NEWCASTLE Eagles coach Fab Flournoy has told his new point guard Paul Gause to slow down – and keep himself out of foul trouble.
Gause has already shown his class in helping the Eagles to an easy win over Guildford and progress in the Trophy but has spent too much time on the sidelines after picking up early fouls.
Such teething troubles are typical of new arrivals in the BBL but Flournoy knows that with the club’s double header against pre-season title favourites Sheffield Eagles looming, he cannot afford to have his key man being penalised unnecessarily.
“Paul has started very well – I’m satisfied with what he’s doing for us,” Flournoy said.
“He’s playing well but he’s still at the inconsistent stage at the moment. He’s getting into foul trouble when he shouldn’t be really, but we can expect that from a player just starting out in his BBL career. He got into foul trouble against the Glasgow Rocks and there has been a game where he’s only managed 15 or 16 minutes for us before he’s fouled out. It’s tough to learn those things because he’s probably used to a set way of playing.
“It is a huge adjustment for any player coming into the British game and it’s no different for Paul.
“Referees are going to be putting fouls on him a little bit quicker because he’s playing for a high profile team and maybe he just needs to be aware of that.
“But he’s learning quickly and it will come.”
Flournoy was more than aware that recruiting Gause – who has no experience in the BBL – was going to be a risky strategy but felt his natural athleticism and college pedigree gave him a head start over other options.
Last season’s pick of Trey Moore proved a partial success before injury and a controversial suspension blocked the progress of the veteran guard. By contrast Gause’s development has been pleasing but Flournoy admits there are a few rough edges that need to be smoothed out.
“He is a terrific athlete but he needs to realise that he has a little bit more time,” he said.
“At times he needs to just slow down. He’s a little bit quick but he’s doing very well and we are happy with him – there is clearly a lot of talent there.”
Meanwhile, Flournoy is assessing injuries to Joel Madourie, Charles Smith and Andrew Bridge as he looks forward to the potentially crucial Sheffield game.
New recruit Madourie will miss at least three weeks with a knee ligament problem while Smith (hamstring) and Bridge (facial injury) are likely to sit out practice this week.
The Eagles chief admits it is a blow to the former Derby man, who only came to Sport Central at the start of the summer, but believes he will be stronger for the setback.
“We always expected Joel to look better in the games than in practice, if that makes sense,” he said.
“It always takes the new guys time to get used to the way we practice and the way we prepare for games. I say that practice is like a ‘torture chamber’ for our players and it’s difficult for guys like Joel to just come in and pick it up straight away.
“The injury doesn’t come at the best of times for him but at least he has got it at this stage in the season. He’ll be back in November and then he still has plenty of time to show what he can do.”
