Australia's PG Dilemma

Will we ever see another pass first PG like Phil Symthe?

From my last post somehow the comments section become a venue for people to discuss the point guard situation of Australia, so I'll discuss a few of the points that have been raised.

First, Eric wanted to know why our leading PG CJ Bruton can only register five and a half assists per game.

Well Eric the days of a traditional pass first PG's are few and far between which will have a drastic effect on assist numbers from this position.

There is no doubting the CJ is still Australia's best answer at this position but I'm not sure where he stands as far as the national team goes.

Is he a pass first point guard?

This is a tough one to answer because he has the ability to score the ball so well. This is proven on an almost nightly basis in the NBL when he takes over the fourth quarter. There is no doubting CJ is thinking score first but he does have the feel and understanding of the game to create opportunities for others. Hell, he was only on of four players to average better than 5 assists per game this year, so he wasn't too bad.

Here is what I feel has had the biggest impact on this stat within the league. The average basketball players skill level in the NBL from the 1980's and early 90's has lifted remarkably.

You think back to the days of Phil Smythe and Gordie McLeod at the point guard spot. These guys were as rare as hen's teeth. The point guard role was dominated (and still is to a point) by imports. Of the top of your head, name another ten Aussie players of that era that dazzled you with their ballhandling. (Scott Ninnis' right hand coast to coast does not count!)

As for today's player, some teams can have three or four guys that can grab a rebound and start the fastbreak.

With better ballhandlers per team, this allows more creativity amongst the team, and your assist leader's total will be a little lower.

An example here is the West Sydney team I played on back in 2004. Both Sam MacKinnon and myself averaged over 5/game, while we had Aaron Trahair, Simon Dwight and Scott MacGregor all having the ability to create for others.

We did not need a dominate ballhandler as we had a squad that had versatility in this area. It was this trait that made us a tough outfit to defend.

I honestly believe the days of seeing someone average 10 assists (it has been done by only three guys; Darryl McDonald (3), Derek Rucker (1) and Gordie McLeod (1) in a NBL season is long gone.

Here is a little evidence to support my statement.

I recently had a very good discussion with AIS coach Marty Clarke. In the discussion we talked about the type of player that gets recruited these days at the junior level.

First, coaches are looking for length and athleticism. Skills that cannot be coached are priority. My argument to this is, we have no specialist players these days and everyone plays with the same skill set. Talk about Groundhog Day and no ability for a team to change their style on the fly.

This leads me to my last rant of the night and in line with what readers were commenting on.

When we go to play at an international competition (WC's or Olympics) we certainly do not have the depth at the PG spot like some power teams do.

I tend to look at it a little differently, though.

I never doubt the skill of these players who fill these positions, they are just not the norm when comparing to other international PG's.

Who's to blame or how do we fix that can be debated until the cows come home.

Where I feel we let ourselves down is we worry way too much about what we don't have instead of maximizing what we have. You can only go with what you have once you get to a tourney, so make the most of it.

As one reader wrote, we play run and gun in the NBL, then we try and play a different style when we play against the rest of the world.

Why don't we run and gun I say? For any team to win a medal you need to find a style that suits your team makeup and you need a little luck along the way. Remember, there is very little that separates most of these great teams from around the world

As the saying goes, a leopard never changes his spots so why do we continue to change our style once we leave our shores?

We need to dare to be different. That is what the Europeans did. They figured out if they wanted to compete with the USA, they needed to create a style of their own. Low and behold, they ended up beating them and making the USA rethink their team structure.

If Australia is to ever become a power on the international stage, we need to step outside the box instead of travelling down the same road.

Penney MVP, Phill Best 6th Man

MVP: Kirk Penney
This article is courtesy of http://www.stuff.co.nz/

The New Zealand Breakers may have come up short in their quest to make the Australian NBL's Grand Final, but received a pretty decent consolation prize with news that star player Kirk Penney had been named the league's Most Valuable Player.

On top of that, as the final series between the Melbourne Tigers and South Dragons was locked at one game apiece across the Tasman, the New Zealand club completed a rare double with Penney's team-mate, Phill Jones, named the league's Best Sixth Man.

Penney's MVP award is richly deserved, even if it did come as somewhat of a surprise after he failed to guide his club to an historic appearance in the Grand Final. The Breakers shooting guard led the league in scoring, averaging 24.2 points a game, and also had 4.4 rebounds and 2.8 assists as he completed a second straight standout season in the ANBL.

But with the Breakers falling 0-2 to the Tigers in the semifinals, and squandering a 20-point lead in the second game at home, many - including Penney himself - had presumed the judges (in this case the league's coaches) would look for someone from one of the two finalists.

However Penney's resume spoke for itself and when the likeable Tall Blacks star was announced as the first ever Kiwi MVP winner at the club's awards dinner on Friday night, he had to admit it was somewhat of a bittersweeet moment to receive the ultimate individual accolade at the end of a season where the team fell short of its main goal.

Describing an emotional awards night as a "celebration of the season we had and the history we made", Penney conceded that there were mixed emotions as he reflected on a campaign where the Breakers went into uncharted playoff territory.

"We, the players and coaches, definitely had a bit of a sour taste in how we lost to the Tigers. We felt like we should have played better and had a chance of winning the series," Penney told Fairfax Media in an exclusive interview.

"I guess it is a little [bittersweet] because you want to win a championship, and they're the memories that never leave you. But as a personal accolade it's just a huge honour."

Just in case he needed reminding, Penney's outstanding team-mate CJ Bruton wandered by, nudged his backcourt partner and told him that was now three MVPs he'd played alongside.

"Clearly he's claiming responsibility for it," added Penney with a broad grin. "He is a big part, and not just CJ, all the little pieces we had that put us in a place to finish third in the regular season, which was great progress for this club. To have a home semi, so many positives came from it, but once you get there your goals all change, and suddenly you're looking at a championship. You can smell it, because it's right under your nose."

Penney's right to throw a little love Bruton's way, for his team-mate also had an MVP-type season, curtailed perhaps only by injury that slowed him through the middle stages. Bruton averaged 15.4 points to finish 15th overall in scoring, but was second leaguewide in assists (5.4), third in steals (1.7) and had the best free-throw percentage (88.1) and third top three-point percentage (47.1).

Jones also richly deserved his Sixth Man award, the southpaw shooting ace coming off the bench to average 14.7 points, 3.6 boards and 1.4 assists an outing. His long-range percentage (42.4) was also fourth best in the league.

The sad part of Jones' accolade is that the Breakers are struggling to find a place for him on their roster for next season, though their thought processes may have to be revisited.

Having already secured Bruton, Penney, Forman and youngster Thomas Abercrombie for next year, and with the league reverting back to international-standard 40-minute games, club officials are battling over whether they have either the minutes or salary cap space to retain Jones who also carries close to the maximum points rating.

But Penney issued a heartfelt plea that the club retain as many pieces of the puzzle as they could as they look to continue their emergence as one of the Aussie NBL's premier sides.

"I feel like continuity is so important," said Penney. "This has been a really good year but it's important to build on it and decisions now are crucial."

It's inevitable, though, some players from this season will not return. With the league undertaking a makeover there could be some key new personnel available.

"It's also likely the club will look to replace import Rick Rickert at centre, while the disappointing Adam Tanner is one and done and Tim Behrendorff's spot may also be in doubt. Classy veteran Tony Ronaldson still has to negotiate another contract, but it's likely he'll stay on board.

"There's two steps above where we've been," said Penney. "Right now we've got a little ways to go obviously because we didn't get it done this year. As a player you're never satisfied and as a team we've got to keep working."

But both Penney, and Jones, spoke about the "special" bonds this team had formed. "I've never been on a team like this before, and I've played all over the world" said the league's MVP. "You touch it in college a bit because it's so pure and no one gets paid but in the pro ranks like this it's unheard of."

For that reason alone there will not be a major overhaul of this Breakers roster, with maybe one or two bigs on the shopping list, and not too much else.

Penney says he'll take a break over the off-season, spend some time touring New Zealand (he's keen to check out the South Island) and then probably head to the States to get himself ready for the next campaign.

But one thing's clear. The way it finished, for Penney who didn't get to show his best stuff against the Tigers, and for the club, there is plenty of fuel for the off-season fire.

"Over the last week certainly you wonder what more could you have done," shrugged Penney. "That's why I'm so glad that the coaching staff and most of the players will be back. So we're all on the same page starting off, and we all know the feeling we had at the end of the season, and know exactly what we've got to do to be successful."

Penney succeeds the Tigers' Chris Anstey as MVP. But with Anstey still battling for another title in Melbourne, it was more than clear which prize the Kiwi shooting star really wants.

Awards roll call:
Australian NBL MVP: Kirk Penney (NZ Breakers)
Best Sixth Man: Phill Jones (NZ Breakers)

Breakers club awards:
MVPs' MVP (voted by season ticket-holders): Penney
Player's Player of Year: Paul Henare
Club Player of Year: Penney

Brock Motum & Getting My Nerd On

Brock Motum is heading to Washington State University.

Continuing with my scouting report on individual players from the U/20 Men's National Championships, I turn my focus to Washington State Cougar bound lefty Brock Motum.

Motum who is from Queensland is an 18yo, 205cm (6'9) power forward who must have felt a little unlucky not to have been named MVP of this national tournament. Teammate and St Mary's bound PG Jorden Page was awarded the highest individual honour of the week.

Cougar fans, get any thought of Aron Baynes out of your head. Motum is a wafer thin power forward with skill. He is not a banger but has talent that can be developed into something.

Unlucky not to average a double double at the U/20's (20pts,9rebs), but take note he produced these stats while averaging just over twenty minutes of court time.

His play was efficent (67% from the field, 60% from deep and 84% from the charity strip) and never seemed to force the issue on offense at all. He was a monster on the offensive boards and from the games (3 of 6) I saw, he turned a high percentage of these into points.

During the Championship Game he showed the ability to step out and knock down the three (3/3) with confidence.

An interesting stat that leapt out at me was the lack of shot blocking. The stats show zero for the week and now that I think about it, I did not remember a one. Unusual for a guy that was a tree amongst weeds on most nights.

What I liked about Motum's play at the defensive end was his ability to use his length (not sure what his wingspan is, but I guess it is over 7') at the top of a full court zone press. He averaged over 1 theft per game but it was his disruption due to his length he caused in the backcourt.

Motum showed me good poise and feel for the game but I would have liked to have seen some type of solid post game.

I know it is hard to criticize someone that put up numbers as he has done, but remember he is going to play in the tough Pac-10 Conference. This Aussie tournament does not resemble anything defensively that the young fella will face from Ben Howland and the UCLA Bruins.

I was trying to think of someone to compare him to in the USA and I had to go all the way back to Brad Lohaus of Iowa Hawkeye and Milwaukee Buck/Boston Celtic fame. (By the way, both are redheads.)

Motum has the tools to play in the Pac-10, but I will keep an eye out to see how he handles the physical play he will face on the interior.

I just feel the mid-major level would have allowed him to play minutes early in his career as his body continues to develop and mature.

All the best to Motum as he heads over to play in one of the premier conferences. That is of course until you play the Zags. I know the student section will come with something for this guy to remember his trip to Spokane by.

- Yesterday I started to educate myself with this new cyber tool that is known as Twitter. (I'm becoming a networking fool!) What really suckered me in though, was the ability I now have to "track" the likes of Shaq, Steve Nash and Kyle Korver (do not laugh).

Shaq was recently in Orlando to play the Magic and through Twitter anyone who could find him received tickets to his game that night.

("I'm n the mia on the beach whoever touches me gets 2 ticket u have 30 min" said SHAQ.)

Well, I could not sign up quick enough as I'm going on a family holiday to Phoenix. People who know me well, know that I love the free stuff.

Thanks to Twitter, if you here of a skinny white Aussie male stalking Shaq, you know I have found him. He just better have the tickets, otherwise, well....I'll have to revert to buying some.

Hoops News

- Melbourne Tigers level up the series at 1-1. boxscore

- Little did we know CJ Bruton was right thinking New Zealand is part of Europe. CJ and this journo must have went to the same geography class in the USA.

- "Stormin" Norm Taylor still playing the game he loves. Can anyone else not remember Taylor suiting up for the Razorbacks?

- Hey big spender or loser?

- Corey "Homicide" Williams wants to be a Croc for life.

Calvin Talford Edition of "The OT" & News Links

Early in the week we strayed from the norm and launched a Grand Final Edition on our weekly podcast show. This means you the listener gets twice the fun this week as we also did our tradition weekly edition of "The OT" as well.

Times flies when you have fun so this made it episode #24 or as we like to say now, episode Calvin Talford. The one time high flyer for the Hobart Devils graced us with his presences and #24 on his back.

In this edition we talk about all the weekly issues surrounding the sport. Also as captain of the Crocs I get to vote on the end of season awards so I reveal who got my vote in all categories.

Happy listening and remember to e-mail (jronfire31@yahoo.com) me who your all time favourite #25 was so we can dedicate the next edition to a former blast from the past.

News Links

- Adelaide 36ers guard Aaron Bruce wins the NBL's Rookie of the Year award.

If you have listened to the podcast you will have heard Bruce received my votes for this award. In fact I also had Perth's Stephen Weigh second and Cairns' Kerry Williams third. Plain and simple, it was slim pickings this year.

Early pick for next year, St Mary's Lucas Walker.

- "We had him (Robert Rose) in mind when we got (Donta Smith)," Brian Goorjian said last night. (Courtesy of The Herald Sun.)

Was Goorj thinking of bringing Rob Rose in instead of Donta Smith? Click on the link above to see what he was talking about.

- Cairns Taipans former coach Mark Beecroft moves into the front office as their general manager.

- Victoria and South Aussie teams have been finalised for Brett Wheeler's charity game.

- Surprise, surprise, Brian Goorjian asks for more defense.

- Wollongong's ABA team is now gone.

What is happening to sport in this once rich sporting region?

- Shaq and former coach Stan Van Gundy exchange words.

- March Madness has hit us square between the eyes. Here is a full slate of news regarding your favourite conference's tourney schedule. Plus here are some coaches to watch as well.

Between The Madness

Today I'm just going with a series of You Tube videos as Larry Abney refreshed my memory about a certain Fresno St team back in the late 90's. You could describe them as a renegade team coached by one of the greats of college basketball, Jerry Tarkanian.

I remember watching this documentary way back when he hit the TV screen, thinking this cannot be true.

Well, I had the chance to find out first hand how real it was. It was the first thing I asked Larry Abney about when we became teammates here in Townsville. Larry was very honest and upfront about the whole deal, especially when I asked him about one of his teammates pulling out some Samurai swords on the odd occassion.

I have sat here and watched it again as another former teammate in Willie Farley also stars in the doco.

It may not be your cup of tea so I will put up four episodes. If it is to your liking and you have a spare hour at work today, I'm sure you can find the remaining episodes on YouTube.

If this is not your go then don't forget to listen to the Grand Final Edition of "The OT".

Episode 1


Episode 2

Episode 3


Episode 7

College Prospects - Cody Ellis

***A Grand Final Edition of "The OT" is ready for your ears. Enjoy!***

I'm hoping Cody Ellis keeps it to three turnovers per game - Rick Majerus

Now that my oncourt duties are complete for another season I can get back to a blogging project I have put on hold over the last week.

As promised I'm going to give a scouting report on each of the kids who played at the recent U/20 Men's National Championships and will be taking their games over to the USA to compete at the NCAA (college) level in the near future.


First up:

Cody Ellis (PF 202cm) -signed @ St Loius Billekins

There is no doubting that Ellis has talent but he is going to test Billekins Coach Rick Majerus's patience's.

Ellis who averaged 17pts and 7 rebs per contest through the six game tournament should have had better looking stats. I believe Ellis has the ability to own this tournament (a double double at the least) but he was prepared to just see himself float through.

The disappointing aspect for me was his extremely high turnover rate. He tallied 27 over 6 games. This will have Majerus pulling out what hair he has left.

What I like about Ellis' game is he has the ability to stretch the defense with his offensive skill set. Although he shot only 28% from down town during this tourney, his stroke looks much better than this.

I have been told he has a solid low post game, although it was not on display during the week. Ellis settled for the mid range game or facing up on his opponent. He was often much bigger and more skillful than his opponent so he could face up and use his skill.

Billiken fans will be happy to know that his highest score of 23 came against the eventual champs Queensland, whose frontline is littered with fellow Aussies joining the Division 1 ranks.

Some of the Billekin forums have questioned whether Ellis can play on the perimeter? I will say no from what I witnessed. His speed on the perimeter would be exposed.

He has a good feel and understanding of the game but this should not surprise anyone as his family has hoops running through their blood.

Although I was not happy with the "too cool for school" attitude displayed by Ellis he has the potential to help Majerus and the Billekins improve their program.

This kid did have programs such as Wake Forest chasing his signature.

If Ellis buys into Majerus' system and what he is about, his game will grow and prosper as Andrew Bogut's did at Utah. If he doesn't, his talent will go to waste just like fellow countryman Ben Melmeth.

News

- The South Dragons are already working the refs for the upcoming Finals series.

- Are the Tigers and Dragons finally turning it into a fierce rivalry?

- Goorjian still talking about the great job he has done.

- Wollongong Hawks last ditch effort. Also check out this site to help them survive.

- "The Bear" wants to hibernate in New Zealand again.

- "Australian champs Sydney Spirit test mettle of Yeng Guiao’s RP five."

This is one of the best researched articles I have ever read. If you are looking for a laugh, please read carefully so you do not miss one of the untrue facts. The title of the article is just the start, it gets better.

- Sean Marks interview, thanks to Jeff at Inside Hoops.

Detoxing

"Is it true Rusty has 22inches?" That is something I cannot answer.

I've been in playoff detox for the past 48 hours and like any good addict, it never gets any easier to get over it as the years roll on.

It was another season where we did not achieve what we set out to do. Sure there were not too many people that rated the Crocs at the start of the year, but I always felt that if all things feel into place, we would be a chance.

No doubt we needed luck and things to fall our way, but if I felt the team I played on never had a chance, it is time for me to give the game away. (While on that, there has been some speculation that this may have been my last year. Not so, I'm here for another crack at the title.)

We were very close to making it happen here in Townsville. One game short of making the Grand Final and maybe surprising the Melbourne Tigers. It was not to be, but we had our chances and we just did not capitalize on them when they were presented.

Many people will always remember Game 3 and how the South Dragons over ran us in the end. I would like to turn your attention back to Game 1.

The game was tied up or very tight with six minutes to go. That was where I felt we let or opportunity slip through our hands.

The Dragons dominated us in the last six minutes of a ball game we controlled for the majority of the time. Closing out games in playoffs is key and we let a golden opportunity slip through our fingers during the later stages of Game 1.

Give the Dragons credit for playing better in the clutch but I will always feel those were the six minutes that hurt us making the second ever championship series for this proud club I play for.

I think fans and supporters of both teams will remember this series as hard fought but the better team in the end ran over the underdogs.

On the other hand, all teams have their moments to succeed, you just need to take them when they are presented.

What's News

- "To win it would be the greatest achievement I've been involved in in the NBL", said South Dragons coach Brian Goorijian. (The Australian)

Brian Goorjian is already pumping up his own tyres on what a great good he has done with this group. Trying to play the underdog roll once again. His team did finish first in the regular season after all and most of his players have come from solid rosters in the past.

- Former Brisbane Bullet player and four time Olympian Larry Sengstock has the support to bring the Bullets back. Will Basketball Australia see the same thing?

- A Sydney Kings consortium has asked for extra time for their proposal.

- You can never let the truth get in the road of the true make up of your squad. Sydney Spirit are trying to take their team to the Philippines. Just read and you will see the number of errors in this article. I had a slight chuckle to myself as I happen to know Marco and he does have basketball very close to his heart.

- My current teammate Rosell Ellis is temporarily being replaced by a former teammate, Galen Young. Read here to get the full story.

- Townsville Crocs reflect over loss.

Top 10 Kobe plays to date this season.