United stands and it's hit the road, Jackies
MELBOURNE flexed its NBL Championship muscles today, inflicting a virtual go-to-whoa tale of woe on Tasmania in Game 1 of the best-of-five Grand Final, Chris Goulding leading a long-range missile bombardment which sent the JackJumpers down into the bunker in a smouldering 104-81 heap.
Then there were two, United, Jackies for the crown
MELBOURNE versus Tasmania for the NBL crown. It's the best-of-five Grand Final Series most craved - other than the stampede of fans Illawarra corralled during its extraordinary season and post-season, or anyone living in Western Australia. Shea Ili and Jack McVeigh ensured we'd get it.
Brad&Boti: LJ to Olympics, WNBL Final, NBL Semis
THE WNBL already is into its Grand Final Series, Perth owning a 1-0 lead in the Best-of-3 Final. But the NBL settles its issues in a double-header basketball bonanza of Game 3 semi final deciders tonight, and Brad Rosen and I are down for it at our Brad&Boti podcast.
The odds don't look great for underdogs
SHOULD it really be a surprise come NBL playoffs time that suddenly a number of factors fall the way of our Melbourne, Perth or Sydney-based clubs? They run marquee programs in our biggest cities, regularly drawing five-figure attendances. Places such as Hobart or Wollongong can't match that.
Milton 'the monster" as Jackies tame Wildcats
DESPITE the outrageous intervention of the NBL's amorphous "Games Review Panel" which ridiculously and quite embarrassingly outed Tasmania centre Marcus Lee from its semi final Game 2 against Perth, Milton Doyle was an absolute monster as the JackJumpers levelled the series at 1-1 tonight in Hobart.
Hickey leaves a bruise as Hawks rally in G2
FOR the second time in their NBL best-of-three semi final series, Illawarra and Melbourne could not settle the issue in regulation but this time Will "Davo" Hickey, Gary Clark, Tyler Harvey and Sam Froling led their Hawks to a home 113-108 overtime win, sending it back to Melbourne for a decider on Wednesday.
Pinder tears up JJ's scouting report
KEANU Pinder last night ruined Tasmania's gameplan with a career-best outside-the-arc blitz JackJumpers coach Scott Roth - nor anyone else - saw coming and which ensured Perth would head to Hobart and Monday's Game 2 full of confidence nursing a 1-0 NBL Semi Final Series lead.
Choking happened before screwing for beaten Hawks
YES, there is absolutely no question the referees last night screwed Illawarra down the stretch of regulation before Melbourne brushed the Hawks aside in overtime. But it's just as key how badly the Hawks choked, lacked on-court leadership and played with abject fear as Matthew Dellavedova led his crew to a 1-0 NBL semi final lead.
Time off or time now? Hawks face a challenge
HAS the FIBA break and wait on the "play-in tournament - a.k.a the top six eliminations - taken the edge off regular season champion Melbourne as it prepares for tonight's opening salvo of its semi final series against Justin Robinson and the surging Illawarra Hawks?
Brad&Boti: WNBL, NBL Finals, Goorj, Patty
THE WNBL and NBL playoffs are in full swing and there is news galore right across basketball so this week on the Brad&Boti podcast with Sydney Kings stalwart Brad Rosen, we focused on the events and news of the past few days, ahead of tonight's Southside-Melbourne semi final.