Tigers Test to Eclipse Gaze Legacy

As the curtain falls on the greatest Australian to ever play the game, Hamish Thomson explains the man who set the benchmark for the sport fell short of his destiny.

Everyone has done it sometime, sat down at there computer logged into goggle and typed their name. A search of Hamish Thomson results largely with two results; links to a Canadian Hermit/Musician or a producer for Australia’s 60 Minutes television program.

Type in the words Andrew Gaze and in less than a second a lineage is found that dates back more than 20 years and conjures a tale of a legend that rivals the stories told about Michael Jordan.

Gaze finished an extinguished career with an average of over 30 points a game in the NBL including a 44-point average in 1987. Stats such as this places Gaze as the benchmark for mythical greatness not to mention career averages of over five per game for both assists and rebounds.

As such statistical records would suggest Gaze finished with an amazing 14 scoring titles, 15 all-NBL first team selections and seven MVP awards with four runner-ups for good measure. Like the Wilt Chamberlain 100-point game and Oscar Robertson’s triple double season such records will never be eclipsed.

Added to the Gaze legacy is a trip to the 1989 NCAA Final with Seton Hall where he still holds the career three-point percentage record, a NBA championship ring with San Antonio in 1999 and a massive five Olympic and four world championship appearances.

As Gaze hung up his personalised Dunlop Andrew Gaze brand shoes and took a step back from the game he dominated for those 21 seasons of brilliance the Melbourne Tigers, the NBL, fans and media all gave him the praise and honour deserved by the man who represented the face of Australian basketball from its rise in the 1980’s, its peak in the 90’s and its decline at the turn of the century.

Yet there is one aspect of the Gaze story that stops it reaching the dizzying heights of the Michael Jordan’s, Larry Birds and Magic Johnson’s, in 21 seasons Gaze went only four times to the NBL Grand Final and retired with only two championship rings.

In 1992 Gaze was joined with future hall-of-famer Leonard Copeland and then in 93’ by Mark Bradtke. With father Lindsay at the helm who retired with his son with a career 68% winning percentage they delivered crowns in 93 and 97. Gaze had the support to win more but didn’t unlike Jordan who with the assistance of Scottie Pippen’s and coach Phil Jackson finished with six rings or Magic Johnson who took five along with Kareem Abdul Jabaar and coach Pat Riley.

With such a dominant personal statistics in a look back at the Gaze dynasty championships come rarely two from 21 seasons.

Perhaps sports fans have become too attached to the idea of dynasties, perhaps we have fallen in love with the idea of invincibility carried by teams the likes of Jordan’s Bulls, Shaq and Kobe’s Lakers, NFL’s New England Patriots, footy’s Brisbane Lions or the current NBL dynasty the Brian Gorjiaan lead Sydney Kings.

Andrew Gaze carries an air of humility about him having taken more away from the game he could have ever expected as a youngster working his way through the junior ranks of the Melbourne Tigers. But deep down like many of those who have supported the Australian games greatest player certainly Gaze holds a certain bitterness or anguish about not winning more lacking that distinction of being the ultimate winner, of being unbeatable.

So with three starters and the head coach moved on the Tigers have been left with a sense of euphoria which comes as the four names which symbolised one of the most loved and unchanged clubs for more than a decade depart. However, the management at the Tigers have primed Australia’s oldest basketball club to move into an era to outshine the previous through one simple notion – winning championships.

A mixture of youth development, aggressive signing’s and a deep supporting cast make the Tigers one arguably the strongest outfit in the NBL.

When the Wildcats made the decision to sack club MVP Rashard Tucker there chances for a title disappeared. When Tucker reappeared in Melbourne the Tigers immediately became a contender. However, the decision to stick with the structure in place meant Tucker watched more so than he had chance to demonstrate why he is one of the most exciting players in the League.

Now with Copeland and Gaze moved on Tucker brings dynamics which saw him lead the league in triple doubles with six in the 2003-04 season with the Wildcats.

Undoubtedly though, the signing of Chris Anstey is the key to a smooth transition from last season to now. Anstey brings to the team much the same as Tucker a wide range of skills. Anstey can score from anywhere on the court, showing so knocking down three from outside the arc on route to his 23 points from 38 minutes against Wollongong on their opening night.

Anstey brings more than just scoring but ability to contribute through passing which saw him make six assists against the Hawks as he often was willing to take the ball at the perimeter. At 213cm Anstey is a force inside but with the ability to penetrate against other big men who often cannot keep pace with the athletic seven footer or simply knock down the outside shot he creates offence simply through his presence on the court.

The new look line-up for the Tigers offer them the ability to inject a new found defensive aggressiveness. With Tucker and D-Mac promoted to the starting lineup opposition ball-handlers and passing lines are constantly under the threat of being picked off with Tucker, D-Mac and Thomas all holding averages of above a steal per game.

Added to this is the block shotting ability of Anstey and fellow big men Stiff and Mottram that threatens any opposition attempting to play inside. The aggressive style of defence used by new head coach Al Westover saw a massive 26 turnovers from the Hawks including five D-Mac steals and three David Stiff blocks.

The Gaze Tigers won two championships and built three hall of fame careers and these achievements cannot be accomplished without being defensively sound, however, but did not offer the easy points a match winning defence allows. Gaze’s Tigers won games by containing opposition and out scoring them, the new Tigers crush your offence which simply gives them more opportunities to score.

Critic’s have been quick to doubt the Tigers based on there lack of outside shooters since the departure of Gaze and Copeland. Fans however need not fear they Tigers are capable of making up for this deficiency through penetration which with high risers like Tucker and Thomas and post players like Anstey and Stiff means not only points from inside but from outside as the inside threat and craftsmen like ball movement allows set feet, open looks and easy three’s that players at elite level hit more often than not.

The key to this is the rising talent of Daryll Corletto who having come up through the junior ranks under the apprenticeship of Gaze himself will now have a chance to prove to the league he is one of the nations premier shooters.

The Tigers road to the title will need go through three teams the new look Brisbane Bullets touted as the favorites for the crown, the developing Brad Newley and his Townsville Crocs and the reigning three time champions Sydney Kings. The Kings are undoubtedly the benchmark for the competition and in many ways the formula which the Tigers have been modelled on.

The penetrating back court of Smith and C.J. Bruton who both finished in the top ten steals per game last season. And the athletic and versatile big men formerly the role of Matt Neilsen now played by Roland Roberts, backed by a deep bench. The Tigers have got the formula right and the components are more than capable of getting the results.

So as the curtain falls on one era which will be recorded as one of the greatest ever in club history there are ten men and a coaching staff who will be looking to eclipse the legacy of the team before them through the most important stat listed in all of sports – Championships.

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