Nathan Jawai - A Dallas perspective

Its funny ... the US and Australia seem to get along so well in many different forms but its funny and sad how quickly we can fall out of favour and become yesterday's news. The same applies in basketball and its really growing tired. First Patty Mills goes from stud to the forgotten man and now young bigman Nathan Jawai seems to be getting the same treatment.

News earlier in the week reported that Jawai hadn't even spoken to the Dallas Mavericks, the team he was traded to a few months ago. Now people are contemplating whether he'll be signed to a contract or not.

I always thought he tried to jump to the big show (the NBA) a little too early in his career but surely he deserves more of a shot than he's had so far. Click on the title below to read a Dallas perspective on Jawai.

Dallas Basketball - 10 Interesting Things About Nathan Jawai

Nathan Jawai has registered nothing more than a bite-of-Vegemite-sandwich worth of playing time in the NBA. He’s 22, with 19 career minutes in six career games. So anybody who right now is insisting that the Mavs newcomer can play sounds almost as ridiculous as anybody who is insisting the Australian native can’t play.

What we do know: His fans think he’s the second coming of Shaq, his detractors wonder about his enlarged heart and … well, he’s Australian. All in all, Nathan Jawai is somebody I kind of give a didgeridoo about.

So he gets the “10 Interesting Things About Nathan Jawai’’ treatment:

10. In recent work for the Australian National Team, Jawai is often arguably the best player on the floor. When the Aussies beat Argentina, Nathan pitched in with 22 points and seven rebounds while limiting NBA stalwart Luis Scola to 2-of-8 shooting. In a loss to China, Jawai scored 28 points (on 11-of-12 shooting) and he grabbed 11 boards.

Basketball Shooting Lessons from Ray Allen

Thanks to a FaceBook update from the Boston Celtics, I came across an auction being run at the moment where you can get basketball shooting lessons from Ray Allen.

As you know by now, Ray Allen is one of my favourite shooters and if I was 15 years younger and still coming up in the game, I would be ALL over this! The current bid is $950 with 30 days to go, it'll be interesting to see where it actually ends up.

If you want to be shown step-by-step how to shoot a basketball and learn everything you need to know to improve your shot and don't want to spend thousands of dollars and can't make it to Boston ... why not just sign up to our Basketball Workshop for a fraction of the cost?

charitybuzz | #10075 - Basketball Shooting Lessons from Ray Allen of the Boston Celtics

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Shoot some hoops with one of the Boston Celtic's most integral and successful players, Ray Allen. Considered to be one of the most accurate 3-point shooters in the history of the NBA, Ray Allen is an extremely accomplished and skilled player, being a nine-time NBA all-star and an Olympic gold medal winner as a member of the 2000 USA team. Don't miss you chance to improve your game while playing with and learning from one of the NBA's greatest shooting guards.

Donated by: Ray Allen

Terms: Includes: a private basketball shooting lessons from Ray Allen of the Boston Celtics. Valid for 30 minutes for 2 people in Boston. Winner must be patient and flexible in scheduling due to Ray's very busy schedule.

NBL has a major sponsor

Yes, I've been M.I.A over the last week or so, I'll explain more in my next post.

Big news came through yesterday that the NBL has a new major sponsor for the upcoming season, insurance broker, OAMPS. This is a great step forward for the league so congratulations to CEO Larry Sengstock and his team for getting the deal done. Hopefully this officially marks the end of the Hummer jokes!

NBL > News

OAMPS Insurance Brokers has been unveiled as a new long-term major sponsor of the National Basketball League competition for the 2009/10 NBL season.

The partnership is a major coup for the League in the lead-up to the new season’s tip-off on 24 September, and follows on from the recent announcement of a new agreement with Fox Sports that will see the NBL’s television live coverage almost double.

Basketball Australia Chief Executive Officer Larry Sengstock said the partnership showed that basketball’s grass roots strength made the sport an attractive commercial proposition.

The NBL has a plan ...

... finally! It's nice to see things heading in the right direction, although it is way to early to get excited.

He may cop a bit of criticism, but if you have a few minutes here's a really interesting article from Boti Nagy. Click on the title to read the full story and hear all about Basketball Australia's CEO Larry Sengstock's plan for the league.

AdelaideNow... NBL courts national support

BOTI NAGY
August 06, 2009

LARRY Sengstock is used to battling impossible odds and coming out with a surprise positive result.

Back when the 201cm Hall of Fame and Olympic legend with the flowing blonde hair and appearance of a surfer boy was butting his head into the chest of the Soviet Union's 220cm Vladimir Tkatchenko, he already was showing a spirit first embodied by the Anzacs.

Since ascending the sport's loftiest job as Basketball Australia's chief executive officer in April, Sengstock has averted a crisis and saved the NBL, is reshaping it to a new sustainable vision and meeting the game's critics head-on.

Tim Coenraad signs with the Hawks

I've mentioned him a couple of times over the last few weeks but yesterday I got the news from Tux that Tim Coenraad (pictured right, from his college days in the US) had signed a contract with the Wollongong Hawks to play in the NBL. The news came to Tux from Tim's mum who he works with so I had the scoop a little earlier than most and it was a good chance to post on the OzHoops boards.

Tim has been averaging 24 points, 9.5 boards per game for the Northside Wizards in the QABL and had a great college career in the US so its great to see him get a shot in the NBL. I actually knew of Tim from his pre-US days as he was a development player with the Brisbane Bullets.

Coenraad should fit in nicely down in Wollongong as he's playing with old friends Rhys Martin and fellow Wizard Cameron Tragardh. All the best Tim, I hope you have a great season.

Wollongong ahm Hawks sign rookie Tim Coenraad

Rookie Tim Coenraad (pronounced Con-rad) has today been signed by the Wollongong ahm Hawks for the 2009/10 NBL Season.

After arriving into Wollongong this week for a three day trial with the team, Coenraad showed he has the skills, versatility and maturity to make his mark on the NBL this season.

“We’re very pleased to have Tim Coenraad join the Wollongong ahm Hawks this season, he is a promising talent who we believe can really develop under the guidance of our coaching staff and veteran players” Wollongong ahm Hawks CEO Wayne Morris said.

“He’s a mature young individual who has all the tools to make it at this level. He has had a standout college career and I believe he will definitely be one of the top rookies of this season.”

“We were all very impressed during his trial with the team this week. He came in with a focused and positive attitude and is very keen to learn from our coaching staff and on court leaders Mat Campbell and Glen Saville.” Morris added.

The 200cm Guard/Forward from Brisbane, Queensland has just returned from a stellar four year career at Nova South Eastern University (Florida, USA) where he led the team in scoring in his junior and senior year, while also gaining selection in the First team All Sunshine State Conference in his senior year.

Coenraad is currently playing with the Northside Wizards in the Queensland Basketball League alongside fellow Hawks Cameron Tragardh, currently averaging 24.1 points and 9.5 rebounds per game.

“I’m very excited to be joining the Wollongong ahm Hawks for my rookie season in the NBL. I’m really looking forward to being part of the program this year, there’s so much I can learn from our coaching staff and matching up against guys like Mat and Sav every day of the week.” Tim Coenraad said.

“While on trial I was able to get a sneak peak of Wollongong this week. The vibe around the club is very positive and the support from the community I hear is going to be fantastic this year.” “It’s great to be joining a club that is so rich in history and community support. Gordie took us through the history of the Hawks earlier this week and really made each of us feel a part of the club. We’ve got a great group of guys this season and we’re all ready to go to put on a good performance on court this season.” Coenraad added.

NBL update

With the NBL season just over 6 weeks away, there is starting to be some news and things happening.

Firstly, Fox is back on board saying they "back basketball". Whether this is good news or not I can't say, but since they took back their $35 million offer, I'd much prefer to see the NBL on OneHD. By now, a lot more households would have access to OneHD than Foxtel and this would really help bring the sport back in front of the viewing/sporting public. Look at how much netball is shown, its ridiculous ... its on so often I almost find myself watching it ... almost.

Now that most teams have their rosters close to completed we're at the point where import spots are announced. Over the last week there have been a number of announcements:

1. The Adelaide 36ers have confirmed the signing of American point guard John Gilchrist, agreeing to terms with the exciting import after a successful two-week trial period with the club.
2. The Gold Coast Blaze NBL basketball team have unveiled their first US import for the up-coming season. In a move designed to provide a bridge between the more experienced and the younger players, twenty seven-year-old 6’6” forward Michael Joiner will play in the blue and gold strip in season 2009/10.
3. Skytrans Cairns Taipans fans are in for a treat with the team today announcing the signing of powerhouse American Richard Melzer for the 2009-10 National Basketball League season. Melzer, 29, a 202cm power forward, was a standout performer in his only season with the New Zealand Breakers in 2005/06 averaging 18.6 points and 7.4 rebounds an outing before heading back to the US.
4. The Adelaide 36ers are excited about the arrival this Sunday of NBL excitement machine Cortez Groves. Groves will take the vacant import spot and play alongside the already secured John Gilchrist, giving Adelaide an exciting all-American starting backcourt.
5. The Perth Wildcats signed St Louis University shooting guard Kevin Lisch. Lisch is a 6’2 shooting guard who will provide the team with some much needed scoring power, speed and toughness. He has just completed a four-year stint at St Louis University and comes highly recommended by legendary St Louis Head Coach Rick Majerus, who is a good friend of Rob Beveridge’s.
6. American power forward David Gruber has been signed by the Wollongong Hawks for the 2009/10 NBL season. The 27 year old from Iowa, USA has spent the past several years playing in Victoria for the SEABL Frankston Blues and played his first year of NBL with the now defunct Sydney Spirit last season. He played out his college career in his home state representing the University of Northern Iowa until graduating in 2004.

New Blaze import Michael Joiner