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Post by DefyingGravity on Dec 31, 2018 11:34:33 GMT
Burnout
Won 4. Lost 9. 10th place.
This is how the Rocks are ending 2018.
We’ve beaten Surrey Scorchers twice, Worcester Wolves once and Plymouth Raiders once. Both Surrey and Worcester have a worse record than us and goodness knows how we managed to beat Plymouth who are currently sitting 5th. Some may argue we have had a slightly easier schedule to the start of the season and the more difficult games are yet to come. The poor start from our main Scottish players seems to have more or less sorted itself out which is just as well as we’d most likely have been embarrassed further if they hadn’t.
We’ve been close in a few games. The most recent being the OT loss to Sheffield Sharks. An OT loss to the current second placed team doesn’t seem bad at first. However when you realise we came out flying in the first quarter and had a substantial lead, and then lost every other quarter before allowing the Sharks to tie the game up due to a Rocks play a 10 year old using NBA2k19 on GM mode wouldn’t even draw up then I think we can be suitably pissed off.
As I’ve mentioned before, no team has a given right to beat any other team in this league. There have been plenty of shock results so far this season. I’m used to losing seasons either at the final hurdle or right from the start. I’ve followed the Rocks, Houston Rockets and the Glasgow Clan for long enough. I can accept losses. It’s part of sport. What I cannot accept is the manner of the Rocks losses.
Winning games requires not only skill, a good basketball IQ and good game management, but also mental strength. Mental strength, along with everything else, is something which seems to be missing from this team. Never underestimate the importance of mental strength when it comes to sports. You could have the best players in the world in your team, but if they aren’t mentally strong enough to get over the hurdles when or if they appear, then what chance have you got?
We are of course still in the Cup and the Trophy. Winning that might please some people. For me it would be a bit of a disaster as to use the words of a friend “it would provide false validation to a plan which has been an abject failure.”
Last season was the first season where I didn’t enjoy coming to Rocks games. This season is even worse. I still have a season ticket, but I’ve missed more games than I’ve seen. The incentive isn’t there. My partner has been to one game all season. Will we buy a season ticket next season? I’m not sure. We certainly won’t be buying one “early bird” until we see who is appointed as coach as well as the first couple of player signings. I appreciate that season tickets allows the club to get money in advance and have a better idea of budgets, but right now that isn’t enough for me.
We all know that a winning team will draw in the crowds. However the club and players need to remember the importance of fan engagement. A chat with some Rocks fans suggests that the majority of them are feeling very disengaged this season. Do we have any memorable players? I’m not talking playing wise. Murray Hendry has many supporters and it’s easy to see why. He’s the only player on the team that, despite not getting the minutes, has a bit of character about him.
Off court I think the club have improved. So it surprises me why we haven’t tried to improve the on court situation. Duncan was quick enough to sack Sterling and make necessary changes last season, but seemed reluctant to make any changes this season. Unless anything major happens then I assume we are stuck with the team we have.
I have a trip to Newcastle planned in February with some fellow Rocks friends to catch the Eagles v Rocks game which was booked a while ago. The main point of the weekend is to have a few drinks, a good night out and be envious of the Eagles new arena. Gone are the days when myself and friends would go to Newcastle with the hope that it would be our time to shine against the Eagles. I’m probably more excited about the amount of gin I’ll be drinking than I am about watching the game.
I love the sport of basketball. I’m passionate about it. However right now I have lost much of the passion for my club. The club I invest my time and money in. The club that has given me the opportunity to make a number of new friends through mutual support of the team. The club have been pretty silent in terms of addressing the problems we have. I’m not asking them to place blame on anyone in particular. I’m just asking for a little bit of communication from them and to let fans know their concerns are being taken seriously.
When the passion goes, it’s time to worry.
It’s over to you, Rocks.
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Post by notoriousbigz on Dec 31, 2018 12:11:57 GMT
We are of course still in the Cup and the Trophy. Winning that might please some people. For me it would be a bit of a disaster as to use the words of a friend “it would provide false validation to a plan which has been an abject failure.”
See now I put the same thing to Cheshire Nix fans last season and I got a response from Gonk saying he'd take a trophy over a playoff appearance all week.
And that's a view I tend to agree with. Daryl is in a similar situation to Ben Thomas in that its his first full year of professional coaching, and that to win a trophy in your first year (especially in light of the drought that Rocks and Nix have had in the past few years) is a bloody good start to life as a professional basketball coach.
That said, I don't think the starting positions of the two clubs is comparable. Rocks are, to me, in a better financial situation and had a better league record and under Tony were legitimately pushing for a top three finish and looked like a really good side (appreciate him going was nobody at the clubs fault like but the facts are the facts). So to miss out on the playoffs when they were previously a pretty much guaranteed entry would be more of a disappointment than Cheshire Phoenix - who are in the "will they/wont they make it" category each year.
However, if you take it on its merits - should Daryl win a trophy I think he should be cut a little bit of slack - after all, trophy wise it will be Rocks most successful year since.... well.... someone help me out here.
He has to take lessons from the recruitment this year though (and a lot of other things as well to be fair). The use of the 3 non-EU imports has not been good enough for me.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 31, 2018 12:25:30 GMT
I've been thinking about that some more recently. I felt Cheshire were a decent side last season and, while they didn't make the playoffs, always looked like they could give any team a game. A trophy and a reasonable league showing seems like a decent season to me.
This seasons Rocks are *not* last season's Phoenix. We're utterly appalling, spineless, and quite frankly, a cluster**** of bad decisions. It's a race to the bottom between us, Wolves, and Scorchers. While i'd love to win some silverware, I suspect it'd be a sticking plaster applied to a festering wound. I'm the person quoted in DG's blog btw.
I know Nixette was in vehement disagreement with me last season and while I still maintain that Cheshire had a pretty respectable campaign last season I can now begin to understand the dissatisfaction.
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Post by notoriousbigz on Dec 31, 2018 12:39:39 GMT
I understand the dissatisfaction more from Rocks point of view than I do Phoenix because they have regressed in the league whereas last seasons Phoenix were, I thought, an improvement on the season past. Thought it was a great achievement what they did last season and yeah, they had a side that could put the frighteners on people.
Rocks do seem to have gone backwards from last year and that probably makes it less acceptable - but surely a trophy is a trophy? Its something to build on?
I'm not inside enough at Rocks to know how Daryl is with the players but if the rumours are true, trophy or no trophy they cant afford to have the dissatisfaction run into another season can they?
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Post by foxprorawks on Dec 31, 2018 12:40:54 GMT
Murray Hendry may not get many minutes on court, but he is fantastic on the bench, particularly when we played Sharks. If there was an MVP award for most enthusiastic fan, he'd win it.
The Scottish players have definitely improved as the season has progressed, particularly Ali. Don't think Bunyan played against Sharks - injury?
I'd still love us to win something this season, obviously. I would be ironic to perform so poorly all season, and yet still have it be our most successful season.
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Post by DefyingGravity on Dec 31, 2018 12:49:44 GMT
Side note: JB has tonsillitis so problably why he didn't play
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Post by Deleted on Dec 31, 2018 16:00:11 GMT
I normally get slaughtered at half time of an away Rocks-Eagles game so I don't need to endure the second half. When I go up to Newcastle in February I'm going to make sure I start drinking when I have my breakfast so I don't remember any of the game. Its going to be a horror of a game. If Achara and Murray don't get themselves ejected them I'm going to be disappointed.
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Post by youngrocks on Jan 1, 2019 10:20:24 GMT
Fundamentally there is something not right since smilie took over. Commercially we may have more partners but everything else has either deteriorated or stalled. Our gm is leaving and we are replacing with what would appear a cheap and inexperienced fix. Anothersign of totally not getting it.
The fan engagement is pish. The players have little interaction with the fans.
Rocks fans are an unique bunch.i 100% believe that the directors of the club dont get it.
Ive been one not to question the coach to much. He has the job. Recruitment by committee has failed. We have zero standout player.
The funny thkng is we are one win away from a final. Silverwear would be amazing. Been too long however it doesnt make this a successful season. Im reading on fan forums long and new sesson tix holders maybe not coming back. Thats the essence of our season.
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Burnout
Jan 1, 2019 14:31:45 GMT
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Post by faz on Jan 1, 2019 14:31:45 GMT
We are of course still in the Cup and the Trophy. Winning that might please some people. For me it would be a bit of a disaster as to use the words of a friend “it would provide false validation to a plan which has been an abject failure.”
See now I put the same thing to Cheshire Nix fans last season and I got a response from Gonk saying he'd take a trophy over a playoff appearance all week.
And that's a view I tend to agree with. Daryl is in a similar situation to Ben Thomas in that its his first full year of professional coaching, and that to win a trophy in your first year (especially in light of the drought that Rocks and Nix have had in the past few years) is a bloody good start to life as a professional basketball coach.
That said, I don't think the starting positions of the two clubs is comparable. Rocks are, to me, in a better financial situation and had a better league record and under Tony were legitimately pushing for a top three finish and looked like a really good side (appreciate him going was nobody at the clubs fault like but the facts are the facts). So to miss out on the playoffs when they were previously a pretty much guaranteed entry would be more of a disappointment than Cheshire Phoenix - who are in the "will they/wont they make it" category each year.
However, if you take it on its merits - should Daryl win a trophy I think he should be cut a little bit of slack - after all, trophy wise it will be Rocks most successful year since.... well.... someone help me out here.
He has to take lessons from the recruitment this year though (and a lot of other things as well to be fair). The use of the 3 non-EU imports has not been good enough for me.
Trophy above play offs any day. It’s a no brainer imo. Great achievement from a rookie coach. There is a proviso in that the team and club are improving though. Nix were undoubtedly better than the previous year and should have made play offs with that roster. I’m guessing money is tight as they never replaced Khan with a BBL qualityguard. I’m sure Hayes and CJ will improve things at Nix and it wouldn’t surprise me to see a guard come in before the deadline. However to date they’ve regressed and I was surprised that Raheem wasn’t offered a contract this year. Last year there was consistency in the roster though Raheem was I think the only returnee. Often outside the clubs control. However apart from the season when the jets folded they’ve,prior to the last 3 years been a perennial play off team who competed. I get what Smilie is trying to achieve at rocks and like the Scottish identity but ultimately they need to perform on the court and the comment about lack of fan engagement contradicts Smilie’s chosen path. Personally think a much improved second half of this season is crucial to both organisations. |
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Burnout
Jan 1, 2019 20:10:12 GMT
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Post by faz on Jan 1, 2019 20:10:12 GMT
get a point guard in addition to Norl and Cheshire have a very decent roster
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Burnout
Jan 1, 2019 21:14:35 GMT
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Post by nixette on Jan 1, 2019 21:14:35 GMT
Faz we were a perennial play off team long before you started watching them.
Nix are committed to Ben as our coach His dad is a sponsor and now on the board.
Rocks are committed to their strategy.
I also get bigz pint about fans identifying with players. However they won’t if they arn’t performing or are aloof. A coach and officers of s club can give this engagement. Players at a club for one year can also give the engagement. None better than Rob Sandoval, Dustin Salisbury and Taylor King in recent years at Nix. Continuity of players tends to be an exception rather than a rule and we get this as fans.
Both clubs will continue to struggle imo
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Post by Deleted on Jan 1, 2019 22:32:39 GMT
Faz we were a perennial play off team long before you started watching them. Nix are committed to Ben as our coach His dad is a sponsor and now on the board. Rocks are committed to their strategy. I also get bigz pint about fans identifying with players. However they won’t if they arn’t performing or are aloof. A coach and officers of s club can give this engagement. Players at a club for one year can also give the engagement. None better than Rob Sandoval, Dustin Salisbury and Taylor King in recent years at Nix. Continuity of players tends to be an exception rather than a rule and we get this as fans. Both clubs will continue to struggle imo I want bigz pint. Chester have always been a car crash. You can chuck that one back at me, but it's still true |
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Post by MacSporran on Jan 4, 2019 8:45:18 GMT
Fundamentally there is something not right since smilie took over. Commercially we may have more partners but everything else has either deteriorated or stalled. Our gm is leaving and we are replacing with what would appear a cheap and inexperienced fix. Anothersign of totally not getting it. The fan engagement is pish. The players have little interaction with the fans. Rocks fans are an unique bunch.i 100% believe that the directors of the club dont get it. Ive been one not to question the coach to much. He has the job. Recruitment by committee has failed. We have zero standout player. The funny thkng is we are one win away from a final. Silverwear would be amazing. Been too long however it doesnt make this a successful season. Im reading on fan forums long and new sesson tix holders maybe not coming back. Thats the essence of our season. I agree with Youngrocks - the Smilie 'interlude' and I hope it is just an interlude, has been a disaster. Mr and Mrs Reid had a successful and competitive club and team - always there or thereabouts. When they sold up to Mr Smilie , initially I though that the injection of his Business acumen would benefit the club. However he has presided over a clusterf**k of a couple of seasons with firstly an extremely dodgy firing of Sterling Davis , and culminating in this extremely low performing team. Now they are losing Daniel the GM who was in charge of the pretty good backroom team and now has (or is) going. I saw the painting on the wall at the beginning of last season , not liking Smilie's decisions then, and did not renew my Season Tickets. I'm glad I didn't waste my money then and now. Something has to happen and happen soon, otherwise the fans will melt away and the team will go from worse to worse - wasting Murray's undoubted talent and not making use of the experienced Achara's waning years. Just my 2 cents worth. |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 4, 2019 9:49:35 GMT
Fundamentally there is something not right since smilie took over. Commercially we may have more partners but everything else has either deteriorated or stalled. Our gm is leaving and we are replacing with what would appear a cheap and inexperienced fix. Anothersign of totally not getting it. The fan engagement is pish. The players have little interaction with the fans. Rocks fans are an unique bunch.i 100% believe that the directors of the club dont get it. Ive been one not to question the coach to much. He has the job. Recruitment by committee has failed. We have zero standout player. The funny thkng is we are one win away from a final. Silverwear would be amazing. Been too long however it doesnt make this a successful season. Im reading on fan forums long and new sesson tix holders maybe not coming back. Thats the essence of our season. I agree with Youngrocks - the Smilie 'interlude' and I hope it is just an interlude, has been a disaster. Mr and Mrs Reid had a successful and competitive club and team - always there or thereabouts. When they sold up to Mr Smilie , initially I though that the injection of his Business acumen would benefit the club. However he has presided over a clusterf**k of a couple of seasons with firstly an extremely dodgy firing of Sterling Davis , and culminating in this extremely low performing team. Now they are losing Daniel the GM who was in charge of the pretty good backroom team and now has (or is) going. I saw the painting on the wall at the beginning of last season , not liking Smilie's decisions then, and did not renew my Season Tickets. I'm glad I didn't waste my money then and now. Something has to happen and happen soon, otherwise the fans will melt away and the team will go from worse to worse - wasting Murray's undoubted talent and not making use of the experienced Achara's waning years. Just my 2 cents worth. The Reids ran a stable and pragmatic business imo. Something which can often be underappreciated in the sporting world. I thought Smillie's business acumen and contacts would benefit the club. I feel in the aspect of sponsorship, business deals etc we *have* got better. However, I feel the changes to the organisation perhaps haven't been done in a way which encourages gradual improvement and growth. I'm deeply disappointed that Daniel has left. Same with OD last season. Not so fussed about Sterling going though I can see why people were annoyed. Would a season with Sterling, Daniel and OD have been a good move while Duncan learned the "trade" so to speak?. Murray's talent does seem to be getting misused (If that's the right word). I'd like to see Achara in a playing role only, involved in absolutely no running of the club either officially or unofficially. Can all the blame be laid at the owners door? Probably not. Like i've said elsewhere though, we're about to move into a situation where there's literally no-one at the club with any real experience in how to run a basketball franchise. Those who Duncan seems to have surrounded himself with are simply not in a position to be giving advice. That's less than ideal, to put it mildly. |
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Burnout
Jan 4, 2019 10:33:01 GMT
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Post by youngrocks on Jan 4, 2019 10:33:01 GMT
Im interested to know if duncan reads this site.
I doubt he fought to keep daniel (if daniel wanted to stay) arguably (biased view) one of the best gms in the league. Is he happy cutting costs? Is success is what he is after the foundations need to be good. Not point building a swanky team or image if it could all collapse.
Massive amount of disharmony in the stands from the hardcore towards the change. It started with sterls sacking contjnued with the turbulant season last year and has continued this yesr with a roster of no personality. Id almost take neil watson...
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Post by DefyingGravity on Jan 4, 2019 11:20:34 GMT
Im interested to know if duncan reads this site. As far as I'm aware Duncan doesn't read the site. He does read all the blogs though. I think the club have occasionally read through the site. They'd need to be totally clueless to not realise the disharmony.
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Post by DefyingGravity on Jan 4, 2019 11:21:47 GMT
Murray's talent does seem to be getting misused (If that's the right word). I'd like to see Achara in a playing role only, involved in absolutely no running of the club either officially or unofficially.
Yes. Absolutely yes.
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Burnout
Jan 4, 2019 14:30:55 GMT
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Post by nixette on Jan 4, 2019 14:30:55 GMT
Wow I’m actually quite shocked by the level of disharmony towards the running of your club. I thought it was only myself and other Nix fans who felt that strongly.
You have an advantage in that you can change or at least tweak your chosen path. Murray’s and Achara roles do seem a worry and the secession to choose ‘team okayers’ rather than more influential imports could be viewed as a decesion based on self intrest.
I was shocked when I heard scorchers got 1100 fir their last game but have a small budget. Outside of kids parties and corporate we probably get half that. Hence the sponsorship is key so with Thomas and a major sponsor and on the board the path is pre determined regardless of performances in the court.
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Post by nixette on Jan 4, 2019 14:42:41 GMT
At least you were told your GM was leaving!
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Post by DefyingGravity on Jan 4, 2019 14:43:59 GMT
There are a few fans extremely disgruntled with the running of the club, particularly the input of Achara. However Achara is in with the bricks now and no doubt Duncan will keep him involved.
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Post by DefyingGravity on Jan 4, 2019 14:44:20 GMT
At least you were told your GM was leaving! Gutted about that. |
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Burnout
Jan 4, 2019 14:48:03 GMT
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Post by nixette on Jan 4, 2019 14:48:03 GMT
That’s from a club whose supporters arn’t happy with fan engagement
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dc
Bench Player
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Burnout
Jan 4, 2019 17:27:27 GMT
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Post by dc on Jan 4, 2019 17:27:27 GMT
Disappointed to hear Daniel is leaving. Always been helpful. He’ll be missed.
Unless there’s some positive signs I don’t see myself renewing season tickets. I know the owner claims more spent on players than last season but if that’s the truth it’s certainly not been spent wisely.
What’s the script with Greg Pryor? Seems to spend more time injured. Is he going to be back on the court anytime soon or are we better replacing him?
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Burnout
Jan 4, 2019 17:33:31 GMT
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dc likes this
Post by faz on Jan 4, 2019 17:33:31 GMT
There are a few fans extremely disgruntled with the running of the club, particularly the input of Achara. However Achara is in with the bricks now and no doubt Duncan will keep him involved. Coach should be King. Simple as. Court jesters don’t help. Coach not up to it change him. Players awkward bin them. |
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Burnout
Jan 6, 2019 15:53:12 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jan 6, 2019 15:53:12 GMT
At least you were told your GM was leaving! What actually happened to James? He suddenly disappeared and I was told he was ill. |
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