What a season we have coming up and to think it is only about 10 weeks away from tip off. While that sounds like a long time, as a coach I would love to have a bit longer especially with all of the players here. For the first time in two years the Hawks will have a preseason with me here as coach. For the last two years I have been working in Australia and not arriving until a couple of weeks before the start of the season and there is no doubt that has had an impact on the team. This season we will have all of our players in town by January 25 except for Paul Henare and possibly our second import. This will allow our preparation to be at at much higher level.
The big factor though will be the physical conditioning of the team. When the Hawks were making Grand Finals we were possibly the best-conditioned team in the league. Although I know Claire in Nelson would have a good argument to suggest that Nelson is the best-conditioned team in the league where she does a tremendous job as their strength and conditioning coach. As a team the Hawks have been poor in this area and last year we lost 5 or 6 games by five points or less. While conditioning cannot be fully to blame for this I believe that we would have won half of them if we had been in better condition. Therefore there will be a big emphasis on conditioning in the next 10 weeks.
I am looking forward to the season from the perspective of the expanded competition. The Cougars by their own account in the media have recruited well and will have the deepest bench in the league. Wellington have given Pero Cameron the reins in his first coaching job. The New Zealand Breakers have gone into partnership (I am lead to believe but I am happy to be corrected) with the Harbour Heat and the Heat quickly inserted Judd Flavell a Breakers assistant as coach. Waikato resigned winning coach Dean Vickerman and it will be interesting to see what impact the loss of Pero has on the team (if any). Taranaki winless last season appointed rookie coach in the NBL Angelo Hill. I feel it will be a tough baptism of fire for Angelo but it is great to see another new coach in the league. Palmerston is interesting. They finished second last in season 2009 and have lost some of their better players. At the time of writing I believe they are talking to a coach from the USA. Will be interesting to see how that goes, as hiring a coach from the USA is no guarantee to a turn around in fortunes. Season 2010 sees the return of the Otago Nuggets, I am not sure where they will get their players from as there are not too many NBL level players left to sign. The same can be said about the new boys on the block the Southland Sharks. While Southland have signed a very good player in Luke Martin they will need some help.
The most interesting thing happening in the NBL is the silence coming out of Auckland. The Stars one of the most successful franchises on the court are deadly silent. I have heard nothing and I am beginning to wonder if they will even have a team next year. I am sure they will but you have to wonder whom they will have as players or if championship-winning coach Kenny Stone will return.
The team I feel has done very well is the Nelson Giants who have secured the signatures of Mike Fitchett and Mika Vukona. Two great signings, however in doing so have released Chris Reay which is a shame as it looks like Chris may not return to the NBL. Still when you look at the Nelson team I believe they deserve to be slotted in as clear favourites to win the title.
For the Hawks we have pretty much completed our recruiting and hope to release the names of our players in the near future. I am very excited by our group and believe we have a great shot at competing at a higher level this year especially given the fact we will have such a better preseason.
To finish I say season’s greetings to you all and I will be on deck a lot more regularly now we are getting back into it.
With energy
Shawn Dennis
