Happy Days
Years ago
Townsville Crocs sign import Jason Forte
Townsville to announce first import tonite.Anybody have a name???
Happy Days
Years ago
Townsville to announce first import tonite.Anybody have a name???
natwhereyouat
Years ago
^ Best post i've seen on here for some time!
6ft 5 guy who can play the 1, 2 & 3!
@ Nat: so this is the combo guard we have been hearing about?
Any word on a name, or progress on the import big?
paul
Years ago
6ft 5 guy who can play the 1, 2 & 3!
--------------------------------
Sounds good. We dont often get those guys in the league, but that type of player (Mee, Tucker, Hodge, Bowen, Rose) are usually very well suited for the style of game we have.
Mick
Years ago
If he's half the player Rob Rose was, I'll be happy as a Crocs fan.
natwhereyouat
Years ago
He'll be one of the most exciting players in the league. Depending on who the 36ers, Hawks & Tigers pick up.. Could very well be THE most exciting player in the league.
Dunks with power and fiance
ziah
Years ago
oooooooo now I'm excited! That's a big call to make Nat!
paul
Years ago
He dunks with his fiance? She must be bloody athletic!
He dunks with his fiance? She must be bloody athletic!
Isaac
Years ago
Jason Forte.
Scouting reports on Jason suggest he has a high basketball IQ, great defender, good passer, can shoot from range and will out work anyone on the floor. He will also be one of the most exciting players to watch with his powerful in your face dunks.Nat has some video highlights on his site.
Forte is listed as a small forward but can play either guard position and the wing. Sources have told ATF that the Crocs will take a risk and use Forte as their starting point guard.
paul
Years ago
Stats say he isnt much of a shooter and hasnt played much in any high quality leagues, his video says he is unbelievably athletic!!
Will be interested to see how he goes, youd think the Crocs will be looking to play up tempo. OOI - he's another former Yakama Sun King from the CBA coached by Woolpert.
sitiveni
Years ago
Paul love it and now its finance. gone from fiance to finance.
Sounds like a similar player to Julius Hodge not as talented though but with a better head definitely!!!
Mick
Years ago
What are peoples' thoughts on crocs starting a small forward at the one? Will he be able to run an offense or will he slide back to his natural position midseason?
Woolpert said he was looking for a big combo guard but this guy ain't no combo guard.
Will provide the lineup with a bit of versatility in any sense, we will likely see a huge lineup shift after that first sub comes on at the start of the game.
Mick
Years ago
Also good to see the crocs grab an import who is in his prime age-wise.
Wouldn't think he'd demand too big a pay check given he has been playing in the phillipines, which makes me excited for whoever the other import is...
A big risk without a pure point guard to run the show
I guess the plan is to give Norton a go, a bit like the 36ers with Cadee, and then have Norton supported by the import and Cedar bros. I like the sound of this import, if he is anything close to the Rob Rose level they will do well.
He's not, completely different player. More a poor man's Donta Smith.
natwhereyouat
Years ago
He can play the 1, but i wouldn't say he's a 1. I would have him starting on the wing or off the ball. Fill in at the 1 if there's foul trouble or injuries. But crocs are using him as a 1 and he will slide to the 2 when Norton or Cedar come on.
Mick
Years ago
Woolpert has said they have made a contract offer to a 6"10' import who is "much younger and more inexperienced" than Forte, but tough as hell inside.
Sounds promising. You only seem to get decent import bigs in this league when they are young and without much of a resume. Hopefully it's locked in sooner rather than later.
Mick
Years ago
Isaac - I don't really agree with it, but they have the insurance of Chris Cedar, who IMO can start at this point in his career if it all goes South.
Don't spit your coffee out, but Forte is basically being asked to be the "Lebron James" of this team. It all really depends on whether he can stick with guys like Jamar Wilson or Cedric Jackson on defense.
I'm not really worried about the other end of the floor.
natwhereyouat
Years ago
Their offense will (obviously) change a lot without Luke, so not sure what they're going to run next year. Forte is a solid defender but yeah, more a wing defending guarding 3s and has the size to match up with some 4s. Not sure if he can guard Jackson or even Tomlinson. Henry - forget it. He's too fast (but question is can he finish once he gets past his man?).
On the break.. Just get out of the way when Forte is trailing! He's going to dunk on everyone.
paul
Years ago
I think youll see a lot of different line-ups from the Crocs. Forte may start at PG but he'll spend plenty of time on the wings. If Holmes, Hinder, Allen can shoot close to their best that should open some things up for his athleticism.
Mick
Years ago
Question marks all over the roster:
- Forte as a PG
- Last chance seasons at this club for Ben Allen (effort / production / paycut) and Mick Cedar (effort / production / paycut) and Russell Hinder (age / injury / non-guaranteed contract / huge paycut).
- Will Holmes still be huge now he has that long-term contract extension? His production noticeably dropped off last year after he put pen to paper mid-season.
- Will Chris Cedar and Mitch Norton fulfill their potential now they are the only PGs on the roster?
- Will Blanchfield realise the athletic advantage he has over most players in the league or will he continue play without that killer extinct that he hasn't really showed on any level of ball in this country?
Should make for an interesting season. Lots of storylines. Depending on how it all plays out, Crocs will be in the championship mix along with NZ, Perth, Cairns, with Adelaide taking Gold Coast's place in the NBL top four contention.
natwhereyouat
Years ago
I agree Mick. Allen & Cedar were as good as gone when free agency started. But somehow Crocs had a last second change of heart. Not sure if it was a budget thing or thinking there wasn't any other better options on the market. This was before the fall of the Blaze.
Although i'm confident with Mitch Norton's future provided he stays healthy.
Mick
Years ago
Gill was frustrating. For every game he singlehandedly won, there was one that he lost for us with his stupid passes and bad volume shooting. Mims was the ultimate enigma - you never knew when he was going to drop 15, 10, 3 steals and 3 blocks, or 5 points and 2 rebounds and foul out.
I liked them both, but they were both just too risky.
On top of that, both were well into their thirties.
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