James Ennis knows he'll have to perfect the defensive side of his game in order to shine for the Perth Wildcats this season. Picture: Supplied Source: PerthNow
HE'S the boom recruit who threatens to take the NBL by storm with a jaw-dropping arsenal of attacking moves.
However, superstar import James Ennis knows he'll have to perfect the defensive side of his game in order to shine for the Perth Wildcats this season.
The 23-year-old was named MVP of the pre-season Blitz tournament, despite being plagued by foul trouble as he, along with many others, laboured to adjust to the league's crackdown on excessive physical play.
Ennis, signed on a one-year deal from NBA champions Miami Heat, acknowledged it would be a challenge to alter his defensive game, having spent his life playing under different rule interpretations in the US.
"I think I fouled out four times in the Blitz because of the ticky-tack fouls they called," Ennis told The Sunday Times.
"In the States, it's a lot more physical. You can have your hands on (when guarding an opponent). But I know it was more physical in this league in the past and they wanted to adjust it.
"So I've just got to play defence with my hands off.
"It's going to be pretty hard at first. But the main thing is doing it consistently at practice, that's where you learn, and containing my guy in front of me without touching him."
The 23-year-old was named MVP of the pre-season Blitz tournament, despite being plagued by foul trouble as he, along with many others, laboured to adjust to the league's crackdown on excessive physical play.
Ennis, signed on a one-year deal from NBA champions Miami Heat, acknowledged it would be a challenge to alter his defensive game, having spent his life playing under different rule interpretations in the US.
"I think I fouled out four times in the Blitz because of the ticky-tack fouls they called," Ennis told The Sunday Times.
"In the States, it's a lot more physical. You can have your hands on (when guarding an opponent). But I know it was more physical in this league in the past and they wanted to adjust it.
"So I've just got to play defence with my hands off.
"It's going to be pretty hard at first. But the main thing is doing it consistently at practice, that's where you learn, and containing my guy in front of me without touching him."
NEW ROLE: Former Melbourne coach Trevor Gleeson will be in charge at the Perth Wildcats next season. Picture: Michael KleinSource: PerthNow
"The referees probably erred on the side of more fouls during the Blitz, and (NBL referees boss) Mal Cooper has adjusted to that with his information to the players this week," Gleeson said.
"It's not a finished product as yet, so hopefully we don't see so many foul shots in a game.
"It certainly opens things up, and we want to attack and be aggressive and be receiving more than we're hurting on it."
Having won the Blitz tournament and adding offensive potency in the form of Ennis and fellow recruit Jermaine Beal, the Wildcats are once again well-placed for a sixth NBL title.
Gleeson praised the pre-season efforts of new faces Erik Burdon, a sharpshooting reserve, and centre Tom Jervis, who shapes as an important player through the first six weeks of the season in the absence of star big man Matt Knight (ankle). The new-look Cats face a stern test first-up against old rivals Adelaide at Perth Arena on Friday, with new 36ers coach Joey Wright building a formidable roster around import duo Gary Ervin and Jarrid Frye.
"They've recruited really well, bringing in two good imports, one an NBL MVP, and they have a couple of seven-footers, so it's a great challenge for us," Gleeson said.
"We want to make a good first impression at home."
