by Romy Aquino
For the first time in the National Basketball League of Canada season, the Halifax Rainmen (2-2) face off against their old Maritime rivals, the Saint John Mill Rats (2-3). Led by NBL leading scorer, Anthony Anderson (20.0 ppg), the Mill Rats have strung together a couple of wins after starting off the season with three straight losses. The Rainmen and Mill Rats have a history dating back to the ABA days and will now face off again in the National Basketball League of Canada on Friday night in Halifax.
Ian McCarthy is the GM and President of the Mill Rats and has been a member of the team since its inception in Manchester. The Saint John Mill Rats had a successful season last year in their inaugural season in Saint John, bringing a professional basketball team to New Brunswick. I had a chance to talk to Ian about the Mill Rats, the new league and all the internet buzz about Matt Bonner playing for Saint John.
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Romy (Sportstream.ca): First off, you have been with the Mill Rats organization throughout three basketball leagues: the ABA, the PBL and now the National Basketball League of Canada. We're a few weeks into the season, what has been your impression of this new league?
Ian McCarthy: This league has been great so far. Very competitive and some really exciting games only two weeks in. I believe we already had two overtime games. The response from fans and first time viewers has been a resounding 'thumbs up' on the product.
Romy (Sportstream.ca): What types of improvements have you seen with this league in comparison to the leagues the Mill Rats have been with before?
Ian McCarthy: As far as ownership and management of the teams and league, it has been no comparison. Its light years ahead. We are all treating this like a major league because that is its potential. We don't even want the word 'minor' to be used when mentioning this level of basketball because of the negative connotations that the U.S. based minor leagues have caused.
We are enjoying the faster pace of the FIBA rules for one. Secondly the officiating, for the most part, has been really sound. In the prior leagues teams were spread out so much that due to cost, you almost always had hometown officials. In this league they are rotated around pretty well.
And teams in this league take our league mandates very seriously. Everyone handles their business whether it's being a great host to a visiting team, or keeping a website up to date, we are all doing it.
Romy (Sportstream.ca): This Friday will mark the first matchup between one of the Mill Rats' arch rivals, the Halifax Rainmen. Based on your knowledge of this year's Rainmen roster, what will be some of the biggest challenges the Mill Rats will face on Friday?
Ian McCarthy: Despite all of the early season changes, the Rainmen have assembled a formidable roster.
Coach Salerno from Summerside texted me after their last game that 'Orien Greene is the best player in the League.' And that was after seeing him play just once. I was a fan of Greene's the year he played with the Celtics.
Joey Haywood has been impressive earning Player of the Week honours so quickly. So we definitely have our work cut out for us.
Romy (Sportstream.ca): Your Mill Rats had a rocky start going 0-3, but are now on a two-game win streak including a win over the tough London Lightning, who have been some of the highlight players on this year's roster?
Ian McCarthy: We did have a rocky start but it really feels like there is so much parity in this League that any team can win on any given night. So just like in the games there a series of runs each team will make, so too with the wins and losses. We were still a confident team after starting 0-3.
Antoine Tisby's ability to dominate has been the biggest surprise. Our lineups have evolved to give him room to operate. Steve Deluca has materialized from walk on, to bench player, to starter, and is now bordering on playing at an all-star type level. And of course our starting backcourt has been amazing with Will Blalock and Anthony Anderson.
For Anthony to have fully recovered from the achilles injury he suffered at the Metro Centre on Mar 31 so quickly is great to see.
Romy (Sportstream.ca): There has been a lot of buzz this week about Matt Bonner exploring other playing opportunities, including the Saint John Mill Rats. Briefly explain Matt Bonner's connection to the Mill Rats.
Ian McCarthy: Matt grew up near Manchester, NH with David Cooper. He is, in fact, the only player from the Granite State to ever make the NBA. His brother, Luke, played briefly for us in 2010 and Matt's foundation was a team sponsor when we were in Manchester.
Romy (Sportstream.ca): Having Matt Bonner play in the NBL would provide such a positive impact to the reputation and notoriety of the league. In your opinion, is this playing opportunity a realistic option for Matt Bonner?
Ian McCarthy: I can't speculate accurately about whether he will play in the NBL Canada yet. Its something that's been discussed. Two barriers had been insurance for his contract and his role with the NBA Players Association. With the dissolution of the union those may or may not still be barriers. But the door is certainly open.
Romy (Sportstream.ca): Finally, with the NBA season looking bleak, do you anticipate more highly-skilled players with NBA/NBA D-League-type talent exploring playing opportunities with the NBL?
Ian McCarthy: Like Andre, we are in talks with a number of current and former NBA players, to gauge their interest in playing. It has been surprising the number of really high-level players have reached out to our league already.
Of course, Halifax seems to have the market cornered with former NBA players recently!
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Find out more about the Mill Rats at their official website.
Thanks goes out to Ian McCarthy for taking part in our Rainmen-Mill Rats game preview, catch the Maritime rivals, Halifax Rainmen and Saint John Mill Rats at the Halifax Metro Centre on Friday night. Catch the live feed here on Sportstream.ca!
Photo courtesy of the Saint John Mill Rats
Romy Aquino covers the pro basketball game (the National Basketball League of Canada including the Halifax Rainmen, the NBA/Toronto Raptors) from a fan's perspective. He also can be found at NBA hoops blog, Hip Hoop Junkies and writing about the NBL/Rainmen at NorthPoleHoops.com. Follow him on Twitter: @romyaquino
Romy Aquino covers the the National Basketball League of Canada including his hometown Halifax Rainmen. He also can be found at pro hoops blog,Hip Hoop Junkies (covering the Toronto Raptors/NBA), writing for the NBL Canada Live! blog and liveblogging at Halifax Rainmen home games for Sportstream.ca Follow him on Twitter: @romyaquino
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