Week #9 Rankings: What does 82 mean to you?
TweetWHAT do you think of when you hear the number "82" mentioned in a basketball context?
For me, it is the number of matches in an NBA regular season which first springs to mind.
Apparently in Melbourne though, for United it means something far different - a benchmark of sorts.
You see any time Melbourne scores 82 points in an NBL game, it wins.
United is 6-0 whenever the score breaks those two digits.
On the flip side though, Melbourne is 0-5 when it scores 81 points or less.
The artists formerly known as the Tigers will be back at the game's highly-touted new venue, The Margaret Court on Sunday to host a Townsville which last season clinched both of its road games in Melbourne.
You see why United is thinking 82 and also glad the Crocs haven't played Margaret Court before?
Last week’s win over the Adelaide 36ers at Hisense Arena made Darryl McDonald the first coach of a Melbourne team to win five straight home games since Al Westover did it in January, 2010.
THE EURO-STEP
THANK you to the Cairns Taipans for clearing up my personal angst this week in relation to the so-called "Euro Step".
Up until now, it basically has been any step Ten-ONE commentator Steve Carfino cannot recognise but this lesson in Triggernometry has solved the riddle once and for all.
Check it out: http://bit.ly/1ycH1nt
WNBL PotW
YES, agree completely with the WNBL choice of Abby Bishop as its Player of the Week.
But you knew that anyway.
Not so sure the NBL fan vote got it right with Perth import Deandre Daniels as the league's PotW. Yes, he had a very good game but better than Tim Coenraad, the B.O.T.I. winner?
Don't think so. Guess the 2,000 at the Gong didn't jump into the voting booth.
NBL Rankings
This Wk-Prev
8 (8) HAWKS – Pinned back the Crocs' ears but Wildcats in Perth is a different world of hurt.
7 (7) 36ERS – Two more losses have sent them into a spin. Two more would kill this season.
6 (6) CROCODILES – A 0-2 road week, now 36ers and United. Life doesn't get easier.
5 (5) TAIPANS – Did as expected last round but Sixers' scalp now would be handy.
4 (4) KINGS – A record comeback against 36ers has Sydney poised to ride the Breakers.
3 (3) BREAKERS – Facing a tougher challenge in Sydney but should get it done.
2 (2) WILDCATS – That 31-10 first period was a message to the NBL. Hawks, take note.
1 (1) UNITED – Might find Townsville more challenging than advertised, especially if down McRae.
WNBL Rankings
This Wk-Prev
8 (8) LIGHTNING – Still cannot put two halves together but only need one good game.
7 (7) RANGERS – Can split this weekend against Waves and Fire. Anything less is problematic.
6 (3) WAVES - Took another welt in Townsville and Vic trip no easier.
5 (6) CAPITALS - Have the tools to beat Melbourne but need more players to step up.
4 (4) BOOMERS – And suddenly, a season on the brink is a season on a roll.
3 (5) FLAMES - Need Cox back but playing with the positive flair of a post-season prospect.
2 (2) SPIRIT – Not quite the imposing club of its back-to-back seasons but still scary.
1 (1) FIRE – Have been waiting to host Dandenong since the road loss. Look out.
This Week's Tips
ADELAIDE is in a five-loss skid right now, reminiscent of the Marty-Scottie-farewell-to-Phil years. The Crocs haven't been playing badly - loss in Wollongong exempted - and the 36ers definitely need more out of Gibbo, Brock and Peach to make it 2-of-2 in Townsville. Mitch Creek plays his 100th NBL game and should help Adelaide break its drought.
THE 11-loss streak ended with Tim Coenraad leading Wollongong out of the wilderness last round. But from the wilderness to the west is no happy journey and with Deandre Daniels finding his feet and the Wildcats rolling again, the Hawks will need big games from Gary Ervin and Jahii Carson. Against Damo and Dolla, that seems unlikely.
THIS may be the game where the Breakers will miss Tom Abercrombie, Sydney feeling good about the world right now and ready to roll out the round's upset by beating New Zealand. They have the weapons to do it but not the consistency, the bane of virtually every coach in a league this tight. OK. Maybe the Kings can get this one done.
CAIRNS pulled down Adelaide's pants in Adelaide to open the season and gave the 36ers a right old spanking, not a David Stiff in sight. In fact no-one stood up as Scottie Wilbekin and Co sent 36ers fans into a spin. Now the Sixers have Brock for DQ but it is unlikely to make much difference as the Taipans attempt to continue winning streak #2.
WILSON NO CASTAWAY: Jamar Wilson's first trip back to Cairns should be interesting this week.
TOWNSVILLE stunned United earlier in the season and takes them on in Melbourne with the home side most likely down Jordan McRae who rushed back to the US to spend a few days with his newborn baby. This has real potential as the TV match for Andrew Gaze to turn calling Melbourne the "Victory" or "Tigers" into a drinking game. United, narrowly.
LOSING to Melbourne won't have Bendigo in a good mood when it faces the Flames in Sydney but if Rohanee Cox (nose) plays, this will be tougher than the Spirit expect. Ultimately though, Bendigo should have too much in its armoury, even with Leilani Mitchell creating chaos.
DANDENONG has ambushed Townsville and Canberra at home so West Coast should not be surprised when it hits Stud Rd to find the Rangers spinning the ball again. If the Waves are to be active in the post-season, this is a win they must snatch because backing up against Melbourne will be no picnic. But Penny and Cappie should steer a home win.
THAT said, Melbourne, rejuvenated and feeling in contention again, should repeat their road win over West Coast, Laurie Koehn continuing to find her groove with the Boomers. There are some quality match-ups to watch out for but Melbourne appears to have more potential match-winners in its crew.
HUMILIATED at home by Bendigo when held to the lowest score in club history and biggest loss, Adelaide has it all to do against the Spirit. Inability to complete their game-plan has undermined the Lightning's good initial work but this will be the game where it all turns around as they catch Bendigo on the hop coming back from Sydney. Nah. That was just wishful thinking.
AT home and in form, Townsville will take a further step toward consolidating first place by taming Dandenong and exacting its revenge for the road loss in Penny Taylor's WNBL return. With the euphoria having died down, the twin realities of Suzy-Cayla will overwhelm the Rangers this time around.
CANBERRA needs a win over a quality contender and Melbourne looks well within its capability if the Caps can produce their best. PotW Abby Bishop will have a point to make against Opals selection Nat Burton in a match with all the hallmarks of a gem. But the Boomers are gathering momentum and they will fire off the Caps.
Online
WHY did the chicken cross the road?
To point out Mickell Gladness' five blocks to the Cairns stats crew.