Basketball On The Internet.

THE 36ers released import Daequon Montreal today, creating Player Points System room to bring Brock Motum into their NBL line-up.

The club received the league's stamp of approval on its two-year deal with the 208cm Motum, his signature definitely altering the landscape for the rest of Season 2014-15.

So too did United's "come-of-age" performance against Wollongong and Townsville's massive 22-point ear-pinning of Perth's Wildcats.

As predicted preseason, picking winners this season is no picnic, Cairns also again setting tongues wagging by turning around a 17-point deficit to beat depleted Sydney.

Just as Motum joining Adelaide is a potential game-changer, so too Penny Taylor signing with her former club Dandenong.

In a WNBL competition equally volatile as the NBL, it won't be too late, despite Dandenong sitting in the dungeon on a 1-4 record and in a four-game losing slump.

 

Basketball On The Internet, Player of the Week

THIS week's B.O.T.I. Player of the Week is an easy one, and at the risk of being accused of an Adelaide bias, 36ers captain Adam Gibson not only was the stand-out of the round but had arguably the single most impressive performance of the season.

In the absence of playmaking import Jamar Wilson (hamstring), Mitch Creek (ankle) and with import Daequon Montreal restricted (hip flexor), Gibbo took it upon himself to deliver a career-best game which even had coach Joey Wright singing his praises as the 36ers beat New Zealand 93-86.

Two weeks ago at full potency, the Sixers lost by 21 but Gibson showed why he was the only NBL player in the Boomers for the World Cup with 34 points on 9-of-13 shooting, six rebounds, nine assists and six steals.

His first quarter delivery was 11 points on 5-of-5 shooting, two assists and a steal. From there, he got better!

He scored Adelaide's last nine points to preserve an invaluable victory - combining last week's performances by B.O.T.I. PotW winner Scottie Wilbekin and NBL PotW winner Damian Martin in an absolute tour de force.

He even "did a Damo" in the second quarter when he dropped off Cedric Jackson defensively to help Anthony Petrie in a double-team with Tai Wesley on the block.

Gibbo stuck his hand in, deflecting the ball off Wesley's leg toward the sideline. Wesley ran it down, saving the ball back into play with a flick to near the top of the key. 

But Gibson was the first to react, jumping between Jackson and Ekene Ibekwe to belt the ball forward, though it looked headed out of court at the sideline just over centre.

Instead, the relentless Gibson scurried the ball down past Ibekwe, gathered it, then drove hard to the hoop where he was fouled by Reuben Te Rangi and went to the stripe to conclude a simply sizzling piece of will-power play. That play followed a wicked left-hand baseline bounce pass to Petrie for an easy basket.

Sure, Jordy McRae's 360-dunk for United against the Hawks was extra-special but it was pure "hats off" athleticism. Gibbo's was out-of-your-seat relentless effort, energy and inspiration. He easily is this round's B.O.T.I. PotW.

PotW Winners

Rd1 Scottie Wilbekin
Rd2 Brian Conklin
Rd3 Scottie Wilbekin
Rd4 Adam Gibson

EXPECT the WNBL's Player of the Week to be Abby Bishop. She was (and is) sensational as Canberra slapped away Dandenong Rangers 101-72. Abs had 28 points at 67 per cent, 12 boards, three assists and a steal and drained 3-of-4 three-pointers.

Caps fans can hardly wait until LJ returns so she and Abby can challenge "The Batgirl & Cayla" as the league's premier frontcourt dynamic duo.

 

Reviews

Spirit V Rangers (W)

AHEAD by 10 at halftime, Bendigo blew this out with a 24-15 third quarter, setting up the 97-75 win. Gabe Richards had 20 points on a perfect 10-of-10 shooting and Kelsey Griffin a double-double with 13 points, 10 boards. Alice Kunek made it back for Dandy with 14 points.

Breakers V Crocodiles (M)

CEDRIC the Entertainer was at his most potent with 17 points, five boards, six assists as NZ ran down Townsville 84-70. Mickell Gladness had 14 points and eight boards but Mika's defence on Brian Conklin (1-of-13) was the key, erasing a big focus of the Crocodiles' offence.

Fire V Lightning (W)

SUZY Batkovic and Cayla Francis combined for 43 points and 28 rebounds to throw the challenge out to any other "dynamic duo" as they helped Townsville turn a 36-36 halftime score into an 86-60 runaway win. Adelaide had no answers after midway through the third period.

Hawks V Wildcats (M)

DOLLA-Beal reigned with 14 of his 25 points in the first quarter, setting up another Perth win over Wollongong, this time 83-64 for the Hawks' third home loss in succession. Earnest Ross scored 13 in his best game while Gary Ervin had a reason for his lack-of-productivity against the 'Cats, sitting out the second half with a back injury.

Capitals V Rangers (W)

ABBY Bishop made this game her own with a 20-point first quarter which set a tone for Canberra and put the Capitals en route to one of their most convincing wins for a couple of seasons. The 101-72 rout was built on Bishop's 28 points at 67 per cent and 12 boards, Dandenong as confused as a Mark Wright time-out.

Taipans V Kings (M)

A 31-8 final period by Cairns? Say what? From 11 up, Sydney crashes 62-74? As if the Taipans needed further morale and/or confidence boosting but this only will add to the fervor. As Aaron Fearne said, "the energy in the building was unbelieveable", Scottie Wilbekin leading Cairns to 6-0.

Flames V Lightning (W)

JESS Foley made the big shot to take this past regulation, then in the overtime, Angela Marino stuck two triples and enjoyed an "and one" to give Adelaide the buffer it needed to pull off a 94-91 overtime upset. Foley stayed big too as Sydney was left wondering why it didn't schedule tip-off for 5pm.

United V Hawks (M)

JORDAN McRae went off for 32 points at 58 per cent, threw down a memorable 360-dunk and Melbourne broke out of its funk, beating Wollongong 88-75. Mark Worthington continued his consistent season with a 15-and-nine points-boards double as United's 28-13 third period broke this open. Worth's spekky block led to McRae's slam. Find it on youtube somewhere.

Waves V Boomers (W)

TESS Madgen found her touch with 22 points at 62 per cent, and enjoyed an additional seven assists and five rebounds as Melbourne broke its duck with a splash in Perth, stunning West Coast 68-53. This one was definitely one that got away for the Waves but a much-needed win for Melbourne, centre Nat Burton also enjoying her first trip home.

Crocodiles V Wildcats (M)

YES, I liked Townsville for the win here but never would have picked it to be by 22 over Perth. The 102-80 win was built on a 50-31 second half, The Marksman leading the way with 20 points and five assists, The Conk with 18 and Todd Blanchfield 17. Here's a surprise. Trev Gleeson copped a T.

36ers V Breakers (M)

ADAM Gibson and Brendan Teys set an immediate tone, attacking with 11 points apiece in the first period (Gibson 5-5, Teys 4-5) as Adelaide made a mockery of its injury list to purge NZ 93-86. A 16-point final quarter bombardment by Tom Abercrombie brought this back from a 14-point margin to two before Gibson (pictured below) steered his team to safety and a memorable victory.

 

BEEF of the WEEK

COPPING out again this week after receiving another terrific email, this time from journo colleague Steve Barrett.

Steve writes: "Have to say I completely agree with John Merriman's thoughts on the NBL website as mentioned in your blog.

"Maybe I'm getting fussy as I get older, but I'm not a gigantic fan of having four (four!) dead links on the front page of any website (including in this case a supposed link to the schedule for the pre-season which has since been completed) as well as other dead links in some of the subheadings.

"The part that irks me is you just wouldn't see this shoddiness on the AFL, A-League or Cricket Australia websites ... probably not even on State baseball or ice hockey websites either, when we should be striving to reach the standard of ESPN.com or the like.

"The NBL dispensed with Pagemasters during the off-season to cut costs and while Pagemasters didn't always get it perfectly right, the league is finding it tough, now producing all the online content in-house and asking the clubs to provide all the match reports.

"I confess that I am a grammar and spelling pedant but some of the match reports, now written by volunteers, make me cringe.

"As a rule, I don't like bagging volunteers or young journo students on the way through... but man, I cringe when I see "Woollongong Hawks" misspelt or "ex-sixer" wrongly cased and a whole bunch of other stuff ... I feel like editing it from top to bottom and sending it back."

So do the rest of us Steve. Until the NBL takes itself seriously, how can the rest of the world?

 

YEAH, NO KIDDING

NOT about to have too big a crack at some of the stuff out there purporting to be news when it is full of inaccuracy, News Corp as guilty as anyone, but did love this alleged "quote" from United coach Darryl McDonald after the win over the Hawks at Hisense.

"The fact we got them on their home court, we might have got lucky there," he "said".

So either D-Mac was misquoted or was so thrilled to win, didn't know where he was.

 

BIGGEST WINNERS/LOSERS

ADELAIDE was the round's biggest winner from Townsville, the Crocs' loss to NZ tempering their ranking here despite the great win over Perth. But depleted, Adelaide whipped the Breakers and now have Brock Motum coming on board. The 36ers are the biggest winners.

WOLLONGONG remains the biggest loser, now with three home losses in a row, a bit of fan love lost after cutting popular Dave Gruber and 1-7 from eight games, the most played by any team so far. It is looking a little bit grim.

DANDENONG was the WNBL's biggest winner this week, announcing the signing of Opals captain and FIBA World Championship AllStar Five selection Penny Taylor in a coup for the club and the WNBL. BA please take note and get some mileage out of this.

DANDENONG also was the round's biggest loser, twice belted and sent crashing to the league bomb shelter in a four-game losing rut.

 

Online

http://bit.ly/1wqUwiB

http://bit.ly/1EbWeGY

 

PS

WHAT he said. What he really meant.

BREAKERS coach Dean Vickerman after the win over Townsville, speaking about the great job Mika Vukona did on Brian Conklin.

SAID - “His leadership and effort tonight was outstanding, he had his little patch after half-time when he was quiet but once he was wound up his activity levels were outstanding."

MEANT - "See what can happen Mika when you stay out of foul trouble?"