Basketball On The Internet.

BELIEVE it or not, we already are at and around one-third of the way through the 28-game regular season, as good a time as any for a review of how NBL teams are tracking.

ADELAIDE 36ERS (3-5) – Currently are going through, if not quite an “identity crisis”, then a redefinition at the very least.

Injuries to Jamar Wilson and Mitch Creek, axing import Daequon Montreal and bringing in Brock Motum, not to mention Richie Edwards for Creek, has meant anything but a settled preparation.

Adam Gibson stepped out of the shadows for a couple of weeks to reveal exactly why he remains the Boomers’ preferred option to differently-talented Damian Martin.

But in slipping back – and it IS slippage – to his comfort zone as “the Glue Guy”, Gibbo has done himself and his team an injustice because he is way better as The Man.

Brendan Teys has continued to be a revelation and Anthony Petrie effective when not hurting. Ditto Luke Schenscher.

Now Edwards too is gone, Wilson and Creek back, the next few weeks will continue to be a late “preseason” as Joey Wright sorts through some terrific pieces to find the best fits.

If they haven’t slipped too far off the pace by then, the 36ers will come home strongly and come the post-season, no No.#1 team will want to see them in #4.

CAIRNS TAIPANS (6-3) – What a start! A club record 6-0 race from the blocks which showcased the best of new import playmaker Scottie Wilbekin and coach Aaron Fearne’s strategies, setting them rightly up to sweep October’s Player and Coach categories.

Everything looks good when you are winning, especially when you win in Adelaide and Melbourne, then take out the Breakers across the Tasman.

Of course, on further scrutiny, the 36ers were-and-are a work-in-progress, United was a team-in-turmoil and wins over Wollongong and Sydney-minus-Childress were not all that imposing.

Yes, the last quarter in the Kings’ win was special but they never should have been in that pickle at three quarter-time.

That’s why it was difficult not to have a mental asterisk against the Taipans’ Win column.

Having lost three straight games, now is the time for Cairns to figuratively stand up and brush itself off. The next few games will be telling, Stevie Weigh starting to slip, Torrey Craig still inexplicably too often anchored to the bench and the early sheen gone.

The Taipans still have Perth on the schedule before the month is out and while they have built a solid foundation, they need some scalps again.

MELBOURNE UNITED (4-5) – No-one foresaw Chris Anstey walking away after the first game, although ego conflicts always were on the cards with so many “first choice” offensive options trying to share the same ball.

The teething process was difficult, as interim coach Darryl McDonald – can we drop the “interim” yet? It’s not as if some super coach is going to be recruited this season from overseas, or as if D-Mac isn’t handling the role – has found with this roller-coaster ride.

But truth is, despite their fickle Jekyll-and-Hyde nature, the team is loaded for bear and can be anything.

Losing a tight one in Perth without Mark Worthington (who has regularly produced MVP-type games) and Nate Tomlinson before routing Cairns and then demolishing Adelaide in Adelaide in a multiple-record night has shown United’s bright side.

Going over to New Zealand and losing was either a letdown from the magical performance against the 36ers or a reversion to their erratic ways.

When Jordy McRae is firing, Daniel Kickert’s inside-outside going and David Barlow doing more than preening, this is definitely a playoff team and contender.

NEW ZEALAND BREAKERS (8-3) – Started a little scratchily but had Tall Blacks pair Thomas Abercrombie (hernia) and Alex Pledger (toe) missing early and an interrupted preseason with so much involvement in the FIBA World Cup.

Abercrombie is out again now but the Breakers functioned without him beating Melbourne, although his absence is hardly desirable.

Cedric Jackson’s return and Corey Webster’s elevation make the Breakers’ backcourt arguably the most dynamic in the competition.

Tai Wesley and Duane Bailey bring depth to a club which is very much on track to return to playoff action and while Reuben Te Rangi hasn’t regularly set the world on fire, he’s had a few off-court issues (now resolved) on his mind.

And Mika Vukona is still Mika Vukona. The signs so far have been positive for New Zealand to be in action come the post-season.

PERTH WILDCATS (7-2) – A little early stumble and adjusting to the different talents Deandre Daniels brings has meant the defending champs didn’t shoot out of the box.

But slowly, steadily, they are back where they like to be – on the Perth perch looking down on the pack.

Jermaine Beal has elevated to another level now he is no longer in James Ennis’ shadow, something he effectively side-stepped with his Grand Final Larry Sengstock Medal success.

Damian Martin and Beal might be the toughest backcourt going around, Matt Knight is such a consistent conveyance in the keyway and Tom Jervis has proven himself a quality backup.

The two-headed Shawn Redhage-Jesse Wagstaff beast is still in full operation and with Earnest Ross and Mathiang Muo active, even Greg Hire’s loss to injury hasn’t interrupted Perth’s climb up the ladder.

With Trevor Gleeson more settled in now too, the road to the title will run through the West. At least that's what the cheat-sheet notes in my pocket say.

SYDNEY KINGS (4-4) – The top-four is vulnerable for the admission of a well-balanced team and the Kings are certainly that, even if they went a little unbalanced in Perth a while back.

Josh Childress has started to look like an NBA star in the NBL of late and Ben Madgen has found his jumpshot. Tom Garlepp also continues to grow from NBL starter to NBL star.

The problem is Kendrick Perry is not consistently getting it done. Pantsed by Damo in Perth – and a lot of players have been – he has not fully recovered, his ability to run the team debatable and hits to his self-confidence way too easy to see.

His progress is the one most Kings fans will monitor closely because how far they can go depends on a quality point guard, backup Jason Cadee also toying with his form.

Angus Brandt is joining the dots but Josh Duinker needs to find the level and Cody Ellis too needs to give more.

The talent is there and Damian Cotter is a top coach, especially for a rookie. But when there’s more questions than answers, playoffs seem unlikely.

TOWNSVILLE CROCODILES (3-5) – Launched into the season on a high after winning the Loggins-Bruton Cup and promptly started by handing Wollongong its only win of the season.

Issues with ticket prices have negatively impacted the Croc home crowds and losing to Adelaide in their opener at Townsville RSL Stadium probably did little to help.

Townsville is 3-3 since then and is another of the teams battling with the game’s greatest challenge – finding consistency.

Brian Conklin is having another AllStar season at power forward and Mitch Norton is now playing like an NBL guard and not someone happy to be on an NBL court.

Todd Blanchfield too is trying to step into the role he has been groomed for and Mickell Gladness is a defensive stand-out who not only blocks shots but changes the trajectory of an estimable amount of others.

But the keys are Blanchfield, Clint Steindl and to a lesser extent Leon Henry and Mirko Djeric all embracing this golden opportunity they have to play and contribute.

With Steve Markovic handling the ball, this team has great balance and depth. But the culture is a hard one to shake and this year looks more a step upward than into.

WOLLONGONG HAWKS (1-9) – Having already recently dissected the Hawks, there isn’t much cause for rejoicing at the NBL’s oldest franchise and last of the originals.

Larry Davidson injured before the season started, Luke Nevill hastily added and then, more recently, great club man Dave Gruber released … it has been a disjointed and difficult start, far moreso than anyone anticipated.

With Rhys Martin a late inclusion, the need for two import point guards who duplicate talents becomes an exercise in minute-juggling instead of ball-game-winning.

The pieces are good, though not great. Coach Gordie McLeod’s gift has been meshing good talent and misfortune and somehow turning out great results.

Tim Coenraad has been a plus as the big improver but very few have taken the step forward with him. Once again though, Wollongong will do what it does every year and surprise us.

Year after year the Hawks find a way to get to the playoff party. This year though, the surprise will be finishing last.

 

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