High school US basketball star RJ Hampton has signed to play professionally with the New Zealand Breakers, a team that plays in the ANBL. The Breakers have won several titles but their fortunes have waned in recent years. What to make then of this latest move.
The basketball scene Downunder is stronger than many realise. Andrew Bogut finished his season with the ANBL's Sydney Kings and then winged his way to Golden State and will be playing at centre for the Warriors in the NBA Finals. The Sydney Kings came third in the ANBL with Bogut, so that may indicate the depth of the league. They're not bunnies.
The Breakers have new owners and they're keen to get things back on the right track. But there are potential problems with their approach; many former NBA players have played Downunder and come up short. The style of play Downunder is not the same as in the NBA. RJ Hampton has only played High School basketball and looks quite slim. He'll be up against grown men, and they're from all over the place, they don't play like Americans. This is code for - the games are much rougher than in High School basketball in the US. Players have to deal with getting beat up.
Will RJ Hampton measure up and is this league the right preparation for the NBA? If I'm going to put money on the outcome, my bet would be it will be a failed though interesting experiment.
Showing posts with label Andrew Bogut. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Andrew Bogut. Show all posts
May 30, 2019
March 07, 2017
NBA: LeBron James Hunting Back-to-Back Titles in Cleveland
I noticed Andrew Bogut signed with the Cleveland Cavaliers of the NBA. Cleveland are looking for a big man to rough up the Golden State Warriors on the inside, and what better player to do that than the big Aussie who won a title with the Warriors.
Also note the Cavs added Kyle Korver for his three point accuracy, and Derrick Williams for more thuggery (I mean that politely of course, I admire such things, bring back the biff I say).
It's yet to be seen if this strategy will work. I'm watching carefully, there are aspects to their formula I agree with. What's my formula?
Three things needed to win titles:
1. An intense hatred of losing. Not a joy of winning, or just don't like losing. The type of players needed hate losing so much they throw up after the game. How to find these players is more interesting, I look for players that are an attitude problem. This has only backfired once when one player I recruited needed to be waived as he was going to be killed by his teammates.
2. A heightened sense of personal accountability. Players that do it the right way and if they foul up they put it right - immediately. I call this having a turbo up their arse.
3. Luck. A certain amount of luck, Think Napoleon noting there were two types of general, good generals and lucky generals and of the two he preferred lucky generals. Lucky players have the knack of looking at the ref and getting the call their way.
Also note the Cavs added Kyle Korver for his three point accuracy, and Derrick Williams for more thuggery (I mean that politely of course, I admire such things, bring back the biff I say).
It's yet to be seen if this strategy will work. I'm watching carefully, there are aspects to their formula I agree with. What's my formula?
Three things needed to win titles:
1. An intense hatred of losing. Not a joy of winning, or just don't like losing. The type of players needed hate losing so much they throw up after the game. How to find these players is more interesting, I look for players that are an attitude problem. This has only backfired once when one player I recruited needed to be waived as he was going to be killed by his teammates.
2. A heightened sense of personal accountability. Players that do it the right way and if they foul up they put it right - immediately. I call this having a turbo up their arse.
3. Luck. A certain amount of luck, Think Napoleon noting there were two types of general, good generals and lucky generals and of the two he preferred lucky generals. Lucky players have the knack of looking at the ref and getting the call their way.