Hodge can certainly do it and will, when you get a bigger guy who is faster more athletic and can get up there not to mention handle the ball the best in the league you will have a dominant player. He will do it all year bar an injury (touch wood). Its great watching him how he wants to be in everything, best thing for the sixers since mee and brooks double

If there was ever a remake of the Wizard of Oz based on NBL players you would surely would cast Hodge as the character asking the wizard for a reliable jump shot.

He'd be sitting next to Leroy at the top of the 'best ever' import list. Then again, he'd probably still also be with the Nets.

yeah hodge is more athletic than tyndale, but also is way way way better handling the ball, something a guard should do well. also think he is a better passer and better finisher around the basket.

Yeah agree vanexe31, by the time he is done in this league he will be a top 5 import ever, if he has a longish nbl stint to claim his case. Anon, after reading your comparison between Julius and Tyndale, i totally understand why you didnt put your name to your opinion haha

Hodge is awesome in the character ranking aswell, the way he isnt afraid to wave his hands to the crowd mid game just to make sure 'we' are switched on and involved is the type of thing that will connect with young kids who will come back for years to come!

Wack comments Anon. Tyndale has a better jumpshot, but thats where it ends.

Anon is 100% right. Julius has a huge size and athleticism advantage over every player in this league, which is why he is able to get away with not having a jumpshot. At 6"7, with his ability off the dribble and his athelticism, he's unique out here and (most of the time) uses those things to his advantage.

Like anon, I'm not doubting that he is a great player, but let's not let a couple of dunks and waving his arms to the crowd in the way of analysing why he is what he is....

Can't agree with you anon, I don't think his athleticism is anything special at all. It IS probably above average for a 6'7" player in this league but it was one of his major downfalls in the NBA.

IMO, his key attributes are his handle through traffic (slashing ability, if you will), ability to finish at the rim despite contact, his shooting touch (ie. it somehow rolls in even if it's ugly and flat), his passing ability, his rebounding IQ and all-around basketball smarts. Plus there's all the excitement he brings through interaction with the crowd.

His speed and hops is secondary IMO.

He has a good personal game at the expense of the rest of the team. He hogs the ball and tries to do too much when he should be passing off to a team mate. Would be the reason why his first 2 games in particular he had good numbers (enough to win POTW) but the team lost both. He is also a bit too cocky for me. He praises himself too much. He knows he is good in this league but won't make it in the NBA as already shown. I am happy to have him on the team but he will need to learn to be a team player.

EC - Is he not already leading in assists?

EC-Hodge has to takeover. When your the import, you have to be proactive and you have to look to score, because If you don't you will be shown the door. Also, Hodge cannot rely on guys like Bruce,Hill,Winitana and even Maher to some extent to score. He has to takeover. We need him taking shots. The only guy I think he can rely on is Ballinger.

You say: 'he should be passing off to a team mate.'

TO WHO.?

-Bruce is shooting 36 % from FG, and 28 % from 3PFG
-Brad Hill is 38 % from the Field, and a dismal 5 % from 3PFG. He has made 1/22 from 3-point this season
-Cooper is shooting 37 % from the Field this year
-Winitana is shooting 32 % from the field. As well as 13 % from beyond the arc.
-Davidson is shooting at 35 % from the field.

Ballinger and Schenser are the only two that Hodge can rely on/trust.
Balls is shooting the lights out this year:
FG % = 52
3PFG % = 47
FT % = 83

Schenser is doing a fantastic job too:
FG % = 52
FT % = 81

Julius gave a very interesting interview upstairs after the game last week. Judging by the comments he made then, it sounds like he would be very happy for Bruce to get more assists than him, he said he had great potential or stuff like that..

and there was obvious mateship rivalry between him and Luke who was interviewed also so i wouldn't be surprised if Luke is telling him, hey Julius I am 4th in the league in foul shooting, weren't you a star from the foul line in college?, when are you going to give me some competition etc.etc.

Who really gives a shit, honestly our season was over, so stop bagging the guy. He didnt have to come here and may be playing for less to be here. If that doesnt make him a team player I dont know what will. Why does everyone always have to find something to complain about.

WELCOME BACK HODGE!!! try praising people for once, lets face it..he would kick your and my ass!

At least he gets to the rim. Tyndale rarely beat his man off the dribble. Personaly I have no problem with Hodge getting to the hoop, missing and putting back his miss. At least its aggresive basketball that can draw fouls on the defence. Plus we have good offensive rebounders in Luke and Holmes.


Secondly, getting steals and blocked shots isn't primarily about being athletic. Its about timing and reading the game. Alvin Robertson for example was not your sterotypical athlete.

"He is not a great finisher at the rim at all. Any bump often causes him to miss."

Bullshit, look at how many 3pt play oppurtunities he gets himself you clown.

"Average athleticism for our league? wow. Name one person in our league that is able to jump as quick as Hodge does ."

Jingles for one, and I said "above average" by the way.
Have you seen him play once this year???


EC, please, that entire post completely goes against everything you said when criticising Tyndale (ie. 'our import needs to take games into his own hands and dominate offensively')... and as Skip said, he is racking up the assists anyway.

skud, he wouldn't kick my ass if he had to do the job that I am qualified and paid to do. I don't get paid to play basketball so I don't have to be good at it. I wasn't actually bagging him either. I did say he is good in this league and I am happy that he is with the team, he just needs to be more team orientated. I can confidently expect that he will put up good numbers any time he is on the floor, I just don't want it to be at the expense of other players.

Ballinger Fan, I was also upstairs to listen to his post game speech. I also listened to Scott Ninnis speak and say that Julius still hasn't learnt where he fits into the team and his role. No doubt that will come in the next few games. This is the sort of thing that I observed in the game and that is how he is doing his own thing which is not necessarily fitting in with the rest of the team.

XztatiK, where did I say that imports have to take games into their own hands? Yes, imports do need to dominate but that is quite different to taking the game into their own hands. Its a team game, not a solo performance. Also, Hodge is already fulfilling the expectation of an import dominating by the numbers he puts up.

A lot of the above negativity seems to be coming from the hawks game, where he was not at his best.

Some of you guys are never happy. Lets get Kobe, im sure you would still have something to whinge about. Win or loose Hodge is exciting to watch and thats why i go to the Basketball. We need excitment players. When was the last time anyone saw an allyoop at the bball cos i cant remember. People keep saying that bball in the nbl is better than ever but most games i watch these days are just a Brian Goorjan defensive slog. players like Hodge bring the excitement back.

Couldn't agree more dougys.

Found that, despite the loss, the Dragons game (with Hodge) was more enjoyable to watch than the earlier comfortable win against the Spirit. Great atmosphere and spectacle and Julius was a big part of that. A movie where the bad guys win still has value if you've been entertained.

Goorjian's Dragons are actually the third highest scoring side in the league. The Taipans have been the real dud side in that regard.

The enjoyment of watching any particular game is a momentary enjoyment. The enjoyment of winning the game is a long lasting enjoyment. The enjoyment of winning a championship is enjoyment that lasts and is continually talked about for years after. If I wanted momentary enjoyment, I would go see a good comedian. Its not enough to watch a good game and then lose it.