Sydney Finals hopes doubtful

[InfectiousS]

Wow... After making the grandfinal the past few seasons to pretty much be out of final contention is a big step-back. Maybe Sydney should of worked harder to keep Porter. She was obviously the scoring punch that they are missing this season. Plus Afeaki seemed to be much more effective when Porter was taking the defensive pressure off her.

Do you think Sydney will go after a few seasoned vets next year to boost their youth ??? Maybe they could try and get Porter back ?

[FeelinDaHeat]

Sydney's chances are more on the Zero than doubtful, with 3 games to go against Dandening, Bendigo and Dandenong again its ultimately wishful thinking of the enormus kind.. They did struggle to get the ball in the hoop and no doubt need more scoring punch in the off-season- a 15+ pg scorer- a Deanna Smith type. I think the team was their own worst enemy on Sunday against Bulleen, players were playing tired and we're easy to get around- Potocki in particular, she can score and rebound but not much in between- I'll give her this much though, she was out on her feet and its obviously hard to defend to the point of exhaustion- hurt the flames towards the end as the Boomers just went at her.

Maybe with the season done, it would be agood opportunity to play some of the other players to help their development if they aim to keep some of the youngsters. Herrick, MArttin, Kennedy, Shiels, and Lorenzini all sat and got splinters.

For their part, I thought Bulleen were impressive and showed some real character- Sydney kept coming but they stuck toegther and did a job on Sydney. Milner led them well around the cort.

As forPorter coming back to Sydney, only if hell freezes over. :twisted:

[dirtydigits]

would be good to see both porter and domkins back at sydney next season. since she hasnt played in logan maybe they can both come back home.
does anyone know how she is going in europe.they need some more scorers and porter definately did that. poto hasnt been as consistant lately whats happening there. looking at the other forum about perth v dandenong theres alot of funny stuff about deana smith on there. maybe we should listen and stick with who we know is good and works porter would be perfect.

[Keegan]

As forPorter coming back to Sydney, only if hell freezes over.

Thank bloody goodness for that. She's a fine player, but the baggage that comes along with it...

Sydney just don't have enough talented players. The AIS grads they got are woefully underdeveloped (shooting anybody?) and Poto is the only player who can shoot semi consistently from beyond 5 feet. They need to get her some assistance pronto - if they do plan to recruit two imports again, one of them should definitely be a guard. Deanna Smith would be a great fit, but any guard who can stick a jumper (without needing a gazillion screens to get open) and make decent decisions would fit the bill nicely.

I love Potocki's game. While she is a power forward trapped in a wing's body, I like #1 her relentlessness on the boards and #2 her ability to finish in traffic. If she could develop that wonky looking jumper a bit more, she'd entrench herself as WNBL starting material.

[Sherlock]

they don't deserve to be there ... last weekend was the big test for them and failed .... 0-2

see ya

[madballer]

Everyone knew that this season would be a big test for the Flames and coach Dalton did say that it would be a development year, so dont be too shocked if they fall outside the final five. However with experienced finals players like Poto and Afeaki combining with their two imports yes they should have atleast made the first round of playoffs.
I think it will be back to the drawing board for the Flames in the off season trying to keep the main group as Dalton likes to do and hopefully spending more time on the younger players so that they can start to develop their games and hopefully see some court time.
I wonder if Afeaki will stay around? It seems that she has reached her potential under Karen and in Sydney and maybe a fresh start with another club will see her posting numbers for the Opals in years to come...

And Keegan as for Porter...well the only baggage I hear she carries around these days is a very talented 6ft 3pt shooting hottie so she cant be that bad :lol:

[Dunkin' Dan]

She carries Sidney Spencer around with her? :shock:

[Keegan]

However with experienced finals players like Poto and Afeaki combining with their two imports yes they should have atleast made the first round of playoffs.

Except for Poto, they have no guards. It's hard to get anywhere at any level of basketball without a couple of a decent guards.

Afeaki needs to develop a perimeter game if she wants a chance at making it at the next level. Maybe a change of scenery could help, but I hope she stays in Sydney. Maybe Trish should give her some shooting classes.

As for Porter, no comment ;)

[dirtydigits]

maybe i dont know the hole story but whats the differance between potos baggage and porters baggage. as far as i can see porters baggage got us to the grand final last year. we should be trying to get her back for next season otherwise it will be depressing.

[FeelinDaHeat]

i'm glad i can finally comment with some inside knowledge. you can DEFINITELY rule out a Porter return to the Flames. Let's just say that the candle is burning on both ends there. It WON'T HAPPEN- well according to a very reliable source anyway. plus, if Porter makes a go of it in Europe and succeeds, that would rule out a return to the WNBL altogether in the interim.


And Keegan as for Porter...well the only baggage I hear she carries around these days is a very talented 6ft 3pt shooting hottie so she cant be that bad :lol:

:lol: :lol: :lol: plenty would love to have her "baggage"

[InfectiousS]

I'm fully aware that Natalie Porter had a filthy attitude at the best of times. But it seems like she still got the job done... though, when i think about it, the girl did play something like 10 WNBL seasons with no championship to her name. Hmmmm.... the jury is still out for me on this one. But saying that Porter is any worse then Poto, tude wise, would be ridiculous.

People seem to always talk on these forums about separating a players personal life (keeping it private) and focusing on their performance... and the basketball!!! BUT... what if these things overlap... which seems to happen quite a bit. Doesn't personal life become extremely relevant when its starts having an impact on the "TEAM"... ?

You talk about Porter's "baggage"... whom i assume your reffering to as Dombkins.. if we are going to simply say what everyone else is alluding to. That "baggage" is an extremely talented, young, up-and-coming, shooting guard, with a crap load of potential. Its a shame to hear that she might be throwing that all away.

I love Doc, and would love to see her in a Flames uniform. Low maintainance, great team player and work ethic. If we went after players like Deanna, and kept quality people and players like Vealy... Sydney would be a great outfit.

PS. Where is off_the_bench... ? Its just not like her to be so quiet... especially on a Sydney thread!!!

[Off_the_bench]

Miss me did we? nice title on this thread though... very diplomatic. :wink:

well seeing as i'm back and you're obviously looking for a "family opinion" here it is.

I was lucky enough to be in Sydney when Porter first joined the Flames and she was terrific for that program. As for your other points about 'tude this and the other, well lets just say that as people grow, so can their attitudes change. I know what feelindaheat is saying when she/he makes a point of candle burning at both ends and that hell will freeze over before Porter comes back. Just not going to happen.

As for Dombkins, sadly i think that she is slicing her own wrists with regard to her basketball career. she seems to be playing the WAG in an episode of Footballer's wives- albeit basketball. If i am to believe what I have been told, she is again in italy with Porter. I guess in one way, it highlights that one's life is not just basketball, but on the other, she seems to be throwing it all away. and yes she is talented and up and coming and would've been awesome off a few vealy passes but she's made bad basketball decisions after the another and i worry about her game. Maybe she can get a gig in euro in a small league seeing as she's over there- sweden, hungary or something.

As for Doccy, she is a great girl, great player in this league and to all those Lynx haters on the other thread- maybe they should know that every club would go after Doc so they're lucky she chose them. heck she'd look good in logan uniform- a few passes off vealy and its showtime circa 2.

[gangsta boo]

Is this the Dombkins people are reffering too? link (http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,23671793-10389,00.html) Was she a possible future Opal etc?

Sorry I just don't follow womens ball these days so am out of the loop with how any team is going let alone the Flames

[Dunkin' Dan]

Yeah that's her.
Future Opal is a bit of a stretch though. She's young, so we'll see, but she has a way to go before her name comes up in that conversation.

[gangsta boo]

Thats why I asked . Cheers Dan

[Andy K]

Sydney will have more to play for on Friday night, so i think it will be a good match. If they win on Friday i think that will give them enough drive to win their last 2 and still have a chance as long as the Rangers defeat Bendigo who i believe are not worthy of finals, the only reason they made it is because Kristy got dumped from her international team. Sydney have the experience to win a finals match but Bendigo will be mauled by the more experienced teams.

[Adam]

Sydney have only one game to play after Bendigo whom they have to beat by more than 6, they then play Dandenong in Hobart the following week. Bendigo play Dandenong and Townsville and have to lose both for Sydney to make the playoffs. A lot of ifs but it is possible.

[Andy K]

Sydney have only one game to play after Bendigo whom they have to beat by more than 6, they then play Dandenong in Hobart the following week. Bendigo play Dandenong and Townsville and have to lose both for Sydney to make the playoffs. A lot of ifs but it is possible.

Oh Yeah sorry, I was assuming Townsville had beaten Bendigo already. Honestly i think you could pencil in a Fire victory.