Black Panther
Years ago
Taipans: Square Pegs in Round Holes
The Taipans offensive woes are not a talent or an execution problem. They are a system problem plain and simple. Fearne obviously likes a slow-down ball control side-to-side balanced set-up. Passing up good shots hoping for a great one and usually ending up with a bad one as the shot clock expires, all the while running half-speed through their cuts, screens and ball reversals-this is Fearneball. Great I guess for a team with no potential standouts and low overall talent and athleticism, but Fearne has a roster that is just the opposite.
Their roster one through ten(eleven if you count Bruce) is the deepest and probably the most balanced in the league. Here are a just a few examples of players being used incorrectly.
Jamar Wilson- excels in the open court pushing and attacking. Good at using hesitation and breaking down his man in the halfcourt to get to the middle either for the finish or dish. His role under Fearne- slow it down even when there appears to be and advantage and run the offense, an offense that doesn't create gaps for dribble penetration (a strength of his).
Tragardh- On the block, in the key, two-man game pick and pop, whatever. Give him the touches, he will produce. Supposedly recruited to be the scoring centerpiece, doesn't get the ball by design enough and is just another cog in the system.
Shane Edwards- Shoots the three better than Loughton, better down low and gets tougher rebounds. Yet mpg are same? I like Loughton, but Edwards obviously needs more minutes. Most of the time relegated to being the reverse man up high.
Steindl- this guy can attack the rim well and looks sometimes like he wants to, but again, no driving lanes off any curl screen cuts. Seriously, you would have to follow him around the screen or it's a three, but if you do..he's at the rim. Oh yeah, more minutes.
Kerry Williams- speed,speed, speed(fastest in NBL??) Not much else, but why even play him if the philosophy isn't uptempo.
Brad Hill- not as much a disaster in the halfcourt as Williams, but come on. Turn this guy loose in the fullcourt and he will cause major fits for the other team. Minutes are dwindling because, no surprise, he brings nothing to Fearne's system.
There is no sense in playing ten guys in a 40 minute game if you're playing slowdown. Fearne recruited this team and I think did a great job in that. I've heard enough about how great a coach Fearne is but all I see a guy who won't run a system that utilizes the talent his players have. Stubbornness? Afraid of not being totally in control? Overmatched? I really don't know. I could go on and on..wait I already did.
Don't get me started on the defense.
