Hoops

How bad are the Hawks looking?

after looking at those predictions, i would think it states the lack of knowledge of a lot of posters!!!

https://www.hoops.com.au/forum/45887-too-early-2019-20-ladder-predictions/#p762097

The main problem is balance.

They planned their season expecting to start Boone and Ogilvy together. Naar was the starting 2 man with Brooks off the bench.

They don't have enough wing players, athletic or versatile forwards, or true 2 men. Their roster is stacked with ball dominant guards, and inside or slow big men.

It was nuts from the beginning.

Did anyone actually expect the Hawks to be any good?

Ball is not the problem. He has a great passing game and awareness and can get to the basket. There in nothing around him. How many players at illawarra would be starters in a top 4 team?

Boon, Anderson and Ogilivy are poor, would get no mins in a top 4 team.

Ball as an 18yr old would have to be one of the best talents to play in the NBL

Does anyone on here really think Illawarra are a top 4 team? They need more than 1 player to get them up the ladder. They have NO talent in the team. Wouldnt matter who the coach was!

Scary thing is while most teams have played 3-4 games and just getting their season started, hawks are 6 games down (playing their 7th sunday), which will be a quarter of their year done

Hampton has always been the higher draft prospect. If by "people" you mean part time basketball followers, then you are correct.

Great start to the @NBL season- coverage, talent, public interest. Lots of observations, but one that has generated a lot of public opinion, and I agree- LaMelo Ball is a long way ahead of RJ Hampton, and more tools to stay there

— Chris Anstey (@ChrisAnstey13) October 20, 2019

Did anyone actually expect the Hawks to be any good?

Frontcourt including Boone, Ogilvy, Andersen an Froling and a backcourt including Ball, Brooks and Naar

What were they thinking?

Don't be lazy anon, that question deserves it's own thread.

Could the 2019/2020 Hawks beat the 1988 Supercats?

Ball and Hampton are far better than Markelle Fultz and he went number one. Both Ball and Hampton should easily go first round. Hampton is better at present and will be great but imo, Ball has even more up side. He needs to to be coached by someone like pop, he will get his passing game to the talent he has. Imo both have the ability to make significant contributions in the nba.
Hampton probably in better position at present due to an experienced euro coach running the program.

Would have agreed with that 100% before this week but Ball only played 21 minutes last night, so I'm not quite as sure now.

When the Hawks are playing Ball so much, to the detriment of the team, its clear nobody involved cares how bad the Hawks are as long as LK can spruik his facebook views.

"I don't understand why people rate him above Hampton."

Hampton has always been the higher draft prospect. If by "people" you mean part time basketball followers, then you are correct.

Flynn called a time out just before halftime 1.50 minutes left on clock, talked about defence as only 9 down at that stage then call a play and said get ball through hands. Brooks got the ball took two bounces and jacked up a three with heaps time on clock. Nz went on nine mill run. Brooks is as bigger problem as hawks got, bad defensively or fouls a lot and can’t run through any plays. Brooks should go as well as Boone as much as I think Boone is a great bloke and can still play but not in Illawarra system.

Ball,
shooting import guard that can defend.
Blanchfield
Import defensive four that rebounds.
Ogilvy
Bench
Naar
Glover
Grida
Coenrad
Anderson
Use Dech in place of Naar if his defence is spuding it, or Grida if he’s hogging it. Glover pine.

"I don't understand why people rate him above Hampton."

Because Hampton's dad hasn't been talking shit for the past 5 years

I would have thought you'd replace Boone with a rebounding PF who is good defensively. They already have Ogilvy, Andersen and Froling as bigs, if the new PF is good on the interior he will fit alongside them.

Boone needs replacement and need a PF but who else gets sacked?

Part of me thought it may be as a result of their roster (and its sub-quality) rather than from their coaching or lack thereof.

But then I ponder; would Beveridge do as badly with that roster?

Probably not. I couldn't see them being totally being unable to compete (as they are now) with him as their coach;

For me the Hawks were always going to struggle this year with the youth off this team, the young players have great potential but with the Hawks playing Lamelo for 25+ minutes a game is hurting this team. Agree with the above posts with getting a PF. For me I would be starting like this
Narr
Brooks
Blanchfield
Coenraad
Boone
Ball in my view be lucky playing 10 minutes with Sunday & Glover subbing in for their defence
Grida backing up for Blanchfield
Anderson & Froling in the 4
AJ backing up Boone
With Ball not starting will help the Hawks starts in games

I don't understand why people rate him above Hampton.

You'd hope so because watching the replay in the first minute of the Breakers game his shot was blocked followed by a brick causing a +5 point swing. Kid is getting burnt.

"Matt Nielsen available?"

"* to coach I mean"

Heck just sign him as a player, I'd probably still back him in over Ogilvy

How many years did they sign Froling for? Would be better off releasing Boone and giving Froling 25 mins a night.

LaMelo is trash it's killing the team having to play him so many minutes talk about a deal with the devil.

Haven't been impressed with Brooks and his attitude either and Boone looks shot.

Froling offence bean fine defence is the same as rest team, non existent. I’d cut Boone and Brooks. Get a 4 man and 2 guard that can shoot and defend.

At any other club fans would be calling for Flynn's head by now.

Thankfully of the Hawks fan base. 3 of them don't have internet, 2 of them do but don't know how to work their modem init strings and the last one is still banned for pouring beer on Marcus Thornton.

They really need to act soon before it's too late. One of the biggest seasons in their teams history with the worlds eyes on them, they won't want to be an embarrassment or they may never recover.

By next week they should have:
-New coach
-Sack Boone for a new C
-Find an import PF

At the very least they need a new coach. Not the kind of moves a small market would usually make, but it's really now or never for them.

Brooks looks very temperamental, his defence ain’t good. Boone, Blanchfield, Anderson, are doing nothing or to old. Glover, Grida, Naar, showing nothing at either end. They had better get Bevo in quick smart.

I'm sure Flynn is a great guy but I'm yet to see any evidence that he's an NBL quality coach