Machado’s leadership a critical ingredient
SCOTT Machado will be out to correct the record when he goes into battle tonight.
Machado leads the NBL in assists (7.5) and turnovers (3.8) after six rounds, but the passfirst point guard had arguably his most quiet game in last week’s loss to the Hawks.
He finished with just two assists in the 10-point loss, but the American is ready to fire against a Bullets team looking for redemption.
But it is the immeasurable qualities, most notably leadership, where he will look to make the biggest impact.
Taipans coach Mike Kelly said Machado had embraced the leadership position. “His talk, bringing the group together has been really good,” Kelly said. “His energy, defensively especially, and attacking the basket.
“He knows that he carries a lot on his shoulders and he’s trying to do his job well, so other guys can follow his lead and do their jobs well.”
Kelly said the point guards – Machado, Jarrod Kenny and Anthony Fisher – provide even more leadership behind cocaptains DJ Newbill and Nate Jawai. Machado said his focus is to help the younger, less experienced players develop.
“I try to just make sure everyone is calm and sticks to the game plan,” he said.
THE Bullets shoot into Cairns tonight in the big Queensland derby, which is shaping up to be a crucial game for both teams.
The Taipans have always gotten up for games against Brisbane – who doesn’t like beating the capital city, the Big Brother?
It’s a mouth-watering match-up across the floor with Nathan Sobey v Scott Machado at point guard, Lamar Patterson v Cameron Oliver at power forward and the rising star Will Magnay v Nathan Jawai in the middle.
But I’m really looking forward to the coaching battle on the sidelines, Mike Kelly v Andrej Lemanis (right).
Mike and Drej know each other from way back in their days together at the South East Melbourne Magic when Mike was training with the group in 1992 while Andrej was a player on that championship team.
They reunited in Townsville when Mike, known as “Buzz Lightyear” back in those days, signed with the Townsville Crocodiles in 1999 playing 166 games in five seasons while Andrej was the assistant coach for each of those seasons.
Together in 2003, under head coach Ian Stacker, the Crocs started the season off 3-11 and, after a season-turning win over West Sydney, made a pact to grow their beards until their next loss. That winning streak lasted three months and 16 wins.
James Harden would have been jealous of some of those beards.
Both coaches will be feeling the heat after taking losses in Round 6 and sitting outside of the top four, needing this win to hold on to any hope of clawing their way into playoff contention.
Cairns will need to be better defensively this week after giving up 37 points in the second quarter last week against Illawarra.
Part of the defensive improvement will be rebounding after the Hawks snatched 30 second chance points on 27 offensive rebounds.
You’re not going to win too many games with effort at the defensive end like that.
Rodney Anderson is a two-time Townsville QBL championship winning coach.