Basketball On The Internet.

JOSH Childress' season-ending torn right pectoral muscle injury effectively has scuttled any NBL playoff plans Sydney was entertaining.

With no Angus Brandt and now no JChillin, the only way Kings fans will see finals will be on television.

It now means there are two interesting battles going on in regards to the Championship.

First is just that, the battle for first between Cairns and New Zealand which still has a way to go to fully play out.

[Its abundant riches are two home games in any Grand Final series which goes the three games - provided, of course, neither is eliminated in the semi final round.] 

Cairns leads 2-1 and has +25 points to defend.

The other is the race for the last two spots in the four.

Make no mistake Perth is in that mix too, it isn't just a Melbourne v Adelaide hunt.

Here's the extra element. If Perth beats Adelaide when the two meet at Adelaide Arena in their final season-series confrontation, that series will be 3-1. Forget about points differential right now because the scenario I'm talking about here is if Perth, Melbourne and Adelaide should all tie on win-loss record.

In that instance, the tied teams go to a "mini table" to determine positions. Melbourne is 2-2 on Perth, 2-2 on Adelaide so it would be 4-4. Adelaide is 2-2 on Melbourne and if it loses to Perth, will be 1-3 with the Wildcats. That equals 3-5.

Perth, if it beats the 36ers, would be 3-1 there and 2-2 to Melbourne. That's 5-3.

So if they all have the same record, the mini table goes Perth 1, Melbourne 2, Adelaide 3 which translates to Wildcats third, United fourth and 36ers out of the finals.

Should Adelaide beat Perth, they would all be 2-2 or 4-4 in a mini-table and points spread then becomes relevant. Again, Adelaide looks in bad shape.

The 36ers are 2-2 to Melbourne but -27. They are 1-2 with Perth and also -27 there. So they not only need to win but win big.

Melbourne is 2-2 and +27 on Adelaide and 2-2 and +13 on Perth so sitting pretty in a three-way tie, regardless.

Of course, a lot has to happen yet for that scenario to play out so it's one you can slot to the back of your mind for now and forget altogether if it doesn't happen. But if it does, you already know the score.

As for Childress, he indicated today Sunday's game against Adelaide may not have been his last in the NBL so Kings fans can only hope he does come back and the 2015-16 campaign enjoys a little more luck than this one has.

 

HERITAGE Round has come and gone for another season and it never ceases to amaze me how often fans today end up saying: "Geez, those (old) uniforms look way better than what we're wearing now."

That was the case again this year, the 36ers (below) in their 80s "homage" uniform - yes, no actual 36ers team in the 80s ever wore the one in the picture but it was more a composite of several 80s versions - Wollongong in their 1986 semi final suits.

The Kings, Crocs, Breakers, Taipans ... they pretty much ALL looked sharper in revisited uniforms than their current strips, United's dumb decision to avoid revisiting its Tigers history exempted, of course. (Wearing 1958 Victorian state replicas ... was anyone at the game even old enough to appreciate their significance, if any? D.U.M.B.)

Maybe when clubs are planning their 2015-16 outfits, they should start by looking back first, before looking forward.

THIS JUST IN: James Ennis' mother is delighted to report her son's All Star Five trophy finally has arrived by sea mail and now is proudly on display on the mantelpiece, right next to his dog-eared and well-read bound first edition copy of "How to Win Friends and Influence People".

 

WNBL Player of the Week

THE league got it right this week but then even a blind man could see Abby Bishop's two star turns for Canberra in road wins over Bendigo and Melbourne were by far the Player of the Week performances of the round, if not the season.

For those who follow such things, Abs is leading the league in scoring (22.9) and rebounding (11.3) and has to be as clear an MVP favourite as the NBL's is obscure.

While Todd Blanchfield got the NBL's PotW nod for two outstanding games, his 18 points and seven boards in the overtime loss to Perth was followed with an additional 27 and 13 in the road win over Melbourne.

That's pretty solid and congratulations to Todd.

On our scale here at the refurbished B.O.T.I. offices, same-day photo development (not doing a lot of business with that lately) and salami slicing services, we are still very content with our pick of Cairns import Torrey Craig for his 21 points at 80 percent, including 4-of-5 triples, and 11 boards in 27 minutes of the rout of Perth.
 

NBL Rankings

This Wk-Prev (Record)

8 (8) HAWKS 3-19 – Been good without joy. Maybe a split this round.

7 (6) KINGS 9-13 - No Childress, no Brandt, no chance.

6 (7) CROCODILES 8-15 - Tough split last round and can taste upset.

5 (3) UNITED 12-11 - Must take out Hawks to keep fate in own hands.

4 (5) WILDCATS 13-9 – Should get a split at worst but unconvincing.

3 (2) BREAKERS 17-6 - Shock home beating, but can batter old enemy.

2 (4) 36ERS 12-11 - Have been road warriors and DJ hasn't hurt at all.

1 (1) TAIPANS 17-6 – Struck out Perth and will be revved for Hawks.

 

WNBL Rankings

This Wk-Prev (Record)

8 (8) LIGHTNING 3-15 – Road loss, then "grand final" to avoid bomb shelter.

7 (7) WAVES 4-14 – Road loss, then "grand final" to avoid bomb shelter.

6 (6) BOOMERS 9-9 – Season slipping away and how do you fight Fire?

5 (5) FLAMES 9-9 – Spirit can just about shut the door this round.

4 (3) SPIRIT 12-6 - Haven't lately risen to challenges and must beat Sydney.

3 (4) CAPITALS 10-9 - Rolling now and easy win coming up.

2 (1) RANGERS 11-7 - Rolling on and easy win coming up.

1 (2) FIRE 14-3 – Reasserted themselves, now for Victorian double.

 

This Week's Tips

AFTER being hammered in Cairns by 26, Perth will be looking to regroup and make a statement in New Zealand. Unfortunately for the Wildcats, NZ took a 20-point home beating from Sydney last round so will be equally motivated but also will have more horses for this race.

CONSIDERING Wollongong has lost seven straight games by less than double-digits, you know its luck must change soon. In comes Melbourne, Lucas Walker out and United's depth sure to be tested. If no more "tired and emotional" style fouls are called on Tim Vowels, this shapes as a Hawks upset.

TOWNSVILLE took Perth to overtime, then beat United in Melbourne so will hit Adelaide loving life. So are the 36ers, on a five-game winning streak, with four of those on the road and Daniel Johnson with a further week to find his feet. This could be the match of the round, with homecourt providing the Sixers an edge.

HAVING smashed Perth, Cairns will take no prisoners when Wollongong hits town, even though the Hawks have a solid recent record at Cairns Convention Centre. With the regular season finish line just around the bend, the Taipans cannot afford a slip and will be suitably prepared for the under-rated but never under-valued Hawks.

THE last time Josh Childress got hurt, it was celebrating a Sydney win over Perth. There won't be any celebrating for the Kings at Perth Arena this time around, the Wildcats happy to be home and sure to take their recent frustrations out on a side even more depleted than theirs.

ADELAIDE was unlucky to lose at home in a thriller to Canberra before Christmas but now anchored to the bottom of the WNBL ladder, facing an uncertain future and playing contrasting passionless basketball in spurts with dive-on-everything fervour, expect a Caps cruise.

OH poor West Coast, a Spring Shield champion with so much to play for this season, gutted by injury. Now it lobs at Dandenong where the Rangers are rolling and eyeing a top-two finish. This can only end badly for the Waves.

BENDIGO has much to prove in Sydney, having all season lacked the purpose and focus of its Championship year and/or of its back-to-back campaign. Whether the fire still burns as deeply remains to be seen because the Flames need this and are capable of an upset. Incredibly, the Spirit need this win more and will get it.

TOWNSVILLE has the same trip into Melbourne which Canberra negotiated so successfully last week, albeit in reverse order. The Fire first should singe the Boomers, making it even harder for Melbourne to repeat as a top-four team.

IT will be a "mini grand final" in Adelaide on Sunday as both West Coast and Adelaide endeavour to avoid the (not John) wooden spoon. The loser of this - barring any unforseen results (such as wins) - will occupy the bomb shelter so it should bring the best from both. Tipping the home team, just.

SOME would have called this game - Townsville at Bendigo - the Grand Final preview but forget that. Both teams are just looking for wins, the Fire to maintain their hot form, the Spirit to revisit their more spirited days. Should be a cracker but odds favour Townsville.

 

Online

http://bit.ly/15UZBql

 

WHY did the chicken cross the road?

To avoid filling out Mal Cooper's "you make the call" video quiz.