Shaun is the newest writer to hit the pine for NBAMate. He talks about basketball (on 97.9FM, check it out) and writes about it because he’s 5’10 and can’t jump. He supports the Washington Wizards (not a typo) thanks to NBA live 97 and 98, and he also enjoys long walks on the beach.
After what felt like a long wait the NBA is back and in full flight like never before, with Andrew Bogut finally making his long awaited return (well, kind of).
After a relatively successful Olympic campaign for the Boomers, with Patty Mills leading the tournament for points averaged per game, there is plenty to be excited about if you’re an Aussie basketball fan as we enter the NBA season.
Andrew Bogut had a promising start in the first week in the Warriors 87 – 85 win over the Suns, with the big fella posting eight points, six rebounds and an assist in 18 minutes of play – not bad after missing most of last season with a busted ankle, and the whole of the preseason as he worked his way back.
“If we had lost I would have been more pissed but we won so I feel a little better”, Andrew said as he reacted to his minutes being kept to fewer than 20 per game.
After averaging six points, three rebounds and two assists for the fortnight, and showing signs of the kind of impact he could have on this Warriors team, I think I speak for everyone when I say that I feared the worse hearing the news that Bogut would be sidelined for 7-10 days.
However, Warriors’ GM Bob Myers has since come out and clarified the situation, saying that there is no flare up and he’s just back in the lab working to strengthen it. Myers went on to say that Andrew wasn’t happy with his limitations on the floor so he wanted to take a step back and focus on the rehab. So let’s hope the big Bogey Man comes back better than ever after the layoff.
San Antonio Spurs’ point guard Patty Mills started the season with limited court time, only getting six minutes of action in their 99 – 95 opening win over New Orleans, and registering a stat line of just one point, one assist and two turnovers.
But as the fortnight progressed Mills worked his way into the lineup, and in a recent win against the Kings he had a superb 18 points on 8-9 shooting, three assists and two rebounds in 21 minutes. And last night he started at the point in their 112 – 109 win over Portland (Tony Parker was out with the flu) and registered 7 points and 4 assists. He finished the week averaging 5.2 points and an assist in just 11 minutes of floor time.
With these performances Patty is making the case that he can handle more responsibility and be a big contributor, and with several teams trotting out D-League level players at the starting point guard position (cough Wizards/Magic) you have to wonder how he would perform in these situations given more minutes.
As I conclude my first fortnightly ‘Aussie Roundup’, I leave the readers of NBAMate with two questions:
Could Patty Mills hold his own as a starting point guard for some of these struggling teams in the NBA? And perhaps more importantly, will Andrew Bogut make it back from his latest setback, or is his promising but injury plagued career on the downward spiral?
Until next week, keep on balling Aussie style.
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vs San Antonio - Game 6 (L) 17/05/13
70%
Andrew Bogut (GSW)
Patrick Mills (SAS)
Aron Banyes (SAS)
12 Comments until now.
I’m really hoping Bogut can make a full return soon.. Big fan of his game and I haven’t heard anything to suggest his injury is career threatening..
Re. Patty Mills: He plays at the most loaded position in the league. Point Guard. It’ll be hard for him to hold a starting position, but I think he’s proving he has some value so given the right circumstances on the right team he might be able to get a starting job.
Would casey stoner be more successful in the greek basketball league than sam mckinnon as a bus conductor? Discuss
One Hung Low, i think Stoner would be better suited to the East South African league with his stance on coloured folk. As for Samm Mckinnon i see him as more of a bus seat cleaner that a condutor
Thanks for your feedback Nassa, you are a loyal reader and i appreciate your thoughts. You are spot on with your assessment but let me throw you red herring and see if u can catch. What if greg ritchie is a passenger on the bus and he suddenly starts playing playing billy joel’s uptown girl on a two stringed guitar. Its also cloudy with a chance of rain. Go!
a) i am not a fan of billy joel so whilst i admire greg ritchie and his views on most things i would have to cause him some physical harm for this.
b) greg richie has mentioned before in many of his great speaches that once they allowed coloured folk to sit up the front of the bus that he would never take the bus again so your comment has no basis to it.
d) Bruce Super Duperzual is not only the greatest AFL player that ever lived but has also won the WNBL slam dunk competition 4 years running
what the hell are you clowns talking about
Tend to agree Deaksy, But good write up enjoyed the read. Been watching a few spurs games to catch a glimpse of Patty Mills. Great to have nba back, was getting bored! Keep up the good work shaun!
Hey Deaksy, let me ask you a question…if i had 7 fish fingers and greg richie wanted 3…how many fish fingers would i have left
Ageo if you want to answer this one feel free
Im going to take a stab Nassa and say 7.
me want some of that pie
Good to see some knowledge and recognition of the Aussies in the NBA. I’d love to see where bogey would be right now if he hadn’t have got that freak injury. A minor set back none the less he’s a star.
Looking forward to the next post Shaun
Nah Shaun, i’d lose all 7 fish fingers and 3-4 of my own
Comment!