Basketball On The Internet.

DANDENONG duo Penny Taylor and Mark Wright have respectively scored the WNBL's Player and Coach of the Month awards for January.

The Rangers went from sixth to third during January while Taylor delivered 22 points, 7.3 boards and 4.5 assists for the month.

It has been a sizzling WNBL season, with the talent level at a major high.

Opals playmaker and Taylor's WNBA Championship teammate at Phoenix Mercury, Erin Phillips also is back in town and while keen to rejoin a revamped Adelaide Lightning, has to be realistic about what may be out there.

The game's legendary Brian Kerle attaching himself to the SouthEast Qld Sting bid has just given that one considerable credibility, one of the two new WNBL bids out of the state already in discussions with Phillips.

Whether it is the Sting is debatable but Lightning need to get the lead out if it wants to have Phillips quarterbacking the next era.

 

NO-ONE should be too shocked the ABC won't be showing WNBL semi finals live.

The network is not showing the league after this season - petitions notwithstanding - so why would anyone believe it has any genuine commitment right now?

Sometimes our sport's naivety and indignation does surprise even us older cynics.

 

ADELAIDE 36ers players were unimpressed Dennis Rodman was sporting a Melbourne United top ahead of his Adelaide show.

Nice PR work by United - in a week they could use it - but the Sixers had him pull on a Chicago Bulls top to avoid any awkwardness.

Rodman. Awkward. Yeah. Funny.

 

Basketball On The Internet, Player of the Week

TOWNSVILLE's Todd Blanchfield may have missed out on the B.O.T.I. Player of the week a few rounds back but his 27-point, nine-rebound game underpinned a terrific win for the crocdiles over New Zealand.

The Breakers went into the contest in first place but came off second-best.

PotW Winners

Rd1 Scottie Wilbekin
Rd2 Brian Conklin
Rd3 Scottie Wilbekin
Rd4 Adam Gibson
Rd5 Josh Childress
Rd6 Jordan McRae
Rd7 Josh Childress
Rd8 Tim Coenraad
Rd9 Brian Conklin
Rd10 Josh Childress
Rd11 Jordan McRae
Rd12 Tai Wesley
Rd13 Brian Conklin
Rd14 Jamar Wilson
Rd15 Cedric Jackson
Rd16 Torrey Craig
Rd17 Jamar Wilson
Rd18 Todd Blanchfield

OK, our B.O.T.I. WNBL PotW a couple of weeks back WASN'T Cayla Francis but this week, it certainly is.

The Townsville Fire power forward had 28 points on 8-of-11 shooting, 15 rebounds, three assists, two steals and two blocks in front of Townsville's biggest home crowd as it smacked Canberra 94-67.

In a round with some great efforts, that one stands apart.

 

YEAH, NO KIDDING

OK. I have shut up about it so far but who or what the heck is "G. Grant"?

The sideline interview-mangler at Kings and Hawks games was introduced - unheralded as I recall - midseason and apparently is there to remind us how good we had it with Steve Carfino.

Seriously, the young man is definitely trying - and take that any way you want - but I'd be stunned if he's had any media training whatsoever.

He gets players/coaches names wrong, half-jumbles the question ... yesterday at halftime when the Ten coverage crossed to him, he spoke with "Tragardh", as in CAMERON Tragardh.

I must have missed the memo interviewees now were going to be addressed by their surnames.

If Ten-ONE is going to persist with this young man - I guess we need an African-American on the commentary team in case someone outside the basketball world tunes in and can't distinguish the sport from European handball (they have to have a blonde Nordic dude with a Swedish accent on their TV games) - surely someone at some point should take him aside and say: "This is how you do it."

I'm not suggesting get rid of the guy. Nervousness is hardly a crime.

But surely he needs to be helped in his preparation.

Still hated the live in-game crosses to coaches and players in ONE's expanded telecast on Friday from Perth.

Intros? Terrific.

Insights into the halftime coaches addresses? Wonderful.

Rob Beveridge? Nice touch.

Mel Marsh? Not one for her highlights package.

The guy on graphics? Um. Well. When Cairns has just lost to go 18-7, that drops it to second place behind NZ Breakers' 18-6, unlike below.

It worked out OK in the end when the Breakers dropped to Townsville and Cairns beat Sydney but that happened over the next two days.

The ONE-Ten coverage on a Friday out of Perth is still by far the best. Just don't know which boffin it is who continues to believe talking to coaches while they're coaching is of any benefit.

Loved Alex Loughton yesterday too, trying to talk to the TV guys while missing a Cairns timeout. Seriously, this is what we need to be a viable television product?

 

REVIEWS

Lightning V Flames (W)

IT was farewell to Jenni Screen (below left) and Jess Foley (below right) from Adelaide Arena and that was always going to be a factor. First, it inhibited Adelaide to a horrendous first quarter (3-of-14) but it came home strongly to dent Sydney's finals hopes 72-60. Screen had six points, nine assists, 13 rebounds and five fouls in a typical Screeny-type game while Foley struggled with foul trouble, Laura Hodges leading the way with 20 points.

36ers V Kings (M)

ONLY a matter of time before DJ got going again and when he peeled off seven straight points to cement Adelaide's first-quarter lead, Daniel Johnson was back. He finished with 18 points and blocked three Sydney shots in a 97-78 win, Brock Motum a tower with 23 points on 10-of-12 shooting. The Kings showed heart and Kevin White put on a show with 6-of-6 threes before he finally missed a couple.

THE OLD ONE-TWO: Or is it Two-One? Brock Motum and Daniel Johnson.

Fire V Capitals (W)

SUZY Batkovic's 250th WNBL game was always going to be tough going for Canberra in Townsville, the Batgirl actually playing second fiddle to Cayla despite scoring 20 points with nine boards and four assists. Francis had 28 points at 72 per cent, 15 rebounds and three assists with two steals and three blocks as the Fire torched the Caps 94-67. That was after trailing at quarter-time too.

Wildcats V Taipans (M)

ADELAIDE had 55 points at halftime against Sydney. Meanwhile at Perth Arena, Cairns was finishing with 54 points to Perth's equally dazzling 65 in a game which was a throwback to the bad old days. Of course, 36 per cent shooting to 31 percent also was a factor. The aggregate of 119 points is the lowest of any game this year and lowest scoring game in the Wildcats' history. Sometimes you have to win ugly.

Boomers V Rangers (W)

MELBOURNE knew this was a season-defining weekend and came out firing to KO Dandenong 88-76. Rebecca Allen, in the wake of signing with WNBA's New York Liberty, went off for a career-high 27 points at 69 per cent and Phoenix Mercury-bound Tess Madgen had 17-7-6 afternoon. Penny Taylor, 26-and-9, Alice Kunek (21) and Cappie Pondexter (17) battled but looked as if they were running in mud.

Waves V Flames (W)

PARIS Johnson stayed out of foul trouble and Katie-Rae Ebzery got her groove back as Sydney kept its fight-for-fourth drive alive 93-85 over West Coast in Perth. A 21-13 second period and 29-19 third sealed it for the Flames, Louella Tomlinson and Deanna Smith coming off the Waves' bench to lead their scoring with 16 and 15 points respectively, Toni Edmondson and Lindsey Moore still struggling.

United V Hawks (M)

MELBOURNE was ahead 21-18 at quarter-time, then mustered a six-point second period which was the equal-lowest scoring quarter by any Melbourne-based team at a home game in NBL history (1,347 games). Showing a distinct lack of heart, United watched as Wollongong strangled its finals dream 82-76, Rhys Martin and Larry Davidson doing the damage offensively, Oscar Forman also close to a career-high on the offensive glass.

Crocodiles V Breakers (M)

THIS was the Todd Blanchfield Show with the star Townsville swingman producing 27 points with nine rebounds as the Crocs sent New Zealand crashing from first place - restoring arch rival Cairns to the summit - 79-71. Former Breakers forward Leon Henry cocked-back and threw down one of the season's top dunks as Townsville's 24-14 second period turned around the game.

Spirit V Boomers (W)

MELBOURNE had this won in regulation before Sara Blicavs hit two free throws, missed a third, the ball out to Belinda Snell for the overtime-forcing siren-beating triple! That's a six-second, five-point play. From there, Bendigo took over to win 89-84. Kelsey Griffin hit two shots to start the extension as the Boomers watched their hard work slip away, Tess Madgen with 22 points, 10 boards and four assists, Laurie Koehn's 20 points including 5-of-6 threes.

Kings V Taipans (M)

SYDNEY did not let down its fans, coming out throwing whatever it had at Cairns to lead 28-25. But as the game wore on, the Kings wore out as Cairns' superior size and depth set up a 92-78 result. It was the Taipans' historic 19th win, most in a regular season (so far), restored them to first, guaranteed a top-two finish and was their eighth road win - also a club record.

 

BIGGEST WINNERS/LOSERS

DESPITE losing at Perth Arena, Cairns was the NBL's biggest winner of the round, clinching a top-two finish by beating the depleted Kings in Sydney, setting road and winning-game club records in the process.

UNITED again were the NBL's biggest losers, this time the loss to Wollongong virtually guaranteeing another post-season on the sidelines, watching the playoffs on TV. Or maybe some of the players can go to Dreamworld, contemplate their futures while admiring the Tigers and lamenting the old days.

MELBOURNE was the WNBL's biggest winner, despite its tough overtime loss in Bendigo. By beating Dandenong, it ensured it would be on a 10-11 record, the same as Canberra and Sydney. They both finish playing last year's Grand Finalists while the Boomers play West Coast.

DANDENONG was the round's biggest loser, dropping to Melbourne killing the chance it had at sneaking in for a top-two finish.

 

BEEF of the WEEK

DON'T mean to be too parochial or Adelaide-centric this week but the scoreboard at Adelaide Arena is a mess and has been for more than just one or two NBL and WNBL games.

Not sure whether the 36ers-Lightning or, more likely, venue owners SA Church and Scouts SA, are to blame but it is ridiculous.

There is a big game against Perth Wildcats, plus playoffs coming and fans deserve better.

The only excuse is if those darn heritage-listed rats have gotten into the wiring again, having already wrecked much of the sound system.

 

Online

http://bit.ly/1A4aBil  

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http://bit.ly/1xUisaE  

 

PS

WHAT he said.

What he really meant.

Melbourne United shooting guard Daryl Corletto let us in on what most have already recognised.

SAID: "Championship teams play as a team, everyone is on the same page, there is no bitchiness and fighting amongst the group. I thought this past week was our best week in practice but then one thing goes wrong in the game and we start bitching and moaning at each other and pointing fingers. This doesn't sit well with anyone and you don't create a good culture like that. When you are down you need to stick together."

MEANT: "Yes. All the rumours about us were right."