Basketball On The Internet.

*FLASHBACKS, my weekly "lucky dip" where I just reach into my drawers of old Australian basketball stuff and transcribe whatever I find for you.

THE NBL's 2001 playoffs were regarded as the greatest of all time. I reached into my filing cabinet today and extracted the newspaper clippings of my Around the NBL columns for that month.

 

Charles Thomas was the hero of Wollongong’s historic 84-83 Game 1 semi-final win over the 36ers in Adelaide, grabbing some measure of retribution in the process.

But he so easily could also have been the villain. Thomas missed at the stripe back in February when the Hawks had their best shot at breaking a losing drought in Adelaide that stretched back to April, 1990.

The 36ers prevailed in overtime so when Thomas went to the line this time with 47.7 seconds left and the score 82-81, he was making no mistake.

Unlike the officials.

Thomas himself admitted he fouled Darnell Mee when the Sixers’ playmaker drove to the hoop on Adelaide’s last attack, needing a basket to pinch the win.

“It’s tough in playoff games when the games are so close. My hat goes off to them because they could easily have called a foul on me at the end. Cause it looked like a foul,” Thomas said.

“I probably got him a little bit.”

A little bit was enough, David Stiff grabbing the offensive rebound and having his right arm pulled away by Melvin Thomas as he forced up his last gasp attempt. It would have been a good foul by Melvin because Stiffy takes his free throw tips from a Shaquille O’Neal video.

But it was never called.

Don’t get me wrong. If the 36ers had got up, it would have been an injustice. After Mark Nash’s dunk left Adelaide ahead 36-27 with 9:22 left in the second quarter, Wollongong played the better basketball.

The Hawks exploited Adelaide’s lack of bullies capable of scoring in the docks, their defence and ball movement were very good and they looked every bit like a team believing in its own destiny.

*****

What the hell was Alan Black thinking?

Paul Rogers, league MVP in 2000, sitting on the bench at crucial times during the second half of what eventually would turn into Game 3 elimination by Wollongong.

What happened there? From where I was second guessing, it appeared Barry Barnes was orchestrating Perth’s substitution pattern.

Not one to patiently reach a reckless conclusion, I’ve had time to consider Blackie was, in fact, trying to match the Hawks with the shorter combinations he used so successfully while Rogers was sidelined after losing a round with his kitchen sink.

What clearly did not occur to the Wildcats’ mentor was that Rogers in the mix means match-up worries for the opposition, in this case the grateful Hawks. Now we have the grateful Hawks and the not-so-grateful dead.

The upside for Blackie is the good thing about having a lot of old guys is that when you lose, they can explain why.

In the meantime, the only guarantee James Harvey should make for a while is that if he’s going to dye his hair, he’ll bring his game.

*****
 

Anyone south of Rockhampton is a conspirator against Townsville – you’d better believe it.

The Crocs’ latest anguish over flights into Melbourne and attack on the NBL further should ignite a city already rabid for its team.

Down south here and living in the city which gave the world Port Power, the “us-against-the-universe” mentality is familiar. If it helps the Crocs, fantastic. But this quality team really doesn’t need it.

*****
 

After taking out Perth and sending Adelaide into the doldrums across 48 hours, to many Wollongong now has victories in two states: Shock and Disbelief.

Meanwhile Wildcats coach Alan Black will not comment on his team’s erasure until he has completed investigations and the black box is recovered.

*****
 

Warning, warning! BS alert. This is the time of year when double-speak becomes the cornerstone of quotes from personnel pounding out the playoffs. Plenty gets said but not a lot of it is what is truly meant.

Confused?

Okay. Try this.

Player A (Loser) : “We’ve got to take this series one game at a time.”

Translation: “We really wanted that win bad. Now we just might be up the famous Sheet Creek.”

Player B (Winner): “We’ve got to take this series one game at a time.”

Translation: “You F&*#@%$ beauty!”

If double-speak comes as a surprise to you, then you’re about to enter a whole new world with these exclusive translations of what they said … and what they really meant.

Brian Goorjian: “To come back from seven points down with three minutes left and win in overtime on the road was a credit to the guys.”

Translation: “I don’t know what the hell happened, but we’ll take it.”
 

Shane Heal: “Mike Kelly has done that (sort of thing) in the past and I expect it and I'll be ready to deal with it.”

Translation: “Step on my foot again Buzz Lightyear and you’ll be seeing stars.”

Ian Stacker: “Shane likes to promote controversy and we'll let him go along with that, but, like I say, Mike Kelly's reputation speaks for itself, as does Shane's.”

Translation: “Kiss my assets.”

Brett Brown: “The Crocs are playing a higher level, their system is working for them at the moment. But I like Perth to win the championship.”

Translation: “You might have beaten us, but I don’t have to like it.”

Ian Stacker: “The last 11 weeks we have been tipped to lose every week.”

Translation: “Stick it in your ear, Brett.”

Brett Brown: “We have a system going, the future is bright and I was very pleased with the effort out there.”

Translation: “$@#*&! F%#@! We blew it!”

Brett Brown: “You look at a healthy Terry Johnson next to Shane Heal and James Smith and I think that's as good a backcourt as you'd get anywhere.”

Translation: “Don’t slam the door on your way out, Randolph.”

Phil Smyth: “We’ve never said one game is more important than any other.”

Translation: “If we drop Game 1, we’re probably dead.”

James Harvey: “We've got four guys who know what to do.”

Translation: “We’ve got six guys who don’t have a clue.”

Ian Stacker: “Hopefully, it won’t be blown as a physical game.”

Translation: “I sure hope referees can read.”

Brett Brown: “Playoff ball needs to be physical.”

Translation: “I sure hope referees can read.”

Brendan Joyce: “I expect Vlahov to be very intimidating right from the start.”

Translation: “I sure hope referees can read.”

Alan Black: “I hope the refs won't get sucked in because the Hawks are having a whinge.

Translation: “I sure hope referees can read.”

Brian Goorjian: “We’re in deep shit.”

Translation: “We’re in deep shit.”

*****

Can’t finish without saying farewell to future Hall of Famer Scott Fisher. Sure, towards the end there, his leap was being measured in millimetres but he always came to play.

Love him or hate him, he had a great career, was a great character and will be missed by a league his presence greatly embellished.

*****

There have been a lot of games played since the stands at Apollo Stadium were half full back in early 1979 for the tip-off between Glenelg Tigers and the City of Sydney Astronauts launched the National Invitational Basketball League.

When you’ve been around since then, there’s a reticence to jump aboard the bandwagon that says “this guy is the best import”, “that was the greatest game ever”, “no-one dunks better than (fill in the appropriate name)” or “there’s never been a greater series”.

But anyone who can find a better playoff series in the NBL’s 23-year span than what we’ve witnessed across Awesome April is a better man than I.

And anyone who can name a better single series than the Wollongong-Adelaide semi-final had better come up with some impressive evidence and a finale more dramatic, more controversial or more absolutely compelling than Damon Lowery’s bobbling, wobbling three free throws that clinched it after the siren.

Since the NBL adopted the best-of-3 formula with its 1986 grand final – expanding it to the include the semis in 1987 and every round from 1989 – no entire post-season has gone the distance.

The 2000 Mitsubishi Challenge was the closest, with all series going to three games until Perth’s grand final sweep over Victoria.

But even if Townsville or Wollongong effect a sweep – which looks most unlikely – that will not diminish this year’s playoffs as the greatest ever.

Just take a recap.

In the quarter-finals, regular season champion Victoria staged a heroic victory over sixth seed Adelaide after losing key defender and perimeter shooter Jason Smith early in the second quarter to a severe knee injury.

The 36ers then picked themselves off the canvas and tied the series in Melbourne, where they had not beaten the Titans since 1999.

If anyone needed more theatre, Tony Ronaldson limped out of the warm-up and the Sixers turned on a simply awesome display of three-point shooting to storm into the semi-final round.

Sydney played a near-perfect series opener to smack the Crocodiles before heading to the treacherous Swamp and finally succumbing to a Townsville team playing the most consistent basketball of any of the teams left in the hunt.

Wollongong came back to beat reigning champion Perth in overtime at the (Quick)Sandpit before the Wildcats reached into their well of experience, James Harvey ignored the pain of a screw in his wrist and the series is suddenly tied.

The most successful road team in NBL history, the Hawks took control midway through the final quarter to take that series, then flew into Adelaide to take another controversial 84-83 win in the semi-final opener.

While it’s debatable whether Charles Thomas fouled Darnell Mee as the 36ers guard drove for a shot at victory – only Charles’ own suspicions he may have fouled fueled that debate – there’s no question Melvin Thomas yanked away David Stiff’s arm as he grabbed the rebound.

No call, no problem, the 36ers turning on another awe-inspiring final quarter three-point bombardment in Game 2 to lock up that series.

Meanwhile Victoria seized the opener from Townsville in their semi-final, then took a further body blow when Chris Anstey was injured early in Game 2, an eventual Townsville rout ignited by the little guy, Brad Davidson.

How much bad luck on an injury front can one team be forced to endure?

Despite it all, the Titans showed enormous quantities of heart and courage to take the early initiative in Game 3, Townsville then assumed almost total control before the Vics battled back on Mark Dickel’s heroics to tie it up at 97-97.

Enter Robert Rose and Mike Kelly. Exit Victoria and their former coach Brian Goorjian, who did one of the most masterful jobs of these incredibly memorable playoffs.

And so back to Game 3 at the Sandpit, where so much would be remembered, discussed, debated and debunked over that finish, Mee’s foul, Lowery’s free throws and all the could-have-beens, should-have-beens and would-have-beens.

Truth is, what has gotten lost somewhat is just what an advertisement for basketball and the NBL that game was.

Like the decider in Townsville, it had everything … and a little more.

Mark Nash’s dunk was something to behold, Melvin Thomas’ performance – does this guy want a ring bad, or what? – sensational.

There was big shot after big shot – witness, Mat Campbell, Kevin Brooks, Charles Thomas, Brett Maher trading threes in that epic final term.

For the record, there have been some extraordinary three-game series since 1986.

Victoria’s 2-1 semi-final win over the 36ers last year, takes some topping, as does the Sixers’ 2-1 grand final success over the Titans the previous year.

The 1996 Melbourne-Canberra semi-final – can you believe that just five years back the bomb-shelter Cannons had both Mee and Rose in their line-up? – was a gem, eventually taken 91-87 in the decider.

The 1993 Melbourne-Perth grand final springs readily to mind, as do Andrew Gaze’s late-game tension-packed free throws en route to a 104-102 deciding victory.

A year earlier, Melbourne was involved in another remarkable semi-final with the Kings that went with a 122-112, 118-124, 101-95 scoreline and still is raved about in Sydney town as the club’s benchmark of achievement. On what they showed this year, that will soon be toppled.

The 1990 semi-final saw Perth beat North Melbourne 112-110 in overtime in the decider and two years earlier, it was the Giants again on the wrong end of a thrilling series, beaten in three by Canberra for the crown.

My own favourite goes back to 1987 when the reigning champ 36ers beat Perth 99-98 in Perth in the semi-finals and only had to win once at home.

James Crawford shot the Wildcats into a decider in a stand-out 101-99 Game 2 win, then Perth believed in its own destiny, marching into the grand final with a 103-93 Game 3 upset.

Wollongong similarly believes destiny is on its side and who can dispute some unseen hand-of-fate may have tapped in that final shaky bouncing Lowery free throw?

Now we have the first all-regional grand final in history – one side believing it is its time and owning a formidable home advantage, the other believing in its destiny and the best road team on record.

Wow. Can it get any better than this?

One thing is for sure. It never has.

*****
 

Congratulations to Perth’s James Harvey on his excellent double – Most Improved and Worst Hair in a Playoff Series.

 

*****

How old is TOO old?

It’s an interest question in the light of how this memorable NBL season has wound up amid the events of the past week and coming weekend.

For instance, when Mike Dunlap had Adelaide withdraw its contract offer to Robert Rose at the end of 1995, the public reason was Rose was too expensive.

Privately, the talk was that the 36ers had seen the best Rose, at 31, had to offer.

Rose, at 36, this week became the oldest MVP recipient in the NBL’s 23-season history. And in a season where there was no shortage of veteran contenders for the prestigious individual award – such as Andrew Gaze, 35, Ricky Grace, 34, Darnell Mee, 30, Mark Bradtke, 32 and Shane Heal, 30 – Rose’s win was as undisputed a success as any in recent memory.

This weekend he will continue his pursuit of a second Mitsubishi Challenge championship, as will Townsville teammates Mike Kelly, 34, and Pat Reidy, 30.

And one of the key men standing in their way will be Wollongong’s naturalised 10-year NBL stalwart Melvin Thomas, 33.

Have no doubt that after 10 years in the league – a feat in itself – but with no jewellery to show for it, Thomas will be leaving his Scud missiles and savvy post(al) service on the Swamp hardwood this weekend.

Face it. These days, if you don’t have someone in the mid-30s range, your team is going to be pushing sheep uphill. I heard Cairns boss Guy Molloy gently lament how much he could have used a Paul Maley in his team this season past. (And it wouldn’t have been to entertain Tim Duggan and Aaron Fearne with James Naismith anecdotes.)

No-one really noticed when it happened – perhaps it quietly began with NBA legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar playing on into his fifth decade – but clubs and coaches have steadily been getting more out of Grey Power these days and no-one is batting a wrinkled eyelid.

Grey power has become equated with grey matter but it’s not just that Vietnam’s baby boomers know how to get the job done, but they can actually physically still get the job done.

There was a time, and it wasn’t too distant, when an athlete reached 30 and questions of their imminent retirement would hover in the air like vultures at almost every interview.

Back in 1994, Brett Brown won a championship with North Melbourne using an all-but-forgotten zone defence and a group so old their windsprints were timed with an hourglass and their leap measured horizontally.

They swept a 36ers team that had that over-the-hill Rose guy in it, a 36-year-old Phil Smyth and a 34-year-old Mark Davis. Coach Dunlap then decided to go with a youth movement and if you plot the graph that followed that decision, you have the outline for a slippery-dip.

So how old is TOO old?

In Davis’ case, some people never know. At 40 and still with that chiselled body, it would be easy to believe there is no end in sight. That’s certainly what he believes and he reiterated it this week when told the Sixers would not be giving him a contract for a 17th NBL season.

“I’m a basketball player. That’s what I do,’’ he said.

Unfortunately, Father Time has ticked him off the Sixers’ playing roster and even though the club has offered its greatest champion a front office position, he is looking for that “one more year” elsewhere.

That’s a tragedy.

But then aren’t we all looking for “one more year” at the top?

I think it was Steve Carfino who wrote that almost every athlete would like to think he has “one more year” in him because no-one truly wants to give up the life, the lifestyle and the camaraderie team sport has to offer.

Paul Maley, 35 this year, hung up his boots when Adelaide departed from the playoffs. “It’s the camaraderie I’m going to miss the most,” he said.

It wasn’t so much age as injury that undid this classy individual’s career but then hell – he is 34.

It’s not like he didn’t have a good innings. How long is everyone going to keep playing nowadays?

Andrew Gaze in a wheelchair? Puff Daddy is going to take on a while new meaning.

Scott Fisher bowed out this season, shy of his 38th birthday. Walk him out onto any gym in Australia and the house money still would ride on his ability to sink the jumper from the elbow or the baseline.

Then, of course, there’s Leroy.

You don’t even have to say a surname. The guy is a freak. He is 44 this year. My dad was contemplating retirement at 44.

From pharmacy!

(Of course, dad would still be going if he could bottle the elixir of enthusiasm that drives Loggins.)

An early AAP report may have had the 500-plus gamer as Elroy Loggins, and even the NBL’s own media guide may have once listed him as Leroy Higgins. But there’s no doubting Leapin’ Leroy won’t be Leroy Leavin’ anytime soon.

But then, his coat-rack body has never taken the pounding a guy like Davis or Fisher routinely endured in the paint.

So how old is TOO old?

Lord knows you’re going to need glasses to sort that out, the line has become so blurred across this past decade.

A 36-year-old MVP, an All*Star Five in which only one player (Jason Smith) was under 30 … it’s enough to make you want to dust off your old hi-tops and see if that old jumpshot stroke is still there somewhere.

(Until you do it. My back’s still sore.)

But then who will you be happiest for when John Rymarz hands across the Mitsubishi Challenge Trophy tomorrow or Sunday?

Will it be for little Brad Davidson for embodying the spirit and tenacity we all admire? Will it be for Glen Saville and Mat Campbell receiving the ultimate prize for their unwavering loyalty and development?

Or will it truly be for Melvin at 33, Grant Kruger at 30, Damon Lowery at 32 or Rose, Kelly and Reidy for whom most of us will be truly delighted and satisfied?

Of course it will be for the old guys.

They’re still getting it done at a time the rest of us have to tuck our tummies and wonder how last year’s summer shirt shrunk so obviously when all it did was sit in a wardrobe for a year.

Whoever said life begins at 40 may have had a point.

You’re not too old as long as somebody wants you and you can still make a contribution. That’s probably why Michael Jordan is back on the practice court, eh?

*****
 

BEAR with me while I get these out of the computer.

Grant Kruger reckons if he gets the minutes this weekend, he can average six fouls a game.

Rob Rose is the man at Townsville but Andrew Goodwin grew his beard so he could become the Crocs’ goatee-guy.

Glen Saville goes after other players’ misses the way Mark Davis used to pursue his own.

One-time Hawks swingman and inaugural Townsville captain Graham Kubank has offered Brendan Joyce some invaluable scouting advice regarding how to beat the Crocs down the stretch. “Stop Rose, you win.” Easy.

James Harvey has candidly admitted there’s been a communication breakdown between him and his barber.

Perth coach Alan Black has revealed why Paul Rogers sat for so long in the fourth quarter of the Wildcats’ Game 3 loss to Wollongong. He was saving him for Game 4.

Check it out. No-one has a quicker first step off the bench in street clothes during time-outs than Sam Mackinnon.

Matt Shanahan reports his sight lines from Wollongong’s bench are better than he had at Cairns, Brisbane and North Melbourne.

The most amazing part of Townsville’s winning streak is they did it without Dujuan Wiley.