NBL Rankings, Tips 18: End of the road looms
THE top-six playoff/play-in quest could hit the end of the road for a couple of teams in NBL Round 18 with teams competing for post-season participation squaring off, Cairns-Tasmania tonight, Adelaide's two matches pivotal, Illawarra and Brisbane on the brink and New Zealand desperate for the head of NBL arch rival Perth.
NBL, WNBL - Time for zero tolerance re referees
BOTH our elite men's and women's national leagues like to erroneously claim the mantle as the world's #2 competitions. What world is that? Uranus? Because that's such a load of crap and the biggest single reason now is because our officiating has not kept pace with our playing standards. And there is zero public accountability.
Brad & Boti: Opals, Paris, WNBL and NBL
IT WAS all largely quiet on the WNBL front this week past, cyclones notwithstanding, but Brad Rosen and I talked Opals and Paris Olympic qualification before we reviewed Round 17 of NBL action and looked forward to what the rest of the season promises.
Ninnis ripe for fulltime NBL return. But where?
ADELAIDE's public inaction on retaining interim NBL coach Scott Ninnis looks set to backfire with at least two rival clubs ready to target him as part of their 2024-25 plans, the 36ers pontificating while waiting on the future of New Zealand Breakers head coach Mody Maor.
Is it me or anyone else? NBL Rd17 Wrap in full
THERE's a few questions and observations to lead off the overall Round 17 NBL Wrap before we provide you the convenience of reading (or ignoring) our match reviews, compiled here all in one place. But first, how boring is the match commentary on every game promoting the forthcoming "No Bull Tour"?
NBL TotW17: Obvious candidates fall away
THE opening match of NBL Round 17 looked as if it comfortably gave us our Team of the Week - South East Melbourne Phoenix - and our Team of the Weak As Pi$$ in Sydney. Easy. Time to put our feet up and relax ... but then Illawarra beats Perth, then Perth beats SEM. Then Sydney beats Melbourne! How infuriating!
NSW double closes big round: NBL
IT WAS a big day for NSW's two NBL clubs, both in the thick of the battle for top-six berths, Illawarra battling back from a double-digit deficit to hurt New Zealand's chances and Sydney burying the memory of its pathetic demise at South East by beating Victoria's higher-ranked outfit Melbourne, Makuach Maluach again to the rescue.
Sixers shine, Phoenix fight it out: NBL
ADELAIDE last night took its 2024 record to 5-1, to 6-5 under interim coach Scott Ninnis and to an NBL outside finals chance 10-14 overall when it finally skinned the Taipans, undermanned South East again heroic but going down fighting at home to Perth, Mitch Creek once more leading the way.
JLA repels Bullets, Breakers back: NBL
THEIR backs against the wall, New Zealand pulled out a big game to stifle Tasmania but in Brisbane, the Bullets once again showed they are not yet up with the NBL heavweights, following their heavy loss to Perth with another big one to Melbourne in Jo Lual-Acuil's return game.
Magic night for South East Melbourne, Illawarra: NBL
THERE was a shining bright full moon across Australia last night. Wild brumbies ran thundering across the valleys. Wolves bayed at the night sky. Kings were beheaded, Wildcats tamed. Kids and outlaws hunkered together around Mitch Creek as legends were born. The NBL's annual "upset round" was underway.