2010 NBL Season & Offseason discussion

[CK]

Congrats to Adam Ballinger on being named NBL player of the week for Round 7 making it consecutive weeks a 36er has won the award.

Also four NBL games on Fox this week starting with Townsville @ Cairns tonight, Perth @ New Zealand on tomorrow afternoon, Townsville @ Gold Coast on Friday night and Cairns @ Perth on Saturday night

New Zealand defeated Perth 83-74 tonight. Thomas Abercrombie having a real breakout season for the Breakers (no pun intended), top scoring with 23.

Tomorrow should be a shootout between Gold Coast and Townsville. Both teams quite capable of shooting nearly 100 each if they bring their A-game. Think the Crocs can carry on from their 85-70 spanking of Cairns Wednesday night and take the points here over the Blaze in an entertaining one.

Pity that Fox aren't showing Adelaide v Wollongong Saturday night though . If the Hawks pinch this, they may be the real deal. Worth the price of admission to see Tywain McKee in action, arguably the NBL's hottest import at present (although Perth's Kevin Lisch may have something to say about that, and a bloke who is playing his first game in Melbourne colours may also put his bib in.)

[Gozu]

Unfortunately I missed the Wildcats @ Breakers game but I'm really looking forward to the Crocs @ Blaze game tomorrow night, reckon thats got the potential to be a cracker. Sounds like they're expecting a decent crowd to the Hawks @ 36ers game Saturday night too.

[Thiele]

Crocs defeated Tigers

[CK]

Pretty reasonable start for Hodge in his first game for Melbourne though: 22 points, 9 rebounds, 7 assists and 3 steals in 37 minutes game time (also 6 turnovers, game high)

[Gozu]

Round 8 results:

Townsville 85 (Williams 21, Cedar 20, Hinder 16, Roberts 12) def Cairns 70 (Jones 17, Crosswhite 15, Melzer 10, Mills 10)

New Zealand 83 (Abercrombie 23, Forman 18, Rickert 12, Bruton 10) def Perth 74 (Redhage 18, Weigh 15, Schenscher 13)

Gold Coast 93 (Ubaka 17, Gibson 15, Vanderjagt 15, Petrie 14, Goulding 11, Harvey 10) def Townsville 77 (Crawford 27, Roberts 11, Williams 10)

Townsville 98 (Crawford 19, Hinder 15, Cedar 13, Hoare 12, Williams 12, Roberts 10) def Melbourne 91 (Hodge 22, Johnson 20, Worthington 15, MacKinnon 13)

Adelaide 83 (Ballinger 17, Gilchrist 15, Groves 15, Herbert 10, Ng 10) def Wollongong 76 (Campbell 22, Tragardh 18, Davidson 11)

Perth 79 (Weigh 22, Lisch 12, Redhage 11) def Cairns 64 (Mills 20, Rychart 14, Williams 10)

[Gozu]

In a bit of a surprise Julius Hodge was named NBL player of the week despite the Tigers losing.

[CK]

In a bit of a surprise Julius Hodge was named NBL player of the week despite the Tigers losing.

Astonishing surprise really . Could have thought of a few better credentialled candidates last week.

Split round this week more or less, only 4 games being played. Cairns defeated NZ 77-64 Wednesday night. Until the Breakers win the odd away game, they can't be considered real contenders. It makes the $4.50 or so on offer for the Championship quite absurd to be honest.

Townsville host the Breakers tonight, in what should be a solid win for the Crocs. Still very underrated by many, if they can get their game flowing tonight, they will be very hard to stop. Genuine title smokies.

[Gozu]

Astonishing surprise really . Could have thought of a few better credentialled candidates last week.

Split round this week more or less, only 4 games being played. Cairns defeated NZ 77-64 Wednesday night. Until the Breakers win the odd away game, they can't be considered real contenders. It makes the $4.50 or so on offer for the Championship quite absurd to be honest.

Townsville host the Breakers tonight, in what should be a solid win for the Crocs. Still very underrated by many, if they can get their game flowing tonight, they will be very hard to stop. Genuine title smokies.

Solid away win by the Breakers Despite the loss to NZ I don't really consider the Crocs championship contenders. Homicide is way too inconsistent and they don't get enough out of Rolan Roberts. Hinder's basically a 6-10 SF, the Crocs are just too small for mine. Perth, Wollongong or New Zealand if/when Penney gets back are the only three teams I think are genuine championship contenders.

btw that Blaze/Wildcats game tonight was a cracker. Perth up by 18 at half-time on the road for the Blaze to comeback and tie it up at 3 Qtr time and then Maxey hit a huge three in the final minute of the game with scores tied. Made up for the Taipans/Breakers shocker earlier in the week.

[Gozu]

Round 9 results:

Cairns 77 (Rychart 19, Melzer 17, Mills 13) def New Zealand 64 (Bruton 10)

New Zealand 85 (Bruton 24, Forman 18, Rickert 12, Abercrombie 10) def Townsville 73 (Crawford 17, Tovey 14, Williams 13)

Cairns 86 (Jones 21, Grabau 16, Rychart 12, Crosswhite 10, Mills 10) def Melbourne 83 (Johnson 19, Hodge 16, Corletto 15, Worthington 10)

Gold Coast 84 (Harvey 19, Gibson 14, Maxey 14, Vukona 12, Ubaka 10) def Perth 79 (Redhage 24, Williamson 11, Schenscher 10)

[CK]

Astonishing surprise really . Could have thought of a few better credentialled candidates last week.

Split round this week more or less, only 4 games being played. Cairns defeated NZ 77-64 Wednesday night. Until the Breakers win the odd away game, they can't be considered real contenders. It makes the $4.50 or so on offer for the Championship quite absurd to be honest.

Townsville host the Breakers tonight, in what should be a solid win for the Crocs. Still very underrated by many, if they can get their game flowing tonight, they will be very hard to stop. Genuine title smokies.

Solid away win by the Breakers Despite the loss to NZ I don't really consider the Crocs championship contenders. Homicide is way too inconsistent and they don't get enough out of Rolan Roberts. Hinder's basically a 6-10 SF, the Crocs are just too small for mine. Perth, Wollongong or New Zealand if/when Penney gets back are the only three teams I think are genuine championship contenders.

btw that Blaze/Wildcats game tonight was a cracker. Perth up by 18 at half-time on the road for the Blaze to comeback and tie it up at 3 Qtr time and then Maxey hit a huge three in the final minute of the game with scores tied. Made up for the Taipans/Breakers shocker earlier in the week.

Wollongong title contenders? Big call...don't forget that their first half of the season has been dominated by home games. IF they can sustain this in the second half, then I would agree they are right up there, but still have a bit to go to prove themselves yet for mine. Great start to the season though.

Agreeing with what you say in some parts about the Crocs, but don't forget they have easily the best away record in the NBL. Still up there in my books, but yes, need a lot more out of Roberts at the moment, who must be walking on slightly thin ice I'd think.

Still don't see the big attraction with Melbourne for many pundits. Interesting that since Hodge has come in, they have virtually gone backwards. For all the hype surrounding him last year, the Sixers were only 50/50 or so in games where he played. Too much of a "me" man to be part of a title team I reckon.

[Gozu]

Wollongong title contenders? Big call...don't forget that their first half of the season has been dominated by home games. IF they can sustain this in the second half, then I would agree they are right up there, but still have a bit to go to prove themselves yet for mine. Great start to the season though.

Agreeing with what you say in some parts about the Crocs, but don't forget they have easily the best away record in the NBL. Still up there in my books, but yes, need a lot more out of Roberts at the moment, who must be walking on slightly thin ice I'd think.

Still don't see the big attraction with Melbourne for many pundits. Interesting that since Hodge has come in, they have virtually gone backwards. For all the hype surrounding him last year, the Sixers were only 50/50 or so in games where he played. Too much of a "me" man to be part of a title team I reckon.

Yeah I know the jury is still out on the Hawks (rightly so like you said given their good run with the schedule) but what I've seen of them they really do play a great team game and don't always have to rely on McKee. I don't think they'll actually win it all but so far deserve the right to be in the conversation. The Crocs are a good team and should make the playoffs for mine but just think their lack of height/size will seem them come unstuck at the pointy end.

I agree totally with what you said about the Tigers. I was always concerned about how a Hodge who flourished in an up tempo loosey goosey system would go in such a stuctured set up like Westover's. Wouldn't be surprised if it all ends in tears and think that unless Anstey comes back and somehow manages to play at his past MVP level they're screwed.

I'm sure you know this but for those that don't we're getting 36ers @ Wollongong on Fox tomorrow night from 7pm. I'm very much looking forward to that one.

[CK]

Hawks smashed tonight . I tipped them in this one, but for Adelaide to trounce them by 23 points is a massive night.

Melbourne fined $15,000 for a series of inappropriate behaviour infringements in the shock loss to Cairns. Club owner Seamus McPeake for approaching the scorebench, abusing officials and referees and making obscene gestures; Chris Anstey for inappropriate language to officials; court announcer Wayne Peterson for verbal abuse of referees while acting in his official capacity (he has been suspended by the club for 2 games).

To borrow a line from the SANFL forum - are the Tigers imploding?

[redandblack]

I watched a bit of it tonight and Adelaide were good, especially with their shooting percentage, I would think.

Even better considering Wollongong seemed to dominate the boards at both ends when I was watching.

Gilchrist was awesome.

[Gozu]

Never would've thought the Sixers would beat them like that. Gilchrist sure was outstanding tonight. They're starting to look half decent but big test up in Townsville friday night I think.

CK, the Tigers are imploding alright but I wouldn't want to be the one to clean up the mess Seamus will leave The question is will he pay this fine, I'm pretty sure he didn't pay that one at the end of last season?

[Gozu]

Round 10 results:

Adelaide 82 (Gilchrist 30, Ballinger 16) def Wollongong 59 (McKee 18)

New Zealand 94 (Forman 23, Penney 22, Rickert 16) def Cairns 77 (Melzer 19, Jones 14, Crosswhite 12)

Townsville 100 (Williams 29, Crawford 21, Cedar 14) def Adelaide 88 (Ballinger 27, Gilchrist 13, Groves 11)

Gold Coast 82 (Harvey 20, Petrie 17, Ubaka 15, Goulding 14) def Perth 78 (Lisch 19, Wagstaff 11, Cattalini 10, Martin 10, Redhage 10)

[CK]

Gold Coast seem to have the wood over Perth this year. The Wildcats just could not break the shackles last night of the Blaze and may pay a heavy price for that loss at the end of the year.

Townsville rebound back to form after a brief glitch. Maybe they will be taken seriously as title contenders soon . Surely have stronger credentials than Melbourne, New Zealand (who struggle to win away from home) and until Perth can break shackles, then their credentials are slightly questionable also.

[Gozu]

Bit of a Crocs fan, CK? I watched the game and they were impressive but the 36ers were pretty much just a one man band much like the game in Wollongong too.

I just can't get over how tight the league is this season. Close to mid-season and anyone can beat anyone on any given night and not one team is seriously out of it. Julius Hodge coming back to town to play the 36ers this Saturday night and all the build up that will come about the clash this week, whats not to love!

[CK]

Bit of a Crocs fan, CK? I watched the game and they were impressive but the 36ers were pretty much just a one man band much like the game in Wollongong too.

I just can't get over how tight the league is this season. Close to mid-season and anyone can beat anyone on any given night and not one team is seriously out of it. Julius Hodge coming back to town to play the 36ers this Saturday night and all the build up that will come about the clash this week, whats not to love!

Let's call them my second team

Certainly is an amazing season. Anyone who said at the start that an 8 team competition indicated any weakness would want to eat their words now. So far, it is vindicating the decision entirely. Around 33 less players has ensured the elite are competing and it's showing in the results. After this round, I reckon Cairns might bow out of contention, but the other 7 are right up there still.

Looking forward to Saturday night immensely, can't wait to be there

[Gozu]

Certainly is an amazing season. Anyone who said at the start that an 8 team competition indicated any weakness would want to eat their words now. So far, it is vindicating the decision entirely. Around 33 less players has ensured the elite are competing and it's showing in the results. After this round, I reckon Cairns might bow out of contention, but the other 7 are right up there still.

Looking forward to Saturday night immensely, can't wait to be there

I actually couldn't believe people were suggesting the NBL should take a year off, that would kill off what minor interest there already is in the league. I think that would've damaged the "brand" so much to the point it would be hard to get up again. Like you said this season has vindicated everything, the standard & depth of the league has never been better.

I agree Cairns do seem like they're just about ready to fall away now big game tonight in the North Queensland derby playing the Crocs in Townsville from 8pm on Fox.

[bloods08]

Townsville 73
Cairns 64