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36ers-Tigers aim to end 'curse'
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IF the winner of the Adelaide 36ers-Melbourne Tigers NBL semi final series goes on to claim the Championship this season, they will break their own playoff curse.
The 36ers and Tigers have clashed in three previous playoff battles with the games score 4-1 in Adelaide’s favour.
But on no occasion when they have met in finals has either club gone on to win the Championship.
Not so for Perth Wildcats and Wollongong Hawks who have met in twice as many playoff campaigns and from those six, Wollongong went on to win it all in 2001 while Perth won its most recent Championship in 2010 … by beating Wollongong.
Should the Adelaide-Melbourne winner go on to win the Championship, it also would join Perth (1990-91-95-2000-10) on a league-leading five Championships.
The 36ers and Tigers have won four titles each, Adelaide in 1986-98-99-2002, Melbourne in 1993-97-2006-08.
Perth goes into the semis as an almost unbackable favorite after a 21-7 regular season on top of a Loggins-Bruton Cup win at The Blitz.
But while Wollongong rightly enters the post-season as the longshot underdog – it is the only team with a losing record – it probably carries the hopes of not just the Illawarra but of any NBL fan not affiliated with Perth, Adelaide or Melbourne.
There is so much condescension around the Hawks, you get the feeling if the NBL playoffs was a Benny Hill Show sketch, Wollongong would be the little old bald guy getting tapped on the head a lot.
(If you’re too young for that reference, check this out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tEVYsmpcbvk&list=RDtEVYsmpcbvk )
But don’t think the Hawks need trainer-wheels to keep up with the big guys.
Like Perth with naturalised Shawn Redhage along with James Ennis and Jermaine Beal, Wollongong also suits three American-born players in Rotnei Clarke, Kevin Tiggs and Dave Gruber.
Rhys Martin is one of the less obtrusive but exceptionally efficient playmakers in the league, Oscar Forman – when he’s not sipping martinis on Scarborough Beach – a massive talent still short of the trophy-validity his career needs.
Larry Davidson remains the NBL’s most enigmatic big man, a guy with three-point range, an inside game and a hard-a$$ attitude who should be a marquee name – stay focused big fella, stay focused – and Tim Coenraad top of the list of under-rated players.
(He’s also top of the list for most vowels in the name "Conrad".)
Additionally, Tyson Demos continues to grow as a quality player.
(For that matter, Luke Jamieson leads the league in blushing – oh no wait, that’s just the ranga thing, sorry – and Shane Harris-Tunks has the #1 initials in the NBL.)
Coach Gordie McLeod comes across with that classic Ken Rosewall (too young for the reference? My apologies) manner of a champion, humble and self-deprecating. But have no doubt he has the sharpest coaching mind in the game.
What this team does for that Wollongong community is truly something. Hopefully they will give back by being there for Game 2 on Sunday at The Sandpit.
Just don’t be fooled into thinking the Hawks believe they are lucky to be in the post-season and content to let it go there.
NBL Online:
IT doesn’t qualify as a “Beef of the Week” because I have hated it since Day One – “it” being the so-called “long-sleeved NBA jerseys”.
They’re T-shirts, let’s be blunt. And I am firmly entrenched in the camp that says NO.
I love that basketball uniforms are unique to basketball – the NBL’s current yawn-inducing interchangeable design notwithstanding – and while I have never been against change just out of stubborn resistance, I haven’t seen a single NBA T-shirt that captures my imagination.
The LA Clippers’ light blue thing practically gives me convulsions.
I much prefer to see clubs have their traditional light and dark sets, and then their additional different uniform or two for certain occasions.
Yeah, I know it’s just a marketing and merchandising tool but I’d still rather see a Chicago Bulls team – traditionally in a red uniform or a white – in their black set than wearing a freaking T-shirt.
What is this? Volleyball?
I see where new NBA Commissioner Adam Silver – still reeling Rick Burton didn’t get the job after David Stern – is “prepared to discuss the topic” post-season.
Good. I hope banning them is his first major decision. Then bringing an NBA game to Australia can be his second.
YOU know, for everything Opals coach Brendan Joyce said about cooperation from WNBA clubs leading into an international event, as the World Championship draws nearer, he’s learned what predecessors Jan Stirling and Carrie Graf already knew.
The Americans don’t give a flying frapdoodle about what Australia needs, the WNBA’s new collective bargaining agreement meaning clubs won’t release players during the competition.
With the WNBA only finishing a couple of weeks before the Worlds, the Opals may only get three lead-up games in with their full team.
“Those &@$%!*+ b@$+@?#$,” is what I believe Brendan may have wanted to say.
Instead he went with: “I'm supporting the girls to go to the WNBA, so when we need a player in order to prepare them, I'm looking for flexibility back. It can't be all just one way,” Joyce said.
Yeah. Good luck with that.
Probably equally disappointing is the fact Jenna O’Hea has made herself unavailable for selection due to her intent to focus on the WNBA.
Sorry. I’m a Jenna fan but that’s ordinary.
Triple WNBL MVP Suzy Batkovic withdrawing from the squad is more understandable, given her age – 40 (just kidding) – 33, and her ongoing issues with neck and back injuries.
To protect her longevity, taking the off-season off, getting that break again in 2015 and then putting up her hand for Rio – if she is still the force of today – it makes sense for the Batgirl.
Joyce was philosophical about Batkovic, understanding she needed to protect her body, but disappointed by O’Hea’s decision.
But then, he does have Tess Madgen, Jenni Screen, Belinda Snell … the list of possibles rolls on.
Bendigo Spirit’s Sara Blicavs and Canberra Capitals centre Alex Bunton were added to the squad for the current camp, joining fellow young hopefuls Rebecca Allen, Tessa Lavey, Carley Mijovic, Stephanie Talbot, with Centre of Exquisite Excellence youngster Stephanie Collins also invited.
