Games Behind, NBL19, WNBL18
TweetIT finished in dramatic fashion for the NBL, as expected, the closeness strongly reflected in the final table, especially using the North American sports system of "games behind".
For those easily confused, remember only the results between tied teams count in separating them so we had the situation where Cairns, Perth and Illawarra had to be separated in their nown "mini table".
Cairns was 3-1 on the Hawks and 2-2 with Perth for a 5-3 mini-table record.
Perth was 2-2 on Cairns and also on Illawarra for 4-4.
And the Hawks were 1-3 to Cairns and 2-2 with Perth for 3-5.
So, reinserted into the main table, that's the finishing order of second, third and fourth.
Perth fans are irate, believing with series wins over both Cairns and Illawarra (2-2 but won on points difference) their team should occupy the higher position.
That isn't the way it works though and while the Wildcats would have finished higher in any tie with one of those teams, in the three-way tie, they were unlucky the other series went 3-1.
Splitting Melbourne and Sydney lower down the ladder (both 13-15) was easier, United with its 3-1 season-series success sealing sixth.
This is how it all looked ahead of the Swisse Semi Finals.
ADELAIDE: V Brisbane 3-1, +36 Series Won. V Cairns 2-2, +16. Series Won. V Illawarra 1-3, -16. Series Lost. V Melbourne 2-2, -7. Series Lost. V NZ 2-2, +1. Series Won. V Perth 3-1, +18. Series Won. V Sydney 4-0, +29. Series Won.
BRISBANE: V Adelaide 1-3, -36. Series Lost. V Cairns 2-2, +6. Series Won. V Illawarra 0-4, -48. Series Lost. V Melbourne 2-2, -19. Series Lost. V NZ 1-3, -19. Series Lost. V Perth 2-2, -13. Series Lost. V Sydney 2-2, +5. Series Won.
CAIRNS: V Adelaide 2-2, -16. Series Lost. V Brisbane 2-2, -6. Series Lost. V Illawarra 3-1, +21. Series Won. V Melbourne 1-3, -5. Series Lost. V NZ 4-0, +33. Series Won. V Perth 2-2, -6. Series Lost. V Sydney 1-3, -17. Series Lost.
ILLAWARRA: V Adelaide 3-1, +16. Series Won. V Brisbane 4-0, +48. Series Won. V Cairns 1-3, -21. Series Lost. V Melbourne 2-2, +9. Series Won. V NZ 2-2, +11. Series Won. V Perth 2-2, -6. Series Lost. V Sydney 1-3, -15. Series Lost.
MELBOURNE: V Adelaide 2-2, +7. Series Won. V Brisbane 2-2, +19. Series Won. V Cairns 3-1, +5. Series Won. V Illawarra 2-2, -9. Series Lost. V NZ 1-3, -5. Series Lost. V Perth 0-4, -10. Series Lost. V Sydney 3-1, +7. Series Won.
NEW ZEALAND: V Adelaide 2-2, -1. Series Lost. V Brisbane 3-1, +19. Series Won. V Cairns 0-4, -33. Series Lost. V Illawarra 2-2, -11. Series Lost. V Melbourne 3-1, +5. Series Won. V Perth 3-1, +15. Series Won. V Sydney 1-3, -28. Series Lost.
PERTH: V Adelaide 1-3, -18. Series Lost. V Brisbane 2-2, +13. Series Won. V Cairns 2-2, +6. Series Won. V Illawarra 2-2, +6. Series Won. V Melbourne 4-0, +10. Series Won. V NZ 1-3, -15. Series Lost. V Sydney 3-1, +35. Series Won.
SYDNEY: V Adelaide 0-4, -29. Series Lost. V Brisbane 2-2, -5. Series Lost. V Cairns 3-1, +17. Series Won. V Illawarra 3-1, +15. Series Won. V Melbourne 1-3, -7. Series Lost. V NZ 3-1, +28. Series Won. V Perth 1-3, -35. Series Lost.
THERE's a regular season round to go in the WNBL and while Bendigo was eliminated from the race last round, the Spirit still can play a role in shaping the Final Four, hosting Perth.
Melbourne and Adelaide long have been out of the race but the Lightning could still be a spoiler, were they to upset the Capitals in Canberra.
Here are the head-to-heads...
BENDIGO: V Canberra 2-2, -17. 4-game Series Lost. V Dandenong 2-1, +16. Best-of-3 Series Won. V Perth 1-1, -28. Series Pending. V Sydney 1-3, 0. Series Lost. V Townsville 1-3, -16. 4-game Series Lost.
CANBERRA: V Bendigo 2-2, +17. 4-game Series Won. V Dandenong 1-2, -8. Best-of-3 Series Lost. V Perth 1-2,-13. Series Lost. V Sydney 2-2, -1. 4-game Series Lost. V Townsville 2-1, -23. Series Pending.
DANDENONG: V Bendigo 1-2, -16. Best-of-3 Series Lost. V Canberra 2-1 +8. Best-of-3 Series Won. V Perth 2-1, +31. Series Pending. V Sydney 1-2, -11. Best-of-3 Series Lost. V Townsville 1-2, -4. Best-of-3 Series Lost.
PERTH: V Bendigo 1-1, +28. Best-of-3, Series Pending. V Canberra 2-1, +13. Best-of-3 Series Won. V Dandenong 1-2, -31. Series Pending. V Sydney 1-2, -33. Best-of-3 Series Lost. V Townsville 2-1, -11. Best-of-3 Series Won.
SYDNEY: V Bendigo 3-1, 0. Series Won. V Canberra 2-2, +1. 4-game Series Won. V Dandenong 2-1, +11. Series Won. V Perth 2-1, +33. Best-of-3 Series Won. V Townsville 3-1, +6. 4-game Series Won.
TOWNSVILLE: V Bendigo 3-1, +16. 4-game Series Won. V Canberra 1-2, +23. Series Pending. V Dandenong 2-1, +4. Series Won. V Perth 1-2, +11. Best-of-3 Series Lost. V Sydney 1-3, -6. 4-game Series Lost.