Surely walking under ladders, smashing a few mirrors and offending a couple of ancient pharaohs make up an integral part of Shane Heal’s preseason routine.
How else could you explain his unique tendency to start seasons with a lengthy losing streak?
The Dragons in ’06 went, aptly, 0-6. The Dragons in ’07 backed up with 0-6 again. An off-season move to the Gold Coast was not enough to prevent the same fate again this year – the Blaze are currently 0-9.
Talk about bad luck.
It’s not really a true representation of Heal’s abilities. In fact, two years ago he was able to guide the aforementioned Dragons side off the bottom of the ladder and into the playoffs. He has also put in some decent performances so far this season, meaning age – despite what certain critics might say – has yet to fully get the best of him.
But it does not paint a good picture for the Blaze, a side many had high hopes for this season.
Things went from bad to worse over the weekend, losing out on the road to Wollongong in an oh-so-close encounter 98-96. Then a night later, the so-hot-right-now New Zealand Breakers came to town to rub salt into the wounds, winning another close one 116-113.
Going within two points of a side on the road is not usually something to be ashamed of. Falling just three points short of a side like the Breakers is certainly no embarrassment either.
But starting the season 0-9 is, well, bad news – something which has been following the team wherever they go this year (the Brendan Joyce press conference outburst is ringing a bell.)
There’s still time yet to shake the “wooden spoon favourite” tag, but this weekend officially rendered Joyce’s “No we’re not out of the playoffs” comment meaningless.
It’s just not a great year for basketball in Southeast Queensland.
And it appears that the other abandoned NBL market isn’t going so strong either. (Don't say I didn't warn you.)
Much was made of the Sydney Spirit's sub-1,000 crowd a week ago for Brian Goorjian’s return to the Entertainment Centre. Similarly, tonight’s crowd of 1,350 didn’t exactly speak wonders for the way they’ve chosen to go about things.
It didn’t help that they named themselves after a Leona Lewis album. And it probably didn’t help that in the process, they swiped value off the brand of a WNBL carrying the same name.
It clearly didn’t help that the olive branch extended to disenfranchised Kings fans was somewhat half-arsed. And it probably didn’t help that in the process, they disenfranchised many Razorbacks fans too.
For mine, the biggest no-no was chasing after the Victoria Titans model of re-branding. The way that was handled had me more puzzled than the first time someone told me I smelt like updogg.
But at least there is one thing that stands out about this team: they’re trying.
The team on the court won’t be enough to bring a championship to the Harbour City in these trying times, but they are doing enough to ruffle some feathers. In games they are not expected to win, they put up a pretty decent fight.
They’ve ended up causing some pretty big upsets along the way, the most noteworthy scalp so far being the Perth Wildcats.
In the round just past they provided the much-fancied Crocs a tight contest, losing by a respectable two point margin. Tonight they convincingly creamed the Hawks 99-86.
It is still hard to imagine they are the answer to basketball’s woes in Sydney, but at least they’re out there on game night backing their product. They want to unify the Sydney basketball and they ain’t going down without a fight.
It’s admirable. Like watching the violinists play away whilst the Titanic slowly sinks to the bottom of the Antarctic.
Only question is: will we see the Kings and Bullets lifeboats return to pick up the surviving fans?
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