Well the 36ers worst season ever is over. They finished 11th (or second last) with only 11 wins, they have actually had 11 wins in 3 previous seasons – but they also had 22 loses which is the club worst. They lost 8 in a row and were lucky not to make it 9 in a row in the last game of the year against a team already gauranteed a place in the play offs, who took their foot off the accelerator after half time.

It was a fairly dissappointing year, many expected it, but it wasnt a team that lacked talent and potential they just never seemed to get it together on the court. They never played defense with any intensity and that showed in their second last game the Dragons beat them 149-147 in overtime.

My Player Grades

Nick Horvath – C- – Once described as mediocre by Mark Watkins his West Sydney coach, and I’ve got to say, about the only thing he really knows how to do well is foul at the wrong time. He was regularly in foul trouble and this meant that he wasn’t able to play his best game. I am sure he would play better if that wasn’t hanging over his head, he has a sweet hook shot but spends too much time on the bench with foul trouble. Sorry but I think we can do better, good luck with your future.

Brett Maher – A – Mister Adelaide 36ers – the team wouldn’t be the same without him – and it isn’t. You can rely on him when he is needed sadly he didn’t have the support of enough people consistently. Brett I hope you stay on, the crowd numbers will drop even more if he isn’t around.

Lanard Copeland – C – Definitely not in career best form, would be an excellent bench player coming in with numbers he got this year in 10minutes of game time. Sorry but I hope you enjoy retirement

Adrian Majstrovich – D – I thought he was going to be the find of the year for the 36ers, but sadly he didn’t live up to my estimations. Despite having an almost career high season of 9ppg (equaled in 2005 in Perth) and 5rpg (only better in 2005 with 6rpg). He has the potential to be the next Martin Cattalini but potential only takes you so far – you have to actually step up and show us what you can do. I personally think give him another season to show what he can do – that would be it.

Willie Farley – C- – I love the 2002 Willie Farley drive to the basket, dunk in traffic hit the shots when required played some defence, but the 2006/07 Willie is just not there. Now I dont know why – personal reasons or whatever – but he was a shadow of his former self, occasionally the 2002 version would turn up for a quarter but he wasnt usually there for the whole game. Willie enjoy your time back in the States and enjoy life after basketball

David Cooper – C – The Ghost – well sadly the ghost was scared off more than he was scaring the opposition. He had some great games and had a career best 8rpg & 1.7bpg and equal best 7ppg but sadly he went missing when he was most needed. He is muscled out too easily on the low post against bigger opposition on too many occasions. See ya next year big fella but hopefully you wont have the starting role pressure on you.

Darren Ng – B – Ok so the Ninja isn’t a game winner in his own right, but he is quick scored a career best 10ppg. Needs to improve his ball handling skills a little especially under full court pressure, but we will see you back next year.

Marcus Timmons – C – Boy you started out looking like an out of touch player and ended the season looking like you were getting some of your touch back. Sadly you park yourself out of the 3 line in offense and we dont need a PF doing that we needed you inside rebounding. Welcome back to the land of the retired, have a great SEABL season and enjoy the break next summer.

Mark Nash – D – I hate to say it but our only contracted player for 2007/08 was probably one of the biggest disappointments of the year. Not sure if it was due to the fact that he never seemed to play the same role week in week out, that he was confused about his role or what, but it wasn’t good this year – actually it was his worst – 4ppg (only his rookie year was worse), 5 rpg (again only rookie year was worse), 36% fg% (next worse was 40% in 2004), 20% 3p% (next worse 26% in 200 & 1996), 30% ft% (32% in 2002) it wasnt good that is for sure. I don’t know if Mal will have the balls to cut him, but sadly I think we have seen the last of Nashy, if not he will get to play out the last year of his contract.

Brett Wheeler – D – I can’t believe Mal paid $100,000 for that, I hope that was a pro-rata based payment ie if you play all 33 games – he only played 17 games for 6ppg and 6 rpg. On the occasion that he step on the court he played some ok minutes, but to only get 17 games out of him is woeful. Perhaps he can stay around for half the money he was on this year otherwise have fun with Marcus in the SEABL.

Matt Sutton – B – Revelation of the year, I saw Matty play 3 games in last years ABA and he did well, but I was surprised how well he stepped up to the NBL level. He is a rookie and made some silly mistakes, but you expect that, at least he tried and usually did ok. He is quick and was able to help us out of a few full court presses put on by other teams. He will only get better and I look forward to seeing him more and more in the future – future captain/co-captain with Brad Hill I hope.

Brad Hill – NGP – I think I had tears in my eyes when we realised what happened on that fateful night in November. Definetly a future captain of the team will need to fight with Matty Sutton I reckon. Mal sign him up now on a long term deal, get him away from the point guard role – give him a specific job/position ie SG/SF and let him free. Gee make a big decision start him even when he returns – give the lad some confidence in his ability.

Phil & Steve – C- – I like the combination, and I don’t believe everything I read on hoops.com.au, they were crap this year but so was everyone else, them another year to see them pull this team out the mud. Next year there will be no excuses that they have hung their hat on this year with the ownership changeover, they will need to perform.

Mal – NGP – well it was your first year, and the make up of the team was all but decided when you came on board – it is time to put your stamp on the team and change it for the better. I will give you one thing you had the balls to bring in an extra player in Marcus Timmons to supplement the team during long periods of injury. I hope you have the chequebook open cos you are going to need it, sweep the cobwebs out of the closet and start the charge towards the 2007/08 championship, bring home the bacon.

Eddie – it is time to start sorting out the dome, new scoreboard, new PA they should be priority number 1, replay screens are nice but aren’t really practical when you dont have a camera crew there for every game. Just a few things at a time, you dont want to be spoiling us

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