The new NBL season is just around the corner, and if it is even possible it promises to be more exciting than the last one which crowned the Perth Wildcats as premiers.
As with any competition, there are some games that stand out from the crowd as more important – although that’s the beauty of the NBL – with only 28 matches for each of the eight sides, every single match means something to the final ladder.
Let’s have a look though, at the most important matches for the 2016-17 season.
Note that all these times are AEDT.
Round 1, Thu Oct 6 – Brisbane Bullets vs Perth Wildcats at Brisbane Entertainment Centre (7:30pm)
Ever since the Bullets were announced to make their return, there has been building momentum behind the club from the press and its supporters, which became more so when their schedule and the signing of Cameron Bairstow was revealed.
The Bullets tip-off the season against the Perth Wildcats on opening night, but not at their usual home – rather the 13,000 seat Brisbane Entertainment Centre.
So while this match will tell us a lot about the Bullets chances for the season, it also tells us the state of the league in Brisbane. What sort of crowd can the returning club draw to their first game?
Besides that though, there is no better way to test yourself than against the defending premiers. Perth as well, have plenty of questions this season so to play away from home in front of what is expected to be a big crowd against a team with plenty to prove sets this up as a brilliant season opener.
Round 1, Sat Oct 8 – Sydney Kings vs Brisbane Bullets at Qudos Bank Arena (5:30pm tip-off)
The resumption of one of the biggest rivalries in the NBL, played at Homebush will be huge both on and off the court.
For the Kings, it is the first real chance to look at their new roster and whether they are going to gel for the season, plus maybe answer some questions about the fitness of Julian Kazzouh and the style of coach Andrew Gaze.
The Bullets will either be trying to build momentum on their first road trip and use that moving forward, or reverse their fortunes.
Crowd-wise, the Kings have taken a massive risk moving to such a big arena and are promising NBA-like production. If they get it right and have a crowd, the move will be vindicated – no crowd though and the Kings could end up with egg on their face.
Round 2, Fri Oct 14 – Perth Wildcats vs New Zealand Breakers at Perth Arena (9:30pm tip-off)
The first grand final re-match is always big, but even more so when it’s between these two massive rivals who are an eight-hour flight away from each other.
The Breakers playing away from home and the glaring spot light of the New Zealand locals and media is something they will be thankful for, and it could bring out the best in them. At the same time, what is essentially a 12:30am tip-off for them based on time zones won’t help.
Friday night ball always seems to bring out the biggest Perth crowd and they will expect nothing less than a win from a team that has struggled through the pre-season.
Round 3, Sat Oct 22 – Brisbane Bullets vs New Zealand Breakers at Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre (7:30pm tip-off)
The Bullets first match against their trans-tasman rivals promises to be an exciting one, but also one that could shape both sides season.
The sides are expected to finish somewhere around, or just outside of the top four so wins like this are crucial.
The fascinating battle here looks to be that of the outside scorers, Jermaine Beal for the Bullets and the ever entertaining Corey Webster for the Breakers.
Round 4, Sun Oct 30 – Illawarra Hawks vs Cairns Taipans at WIN Entertainment Centre (7pm tip-off)
With the folding of the Townsville Crocodiles, there are only two regional teams left in the NBL and this will be the first battle of the pair for the 2016-17 season.
Both of them are up against it, and most pundits tend to think they will end up right down the wrong end of the ladder. Whichever team gets up here could build some momentum moving forward, but more importantly they need to put on a show and make a statement about regional teams in the league.
Round 5, Sat Nov 5 – Perth Wildcats vs Adelaide 36ers at Perth Arena (9:30pm tip-off)
The battle of the west resumes in Round 5, and the feeling between the sides should be stronger than ever. With the 36ers genuine contenders this season, and a relatively settled line-up this could be a game that helps them build momentum.
Adelaide often travel west hoping to compete, but this time they can hope to win, while Perth will be requiring a win for their own piece of mind.
For the first time in what seems like forever, they do look vulnerable so a loss to arch rivals like Adelaide early in the season could leave them in a bit of a hole.
Round 7, Thu Nov 17 – Perth Wildcats vs Sydney Kings at Perth Arena (9:30pm tip-off)
If you don’t have plans for Round 7, then don’t make any. There are some huge contests that could well define the second half of the season.
It starts with the opening game of the round as the Wildcats take on the Kings for the first of two times in a matter of days.
With both teams expected to be right up the top end of the ladder, losing two games against a fellow contender will hurt big time and it seems like whoever wins the first wins the second.
There is a massive individual battle brewing as well, with Kevin Lisch taking on Damian Martin.
Round 7, Fri Nov 18 – New Zealand Breakers vs Illawarra Hawks at North Shore Events Centre (5:30pm tip-off)
On Friday night, it will be the Kirk Penney’s first game against his old club the Hawks and a battle between the two clubs who potentially could be the most exciting this season.
With Rotnei Clarke expected to light things up for the Hawks, there should be a stack of a points in this one.
There is also the small matter of momentum in this season series, with the clubs playing three of their four games over the course of a fortnight.
Round 7, Sat Nov 19 – Adelaide 36ers vs Brisbane Bullets at Titanium Security Arena (5:30pm tip-off)
The other big meeting of the round will be Adam Gibson’s first trip back to Adelaide in Bullets colours. It should be another playoff implications match, but also one that sets the scene before they play again in Round 8.
What makes this match even more important is the respective schedules that follow, with games against Melbourne, Sydney and Perth.
Building momentum here is going to be crucial, as will getting ahead in a season series that could help decide the fourth spot if the teams happened to be tied on wins come the end of the regular season.
Round 10, Sat Dec 10 – Adelaide 36ers vs New Zealand Breakers at Titanium Security Arena (7:30pm tip-off)
The 36ers will be in the middle of one of their easier stretches of the season come Round 10, with more games at home than away but this poses as a potential danger game that could send them spiralling the wrong way.
Given the 36ers stretch of matches following this, which includes trips to Sydney and Melbourne, as well as a match against Perth they will need to be in good form.
The Breakers however, are a team that have the potential to take that all away at the click of a button. The amount of outside scoring they have, suggests they won’t be the most consistent team but a bad loss to them could see a team take some time to recover.
Round 13, Sat Dec 31 – Brisbane Bullets vs Cairns Taipans at Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre (7:30pm tip-off)
If you’re a Taipans fan, then this fixture will make you angry as the all-Queensland derby is played in Brisbane on New Years Eve.
Normally, Cairns host the NYE game, however a break from tradition sees what is going to be a massively important match for the two sides.
By this point in the season, the Bullets will have a fair idea about their finals chances and will be looking at this game as a potential one to build momentum moving into the end of the season.
Cairns, though could be in a position where they need to win every remaining game over the final five rounds so this should be of paramount importance.
Round 16, Sat Jan 21 – Brisbane Bullets vs Melbourne United at Gold Coast Convention Centre (5:30pm tip-off)
Melbourne United kick off what is a horror back end to the season with a trip to the Gold Coast as they take on the Bullets.
Ordinarily, this wouldn’t be a huge game but it will tell us a thing or two about the likelihood of ever getting a team back on the Coast.
Round 17, Sat Jan 28 – Perth Wildcats vs Melbourne United at Perth Arena (9:30pm tip-off)
By this stage of the season we will be starting to get a very good idea of what the final top four is going to look like and both these sides should be there.
Last year, when they met at the back end of the season it was a bit of a turning point for United, and it could well rule one club out of the minor premiership race.
One way or another, you suspect it mightn’t be the last time the sides face off either, with the playoffs a likely option.
Round 18, Sat Feb 4 – Sydney Kings vs Melbourne United at Qudos Bank Arena (7:30pm tip-off)
Copy and paste from the Round 17 game featuring United, except this time the rivalry is a fraction bigger, and the stakes even higher with only one round to go.
Round 19, Fri Feb 10 – New Zealand Breakers vs Melbourne United at North Shore Events Centre (5:30pm tip-off)
The Breakers and United finished the season against each other in 2015-16, and will play each other in the last round again this time, but in New Zealand.
Given the toughness of the end of the season for United, playing road games against Perth and Sydney before this it’ll be massive for them to get the win and either build form into the finals, or if they are still in the race potentially book a spot.
There is no love lost between these clubs though, and the Breakers are also likely to be in a fight for the semi-finals so this could be the game of the final round.
Roarers, which games are you most looking forward to this season?
Follow Scott on Twitter @sk_pryde
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