn't stand out in SEABL

Yeah, forgot about Adelaide,that's a pretty fair lineup.

Ah very old...you got a laugh from me

Adelaide on paper, but NZ in practice IMO.

Adelaide all day. esp with Moore and Drmic.

And regarding Doyle, he is def NBL level, he is quick as all get up and can shoot 3's all day. Next season will see him on court more and the haters will eat their words.

See him defend Randle? he kept him in check and not many can.

Meanwhile... Perth keep racking up Championships with their supposed "collection of chairs"

Really is some idiot posters on this forum who usually are to scared to put a username to their thoughts.

Perth and Nwe Zealand clearly have the best benches in the NBL combining to win the last 8 titles!!

You don't win championships with just your starting 5, you need a great contribution from your Bench who know how to play their roles successfully. Perth & NZB clearly have that, Perth more so in the last 3 years.

Their might be some teams with bigger names on the bench on paper, but that doesn't make them a better bench if they can't produce.

Right now, I'd rate Perth and NZ's as the best.

But Adelaide could be by season's end. Moore has been brilliant for Wright and is thriving in that system, as I thought he would. (Has started a couple of games lately though). Once Childress gets going their bench could be as good as anyone's.

Perth doesn't even have a bench. Just a collection of chairs. Far too many of them according to some people.

Bench is only as good as the coach and how he subs on and off. Some players play better with different starters. Not a fan of the three or more subs at once either.

I really liked the look of Adelaide and Illawarra's benches on paper, but the Hawks' record has been so shaky.

For Adelaide, I think Doyle is a pretty solid 11th man, and it shows how much expectations change when someone doesn't think Teys is a 10th man.

I'd say Adelaide has the best bench or the bench o expect the most from.

Brisbane has by far the weakest bench, I'm a fan of Young but they just aren't turning up to play and some of the young guys on the bench should be getting more minutes but aren't.

If McCarron starts ahead of Carerra and Jawai can get and stay healthy then Cairns have a very exciting bench if they can take off the shackles put on them by Fearne

I'd ask Ellis and Garlepp for their opinions as to recent bench quality in the venues, do any of the stadiums still have plain wooden benches , or are they all padded individual seats now ?

NZ has the best bench

Illi (MIP)
Penney
Delany
Loe
+ Ngatai

Those first 4 are an imposing lineup for bench guys.

Very difficult to guard especially when well drilled as it seems Henare has done.

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