Hoops

Did 36ers tank last 3 regular season games?

3 seasons ago we had a 3 game series with Perth, and once again we LOST at home in game 1, went on to beat Perth at challenge stadium in game 2, (greatest comeback in NBL) and then was outed of the race in game 3. Perth went on to play the Kings in the GF that year... if only we could have won game one at home. The pattern has continued 3 seasons in a row now losing our home finals games against Perth, Bullets and now Cairns. I think Smyth should come up with a new plan of attack coming into the business end of the season. I support Smyth 100% and unless we miss the playoffs entirely, getting rid of him should be out of the question. Just a hypothetical question but who would people want to coach the Sixers if they got rid of Smyth? Goorjian :) If I was to choose another coach it would be Doc Hurley but he is retired.

You bring up some some interesting and well calculated points Stephon but where was Breheny when all this was happening. I thought he was the mathematical mastermind in making this sort of calculation. Did he not look at the whole picture from start of playoffs to end of grand final, instead just taking things one step at a time? It makes you quite angry now thinking about what might have been if they just let nature take its course instead of manipulating it.

Stephon, welcome back from your honeymoon. Good to hear from you again. Doesn't sound like you missed much while you were away because no doubt you would have kept up to date by internet of what was happening here. We have had 2 years in a row where it seems that the last few games of the regular season were actually planned to avoid the greater of the 2 evils in the playoffs and both times went against us. It will be interesting to see what happens next year and if anything has been learnt out of this experience. As much as I think that Smyth is a great coach, if it is indeed the way he planned it, he has made 2 monumental misjudgements and hope next year he will allow the team to protect every game they play. It doesn't matter who you face in the playoffs, I just think if the team entered the playoffs with the confidence of having played the last few games well, their good form would have continued. Despite the loss to Cairns on Saturday being a heartbreaker and very difficult to swallow, the team played how they should have played in the previous 3 games. With that sort of practice in those 3 games, their performance on Saturday night may have been even stronger. If for any reason a team has not made good progress throughout the season, they concentrate their best efforts towards the end of the season as that is the time you need to be playing your best. There is strong evidence that it has happened by the fact that 3rd & 4th teams both were eliminated in 1 elimination game, yet 5th & 7th have progressed to the 3 game semi final. Despite the finals format being a joke, it is a regular pattern that lower ranked teams go further in the finals.