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Bad day? You must be joshin'
TweetJUST when you thought it was a bad day for basketball in Australia, Sydney Kings go and announce Josh Childress as their newest NBL import.
For those who came in late (yes, I love quoting “The Phantom”) Childress is the best former NBA player to make it to our shores and at 31, still is in the shadow of the prime of his career.
Don't worry, the 2004 No.#6 NBA draft pick has plenty to offer and should do way more for the Kings than Sam Young managed last season.
Suddenly the Kings become a contender and, unlike DeAndre Daniels at Perth, Childress is making all the right noises about coming to the NBL.
Daniels, you may recall, was quoted as saying it (coming to the NBL) wasn't a negative and it would be a vacation.
He is in for a surprise but it won't take long for the Toronto Raptors' #37 pick to work that out.
And then, because he is hungry for his NBA shot, he will have the impact of his predecessor James Ennis.
The Wildcats will be right up there defending their title.
But Sydney is in the mix now too, along with Melbourne, New Zealand, Adelaide ... actually, no-one is looking light-on at present.
Roll on the Blitz, eh?
For my take on Childress today at News Corp, go to the link:
Or don't.
THE day started out a bit sullen when our Australian Under-17 team fell on its face somewhat against Canada in its final intragroup game at the FIBA Worlds in Dubai.
While Isaac Humphries was a sensation for 41 points (at 70 per cent), 19 boards and blocking five shots - how good was his spin-to-the-hoop-and-dunk-through-traffic move in the fourth quarter? - this time he had little back-up support in the 74-85 setback.
Then our Boomers went down 78-91 to Lithuania to conclude their three-game series there at 2-1.
It never ceases to amaze me how quickly Boomers “fans” want to jump on any perceived flaws in the team, or how quickly.
After they beat Finland in the series opener, I had (e)mail they weren't sufficiently impressive.
First game together as a team, jet-lag after a 48-hour trip from Australia ... irrelevant, apparently.
No-one said much after they put away Ukraine but the doubters were out in force quickly again today.
Chill out.
Impatience isn't virtuous.
Ridicule for the sake of it isn't insightful.
The whole reason they are playing nine lead-in matches is to get their game together.
When do we want to see their best? Now? Or at the World Cup?
If you missed it, had a few words on it at News Corp today:
NBL Rosters
ADELAIDE 36ERS: BJ Anthony, Peter Crawford, Mitch Creek, Tom Daly, Adam Gibson, *Daequon Montreal, Anthony Petrie, Luke Schenscher, Brendan Teys, *Jamar Wilson. Coach: Joey Wright
CAIRNS TAIPANS: Shaun Bruce, Matt Burston, *Torrey Craig, Cameron Gliddon, Alex Loughton, Corey Maynard, Cameron Tragardh, Stephen Weigh, Mitch Young. Coach: Aaron Fearne
MELBOURNE UNITED: David Barlow, Daryl Corletto, *Steve Dennis, Daniel Kickert, Auryn Macmillan, Owen Odigie, Nate Tomlinson, Lucas Walker, Mark Worthington. Coach: Chris Anstey
NEW ZEALAND BREAKERS: Tom Abercrombie, Duane Bailey, Rhys Carter, *Cedric Jackson, Alex Pledger, Reuben Te Rangi, Mika Vukona, Corey Webster, Tai Wesley. Coach: Dean Vickerman
PERTH WILDCATS: *Jermaine Beal, *DeAndre Daniels, Greg Hire, Tom Jervis, Matt Knight, Damian Martin, Mathiang Muo, Shawn Redhage, Jesse Wagstaff. Coach: Trevor Gleeson. Interim: Paul Woolpert
SYDNEY KINGS: Angus Brandt, Jason Cadee, *Josh Childress, Josh Duinker, Cody Ellis, Tom Garlepp, Ben Madgen, *Kendrick Perry, Kevin White. Coach: Damian Cotter
TOWNSVILLE CROCODILES: Todd Blanchfield, *Brian Conklin, Mirko Djeric, *Mickell Gladness, Jacob Holmes, Steve Markovic, Mitch Norton, Clint Steindl, Greg Vanderjagt. Coach: Shawn Dennis
WOLLONGONG HAWKS: Adam Ballinger, Tim Coenraad, Larry Davidson, Tyson Demos, *Gary Ervin, Oscar Forman, David Gruber, Brad Hill. Coach: Gordon McLeod
(*Denotes import)
TOMORROW: The WNBL draw. Who needs imagination? And, a 36ers flashback to make Cairns Taipans fans happy.
