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IS WESTOVER BEING BACKSTABBED?

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Written by Daniel Eade Sunday, 20 December 2009 01:57

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Are certain players from the Melbourne Tigers criticizing head coach Al Westover behind his back? According to multiple sources they are, but Tigers guard Nathan Crosswell has denied that any backstabbing is going on in the Tigers camp, “Everything is fine. There is no problem between any of the players and the coaching staff. There never has been,” said Crosswell, moments after the Tigers dropped a shocker to the New Zealand Breakers at home, 68-77, to drop to 4-11 on the season.

In his fifth season as the man in charge, which has included four successive trips to the Grand Final and two championships, it’s hard to imagine that with such an impressive track record that Westover is being questioned over his ability to lead the team, even if Crosswell denies that it’s happening.

Entering the season with an outstanding coaching record, 112-42, and the highest ever winning percentage for a coach in NBL history at 72%, Westover is fast running out of time to save any aspirations the team has to make it back to the Finals.

But in no way, shape or form is this completely the fault of Westover. And in no way should his job come under questioning.

A team is a team, from the head coach all the way down to the last development player on the bench and everyone in between. The group should be straight up and honest to one another, and no way in hell should anyone ever be threatening to go above Westover’s head or behind his back.

As Crosswell noted, “The Tigers have been the kind of club where we always stand behind one another.”

I hope so.

 

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written by Delicious, December 23, 2009
The Tigers have been to numerous GF series and now they are struggling due to a number of factors. If you want to be a great coach, get great players. Is Coach Al a victim of his own success? He hasn't really had to do much in the past. They have had two imports and Anstey and great Aussie players - not really a difficult job is it? the players are self motivated, you just have to give them the framework to operate in. BUT they have devolved into a walk it up NBA style team - get it to D-Mac or Anstey then everyone stands around. Thats why Hoare had his worst year last year, he isn't suited to that style of basketball, and don't get me started on how unprofessionally they treated him. They need to get back to the shuffle and it's multiple options. Ultimately, Coach Al is responsible for the teams PROGRESS and SUCCESS. He needs to try something new/different instead of waiting for Anstey to return and complaining to the refs. Otherwise....
south001
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written by south001, December 23, 2009
shows how important assistant coaches are like D-mac.

Why isn't he there this season anyway?

I blame the recruitment process and the team has no Promo Manager as well ,Giddy is doing it,the management had serious cutbacks..
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Westover
written by Stevo, December 23, 2009
yeah ok he isnt a crap coach but is overrated,the team didnt have injuries from the start and still were losing,Barlow and Hoare/Ebi and DT also Anstey all gone you are left with 3 players that would make a starting 5 in another team.

I didnt say he cant coach i said he cant use the timeouts and if you were listening in to the timeouts you would agree,need D-mac back as an assistant in those situations.
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No way
written by Clint Dogg, December 22, 2009
WESTOVER 4 LIFE!.
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written by Joe Allen, December 22, 2009
This season is showing how valuable Stephen Hoare and Dave Thomas were to the team. Their leadership and game skills put them at the top of the list. Especially missing Hoare, the all time leading three shooter for the Tigers. And both were excellent defensive players. Julian is a waste, most prominent about him is his loud mouth not backed by results.
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written by Pistol, December 22, 2009
4 grand finals in a row and he is a coaching star....a stack of injuries and he can't coach...Tigers situation got nothing to do with coaching!!
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written by Daniel, December 22, 2009
Stevo, I call bullshit on your summation of Westover's skills. The Tigers have had more casualties this season than a day on the Somme. Pick your best five players, and then not have them all play at once all season, and see how your win/loss tally looks.
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written by chris S, December 21, 2009
Couldn't agree more southy
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Westover being backstabbed
written by stevo, December 21, 2009
Anyone that has heard Westover in a time out knows he clearly isnt a strategic or plays coach,he says box out and play hard that type of thing,the teams has carried him for 5 seasons and its not his coaching prowess that got them anywhere,D-Mac used to come up with the plays in time outs and last year controlled the breaks.
With an average team you have an average coach its simple,Westover cannot do what Bevo or Gorjian does and produce greatness with an average team.

As a player id have no faith as he doesnt have a fit and younger Anstey and Ebi/DT and Kendal or any real quality this season only Hodge and Wortho and a the rest of the team are really bench players.
No one can say they aren't,Mackinnon is finished god bless him and so is Anstey.

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