Think you have lost the plot tmagz03. Hodge is essential or a player like him because of the fact he drives as we have no other player that can continuously drive. Brad Hill is probably the only other one in the team. Not to mention he gets close to a triple double a game! Furthermore, now with Schenscher and Holmes added to the team and being able to finish inside this will mean teams will not be able to double team Hodge as much making him even more dangerous. Also his ability to bring the ball up is and release pressure from Maher and Davidson is vital!

Yea but the bottom line is our chances of getting him are slim to none. He is dominating in the NBA development league and i believe is worthy enough of playing in the NBA so he should stay in the states and pursue that goal.

I just think with the players the sixers have now they dont have to rely heavily on Hodge to win games. I know the talent hodge brings to the table but i honestly dont think we have enough to offer to lure him back, despite the attention and local fame he could draw. We have to be skeptical here.

King James, you know there are pure shooting players that have a driving game aswell...

Can anyone think of other players that can make this sixers team just as successful?

Hodge has presumably shown enough in the D-League, more than enough to get teams interested. This next season, I don't think he needs to commit to more of that low-wage D-League stuff to prove anything else - they'll either want him or they won't because his stats seem to have been good enough.

So, IMO, his choices lie abroad. Europe, which apparently he doesn't like, and the NBL.

For these reasons, it wouldn't surprise me if he committed to an NBL team with an NBA out-clause.

He played in Europe before and then came here. That has to say something.

Yeah you are correct TMAQZ03. Matt Hutton does not deserve to be in the 36ers, but Matt Sutton does!

you are a dead set joke for saying that. Have you seen what he brings to the team. He brings leadership and he stepped up in the absence of Maher last season. Give him a break, hes a young developing player. He deserves to be in the side no question.

I remember Hodge saying the team he played for in Europe did not pay their players if they didn't win. Whether the salary there is any better than it is here could be a gamble taking that into account. It could be the guarantee of getting paid that may attract him here rather than Europe.

He mentioned several times how good it was here and that he didn't like Italy.

"Yeah you are correct TMAQZ03. Matt Hutton does not deserve to be in the 36ers, but Matt Sutton does!

you are a dead set joke for saying that. Have you seen what he brings to the team. He brings leadership and he stepped up in the absence of Maher last season. Give him a break, hes a young developing player. He deserves to be in the side no question."

Im sorry but did you even see last season games, Ng stepped up in Maher's absence, infact everyone BUT sutton stepped up, infact I think most people here would agree last season he stepped down from his previous season. He didnt bring leadership, defence, or shooting to the team he brought nothing, Burdon had much better performances than Sutton.

How much guaranteed money would Hodge have made for being picked in the first round - probably between 2 and 4 million US? I think he would have been drafted while the first three years were still guaranteed.

If he's got his finances in order, he can probably afford to play in the NBL, particularly considering the lifestyle advantages.

Wishful thinking perhaps.

I also think the NBL is marginally improving its position on the NBA radar. Having name guys like Hodge, Corey Williams, Grizzard etc. playing alongside guys with draft potential - Ingles, Jawai - couldn't be doing us any harm.

He mentioned lifestyle advantage was here, but he had to get that third season for his NBA pension.
Would love to come back here.

Hey Scotty,
its called a typo man it happens.
Do you want another example of a typo? My username is tmagz03 and you have typed TMAQZO3.

I respect the fact that you think Sutton deserves to be there but i find it disrespectful for calling me a deadset joke because i have my own opinion that's different to urs.

The point of this forum is to express what is on the minds of basketball fans and each person is entitled to their own opinion. With that being said, your a tosser for all the above reasons :)

tmagz is correct. Sutton didn't step up last year as he wasn't given a chance. The previous coach didn't give him any court time, that would do wonders for your confidence. The previous year is when he made his mark.

I believe Sutton should be given more court time.

Regarding the Hodge questions, he played in Italy before coming to Adelaide and I'm sure I read a quote from him (although written by Boti) saying he was not really happy playing in Italy. Maybe he would be happier playing in another European Country. Still making big bucks......

Schensher and Holmes are role players. We still need a quality import, specifically someone who can create. So IMO Hodge is still the missing link - or another excellent passer and penetrator* (*please no lame Bryant Matthews jokes)

Sutton's playing days with the sixers are over boys, the bloke can't even make an impact at ABL level these days!
2005- 11.7 ppg, 4.4 apg, 6.4 rpg
2006- 14ppg, 4.4 apg, 6.2rpg
2007- 12.5ppg, 6apg, 5rpg
2008- 9.8ppg (30.4%FG, 28% 3PFG) , 4.3apg, 4.8rpg

Averaging less in every category for the past 4 seasons...

Eric Burdon
2006- 18ppg, 2.6apg, 2.6rpg
2007- 19.7ppg, 3apg, 2.6rpg
2008- 24.4ppg (48%FG, 45% 3PFG), 3.6apg, 3.6rpg

Jason Reardon
2008- 17.2ppg (49.3%FG, 41.2% 3PFG), 5apg, 9.8rpg

Thankyou Panther. I don't think people realise how good Eze Burdon is. Defensively he is very good and works on the principle of denying his man the ball rather than letting them catch and then trying to stop them. A principle that will serve him well in the NBL. Is smart and is willing to adjust his game according to the team's need at any particulr time. Offensively he has good range and can create his own shot. When he gets in rhythm he is fun to watch.

I'm concerned about or ability to break a full court press, Davidson is a good ball handler, as is Maher but they are both going to play limited minutes due to age and constant injuries that come with being over 30. We need a point guard with a defensive mindset and the ability to take the load off our two aging champs.

I agree that Hodge is not the only person alive who could now lead this team deep into the finals. However, he is still, at the least, the most intruiging piece of the puzzle and, so far, the only real named person in contention.

I can see where tmagz is coming from, but I wouldn't go so far as to say that Hodge would not now fit in this team structure. But equally, an import of the calibre of Farley circa 2002 would probably now fit the bill.

Sturty, as for Sutton, I have to disagree. The previous boss was more than patient with Sutton in the first half of the season and Sutton failed to impress. If anything, he looked less composed than the previous season and entirely ineffectual at one end of the court.

Other than his big final game (17 points, 5/6 three pointers - in which he scored 20% of his season total) against lowly Singapore, he made nearly no impact notwithstanding being on court for 317 minutes of the season (nearly 13 minutes a game). I admit that those minutes were sporadic, but Sutton did not demand or deserve more.

Oh man, tmagz is priceless! He starts off with:

"honestly do not think he has the right man for the job anymore"

then a bit later follows it up with;

"He is dominating in the NBA development league and i believe is worthy enough of playing in the NBA so he should stay in the states and pursue that goal."

I love this board.