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Go Anderson!

Our NT campaign continued tonight with a win over Croatia. After looking like the game was going to enter garbage time early in the 4th, they pulled it back to within 10 points, before we ran out 14 point winners.

Croatia are a pretty strong team, with some monster bigs on their roster, so this was a good result.

Especially good given that we started two new prospects. Following polls in the federation, Ryan MacMillan of rimmers, and my own boy Michael Wayne were added to the team and started in this game. This meant, along with Burl Barth, we had two 24yos and a 25yo starting. To win against a quality opponent, given the youth of our team, was very pleasing.

Both of the new boys played solidly, without setting the world on fire. R-Mac had some shooting issues, but his defense, rebounding and passing was quite pleasing. Wayne was our leading rebounder of the night, scored a few buckets, and made a couple of assists as well. Both did enough to suggest they have a decent future in the NT, if they keep developing.

On another note, I don't put a huge stock in player ratings, but I'm not sure if I've seen a higher rating for a NT player than Anderson's 22.5 tonight. His ability to nail 3s from the center position tonight played a big role in us winning the game.

We'll continue to add more prospects to the team as the season goes on to give them a shot, so if you have a young player you feel is on the fringe of NT selection, please get in touch.

R-Mac had some shooting issues, but his defense, rebounding and passing was quite pleasing..

Outside offense certainly didnt bring out his best game first up, throwing him in the spotlight. But by pleasing defense, ill add that Croatias SGs combined for 5-21, and their starter shot 2-12 with a -26 +/-. Thats some lockdown D right there.

nice, following the NT a bit more this season with anderson on the team

although i have to say, how da f**K does a guy with pheno reb only manage to grab 3 boards in a whole friggen game????? I of course refer to my last league game played.

Last edited by Urmumma at 8/18/2014 6:17:09 AM

He's probably a bit fatigued I think. Probably needs a night off tomorrow.

He's probably a bit fatigued I think. Probably needs a night off tomorrow.

hahah nice one
mother pho is gonna get flogged for 48mins to atone for his last sinful performance

Well the competitive part of the season is over, with just scrimmages to come. With that, I'm going to be doing a bit of a wrap of the season and the roster.

The season wrap

Well the goal for the season was to try to make the world cup. As result, the season can't be described as anything other than a disappointment, as we marginally failed to make the cup through the repacharge.

We were handed a brutal draw for the consolation tournament, playing largely European teams. It is pretty obvious from our results there that we are a step below these teams at the moment - though we used these matches for a bit of experimentation, so I wouldn't read a heap into them.

We've had a look at some new players, and I think we've unearthed a couple of players who will be really good for us in a season or two, and hopefully get us towards that top tier of teams. So I think the future looks bright.

With that, I'm going to do a preview of the squad members for the season over the next couple of weeks. We'll start with a few bigs.

Dylan Scoggins

Entering the season, Scoggins appeared to be the key to our team, with the highest salary and was pencilled into the lineup as the starting centre. And the season started brightly, with a commanding 23pt performance in our first game of the repacharge. From there, however, it was all downhill. Scoggins had a poor final two games of the repacharge, before being injured, sold and never getting back into gameshape. All up, a bit of a wasted season for Scoggins.

The future for the big Scog is uncertain. At 29, he still has age on his side. But he is entering the territory of permanent rental, which means he may never be a powerful NT force again, which would be a shame.

Key stats: Games played: 3. MPG: 17. PPG: 10. RPG: 6. APG: 0. FG%: 68%. Total +/-: +4. Average rating: 18.

Season grade: D.

Sushant Pradip

Pradip started his first full season as a NT member on fire, leading our scoring in the first two games of the repacharge (and being one of the only members to be able to hold their heads up in our second game). However, Pradip was sold, and never got back into peak gameshape. As a result, those were his only two games of the season.

Pradip is still only 27, and does have a fairly unique skillset for the team. Those first two games give me hope that he can be a solid contributor for the NT going forward.

Key stats: Games played: 2. MPG: 28. PPG: 16. RPG: 10. APG: 1. FG%: 67%. Total +/-: +16. Average rating: 18.5

Season grade: C-.

Scott Schnieder

Big Scotty is probably our best all round big. And that is highlighted by the fact that he played every game of the season. All up, Scotty had a soild season, punctuated by some great games such as his 26 point performance against Bosnia, and his 20 point effort against Russia. However, his season lowlight came in our must win second game of the repacharge, where he put up a 6 point stinker. The team will need him to lift his efforts in big games in future seasons.

Scotty is one of my favourite players on the team. Still only 29, he's got another few seasons on the NT yet.

Key stats: Games played: 9. MPG: 27. PPG: 13. RPG: 10. APG: 2. FG%: 49%. Total +/-: +5. Average rating: 19

Season grade: B.

The next wave of players focuses on three of our guards:

Steve Riemers

Riemers started the season as probably the last guard picked in the squad, and was expected to provide a bit of defensive toughness and outside shooting. As the season wore on, his gameshape meant that he became one of our more reliable players, playing every game of the season. Riemers was at his best playing in outside or balanced offenses, having two 20+ point games in such offenses. His inability to score in inside offenses is a bit of a concern - as he failed to hit double figures in any game where we went inside. However, he had at least 4 assists in every game bar one, so that is pleasing.

At MVP potential, Riemers will probably never be the first guard picked in the squad. However, his manager's ability to manage gameshape means he is likely to be in the NT for a few more seasons yet.

Key stats: Games played: 9. MPG: 25. PPG: 9. RPG: 2. APG: 5. FG%: 42%. 3PM: 10. Total +/-: +17. Average rating: 19.2

Season grade: B+

Lionel Walker

At 33, Walker entered the season the oldest and most experienced member of the squad. And he received big minutes early in the season, as the side aimed to win the repacharge. As the season wore on, he was phased out of the team in order to give some younger players additional playing time. Walker was solid, without being spectacular - his best game was probably a 14 point effort in the first game of the consolation tourney.

Old Lionel is getting on in years. He's still good enough to make the team, but next season will almost certainly be his last, if he makes the cut.

Key stats: Games played: 4. MPG: 24. PPG: 10.5. RPG: 4. APG: 3. FG%: 45%. 3PM: 4. Total +/-: +32. Average rating: 18.5.

Season grade: B-

Brent Degas

Coming into the season, Degas looked comfortably our best guard, capable of elite scoring and passing. However, one can't help but feel a little underwhelmed by his season, given was he is capable of. Efforts like his 5-10 shooting game against Finland in our crunch repacharge game should be close to the norm for him, however, too often this season we saw performances like his 4-14 performance against Germany. A player of his ability should shoot better than 38% over the season.

While I mark Degas harshly, its only because I think he is capable of producing much more. He's still a huge part of the team going forward.

Key stats: Games played: 5. MPG: 31. PPG: 12. RPG: 1. APG: 5. FG%: 38%. 3PM: 2. Total +/-: +10. Average rating: 18.5.

Season grade: C+

Man I wish Reimers had more pot, would have loved to get him a few pops on IS and Reb but unfortunately it wasn't to be. I will be doing my best to keep him in decent GS again next season. He might even get a cheeky FT or Stamina pop through the remainder of this season.

Also great write ups keeps an interest in the NT going forward!

The NT banner and logo appears to be broken at the moment (along with my own...). If anyone wants to have a crack at making the NT a new banner and logo, that would be much appreciated!