Basketball On The Internet.

BAD news for the Sydney Kings. Star import Josh Childress has been suspended by the NBL and won't be able to play against Adelaide tomorrow.

In another startling turn of events, Drake U'u won't be playing for Perth this weekend either because, just like Childress, he isn't actually on their team at present.

I'll give the NBL this. The league at least IS responding to issues as they turn up and not, as previous managements did, hoping no-one notices and issues just slink away.

The sad thing is that, outside the select few who followed the NBL back then, no-one often did notice. But now, with NBL exposure at record levels - betting on matches has gone up a whopping 400 per cent his season - Larry Kestelman and his hardy crew led by Jeremy Loeliger, HAVE got the league noticed again.

People care again, so it is great the NBL doesn't let issues slip into the bin.

The ref who missed Majok Majok's block/foul on Jermaine Beal spent the following round playing Solitaire. Last week the NBL again reacted quickly to the Conklin-Martin incident, then changed legislation to avoid a repeat of Sunday's end-game officiating mess.

It charged Childress for his childish and churlish stomp after the umpires in the wake of Sydney's self-inflicted loss to the 36ers in Adelaide and, to his credit, he took the guilty plea for his profane verbal assault.

The only part I do not understand - help me with this please, if you can - is how the NBL can suspend Childress for two games while he is not on Sydney's active roster! 

The suspension being "effective immediately" means he misses the game against Adelaide and next week's match against New Zealand. Um, unless I'm mistaken, isn't he already missing those games with a hand injury?

Does this even mean he cannot sit on the Kings' bench?

All I know is this does appear to set a precedent which suggests Tyson Demos, Luke Schenscher, Damian Martin and anyone else currently injured should seize the opportunity NOW, while out injured, to get reported and suspended.

That said, what a magnificent week that was, with some of the best contests of the season so far and so much to enjoy.

The atmosphere here in Adelaide at Titanium Security Arena as the 36ers fought back to steal victory from Sydney was reminiscent of the venue's halcyon days in the 90s, fans not wanting to leave when it was over.

It looked similar in Wollongong, Perth and Melbourne, the NBL continuing to re-establish itself in no uncertain manner.

 

NBL RANKINGS This Wk-Prev (Record)

8 (7) KING 2-7 - Really must stand up at home after bungling road upset last week.

7 (8) CROCODILES 3-7 - Have a week to prepare for 36ers and no excuses.

6 (4) TAIPANS 3-5 - Inflicting United's first loss would be a season-defining coup.

5 (6) HAWKS 4-4 - Chance for retribution after shock mauling in Perth.

4 (5) 36ERS 4-4 - Should have strong belief about Kings after record comeback.

3 (2) WILDCATS 5-3 - Spluttered last week and face a tough road double.

2 (3) BREAKERS 4-4 - Robbed against Melbourne and will be revved for Wildcats.

1 (1) UNITED 9-0 - Recent "wind-assisted" wins haven't taken gloss off talent.

 

WNBL RANKINGS This Wk-Prev (Record)

9 (9) CAPITALS 0-7 - Struggling but catch lowly Lightning on their second leg.

8 (8) LIGHTNING 1-5 - Chance for a split but effort spent in Sydney suggests 0-2.

7 (5) BOOMERS 3-4 - Lost two last round and staring at two more on the road.

6 (6) LYNX 4-2 - Testing weekend for Perth, hosting Rangers then away to Bendigo.

5 (7) SPIRIT 5-3 - Have a real chance to move upward hosting Perth in litmus test.

4 (1) FIRE 3-3 - Faltering and must nail Melbourne in Townsville. All about mindset.

3 (3) RANGERS 4-2 - Chugging along and ready to reap revenge on Perth this time.

2 (4) FLAMES 5-2 - Should have few issues consolidating position against Adelaide.

1 (2) STARS 5-2 - Repeating road win over Melbourne would shore up bona fides.

 

THIS WEEK'S TIPS

PERTH had a difficult week to negotiate with all that happened in Townsville and the resultant fall-out and, to be honest, didn't really put the Crocs away in the return bout with any great conviction. Last time in Wollongong, it escaped with a win, then smacked the Hawks around in Perth. This time, Illawarra won't lose its focus.

HARD to tell how Adelaide in Sydney will play out, given the extraordinary circumstances of Saturday's comeback win by the 36ers. Will the Kings be fired up for bungling a sure win? Or do the 36ers feel invincible facing this team after a record recovery? I'm leaning to the latter, but only just.

THE league already has admitted New Zealand was screwed in the final minute in Melbourne so hosting arch enemy Perth could not come at a better time. The Wildcats have a backcourt weakness without Damian Martin while that's where the Breakers boast Jackson and Webster. If the Breakers bigs can break even with Perth's frontline, this could complete the Wildcats' first consecutive double road losses of the century!

I'D be a lot more comfortable about Cairns' chances of inflicting Melbourne's first loss if the Taipans had backed up their great escape in Adelaide with a win in Wollongong. The good news is, Melbourne won't be travelling with its own referees so both teams will be stuck with whoever the lottery balls throw out. Containing Goulding, Blanchfield and Holt would be quite an achievement but with Wortho keen to do well, I'm sensing some orange appeal. Ah, why not?

TOWNSVILLE has had a justified case regarding the harshness of the draw but now has finally enjoyed a week off to prepare for an Adelaide which had to play Sydney on Thursday. It means the Crocs have no excuses but the 36ers at home at Titanium Security Arena, will take some beating now, especially with the frenzy new import Jerome Randle (below) has whipped up.

SYDNEY was too good for the Lightning in Adelaide before Carolyn Swords had settled in so it's tough to see them reversing a 17-point loss on the road against the Flames. Leilani Mitchell and Mikaela Ruef will be keen for big games in front of their former fans but an upset isn't on the cards.

SEQ put Melbourne away in Melbourne so it's hard to find any logical reason to expect that result to be reversed in Logan. The Stars haven't done a lot wrong and now with Bec Allen also playing, should make it 2-0 over the Boomers, unless Guy Molloy comes up with a master strategy to befuddle his old mate Shane Heal.

LAST time Dandenong hit Perth, the Lynx effectively ambushed the Rangers while sending a warning shot across the WNBL they were for real. This game shapes as a quality contest, but Dandenong should square this series. Footnote for my niece, Sara Blicavs. Just saw at the WNBL Upcoming Milestones site that you now are only 8 turnovers away from a landmark 250. The family is so proud of you and we know you can do it this game. A coupla quick travels, a pass to the lady in the fifth row, a nifty double-dribble, a charge or two ... let's get this done!

CANBERRA has been the season's under-achiever but it can break its drought at Adelaide's expense with the Lightning having to back up after playing in Sydney. Montgomery, Talbot, Bishop form a threesome capable of giving Lightning fits but Adelaide's defensive commitment has been exemplary meaning this will be tight. Canberra's freshness though will be the difference.

IN what may be the match-of-the-round - as usual there are multiple candidates for that mantle - Bendigo hosts Perth. Gabrielle Richards was a huge influence last round and will give Louella Tomlinson and Nat Burton a long day inside but Tessa Lavey's performance against a club where she could find only minimal minutes will be telling. Lavey-Kelly Wilson (pupil v teacher) should be significant, and while this should be close, home court could be the difference.

DEPENDING on which version of the Fire turns up - the back-to-back-chasing defending champion or the laid back "been there-done that" crew - will determine how well Melbourne competes. Townsville has responded well so far to its repeated slip ups, which looms as a problem for the Boomers. Then again, Bendigo played in Logan, then won in Townsville so it is doable. Just not sure the Boomers are playing well enough to join the party.

PS

Matt Shanahan has started a BLOG at http://weeklydribble.com to help domestic coaches with training and game coaching, at-home workouts for players and educating parents on how to support their child. Definitely worth checking out.

PPS

Maybe one of Fox's commentator was trying to get Antman trending because he couldn't remember Randle's first name is Jerome, not Julius?

 

KNOCK KNOCK

Who's there?

UFO.

Don't you mean USF?

No. UFO.

OK. Start again.

Knock Knock

Who's there?

UFO.

UFO who?

No that's no UFO. That's just Chris Goulding playing match-winning defence.