Season Preview - Silver Lake Resources Goldfields Giants
Goldfields were one of the more disappointing sides in the men's State Basketball League in 2011 and will be desperate to bounce back this year. Check out their off-season changes as SBL.asn.au continues our look at each team's big moves.
SKILLED Goldfields Giants 2012 Season Preview
2011 Recap: The Giants started reasonably well in 2011 but fell away badly. They missed the playoffs and finished ninth with a 12-14 record, three wins behind eighth-placed East Perth. The early season form of Matt Rosinski had Goldfields fans dreaming of big things, but he got injured at the wrong time and that proved a gap too big to fill. The uncertainty over then coach Wayne Creek's position didn't help matters, while import forward Darnell Dialls didn't reach great heights.
Off-Season Grade: A-
Off-Season Recap: Goldfields filled the vacant coaching position by bringing in Dan Fisher, who had previously served five years as an assistant at Perry Lakes. Fisher was highly rated within the Hawks set-up and should thrive in a senior role. He has plenty of talent to work with too, most notably in new arrival Ty Harrelson. The guard put in MVP-calibre numbers and led Cockburn to third spot in 2011, notching 22 points and six assists per game. Harrelson also provides excellent defence, which was lacking for the Giants at time in 2011. Dwayne Radcliffe should also improve with another season of development, while the club will be hoping to get more out of Dialls. Rosinski has departed for Perry Lakes.
2012 Fixture: A tough run from rounds four to six should reveal how legitimate the Giants' 2012 title hopes are. After heading up to face Geraldton on April 7, they host 2010 champions Willetton a week later before going to the city to face Lakeside and East Perth on back-to-back nights. Goldfields have also been helped by the extension of the season by one round, which has taken away the dreaded three-game road-trip on the Foundation Day weekend and also means they won't have to play a game in Perth on their way to Geraldton.
What the Grades Mean: The grades are a subjective way of analysing whether each team has improved over the off-season. A grade of C- or better indicates they are well positioned to improve on their 2011 performance, while a grade of D+ or below indicates they're expected to be weaker. They are not intended to predict each team's ladder position.
Article by Jacob Kagi
Photo by Travis Anderson (Andmedia/Sports Vision)
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