Basketball On The Internet.

MIKA Vukona is the new leader in NBL games played for NZ Breakers after logging his 250th in the win over Perth, then going on to 251 against United.

When Vukona - who broke the 250-game record held by assistant-coach Paul Henare - is playing well, the Breakers are going well, taking back top spot over the weekend and winning their 11th game of the season.

They only won 11 games all last season, one in which Vukona was continually hamstrung by foul issues.

OK, yes, he did foul out against Perth but he did a good job on his South Dragons NBL championship teammate Mark Worthington as New Zealand took control of that season-series against Melbourne.

A hard-a$$ with terrific touch, insight and ability, Vukona is one of the stars of our league and one of the men you would want in the trenches with you facing any crisis.

SPEAKING of Wortho, Melbourne's co-captain is coming up with a "highlight of the week", in Round 9 throwing down a putback dunk and in Round 10 swatting a Corey Webster drive in spectacular fashion.

Clearly, D-Mac has shown him the tattered secret map to the Fountain of Youth.

 

Basketball On The Internet, Player of the Week

THIS might be the toughest round of the season because the award is supposed to be about which INDIVIDUAL stands out and, frankly, not that many did.

Sure, there were great performances around the place and key moments from many players. And as much as I appreciated Matt Knight's 16 and 16 in Perth's win over the 36ers, he had 7 (at 20 per cent) and 10 in the loss to New Zealand.

Similarly, Drake U'u was exceptional against Adelaide but did zero against the Breakers.

At the end of the day, for an outstanding individual performance, the one that leaps out is Josh Childress (again) for his 34 points at 68 per cent, 12 rebounds, two assists, steal and block for Sydney against Wollongong.

That lone hand makes him this week's B.O.T.I. PotW for the third time.

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

ONCE again, the B.O.T.I. PotW for the WNBL is a piece of cake, preferably Black Forest.

Suzy Batkovic was the stand-out, leading Townsville to important road wins over Sydney and Canberra, despite her former "Queen B" partner from their Adelaide days, Abby Bishop, scoring 35 points at 56 per cent for the Caps.

The Batgirl had 24 points, 14 rebounds, six assists, a steal and four blocks as the Fire won in Canberra 92-81. In the thrilling 93-86 escape in Sydney, she scored 26 points with 10 boards, two assists, two steals and two blocks. 

In two key road wins, Suzy averaged 25ppg, 12rpg, 4apg, 1.5spg and 3bpg. Those are PotW numbers.

 

YEAH, NO KIDDING

JUST wondering if the NBL monitors social media to any extent.

Not suggesting for a second that some of the post-Melbourne v Adelaide tweets were directed at the officiating but it is clear some United players felt the 27-16 foul count lopsided, as was Adelaide having 32 free throws to 16.

Was it really 5-against-8 though, as one deleted tweet implied?

There were others, but if social media is as important as we now know it can be, maybe it bears watching a little more closely by the powers-that-be.

PARDON my ignorance for not knowing who was doing the NBL.TV call out of Perth yesterday - I was busy being amused at how often Mike Ellis referred to a player's mishap or poor decision by starting his admonishment with: "Son..."

But to say Earnest Ross is "the biggest man in the NBL" without further qualification - might agree with "width" but height? Weight? - is just confusing.

And while I number myself among Damian "Damo" Martin's biggest fans, commentators continually referring to the fact "Damo rarely complains..." every time he complains, should perhaps consider the irony in that.

 

REVIEWS

Breakers v Wildcats (M)

PERTH was travelling along fairly merrily, leading NZ 44-32 at halftime in Auckland. A 22-8 third period by the Breakers turned that on its ear and set up their 77-66 win, Cedric entertaining with 15 points, seven rebounds and five assists. It was Ekene Ibekwe though, with 18 points on 8-of-8 shooting who made sure Perth couldn't make it back.

 

Lightning v Boomers (W)

REBECCA Cole tore Adelaide apart with a blistering 13-point first quarter en route to a game-high 23 as Melbourne ran off a 73-59 road win. Laura Hodges (19 points, 62 per cent) fought largely a lone offensive hand for Adelaide, as usual, Tess Madgen putting down the last piece of resistance from the disconsolate home team.

 

36ers v United (M)

ADELAIDE cast off its seven-game losing streak with an aggressive 9-0 start which bulged to 16-2 before Melbourne recognised the script of these games had changed. The 36ers' ultimate 90-77 win came despite a scoring drought which lasted 6:47 from the third into the fourth before BJ Anthony came up trumps to steer the Sixers to safety.

BJ A-OK: BJ Anthony's spin move on Friday was the best of his 10-point last quarter.

 

Waves v Rangers (W)

WEST Coast virtually declared the finals were a pipe-dream this season when they lost again to Dandenong, this time 86-77 in Perth. The continued absence of injured centre Louella Tomlinson is killing the Waves, as did Rangers superstar Penny Taylor with 23 points, seven rebounds, four assists and two blocks.

 

Flames v Fire (W)

SYDNEY made a hell of a TV game out of this before Townsville pulled off a 93-86 win with Suzy Batkovic dominating proceedings but Katie-Rae Ebzery, Mikaela Ruef and Casey Samuels all stepping up for the Flames. The continued absence of Rohanee Cox is keeping Sydney from putting its best foot forward but it certainly isn't going quietly.

 

Taipans v Crocodiles (M)

THAT makes it 2-0 for Cairns in 2014-15 "Reptile Rumbles" after delivering a 77-61 coup over Townsville. Stephen Weigh and Cam Tragardh were deadly for the hosts as Cairns held the Crocs to a 9-point second quarter and enjoyed a 28-17 third to retain all bragging rights.

 

Melbourne v Bendigo (W)

BELINDA Snell maintained her recent form recovery to lead Bendigo to a 78-66 win over a red-hot Melbourne which was backing up after playing in Adelaide. Snelly had a 22-point, 11-rebound double and Kelsey Griffin a 20-point, 13-board return, Kelly Wilson with a 12-point, 9-assists return, the Spirit too deep this time.

 

Hawks v Kings (M)

WOLLONGONG came from behind at the last break to rock NSW derby rival Sydney 82-77, only the fourth time this season a team has come from a last-break deficit to win and the Hawks now have done it twice. Josh Childress led the Kings with 34 points and 12 boards but had no help, Hawks playmaker Rhys Martin with 11 of his 15 points in the final quarter.

 

Capitals v Fire (W)

ABBY Bishop (35 points at 56 per cent, 8 rebounds) was on fire for Canberra but the Fire had too many weapons, Suzy Batkovic leading five Townsville players in double figures as it recorded a 92-81 win. Steph Talbot bobbed up with 18 points and seven boards before fouling out.

 

United v Breakers (M)

MELBOURNE took the lead in the final heartbeats but could not withstand New Zealand's finish, Stephen Dennis (24 points on 10-of-13, seven assists) and centre Daniel Kickert (20 points at 75 per cent) leading the scoring for United. Action Jackson had an 18-point, 6-assist double, and it was his miss Ekene Ibekwe put away to regain the lead and set NZ on course for its 92-87 win. 

*Stephen Dennis had a big game

 

Wildcats v 36ers (M)

DRAKE U'u had a perfect FG shooting game with his 7-of-7 (5-of-5 threes) proving the difference as Perth saw off Adelaide again 97-76. Jesse Wagstaff also was big off the bench but when Matty Knight (16 points, 16 boards) stuck a triple from the corner, the 36ers were broken.

 

BIGGEST WINNERS/LOSERS

NEW Zealand was the biggest winner of the NBL round, slapping away Perth and completing the road win over Melbourne to send a message to two of its main rivals in the title run.

SYDNEY was the biggest loser, having a chance to make another statement at lowly Wollongong's expense and instead being bitten by the derby bug and dropping a match it assuredly had (wrongly) pencilled in.

DANDENONG was the WNBL's biggest winner, collecting an invaluable road win off West Coast to make it 2-0 over the Waves and overnight put itself within sight of the final four.

WEST Coast was the biggest loser, albeit hampered without centre Louella Tomlinson, but unable to ice the Rangers in Perth for a win which would have kept it alive at 5-6 instead of consigned now to the "spoiler" category.

 

BEEF of the WEEK

OFFICIATING, NBL.TV, floor wipers, same teams on FTA-TV, where do you want me to start?

How about we start and finish today with the media's lack of support for basketball.

I know it isn't the media's role to promote basketball just for the hell of it.

But the WNBL made history this round with its first-ever all-female three-person officiating crew and the lack of drum-beating and trumpeting of that nationwide is disappointing.

It's disappointing the media didn't seize upon it and disappointing BA did precious little beyond a story at the WNBL website, to maximise cover of a landmark day for the sport.

(If the ABC did something on Saturday, I apologise because I missed it, busy enjoying a Ned Kelly pie at Beck's Bakery.)

In the meantime, congratulations to Sarah Carey, Riannan de la Torre and Vanessa Devlin for making history calling the Lightning-Boomers game at Adelaide Arena on Friday.

More power to them.

 

PS

WHAT he said.

What he really meant.

Cairns Taipans forward Cam Tragardh after making it 2-0 in Reptile Rumbles over Townsville.

SAID - “We do (have their measure) – the stats don’t lie – but this league’s too good, any game you have to show up for because we are playing some desperate teams and they are all dangerous.”

MEANT - “Nyah nyah. We skinned you Crocs again. Deal with it.”