Well I have now been in the job in Perth for a bit over a week and I can already see why this club has been so successful. The whole presentation of the organisation is nothing short of professional. I always felt the Hawks given their limited man power ran at a very good level but joining the Wildcats has opened my eyes to where we should go to.

I find the New Zealand Bartercard NBL in a very interesting state. On the court it has been a mixture of success and failure. It has been one of the closest seasons for years with eight teams still alive up until last week. We still do not know the outcome of the play off make up with one week of play left. There have been so called up sets galore in the last couple of weeks that have really changed the make up of the final six.

I am confused because I don't understand how either Josh Pace or Corey Webster did not receive player of the week after their performances in the game last week between the Heat and the Hawks in which each did all they could to win the game for their teams in a high pressured contest. They hit 38 and 40 points respectively. Pace in particular was in outstanding form and extremely efficient hitting 14 of 15 shots, snaring 6 rebounds and handing out 6 assists. This helped the Hawks to an outstanding road win and kept their chances of a home quarter final alive.

It is a tough ask for teams to demand a professional level of performance from players and coaches when so many other aspects of the league are not put under the same scrutiny. In this world where you are paid to perform as a player and coach you lose your job if results are not up to scratch. This season there has been a number of import changes and I am confidant there would have been more if teams had the financial resources to do so.

Don't you get sick of hearing from coaches and players in all types of sports how they were flat. "We just weren't ready to play" a common excuse given after a game. What does this really mean? We have had a couple of occasions this year where we seemed guilty of this and also some opposition teams that would feel they were guilty of the same thing. While I am sure that sometimes it would be true and for what ever the reason a team is a little off color but there are plenty of times where I feel the opposition where just better in their play.

I can't believe the quality of play I am seeing in this years Bartercard NBL. I know I am bias but the game tonight between the Hawks and the Pistons was a joy to be part of. While I am sure to the fans it seemed a scrappy affair at times I feel as a basketball purist it was incredible. The pressure that mounted as the game wore on was fantastic. A fan actually asked me if my palms were very sweaty in the last few minutes such was the atmosphere.

I must say as a coach the thought of competing against a player the caliber of Eric Devendorff the import from the Waikato Pistons is a daunting one. For a guard he is incredibly efficient showing last weekend when he made 12 shots from 14 and handed out 7 assists as well. This years league has seen a very high influx of quality imports that perhaps we haven't seen in recent years. Around the league you see the teams with stand out imports and it is no surprise they are dominating the statistical categories.

After just two weeks of the Bartercard NBL we have seen some very one sided scores. It seems that over the next few weeks we could see the league start to take shape as a case of those who have and those who don't. Certainly Harbour and Waikato have both shown they will be very strong. Interestingly both have a solid core of Breakers players as both teams are situated in close proximity to Auckland where the Breakers play. Both teams are also coached by Breakers assistant coaches.

Times have changed that is for sure and they will continue to change that is also for sure. But one thing I feel is certain to have success and that is there has to be one leader who is willing to take charge. Now this leader doesn’t have to make all the decisions but they have to be accountable for all decisions that are made. Not pass the buck as I often see coaches in particular do. As a coach at the end of the day the buck stops with you – that is the cold hard truth.

It is interesting that over my career I have encountered some very interesting fan behaviour. Having played and coached in a variety of countries I have been abused, had things thrown at me and but have been fortunate to not have a physical confrontation with a fan. It is likely we are all aware of the situation in Detroit during an NBA game where players entered the crowd during an altercation. The question I ask who crossed the line?