Week #15 recap - Game #20 vs Eastern Suns (97-133 loss), Game #21 vs Stirling Senators (70-92 loss)

I wouldn’t call this weeks losses a disgrace. There are certainly a lot of areas that require improvement. Attitudes were tested. And with what is left remaining available for selection to the squad, we put the best team on the court that we can.

As always, you can look at the situation as an opportunity for the younger and/or fringe players to step up. Friday night saw a strong performance from Lucas Offereins, Saturday night from Alex Franklin. Both showed that with time they have the potential to be players of the future for the club. They will get further opportunities this season and hopefully with the remaining games gain valuable experience.

What is most noticeable is that our style of play provides similar results in regards shot opportunities, steals and such. However our field goal percentage has suffered from the quality of personnel available. Having a 6’8” American centre that has college experience and is a solid player, or a player such as John Taylor that has spent a few years in the league and is constantly improving…replacing them with local players that have potential, but not the same experience…directly reflects such basic statistics as field goal percentage.

Shooting 37% to the Suns 54% (they were 66% in the first half), and 30% to the Senators 43% is a recipe for disaster. Against slightly smaller teams than we have faced in the past few weeks, our rebounding figures were slightly ‘kinder’ (we still lost both) however if you shoot 17% and 13% worse than the opposition, it is always tough to win.

Upsides:

• Turnovers – 19 to 29 against Suns
• FT% - 71% to 59% (15/21 – 17/29) against Senators…yes…an improvement!!!!

Downsides:

• FG% - 37% to 54% and 30% to 43%
• FT% - 55% to 77% (6/11 – 24/31) against Suns
• Reb - 44 to 56 (-12) and 43 to 51 (-8)

Individual Performances:
Suns:

• Jarrod Balcombe - 24pts (47%), 4rbd, 3blk
• Lucas Offereins - 2pts, 7rbds

Senators:

• Jarrod Balcombe - 22pts (47%), 7rbds
• McLennan (in game #300) - 11pts (50%), 4ast, 16rbds with a broken finger
• Alex Franklin – 10pts (3/3 3pt), 3ast

A new thing…the injury list:

• Michael Jones (Moncrief): Visa issues, not playing this year.
• Tim Kruge: ACL, out remainder of season.
• Andrew McLennan: broken hand, out remainder of season.
• John Taylor: Plantar Fasciitis, out remainder of season.
• Jarrod Balcombe: Bruised hand, unavailable this week for private reasons.
• Nathan Friend: Unavailable this week for private reasons.
• Lucas Offereins: Unavailable this week for private reasons.
• Ty Alabakis: Injured foot, fitness test.
• Damian Stack: Flu, fitness test.

Obviously we are weakened with these absences, however just as big an issue with so many experienced players out is their absence at training. Facing stronger players at training every week, learning from them, seeing their intensity…not having this hurts us with so many new players filling out the lineup. In particular players like Michael Jones, Time Kruge and Justin Brown really set the tone and lift others around them.

4 weeks and 5 games remaining, we now face the Mandurah Magic at Morley on Saturday night minus our two leading scorers. We have nothing but pride to play for and it will be up to the newer players to step up to the challenge.