Basketball On The Internet.

STARTING on a positive, with congratulations for The Batgirl, Mark Wright, Bec Cole and Jamar Wilson for their various acknowedgements of the past week.

Suzy was named the WNBL's Player of the Month for December after averaging 23.5 points and 10.5 rebounds for Townsville while Dandenong maestro Mark Wright led his team back into contention with a 3-1 month.

The duo were at cross purposes last round as Townsville hosted Dandenong and the Rangers became the first visiting team to win in north Queensland this season.

Batkovic had 30 points and 14 rebounds in that one, while Wright masterminded the upset, suggesting both jumped into January exactly where they left off December.

Rebecca Cole took WNBL PotW honours and we can revisit that later. Right now though, I cannot help wondering how Tessa Lavey beat her out for a spot on last year's Opals FIBA World Championship bronze medallists.

All due respect to Lavey, who none of us outside the Opals saw on tours or in camps where clearly she must have impressed, but in WNBL play, she is a long way off Cole, Tess Madgen and a few others.

(For that matter, I still can't see in what universe Nat Burton rates ahead of Abby Bishop - again, no reflection on the player but certainly on selection.)

To Jamar, who has had his critics, most notably in Cairns and among those anonymous few for whom the Internet offers a forum to vent, invent and distort, winning the NBL's PotW award - to sit alongside his brand, spanking new B.O.T.I. award - was some vindication for a season in which he may yet emerge as the club's MVP.

Wilson has been a revelation on and off the court for Adelaide.

 

BASKETBALL legend and Hall of Famer Ken Cole has always had strong views about the sport in Australia, the NBL, BA - you name it.

Playing in summer, points caps, 40-minute games - he has a view and has shared that in a few videos he has sent from his San Diego home. 

They're not long and it's clear Kenny would love a sit down meet with BA CEO Anthony Moore.

Maybe have a look and let me know at this site's email address what you think.

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/ec8hnb1bj34wjzu/AAChVs7DgB5Q525KlvBkPP1Sa/MVI_4737%20copy.MOV?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/ec8hnb1bj34wjzu/AADmVdqQajrBUuLJYpK22g04a#lh:null-MVI_4738%20copy.MOV

 

SYDNEY today announced Nick Horvath will replace injured Angus Brandt in its lineup, effective immediately as AnBran has had arthroscopic surgery for his injured knee and is out four-to-six weeks.

Perth and Adelaide also are expected to make moves shortly, the Wildcats looking to temporarily replace Matt Knight (toe) and the 36ers reviewing candidates to fill in for BJ Anthony (Achilles - out for season).

Wildcats vice-captain Greg Hire (calf) is expected to return for tomorrow’s home clash against Adelaide, pending a fitness test.

Wollongong stalwart David Gruber, released earlier this season by the Hawks, is among names being considered by Perth, with Jeremiah Trueman and WA-SBL rebounding fiend Jarrad Prue also on the shopping list.

“We’ll reach out to all those guys,” Wildcats coach Trevor Gleeson told The Sunday Times.

Sydney picking up Horvath is an interesting one.

Nick came with big wraps as an import from Duke University to play for West Sydney in 2004-05, also spending a season with Adelaide 36ers before naturalising as a New Zealander, making him eligible to play as a local.

He was a member of South Dragons' 2008-09 NBL Champion and at 208cm offers genuine relief for Sydney.

Despite seemingly being around - and even gone - a long time, Horvath turns 34 next month.

"We're all looking forward to the positive atrtributes he'll bring into this group," Kings coach Damian Cotter said.

(OK. Yes. We all know when Cotter first met up with Nick, he said: "Welcome back.")

 

WNBL Player of the Week

THE league opted for Melbourne guard Bec Cole this week for her stellar performance in slotting 20 points at 75 per cent, with eight boards, three assists and a steal as the Boomers belted Adelaide 96-66.

Our B.O.T.I. Player of the Week was Suzy Batkovic and on the occasions when we differ, I like to explain why.

The Batgirl went off for 30 points at 65 per cent, with 14 rebounds, three assists and three blocks in one of the games of the season, a narrow 87-92 loss by Townsville to Dandenong, decided in the final seconds.

On our scale here at the plush B.O.T.I. offices, furniture repair and cucumber pickling factory, we tend to rate a performance like that in a game between two of the competition's leading teams, at a higher level than an admittedly impressive performance, albeit by a member of a finals-bound team against the bomb-shelter resident in a 30-point blow-out.

Hope that explains it and well done to Bec regardless.

 

NBL Rankings

This Wk-Prev (Record)

8 (8) HAWKS 3-17 - Have a great chance to upset 36ers as they trudge home from Perth.

7 (5) KINGS 7-11 - Signing Horvath should help but maybe not straight off.

6 (7) CROCODILES 7-13 - Can complete a rare Sydney sweep if they don't choke.

5 (6) 36ERS 8-11 - On the move at last but it's no easy double this round.

4 (4) UNITED 10-9 - Can feel Adelaide's breath on their finals necks and must respond.

3 (3) WILDCATS 12-6 - Sudden run of injury outs has rocked their season.

2 (1) BREAKERS 16-5 - Twin narrow escapes from Hawks doesn't fill with confidence.

1 (2) TAIPANS 15-6 - Going from strength to strength and can continue building for finals.

 

WNBL Rankings

This Wk-Prev (Record)

8 (8) WAVES 4-12 - Two road beltings and now here comes Townsville. Oh my.

7 (7) LIGHTNING 3-13 - Pathetic against Boomers but stood up to Spirit. Now it's Fire time.

6 (5) FLAMES 8-7 - This is "the" round for Sydney, which found touch against West Coast.

5 (6) CAPITALS 7-9 - Can shut the door on Sydney or themselves this week.

4 (4) BOOMERS 9-7 - Smashed Adelaide and can end Sydney's dreams too.

3 (2) SPIRIT 11-4 - Still not as imposing and face a fired up Dandenong in a statement game.

2 (3) RANGERS 9-7 - Beating Fire in Townsville was big. Ditto if they get Bendigo now.

1 (1) FIRE 11-3 - Home slip will quickly be erased by road ravages in Adelaide and Perth.

 

This Week's Tips

WITH Townsville having beaten Sydney at every turn this season, a sweep seems well within the Crocodiles' reach at home. After all, Cairns enjoyed a sweep last week at Townsville so why not the home team? With Angus Brandt out of it and Nick Horvath still settling in, the Crocs have no excuse, the Kings slipping from playoff contention and needing to rekindle their preseason spirit.

ADELAIDE can see a window for a run at the finals and dearly would love to pinch a win off arch rival Perth, especially in Perth where it copped a serious pantsing in last year's Grand Final Game 3. Without Matty in tow, Ross out in earnest and Greg maybe for hire but match-fitness shy, the Wildcats do face a tighter contest which, this time, seems to favour a 36ers boilover.

GETTING IT TOGETHER: The 36ers finally are all on the same page.

WHETHER or not Sydney came out of Townsville with a 'W" will not matter in Cairns, the Taipans with a real shot at top spot and its abundant playoff benefits. With that in mind, there is no reason to expect any sort of let-up (or letdown, for that matter) from Cairns which has the depth and size to trouble a Kings team heavily reliant on Childress, Garlepp and The Madge.

ADELAIDE goes 80s retro against Wollongong on Sunday and the Hawks too will be wearing their uniforms from circa 1986. During that period, it was the 36ers who reigned supreme and as long as it's the start of the heritage theme, expect that aspect also to continue. Wollongong has been stiff to lose a lot of its games but losing can be habit-forming and spells trouble here.

AFTER dropping a "sure thing" to Adelaide, Melbourne must dig deep in NZ to dent the Breakers' aspirations of a first-placed finish. United has shown that it can in the past but they looked timid and tentative in the last quarter against the 36ers while the Breakers finished off Wollongong in the end-game in both of their meetings. A close finish suggests a Breakers win.

UNITED FRONT: No, Dave Barlow did not give Steve Dennis a heads up for this slam.

 

IT'S a definitive weekend for Sydney which can hurt Canberra's WNBL playoff chances or all but blow its own in a tough double. The Flames, Caps and Boomers (and Rangers) are all looking to lock down third and/or fourth so Sydney running into Canberra and Melbourne will make its post-season prospects clear. Suspect they can get Canberra.

SUZY Batkovic, Rachael McCully, Cayla Francis, Mia Newley, Alex Wilson and coach Chris Lucas all come home to Adelaide and should have few issues posting a further 'W' for Townsville. OK, don't send me emails about Suzy being from somewhere in NSW. She won her first two league MVPs in Adelaide and still rates The Brompton among her favourite eaterias.

ONE of the two candidates for "match of the round" sees champion Bendigo at Dandenong, with the Rangers still on a high after surprising the Fire in Townsville last round. The dust has settled now on Kristi's retirement and the Spirit can focus on the business of creating their threepeat. This should be a gem of a clash and Bendigo must make a statement. It will.

MELBOURNE left no doubt in its Adelaide rout that it is ready for another trip to the finals and will not let Sydney stand in its way. This is again a super-significant game for the Flames and while I can see them winning in Canberra, backing up against the Boomers, even at home, will be no easy feat. Only surprisingly big games from Sydney's imports might alter this result.

TOWNSVILLE should make light work of West Coast in Perth. Sadly, the season has come unstuck for the Waves, though the progress was evident early. But injuries have made West Coast cooler while the Fire are as hot as they have ever been. Mia Newley will rack up her 200th WNBL game in this one.

 

Online

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WHY did the chicken cross the road?

Because it feared it may tumble onto a user-friendly roll and get eaten alive.