Basketball and everything in between

For some reason, I have really enjoyed the play of Dillon Boucher in the games that have been televised by Maroi TV so far this season.  He plays the perfect role for his team.  He is far from a superstar on his team and plays within his limitations.  So that got me thinking about the role of the role player and how they are perceived by the NBL public.

So what is a role player?  I did a Wikipedia search but I couldn’t get a definitive answer.  I then went back to the every reliable search engine Google and found this article at Basketball Fundamentals.  In the article it provides some information about role players and the role that they play.  It states:

We can’t all be super-stars, or even starters. We don’t all have great shooting skills or ball-handling skills. But we can still be important “spokes in the wheel”. We can still be very important to the success of our team. We are important “role players”.
Coaches love good role players, because they know better than anyone that there will be times in a game, or during the season, that they will have to get good play, some good minutes from their bench personnel. Usually, you cannot be a championship team with just five good players. You need important players who can come off the bench and play quality minutes.

I have to say that I pretty much agree with that assessment of the role player.  The article goes on to discuss what makes a good role player:

What makes a great role player?
A role player could be a starter who has a special skill… such as being a great defensive player, or a great rebounder, or a point guard who can handle the ball and pass.

A role player is often the player who comes off the bench. He/she understands and accepts his/her role on the team. While on the bench, the good role player keeps his/her head in the game, and observes what’s going on, where the weaknesses are in the defense, which opposing players are “killing us”, what’s happening on the boards, etc. He/she is “ready to go” when the coach calls

Every quality NBL team throughout history has had role players who have done their jobs for teams to win.  Players such as Warrick Giddey, Tim Morrisey and David Close made a career out of playing a role and playing it well.  David Close was pretty much a spot up shooter.  In the end his career was cut short basically because he could not do anything else but shoot.  Warrick Giddey would probably be considered the most famous role player in the history of the NBL because of the team that he played with and the role that he performed.  Actually Dillion Boucher’s overall game reminds me a bit of Warrick Giddey.

Lets like at the unsung hereos on each NBL roster this season:

Perth Wildcats: In all honesty, I don’t think that they actually have a ‘true’ role player on their roster.  I guess that they have a lot of guys playing a ‘role’.  Maybe Luke Kendall coming off the bench to add some spark?

Adelaide 36ers: David Cooper is a prime example of a role player.  Whenever he hits the court, his role is to block shots and rebound.  He has made a career out of this and plays within his limitations.

Melbourne Tigers: Steven Hoare is another awesome example of a role player.  His overall game is extremely well rounded and he can contribute in a lot of ways.  Darryl Corletto is another type of role player – an assassian off the bench

South Dragons: I am going to say that Tremell Darden is a role player.  Having a non superstar import in a Brian Goorjian coached team isn’t that unusual.  Darden is a starter who plays his role.

Sydney Spirit: Another import – David Gruber.  I have only watched them play on TV once this season but his role seems to be pretty defined.  He is a meat and potatoes type of guy who does not try to do things that he is not capable of.  He will never be a star in the league but he is pretty solid.

Wollongong Hawks:  I truly believe that the major issue with the Hawks at the moment is that they have to many role players and not enough superstars.  Late in his career, Matt Campbell has started to play the role of a defensive player and three point shooter.

Gold Coast Blaze: Casey Frank is an energetic rebounder / garbage offensive type of a player.

Townsville Crocodiles: I am going to say that Brad Williamson is a role player.  His game is pretty much spot up shooting and he is extremely accurate from the perimeter.

Cairns Taipans: Aaron Grabu is another guy who has had a long career out of playing whatever role his coach needs him to play.

New Zealand: As stated above, I think that Dillon Boucher has been fantastic for the Breakers so far this season. 

So who is the most valuable role player in the NBL this season?  I would like to announce that at this point, the two joint favourites to take out the inaguarl Basketball and Everything in Between Role Player of the Year award would have to be Dillon Boucher and Steven Hoare. 

Congraulations to all nominees for this extremely prestigeous and important award.  Your hard work has not gone unnoticed by the wider NBL communty.