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Grew up in Geelong, lived in Perth since and while having covered virtually every sport to some degree, basketball and the NBL has become my focus to a growing level ever since my first game in 2005. I spent several years as Perth Wildcats media manager and have covered the league for a number of organisations and worked closely with the NBL and several clubs providing content
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The NBL regular season concludes with a Melbourne United-Perth Wildcats Sunday blockbuster leading into the awards night and while Sydney Kings captain Kevin Lisch thinks Andrew Bogut should sweep them, it remains a wide-open race for a number of accolades.
There are four teams vying for the last spot in the NBL’s top four and they all just happen to be playing one another on Thursday night to open Round 17.
The Illawarra Hawks now know they have to win their remaining four matches to be any hope of taking part in the NBL finals, and while he’s in the middle of a career-best season, 250-gamer Todd Blanchfield is far from ready to give up.
For the Brisbane Bullets, Illawarra Hawks and New Zealand Breakers, they have no choice but to beat teams above them to take part in the NBL finals while the Adelaide 36ers just can’t afford a slip up against the Cairns Taipans.
The Sydney Kings needed more size and rebounding, while the Adelaide 36ers needed a proven quality three man, with both clubs having signed Ray Turner and Demitrius Conger, respectively, in the hopes they are the final pieces of their NBL championship puzzles.
The tightness of the NBL was again on show in Round 14 with the top three teams all dropping a game, the bottom-placed team scoring a win and those in between beginning to sort themselves out in the fight for fourth.
Jesse Wagstaff is now a 300-game player in the NBL so there’s not much the four-time Perth Wildcats championship winner hasn’t seen, but a losing slide threatening a playoff berth is something new ahead of a crucial home clash with Melbourne United.
There are five rounds of the NBL season remaining and with seven teams still in the finals mix, there is going to be quite the sprint to the finish line to be part of playoff action.
As the business end of the NBL season approaches, the race for the finals is heating up and with seven teams not able to go into four, perennial powerhouses Perth Wildcats and Melbourne United can’t afford to take their place for granted.
Nothing has ever come easy for Damian Martin, but the Perth Wildcats captain has amassed one of the all-time great NBL careers ahead of celebrating game 300 at a time when he’s about to become a father for the second time and his post-basketball career is taking off.
Illawarra Hawks coach Rob Beveridge might be frustrated with his inconsistent team this season as he approaches his 300th game coached in the NBL, but that milestone is a time to celebrate and reflect on a journey that has earned him master coach status.
Andrew Bogut doesn’t need to score to be a match-winner for the Sydney Kings, Damian Martin has done it successfully for years with the Perth Wildcats and Illawarra Hawks skipper Kevin White is another NBL player universally respected without having to light up the stats sheet.
With one team on a ten-game losing run and the other having lost five straight, time is running out for the Cairns Taipans and New Zealand Breakers to get things on track in the NBL, making Sunday’s game a crucial one for both.
The attention might be focused elsewhere in the build-up to the Round 9 NBL blockbuster between the Perth Wildcats and Sydney Kings, but Brad Newley remains key to a win for the visitors and he has no doubt his team is on track to do something special.
The Brisbane Bullets might be yet to settle on their final squad this NBL season but they are putting together enough performances to deserve in on championship discussion – and centre Matt Hodgson couldn’t be enjoying himself more.
Any nine-game losing streak ahead of a tough road trip to tackle the league-leaders is going to make for challenging times, but Cairns Taipans vice-captain Lucas Walker has overcome plenty in his NBL career to reach 200 games and this current hole is one he sees a way out of.
A team full of NBL players might still have qualified Australia for a FIBA World Cup this time four years ago but the commitment, dedication and organisation of this current group playing for the Boomers only highlights further the growth of the league.
The Sydney Kings might be the highest-profile and most fascinating NBL team to follow in years, and they are playing some good basketball, but they do still have work to do to prove they can take it up to the Perth Wildcats and Melbourne United.
When the Adelaide 36ers have been up and flying the past two seasons they have been an unstoppable NBL force, and now the arrival of Demitrius Conger has sparked them to get back to that intimidating outfit heading into the FIBA break.
Losing was never going to sit well with Adelaide 36ers coach Joey Wright and despite his close relationship with Adris De Leon, he made the call to cut the import point guard and now bring in a potential NBL game changer, Demitrius Conger.
There was a delay because the referees were checking the monitor which is why the Wildcats huddled. Every team does that, rightly or wrongly. While Bogut was cheeky what he did, he was perfectly within his rights as annoying as it would be to be Gleeson in that situation. Coaches aren’t allowed on the court but they do it all the time in the NBL to talk to players. Could be something clamped down on
Newley revelling in Kings' growth in NBL
Spot on – Patterson has been great. Would be an MVP chance had he been here all season. Should still finish top 3 at this pace.
But you make a great point. The Wildcats have a spot up their sleeve and the Kings could look to make an upgrade on David Wear and potentially the Breakers with Armani Moore too. Will be an interesting period over Christmas/New Year when these moves for a playoff push usually take place
Bullets make a double statement in the NBL
Definitely nice to see a fresh team in the mix and to have a big city market like Brisbane having a team in the hunt too can only be good for the continued growth in the NBL. Looks like they’ll be adding a pretty handy new import too
Bullets make a double statement in the NBL
They certainly have the ability. But until they prove they can match it with Perth and New Zealand, they aren’t in the mix. But doing so in a playoff series would be the perfect time to turn it around!
We've learned nothing new in the NBL this year
That’s a good point Ian, I hadn’t thought of like that. I guess sometimes we forget that athletes aren’t the only ones who get mistreated by their bosses! Absolutely full credit to Tommy and Cody. To look at them, you would never know what they are dealing with inside
Plenty of player drama beneath NBL surface
Hi Damo, thanks for reading. I couldn’t have been more impressed with the Breakers. Newbill and Sosa are match winners. Plus they have been without Penney and a third import. But only time will tell!
Agree on the Hawks. They should be a better team than last season. But when things go on behind the scenes to upset the harmony, it often leads to results like this!
The opposing tales of the Hawks and Breakers in the NBL
Yeah Bairstow is on injury waiver so not part of the roster this season and no chance of playing. They hold out hope he could next season, but he’s not contracted beyond this season.
Humphries and Singh are fine as your developing centres, so no issue there and Singh will be sticking around no matter what with the long-term future in India in mind. But clearly an experienced big man is what they need. And I still think a point guard too, but they obviously don’t think they need a genuine playmaker/distributor.
Looking at the positives with key NBL injuries
Thanks for reading Kris. Bear would be more than welcome back on the floor for the Bullets no doubt, especially with Mitch Young out indefinitely with his glandular fever, Tommy J still getting over a badly broken finger and Peach finding his feet after no pre-season. But unfortunately he’s no chance of playing this season because of his knee. He’s still in Brisbane with the hope of being right to go for the start of next season, but it’s an injury where it’s going to need to be managed the rest of his career now.
And yep I just don’t understand the Kings decisions. They’ve now signed Jeremy Kendle. Nothing against him, but he is another player better NOT as the primary ball handler – the same as Lisch, Cadee and Leslie!
Looking at the positives with key NBL injuries
I had to put someone last, it’s always tough and as you’ll see that by no means suggests I don’t think the Bullets could still be a threat. A slow start could make it tough though in such a tight league. To be honest I wanted to put Kings last based on my concerns over their squad, but I thought I’d get shouted down
NBL 2017-18 season preview and predictions
None of those rule changes would be bad if implemented, I think particularly the defensive three second rule would be good so no one can camp in the paint. Travelling is an interesting one. From talking to a lot of imports, it shocks them what they get called for as a travel!
But the reality is very few NBL players will end up playing in the NBA where almost all of them will play in other leagues throughout Europe, Asia or Puerto Rico where FIBA rules are in place too. The NBL will be sticking with FIBA because that’s what most of the world follows, aside from the NBA. BUT the one rule that annoys me every single year is the possession arrow. Bring back the jump ball please!
Time for the NBL to adopt NBA rules
Hi James, totally agree with you. Of course we love players speaking their minds. But saying you don’t like anyone on a team. Just hours after you did a photo shoot with Rotnei Clarke and that is a team that I don’t see any reason to call dirty, was strange by Jerome. But I understood it. He did it to fire himself up and it worked! Why Mitch backed him up and repeated it before playing in Wollongong, I will never understand. I don’t blame Joey for not wanting his players to talk this week!
Makes it great viewing though!
Sixers go quiet ahead of Game 3 vs 'dirty' Hawks
Certainly came back to Perth. They skipped the the awards night and trained Tuesday and Wednesday, and flew out yesterday
Old foes go to war but imports key for Taipans and Wildcats
My thoughts exactly James! Why bother?
If you haven’t heard of Redhage, Vukona, Wortho and Peach, you have not watched any NBL the last decade
Careers of four great NBL rivals nearing the end
Sorry guys, obviously the Breakers can only have one of Stockton/Woodside now that they have signed Carter
NBL clubs bank on getting immediate impact
Good question. In hindsight he perhaps could have got in ahead of Penney or Clarke. If he keeps going how he is, he certainly will by the end of the season
Best of the best midway through NBL season
It’s a good question and I’d only be taking a stab. But I think at least $150,000. Highest paid could approach $300,000 or potentially a bit more
The dream, the sacrifice: How hard it is to chase an NBL career
I thought they had good stories to share about their sacrifices about being away from their families. Sorry you didn’t agree
The dream, the sacrifice: How hard it is to chase an NBL career
Totally agree. He looked much better. Maybe all he needs is more opportunity and maybe he is better to start than come off the bench. I’d love to see him light it up. Will only further showcase the NBL
Sixers attempt to buck history by building NBL success
Except put him on the floor and give him a license to shoot, I’m not too sure what more Joey can do for him. Joey was so excited about his signing. But he just doesn’t look ready for it. He should be in college
Sixers attempt to buck history by building NBL success
Could be here all day talking about former NBL clubs!
Gaze has last laugh with Kings over United
I think the time has come. No doubt Mike Kelly can coach in the NBL. Give him the job for the rest of the season
Is replacing Williams enough to right United?
Just a slight correction. Goulding wasn’t there in 2014-15. He was there the season before and then came back last year
Is replacing Williams enough to right United?
Far too soon in his career to be considered for Test cricket!
Stoinis and Wade pressuring Marsh and Nevill for Test spots
The BBL wouldn’t feel too long if it was of better quality. Cricket Australia chose to focus on the product as a whole to be the selling point and not the actual quality on-field. The cricket isn’t much good at the moment. We need to go back to spending the money to bring the world’s biggest players to play in the BBL again, that’s what is missing. You never get tired of watching a quality product – but something subpar feels like it’s way too long
Yes, the BBL is slightly long. But does it matter?