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The 2011-12 NBL season is here and on a number of fronts, there’s solid reasons to get around it. Patrick Mills has returned home due to the NBA lockout. Andrew Bogut, once insurance is all sorted, will join him.
The best bit? The Boomers pair will be playing out of Melbourne and Sydney, respectively. As far as promoting the league goes, you couldn’t have scripted a better one-two punch.
The lockout in the States also means that, for a while at least, the NBL will be the only prominent option for those looking for their pro basketball fix. This creates an opportunity to win back fans that have lost interest in the local league.
Coming off a season where TV viewership increased by 298 per cent, many were hoping that this season would see the NBL’s momentum continue to build.
However, the one gigantic asterisk heading into this weekend is Network Ten’s decision to show games on One delayed by approximately three hours.
That means broadcasts will start around 10.30pm.
Ten, in fairness, had offered the league a live game on the main network 12pm Sundays instead of three games delayed. But such an arrangement had numerous issues – the fact games in Perth would start 9am, that sponsors been sold on three games being shown, etc – and Basketball Australia in the end opted for more games rather than less.
It’s hardly ideal for a league that requires growth to regain a healthy position in our sporting landscape. The NBL hierarchy would be hoping the new arrangement doesn’t alter that “momentum” experienced last season too much – but there’s a real risk it will do just that.
On the court, there are a few teams sticking their hands up as contenders. At the head of the pack once again is the Perth Wildcats.
The 2009-10 title winners couldn’t quite back it up last season, but already have already claimed the pre-season tournament. With huge depth and Luke Nevill now on board, they are deserved favourites.
Closely following the boys out west are the Gold Coast Blaze, a team that looked dangerous on paper last year but had some horrible luck on the injury front. A cleaner bill of health and two imports that look the goods in Will Hudson and Mike English has them a real decent chance to claim their first NBL championship.
After that, there’s the Melbourne Tigers and Sydney Kings. The Tigers have raided last year’s runners-up Cairns with the addition of Ayinde Ubaka, Ron Dorsey and Daniel Dillon. Throw in Mills and you’ve got a good team.
The Kings looked impressive in the pre-season and have importantly added some quality players to the roster that finished with the wooden spoon last season. Throw in Bogut and, well, you get the idea.
The big question is, as Shane Heal asked in the Illawarra Mercury this week, “What happens if they get to January and they leave?”
The end of the lockout could significantly alter the course of the season.
New Zealand have lost Kirk Penney, which puts a big dent in their title defence but by no means rules them out of contention. Adelaide should improve and push for a playoff spot.
Finals, though, will be a tough ask for the regional trio of Wollongong, Townsville and Cairns. Not that you should ever rule out any of these teams.
When it comes down to it, fans of each team have reason to be optimistic about success in the season ahead.
Fans of the game, well, they’re probably more divided.
My final ladder prediction:
1. Gold Coast
2. Perth
3. Sydney
4. Melbourne
5. New Zealand
6. Adelaide
7. Wollongong
8. Cairns
9. Townsville