By Dan Woods for NBL1.com.au
After successfully hunting down a first title in a quarter of a century in last season’s NBL1 Central conference, the South Adelaide Panthers are preparing to become the hunted this season.
While their main offensive weapon – Jeremy Smith – has left the club for new pastures, the reigning Defensive Player of the Year and Grand Final MVP Alex Starling is preparing to lead his re-tooled side into the new campaign.
The Panthers have added star Adelaide 36er Daniel Johnson for the upcoming season, and Starling believes he has found the key equation to winning back-to-back titles.
“It’s simple,” Starling told The Hoopsters.
“Win when it matters. The majority of our core has won two or three championships at this level … for most of the boys the experience is there of knowing, for every team, it will be a grand final when they see South on their schedule.
“I believe we’ll definitely be up to the task. It’s the same process as last year. We’re taking everything one day at a time, one possession at a time, and we’ll go from there."
Smith’s departure means the Panthers have a hole of over 26 points per game that needs to be filled.
While Johnson will undoubtedly bring some much-welcome experience and scoring prowess to the post positions, how the side goes about replicating that offensive output in the guard positions remains to be seen. Starling – who averaged 16.5 points, 13 rebounds and three assists per game last season – is looking at himself to help fill the void.
Related: Signing of DJ boosts South Adelaide's championship defence
“I’m a wing and I’m a guard," he said.
“But because of my strength and my tenacity I can play big, I can play the five. I’m the quickest in the league. I’m the fastest in the league. I say that wholeheartedly and I believe that."
"There were times I knew Jeremy was going to go crazy and give 30, 40 [points] on a night and I could take possessions off on the offensive end and get my work done on the defensive end.
“I feel like it’ll be more – not only for myself but for my teammates – to make an impact on the offensive end without Jeremy on board."
Matchup wise I’ll take on any challenge – a big, a small, an offensive threat, whatever the case may be.”
The NBL1 Central starts Saturday, with Starling's Panthers hosting the Eastern Mavericks from 8:15 ACDT live on NBL1.com.au or the NBL1 App here.
