Pull trigger, Gatlin told
Star key to push for finals berth
GEELONG Supercats import Demarcus Gatlin will be given more licence to take games into his hands as the SEABL outfit presses for a spot in finals.
Coach Leon O’Neill said Gatlin, who averages 17.3 points and 7.2 rebounds a game, had been too selfless at times in the Supercats’ 6-5 win-loss season.
“We speak about knowing what a good shot is and what’s a must-take shot for the team,” O’Neill said.
“Even if it’s maybe not the best shot for him, he just sometimes has to take them. He’s getting better at that.
“He’s never been that type of player; in every team he’s been in he’s been a team-first guy and getting him to see he needs to be a little bit selfish at times is something that we continue to work on. Him doing that then takes pressure off other people.
“His numbers aren’t what they were last year but playing alongside John Davis this year instead of Eric Gaff is a very different proposition for him.”
Gatlin’s 17.3 points a game is only down slightly on last season’s 19.6 average, but the Supercats are better equipped in attack with new import Davis returning 20.7 points a game.
While Davis, Gatlin and captain Nathan Herbert (17.9 points a game) form a dangerous three-pronged attack, O’Neill said his side’s poor defence was the reason why the Supercats sat outside the top eight.
“In games we lose, we still manage to put up 85, 86 points, but when we get it wrong on defence we give up 100,” he said.
“We’re getting to where we need to be, we’re pretty close, I think, but we’re running out of games — we need to be very good and very good in a hurry.”
With nine games left, the Supercats can start their run towards finals with a win over Basketball Australia’s Centre of Excellence at The Arena tomorrow night.
A win there would see them jump into the top eight ahead of a crucial double header against Frankston — who the Supercats lost to earlier this month — and top side Kilsyth.
“Would I like to swap spots with a team further up the ladder? Absolutely,” O'Neill said.
“But we’re not too far away from where we want to be.”