Breaker Breaker good buddy as JJs squawk
JUST exactly how Tasmania lost this one to New Zealand is difficult to comprehend. The JackJumpers won the boards 43-35, they dished 20 assists to 15 and made 16-of-30 3-point attempts, Sean MacDonald having a career day sticking 7-of-9 dialling long distance.
New Year's Eve? Champagne and Orange
CAIRNS sent 2023 into mothballs with a second resounding win over NBL leader and championship favourite Melbourne, Illawarra continuing its rapid rise under interim coach Justin Tatum by schooling Adelaide in front of a roaring sold-out New Year's Eve crowd in Wollongong.
Browned off, Bullets shoot down Phoenix
FROM the opening tip and Nathan Sobey's dunk within four seconds, it immediately was evident Brisbane was meaning business against another playoff wannabe in South East Melbourne, and the Bullets blazed on to a comfortable win, aided by Gary Browne's "moment of madness" and Sobey continuing on to 35 points.
Coaching or interfering? Kings win anyway
THERE was no shortage of scratch-your-head moments last night as Sydney saw off an undisciplined Cairns 101-82, Denzel Valentine with an NBL career-best 29-point haul in 23 minutes, Kings coach Mahmoud Abdelfattah running with some weird combinations and substitution decisions.
Wildcats deliver Sixers a sack of coal
WILDCAT superstar Bryce Cotton held the reins as his team of Grinches last night lobbed at Adelaide Entertainment Centre, dumping a sackload of coal on the 36ers before a late moment of unnecessary angst almost brought the party to an abrupt and unfortunate close.
NBL TotW12: Who owns Christmas bragging rights?
WITH so many games across the Christmas break - and Round 13 already underway tonight - separating teams to come up with a Round 12 Team of the Week was no mean feat, especially when quite a few teams split results, unfortunate in one game, then excellent in the other. Cairns, SEM, Illawarra, Perth, Tasmania - they all fit that bill.
NBL Rankings, Tips 13: Taipans to face United fury
CAIRNS smacked NBL leading United in Melbourne but it has been on a roller-coaster ride since while the Taipans' victim has been growing in stature. Casey Prather debuts for Brisbane, Mitch Creek returns for South East Melbourne. Round 13 is going to be unlucky for some.
NBL Wrap 12: Open to more such ideas
MELBOURNE stole the show across NBL Round 12, its open roof overtime classic with Perth setting a standard it will be difficult to duplicate, Ian Clark's 13-point haul in the five-minute extension keeping United on track, Bryce Cotton delivering a 36-point game to leave no doubt who genuinely is the league's No.1 MVP candidate.
MERRY CHRISTMAS ALL. WE'LL BE BACK ON DEC.27
WISHING all our regular and random readers all the best over Christmas. We're taking a brief break but will be back on December 27 with the latest WNBL and NBL news. In the meantime, we hope you enjoy the festive season and look forward to bigger and brighter activities in 2024.
Stairway to Heaven or Highway to Hell?
THE NBL's Season 2023-24 has just passed its halfway mark - unless you're Illawarra or New Zealand - and as it heads into a daunting second phase, it's time for a Christmas review. Is your team on the Stairway to Heaven, or driving down the Highway to Hell? Chrissie cheer? Or sack of coal?