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NBL: There is still a lot to like


YES, terrible and self-indulgent TV commentary aside, there was much to enjoy about last round's NBL fixtures, so after last week's blog, let's say turnabout is fair play. There was plenty that resonated (and still much that doesn't) but let's stay positive and open, starting with Justin Tatum.

How well has he already done with this championship-contender at Illawarra? Trey Kell is a huge upgrade on Justin Robinson, Darius Days will compensate the loss of Gary Clark and he kept his team core intact.

But here's the thing. The Hawks are fun to watch. They work hard at the defensive end, share the ball on offence and genuinely play for each other.

Playoff contender?

Don't let the big city mouthpieces bamboozle you with their customary Sydney, Melbourne, Perth razzle dazzle. Illawarra IS a championship contender.

And Tatum has a happy knack of drawing the best from his personnel. Look how Tyler Harvey has improved as a baller. He's not simply a reckless "love it or hate it/all or nothing" shooter anymore but a ball player whose primary objective is to win. He's smarter with his shot selection and his play is improving teammates.

Got to love that. And we're not even talking about the strengths Sam Froling, Wani Swaka Lo Buluk, "Davo" Hickey, Lachie Olbrich or Hyungjung Lee all bring.

Teams such as Illawarra, Tasmania and Cairns never fail to catch my eye because they still try to play basketball the way it is meant to be played. Throw New Zealand into that mix too. 

It's no coincidence these are usually lower budget clubs so they go that "moneyball" route and try to find hidden gems and help create great teams, rather than bring in highly-credentialled big bucks "win it for us" superstars.

Not that there's anything wrong with that if that's the route you want and can afford. But that lower budget mentality, coupled with shrewd and excellent coaching (Tatum, Scott Roth, Adam Forde and maybe Petteri Koponen - jury still out due to small sample size) makes their teams the most fun to watch. That is if you aren't a die-hard fan of another club, of course.

The NBA's one-on-one or even one-on-five style may be fine for their world's finest athletes, but we don't have anywhere near that type of talent.

Most of us who love basketball chose it because it is a TEAM sport. We didn't pick up a tennis racquet - unless your name is Chris Anstey - or a golf club but a basketball, a ball with which we could work with four others on the court to achieve the best result.

Larry Kestelman buying the NBL was important and definitely saved the league. Anyone with even a remote business sense can see why he is positioning the sport as an NBA wannabe where "entertainment" comes first.

But for me, when the game becomes secondary, that's where I'm reaching for the remote.

So here are some genuine ways I believe the NBL could improve and maybe even raise itself up to the status of being in the world's Top 10 Leagues.

1 The Uniforms: Why wait every year for indigenous round? Haven't seen a single ordinary indigenous uniform yet. Tune in to the NBA and it's instantly recognisable. Tune in to Euroleague and it's instantly recognisable. Let's make the NBL the same and indigenous uniforms would create that instant recognition.

2 Hoops Fest: Great concept but do it properly, on a round about six weeks into the season when all the teams - men's AND women's - are genuinely up and about and yes, tie the national under-18 club championship into it. Double-headers, triple-headers ... this concept has real possibilities.

Keep it in Perth? Why not? Adelaide hosts the AFL's "Gather Round" and the NBL Blitz is held all over the place. Eventually move it, for sure, with various State Governments kicking in to hold the event.

3 Officiating: Stop hiding the need to improve our officials by having the so-called "zero tolerance" regarding player/coach complaining. Let the referees be up for appropriate scrutiny without believing that will lead to a mass exodus. They're not such princesses, surely? BUT work that scrutiny hand-in-hand with stamping out the constant whingeing and whining by virtually every player. Go back to "the captain is the only one who can ask a question" days.

4 Television 1, Broadcasts: Never, absolutely NEVER go to an action replay during live play. Never. We already have missed key plays in big games due to that one simple but regularly broken rule. For that matter, unnecessary crowd shots or player close-ups DURING LIVE ACTION should have a blanket ban. We're tuning in to see the game. As I wrote earlier, when the game itself becomes secondary to plugging a replay sponsor or "wow, look at the celebrities" then it has lost me.

5 Television 2, Commentary: Focus on the game and the fact it has TWO combatants. The pro-United and pro-Kings commentary is tedious, as is the forced banter and attempts at comedy. Reliving the past of most of the colour personnel also has more than run its course, and save us the weekly references to Derek Rucker's "Top 15 Players" as if every player really gives a hoot about it. By the way, happy birthday Derek.

6 What's Great? Watching the Wildcats force Sydney to a one-point result had more than its share of moments, as was that amazing 38-point first quarter from the Hawks against the Brisbane Blanks.

Trey Kell in his third NBL season - Trey Kell III - (after injury-interrupted stints at SEM Phoenix and the 36ers) already has a career high and how good was Tyler Harvey's late-game clincher in Sydney?

Parker Jackson-Cartwright is a joy to behold at New Zealand and how big was Rob Edwards in Cairns' home win over Adelaide? That three he drilled (of his 31 points) late in the game to put it on ice showed such self-belief that the Taipans must be rapt.

Kyle Adnam also showed he would relish his Taipans role and Kyrin Galloway ... well, at three quarter-time between Cairns and Adelaide, it was 77-77. Then it was 90-77 to the Snakes and Galloway had 12 of that 13.

Let's also not forget maybe the play of the round as United's Marcus Lee brought it powerfully to the hoop for a two-handed slam dunk, which Tasmania's Will Magnay even more emphatically rejected, releasing Jordon Crawford on the break for a 3-point swish in transition!

Loved it. Though it is time the officials took a much closer look at how Matthew Dellavedova at Melbourne and Bul Kuol at Sydney are playing defence. Developing a notable reputation as a primary defender evetually carries with it some acceptance and inevitable leniency from the refs but they were way over the top in Round 2.

Kuol should get a foul during the national anthem.

7 PS TV Commentary: Where is John Casey, the best caller in the game today, meticulous in his preparation, experienced and suave in his call and with a genuine connection also to the league's history? Why are we listening to a string of JC wannabes when the real deal is available?

Hate the new telecasts from Auckland missing Andrew Mulligan and Casey Frank. I know they weren't everyone's cup of tea - who fans enjoy is very subjective - but their unique style and genuine enthusiasm were sorely missed in the NZ-SEM call. 

For that matter, let's also get Matt Russell and Brad Rosen off the sidelines in Wollongong and into the callers' seats.

Limiting the studio calls out of Melbourne can only be a positive.

OK, on the left is NBL CEO David Stevenson and right, basketball dignitary Nigel Purchase. Dye his hair, whack on a beard and voila, both of these men have a readymade stuntman.

Oct 2

Content, unless otherwise indicated, is © copyright Boti Nagy.