Hoops

The difference between Illawarra and Cairns this season

Duncan, I think if Brisbane continue on their current path Lemanis will get COY for sure. However if the hawks somehow manage to sneak into the playoffs Beveridge would have to come into consideration.

I think the other coach that has done well is Wright, assuming they keep winning at a decent rate. To lose both Creek and Childress and still have your team highly-competitive is a bloody good effort, and at the moment they're about as good as anyone.

Cairns had a rookie head coach and rookie star player. They had to learn how to win but they've figured it out lately. Over the past month they've been very respectable.

About 2,523 KM's.

Experience and confidence are the biggest difference, had Cairns snuck a win over United that they deserved then that would stop all the crap about 'would they win another game this season' talk.

You also have to imagine that if Cairns had Andersen then they'd have more wins just on locker room presence and everything that the legend brings to the teams he plays for.

The biggest difference is probably coaching.

Roster wise they are on par with each other.

Cairns have a better set of imports, Melo (mainly), Hall and Newbill are better than Jett and Jackson (neither of which belong in the NBL) with Elbows (servicable).

But Illawarra have a better set of locals. Andersen, Coenraad, AJ, White (gulp), Naar and Larry Bird Lite (Grida) is much better than Kenney, Kuany x 2, Loughton (big drop from last year), DKD and Walker.

I think only you tipped Cairns to do well Manu Wendyworld.

Experience. Look at the united comeback. Veterans probably keep feeding of go back to nate who was near unstoppable in the post, cairns went dj ice cold newbill hero ball. The coach can only control so much. Vetran leaders, on the hawks are just smarter basketball players. When lucas walker is a vet expected to provide leadership and guidance, he just can't do it consistently, reverts to stupid decisions, just look at his play after been touted as mip

Most actually tipped Cairns to be decent after seeing their import signings. Go back and have a look. I knew they would be near the bottom after their first few signings.

..... coach ...

Illawarra gets exit row seats more than Cairns

If the two coaches changed teams before the preseason, the positions on the ladder would be reversed almost all the way. Illawarra might be marginally better on paper because their bench is a little better, that's it.

Bevo for sure

To be fair, Cairns probably deserve to be better than 3-17. I don't think 3 wins is really an accurate indication of where they're at.

They've lost a couple in OT, and plenty of other close games- like in Melbourne when they were leading for most of the night and United got them late by 7 points. They need to learn how to close out games better.

Cairns do have an uninspiring roster though, and that's why almost everyone tipped them for 7th or 8th. Most had them coming last.

Bevo !!

If Trimble played in Illawarra they would play in the GF. The coach is a genius.

Russian power club Lokomotiv Kuban are close to agreeing to terms with Aleks Maric who has been with Greek giant Panathinaikos.

Both parties have apparently been in intensive negotiations in the past week and yesterday the reached an agreement about a two year deal.

A source from Lokomotiv confirmed that Maric is heading to the Krasnodar club:"Maric is a player we wanted for a long time. He wanted to check all his options and we waited.
In the last couple of days there were intensive talks and they were very positive". The deal is said to be around 600.000 Euros per season.