Basketball On The Internet.

FOUR - count 'em, four - Aussies were on the court today in the NBA game between San Antonio Spurs and Utah Jazz.

How cool is that?

Patty Mills and Aron Baynes of the Spurs, and Joe Ingles and Dante Exum for the Jazz, hit the hardwood together as San Antonio ran out 89-69 winner.

When Ingles, who started, subbed back in late in the third quarter, all four of the Boomers from Down Under - San Antonio's "veterans" and Utah's "rookies" - were on the same court.

That's a historic landmark moment for Australian basketball.

 

JUST when you're ready to start making your finals plans, our NBL and WNBL teams decide to shake it all up.

A few weeks ago, the NBL top four was only about jockeying for positions with New Zealand, Cairns, Perth and Melbourne "locked in".

Someone just forgot to tell Adelaide. And Sydney.

Wollongong is relishing playing spoiler, even though so far it mostly has been the season's hard-luck story when it comes to narrow losses.

And while Townsville started the season full of pluck by winning the Loggins-Bruton Cup, dropping at home to the Kings last round to chalk up their 14th loss has put them out of any post-season conversation.

But don't think the Crocs and Hawks can't yet determine just which teams do join the Breakers and Taipans in the playoffs.

Melbourne (10-10) obviously is vulnerable in fourth spot but third-placed Perth (12-7) doesn't exactly have a dream ride to the finals either.

SWITCH focus to the WNBL where Townsville and Bendigo started as a cut above.

The Spirit unquestionably have slipped somewhat in their "threepeat" bid and Dandenong has pulled itself back into the mix for a possible top-two finish.

Three of Dandenong's last five games are against Adelaide (twice) and West Coast.

If the Fire, Spirit and Rangers are slightly ahead of the middle pack, then that battle for fourth spot is on in earnest.

Sydney (9-8) still has Townsville A, Bendigo H, Adelaide A, West Coast A and Townsville H. Can foresee two, maybe three wins.

Melbourne (9-8) has Canberra H, Townsville H, Dandenong H, Bendigo A, West Coast A. That could be as few as one win, maybe two.

Canberra (8-9) rides in on Bendigo A, Melbourne A - what a crucial round that is coming up - Adelaide H, Townsville A, Bendigo H. That's probably two-to-three wins.

Head-to-heads are going to become extremely important.

Unlike Adelaide, West Coast remains capable of still playing a spoiler role making this run to the playoffs one of the most interesting this century.

 

Basketball On The Internet, Player of the Week

IT was a tough one this week because Brock Motum had a great game for the 36ers in their win over the Wildcats in Perth where Jamar Wilson played a wonderful support role.

Then Adelaide beat Wollongong with Wilson the difference and Motum enjoying an excellent support role.

Effectively they cancelled each other, opening the door for New Zealand's Cedric "The Entertainer" Jackson to steal the B.O.T.I. NBL Player of the Week award.

Jacko's folks had flown in from the US to watch him in action for the first time in New Zealand and he didn't let them down, posting his second career triple-double in the 88-75 win over Melbourne.

Cedric had 16 points, 11 assists, 10 rebounds and also blocked two shots and made three steals.

Coincidentally, Jackson's first triple-double also was against the artists formerly known as the Tigers, with 28 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists against Melbourne in November, 2012. 

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

THE B.O.T.I. WNBL PotW is Dandenong import Cappie Pondexter who left Bendigo without answers in the Rangers' big win.

Cappie's 17 points, eight boards, six assists and two steals set in motion Dandenong's back-to-back wins over last year's Grand Finalists.

 

YEAH, NO KIDDING

TELEVISION picked up dramatically over the weekend with ONE-Ten and the ABC both delivering improved broadcasts.

In the case of ONE's Friday night coverage of the Wildcats-36ers, already expressed my thoughts on that here on Saturday.

But it was virtually all the boxes ticked.

Then on Saturday, ABC trotted out Carly Wilson in a guest commentary role and she was terrific alongside Stephanie Brantz and Narelle Fletcher.

If that wasn't an effective audition for a post-playing career media career, then TV boffins weren't paying attention.

Wherever the WNBL is as far as broadcast rights go in the future, the day Carly hangs up her pink socks is the day her phone should be ringing with media opportunities.

(I was going to say "with media offers" but I'm sure she's already met enough drunken journos to have heard a few of those.)

Speaking of which, Ten decided yesterday that it being the start of Heritage Week, it should trot out a heritage journo and, dusting off the cobwebs, even I got an on-air guernsey.

It really is true TV makes you look as if you've gained five kilo. ... Ahem.

And for his thoughts on ONE-Ten's coverage of Friday's game, here's the opinion of regular reader Scott Landells:

"I agree that coaches being miked up during a game is unnecessary and detracts from the game.

"It felt like our curiousity as spectators was a higher priority than their commitment to coach and win at all costs.

"Coaching is pretty cut-throat and I always feel that definitely during a game they should be allowed to concentrate 100 percent on that.

"The stuff they offered up was basically banal, especially Joey Wright - great game, great crowd etcetera. No insight, clearly he was distracted = no benefit to anyone.

"And I also agree that it is very frustrating to miss even a second of action. Plenty of breaks for crowd shots. Otherwise, excellent coverage."

Couldn't agree more.

 

REVIEWS

Capitals V Flames (W)

THE League's No.2 frontcourt pairing of Abby Bishop and Lauren Jackson were the difference for Canberra as it damaged Sydney's season 69-66. Both had 19 points, with Bish grabbing nine rebounds and LJ working back to her best with 14 boards and blocking three shots. Leilani Mitchell's shot for the tie and overtime didn't drop.

 

Crocodiles V Kings (M)

BEN Madgen's triple put Sydney ahead 57-40, forcing Townsville into a desperate rear-guard battle to save this game and with it, the club's playoff hopes. Mickell Gladness went for 14 points at 78 per cent and 17 rebounds and the Crocs worked hard to get the deficit back to three but Childress (23 points) and Madgen (22) ensured the Kings survived 89-81.

 

Rangers V Spirit (W)

JUST as Cedric Jackson had his parents out from the US, Dandenong import Cappie Pondexter had her mother and grandmother out to see her put on a show as the Rangers ended their 12-game drought against Bendigo 89-82. Cappie was snappy for 17 points, eight rebounds, six assists and two steals, fellow import Annalise Pickrel also playing big, the Spirit back at the drawing board.

 

Wildcats V 36ers (M)

ARGUABLY the game of the season with a 40-minute record 58-57 first half scoreline in front of a record 13,559 - including new NBL Chairman Graeme Wade - at Perth Arena. But this time it was Adelaide, behind Brock Motum's 31-point career high and 13 rebounds who made the end-game plays, including a steal and dunk from Motum to clinch the victory.

 

Lightning V Fire (W)

SUZY Batkovic had her way with Adelaide which disappeared without trace after a stunning 65-point first quarter saw Townsville ahead 34-31. (The game-clock staying on 3:06 for several minutes and several baskets may have contributed a fraction too.) But as the game got tougher, Adelaide wilted and apart from some moments from 100-gamer Kerryn Harrington against Micaela Cocks, this got dull fast, the Fire away 98-75

 

Taipans V Kings (M)

MATT Burston produced a season-high 21 points with 15 in the first half as Cairns saw off Sydney 80-76. Cody Ellis had a season-best 18 points for the Kings who came home strongly but never were going to catch a Taipans team with its eyes firmly on a first-placed finish.

 

Flames V Boomers (W)

VERY few expected Sydney to be quite as decisive as it was in Saturday's 88-73 home win over Melbourne which has thrown a question-mark over the Boomers' season. Leilani Mitchell was exceptional with 26 points on 10-of-12 shooting and six assists, her opposite number Bec Cole not helped by suffering a broken nose in the second quarter.

 

Breakers V United (M)

CEDRIC Jackson was at his best and Jordan McRae at his season-worst, scoring just two points on 1-of-14 shooting as New Zealand beat Melbourne 88-75. Jackson posted a triple-double (16 points, 11 assists, 10 boards) as the Breakers made Melbourne's grip on fourth spot tenuous at best.

 

Waves V Fire (W)

IT was Steph Cumming's turn to turn up the heat on West Coast, with 17 points on an extremely efficient 5-of-6 shooting in a 92-72 win in Perth. In her 200th NBL game, Mia Newley had 10 points, five boards and four assists as Townsville shored up its top spot by taking care of business.

 

36ers V Hawks (M)

WOLLONGONG held Adelaide without a field goal for the final 5:50 of its 83-78 loss at Adelaide Arena, the 36ers 3-of-20 for the period and scoring only six free throws after watching their 77-63 lead evaporate with a 13-0 Hawks run. All of those came from Jamar Wilson in the final 19 seconds, leaving the Hawks with plenty of confidence for the return bout on Friday.

 

BIGGEST WINNERS/LOSERS

ADELAIDE again was the NBL's biggest winner this week, stunning 13,559 fans at Perth Arena by topping the reigning champs, then coming home to Adelaide and staving off Wollongong to now be 10-11, just a game behind fourth-placed Melbourne's 10-10.

TOWNSVILLE should have celebrated Jacob Holmes' historic 400th game in style, having already beaten Sydney three times. But instead the Kings stole the win and with it, any hopes the Crocs entertained of playing finals, making them the week's biggest losers.

DANDENONG has done it again, taking the WNBL's biggest winner accolade after making game #13 against Bendigo unlucky for the reigning champs and ending a 12-game losing run. The Rangers also asserted their title-contention bona fides.

DROPPING to the Flames after Sydney already had played and lost to Canberra may yet come back to bite Melbourne on the Boom, making the Boomers this week's biggest loser.

 

BEEF of the WEEK

IS it really this hard to get the flop call right?

The one the refs pinned on Sydney Flames forward Casey Samuels against Melbourne on Saturday was embarrassing for just how wrong it was.

With players still regularly falling down as if "shot", to pin one on Samuels when she was so clearly and obviously belted to the floor and over-balanced to stumble was an appalling travesty.

I know officiating isn't easy but they don't have to be downright silly about it.

And to Nathan Wieland in Adelaide, yes, when a player fouls BEFORE the ball is inbounded, it is an unsportmanlike, as every 36ers player was signalling when you called Jahii Carson for his late foul against Jamar Wilson.

Not sure who eventually tipped you off - clearly you didn't believe the Sixers or Joey Wright - but it was a good one to get right. Eventually.

 

Online

http://bit.ly/1yAwP9j

http://bit.ly/15hUCzy

http://bit.ly/1xJAITQ

 

PS

WHAT he said.

What he really meant.

Bendigo coach Bernie Harrower after Dandenong ended a 12-game losing skid to the Spirit.

SAID - “Some of the defensive breakdowns that we had, just leaving people who are hot shooting, it’s unacceptable and it’s unexplainable.”

MEANT - “We really needed Kristi out there today.”