Basketball On The Internet.

THIS WEEK'S TIPS

SYDNEY at Illawarra reignites the NBL’s second-oldest rivalry and comes at a time both teams desperately need a win. The Kings regain Josh Childress and will be “up” while the Hawks were disengaged in Adelaide and will have spent the week revisiting and addressing that. It makes for a torrid showdown with the AJ Ogilvy-Julian Khazzouh match-up a key and whatever form Childress is in also significant. Tipping Illawarra but only because of the homecourt advantage.

WHAT a cracker Melbourne at Townsville promises to be after last round, although things have changed. The Crocs regain Brian Conklin from suspension, United has Hakim Warrick back from injury and with a much-needed run under his belt against New Zealand. Those “ins” shift the dynamics somewhat, Melbourne also on a three-loss skid and anxious to halt it right there, Townsville loving life. The Crocs aren’t under the pressure of expectation and are a value bet, though United still would start favourite.

HAVING split their two games in Adelaide, the Taipans and 36ers both need this win in Cairns and there’s little to separate them. Last time it took a Markel Starks 3-point buzzer-beater. Cairns is coming off an unlucky one-point loss to Perth, Adelaide off a home win over Illawarra after another home loss to the same Wildcats. Both teams also have had all week to prepare for each other. Wow, this really is a coin toss but I’m tipping a Sixers’ road win.

ARCH rivals of recent times, Perth host New Zealand in arguably the match of the round, if you discount the previous three potential barn-burners. Tai Wesley’s presence or otherwise is important for the Breakers due to the size the Wildcats boast and although 13,000 ardent members of the Red Army will be all over them, none of them can help defend Corey Webster. He is the wild card and with Tom Abercrombie also re-emerging of late, this could be the round’s other road upset.

ILLAWARRA previously took care of business in Townsville which will have issues defending the perimeter potency of the Hawks at The Sandpit. Both protagonists already would have played an important fixture ahead of this showdown which will have some bearing on the mental approach. The Hawks will have to show more willingness to get down-and-dirty, because the Crocs won’t lack in effort or energy. At home, again I feel that will tip the balance for the Hawks.

SYDNEY is rolling in the WNBL at the same time Dandenong has hit a skid, the Rangers tumbling to sixth. At home, this fixture presents a genuine opportunity to resume the climb but the Flames are unlikely to feel accommodating. Both clubs have good team games going when they’re rolling, Dandy coach Larissa Anderson with the job now of getting her team back into that groove. Sydney is already there though, which is why it must start favourite.

SECOND versus third is what happens in Townsville when the Lynx race in and what a contest this one promises to be. Perth’s “twin towers” of Louella Tomlinson and Nat Burton against the Fire’s Suzy Batkovic and Cayla George alone is worth the price of admission, before we even get to the excitement Tessa Lavey and Sami Whitcomb bring. Murray, Tatham, Novosel, Cocks … the Fire aren’t lacking. Huge for Perth’s prospects, I expect them to get Townsville later this season. But not here, not now.

IF Canberra couldn’t beat Adelaide to celebrate Jess Bibby’s record-breaking game, why would anyone expect them to stop Melbourne? The Boomers halted their slide by beating Bendigo and should bound into the capital full of bounce and confidence. Meanwhile in Canberra though, this week has seen much soul-searching, hand-wringing and teeth-gnashing, as you’d expect with the Caps on the threshold of a double-digit losing streak. Incredibly, I’m tipping the Caps to break through as a result of all that, factors of morale and emotion Melbourne cannot control.

WHEN the Spirit last hit Adelaide, the Lightning pulled off their first win of the season but Bendigo had already played in Perth. It’s a more even playing field this time, although there will be some confusion among Bendigo defenders if they’re switching on players and calling names, not numbers. Adelaide has Mikaela, Mikaela, Mikayla and Kayla to cause defensive confusion, Standish a huge addition. Ah, why not two wins at home for Adelaide?

PERTH at SEQ is second versus fourth and another game of great potential. For the Stars, ambushing Perth on the second leg of its journey is the recipe for success and what I’m predicting will happen. But not before another terrific game of WNBL where Rachel Jarry again looms as the X-Factor. When she is firing, she sings.