What is happening to the NBL? five games played this round, 5 teams scored well into the 90s. Are the teams beginning to find the best way to handle a 40 minute game?
Perth Annihilate Melbourne, 96 – 72
If social media was the only gauge measuring the buzz and anticipation in the lead up to a basketball game this this one was certain off the Richter. After Perth Wildcats owner Jack Bendat proclaimed Whos Patty? [sic]fans and comrades alike took to social media to release their thoughts to the masses. Whether you actually cared about this game or not (there was a derby going on in North Queensland) you certainly wondered how the NBL’s Round 1 player of the week would fair against arguably the best defensive backcourt in the league.
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The Tigers got off to a comparable start thanks largely to the role players who made plays to keep the Tigers in the game early. The Wildcats looked good when their starters were on the court but appeared to struggle with the benchies on leading in to half time.
By the third period the Wildcats had ironed out their kinks and established the game as their own and despite some Tiger bursts in the final term the game never really looked in doubt, the Wildcats holding out for an 18 point victory.
Tiger stars Patty Mills and Ayinde Ubaka we obviously frustrated by the intensity of the Wildcats guards. And although Patty Mills ended up leading the team in points (19) he did take a lot of shots to get here (7/19) including 3/10 from outside. Ayinde Ubaka completed a horror night for the Tigers back court going 0/9 from the field and turning over the ball five times. Cam Tragardh finished with 18 and Liam Rush’s return to Perth saw him with 12.
For the second week in a row Perth stood behind Kevin Lisch and Shawn Redhage. Lischy scored a game high 22 points at 9/13 from the field and Red-Dawg completing a fantastic homecoming netted another 21 at 9/14 from the floor. A definite ‘Welcome to the Jungle’ For Patty Mills.
Crocs destroy Taipans, 95-67
Before we get stuck into this game, why was Jamar Wilson putting his short on half way through the first quarter? Does anyone remember him wearing shorts prior to the footage of hi putting them on? I don’t. Being new to the country Australian basketball haves have wanted to see more of Wilson, but not like this.
Cairns looked lethargic from the opening tip, it can’t be jet lag as they didn’t have far to travel. Although 22 points isn’t a bad effort for a first quarter catch it was the Crocs that couldn’t be caught firing for 29.
Things didn’t get better for Cairns, losing every quarter eventually going down by 28 points to the terriers of the salt water. Granted that Wilson and Andrew Warren are players who look to run the Taipans should be looking at last year’s book for inspiration. Cairns were more effective when slowing the game down. Maybe things will change when Loughton re-joins the team. Wilson showed he has nothing to hide with this 11 points but it was Warren that led his team with 16 points and 7 boards.
The injury depleted Crocs managed to snap up this ‘Sunshine Swing’ with ease. Eddie Gill stamped his mark on the NBL with 21 points and 4 assists whilst Jacob Holmes had 14 points to go with his 8 boards. Peter Crawford had 15 albeit it a terrible clip (5/14). The Crocs weren’t looking too bad without their starting bigs. One would think that Ben Allen would be relishing the opportunity that has been given to him but the big fella has failed to show any life so far this season.
Breakers decimate the Kings, 98-61
What do you call a group of Kiwi basketballers? A collective. The Breakers collectively served the Kings behinds on a platter and although the Breakers are yet to play at home but they made themselves feel at home in Sydney against the Kings handing the Kings their biggest home loss ever.
With six players in double figures (Pledger & Corletto 16, Jackson 14, Wilkinson & Abercrombie 12 and Bruton 10) the Breakers always looked in control against a disorganised Kings unit. Cedric Jackson also found time to drop 8 dimes, Abercrombie swatted 4 shots and Pledger hauled in 12 boards to boot.
Sydney who scored a disgraceful 7 points as a team in the second period, currently find themselves at the same end of the table they did last season. Aaron Bruce is showing himself to be a good pickup and with time I believe the Kings will develop, it is a long season and things can change. From memory the Wildcats dropped their first few last season and they went on to become semi-finalists. Jerai Grant is an active player who needs to start doing the things that matter on the scoreboard and not those little things that go unnoticed. Bruce shot 5/13 for 13 points, Julian Khazzouh 3/13 for 12 points, in fact the quiet Magden was the only royalty to shoot higher than 50%. Boys get your suits out, this performance is the first stock exchange of the season.
Taipans strike at the Blaze, 91 – 82
Basketball came back to the home that the Brisbane Bullets once patrolled, if only for one game and to only once again get shot down.
Last season’s grand finalists came up against a team many thought would make a noise in this year’s finals.
In a game that had no more than a 3 pt margin between the first 3 quarters, this match up seemed to be one that would get the blood flowing back in the hoops lovers in the biggest city in Queensland and hopefully once again raise the profile for the re-launch of one of the stalwart teams of the NBL.
The Blaze, lead by Will Hudson with 16pts 8reb and having 4 other players in double figures looked to be the team everyone thought they were going to be this year, and on any other day, it would have more than likely been enough.
Wortho was his normal self with a solid 13pts 9reb, Gibbo had 15pts 7ast, Tom Garlepp had 13pts but only 2reb, which for a big man is hopefully just and off night and youngster Jason Cadee had a solid 12 pt outing.
The Taipans bounced back after a shocking loss at the hand of their Northern Queensland rival Crocs on Friday night and gave the Blaze all they could handle.
Lead by import Andrew Warren who was out to prove the nay sayers wrong after his horrible performance in Friday night’s clash and bounced back with a game high 28pts to go with his 4reb and 4ast.
Fellow import Jamar Wilson also gave some much needed help with 13pts 6reb and 4ast, old faithful Dusty Rychart was his usual workmanlike 14pts and 3reb and Brad Hill relishing his new role with 13pts and 7ast.
Play like this is not uncommon for the Taipans, on any given night they can flat out light you up or flat out stink, you just never know which version of the team is going to turn up.
The Blaze got the version they weren’t hoping for this night, and the Taipans doing it all without star forward Alex Loughton, can the Taipans keep up this form, or will they be flipping the coin to see which version turns up in round 3…………………………heads or tails?
Hawks swoop on Adelaide, 97 – 89
In a milestone game for one of the favourite sons of The Sandpit, they wanted to get a win for the guy who has been around since there literally was only sand in the pit.
The 36ers came into the Hawks home court wanting to get a win on the special night of favourite son Mat Campbell who celebrated his 500th game for the Hawks.
Renewed by their new off season additions and having a game under their belt (albeit at the hands of the red hot Wildcats) the 36ers are starting to gain team chemistry and believe the addition of Stevie Weigh, new signing Diamon Simpson and Chris Warren give them the firepower they have so sorely lacked in previous seasons.
Warren lead the way with 25pts including 4/8 from 3pt range, he was helped by Mitch Creek with 18 who was also efficient with 7/9 shooting from the field and Stevie Weigh who had 12pts and 6 rebounds.
New import and St Mary’s alum with Patty Mills was Diamon Simpson, who in his first game for his new club showed his potential once settled in with 15pts and 6reb in only 20 minutes, looks like the 36ers have found a Diamon in the Rough.
This night though belonged to the Hawks and their legion of loyal fans welcoming the milestone of their hometown hero.
And a fitting spectacle it was with Campbell as one of the 3 top scorers for the Hawks with 16pts, joining him was Rhys Martin and Oscar Forman, who seems to have picked up where he left off last year in the rebounding stakes and had a game high 11 for the game.
We will have to see how the Hawks do against some of the stronger opposition in the league, but as we have seen in years before, never under estimate a team coached by Geordie McLeod.
Can’t Buy a Damn Thing Award
People like Ayinde Ubaka and Ben Allen are spared from the shame of this award this week. This wee the award goes to the bright spark scheduler who thought it was a good idea to give last year’s champs a four game away game start to the season. The good news is that the Breakers haven’t dropped a game yet despite not playing one at home yet. The bad news is that local punters need to wait one more round before the get to watch their heroes in the flesh.
If the Breakers have been this good away then how good are they going to be at home?
Gimme my Change Award.
Players come and players go, that the way of competitive sport, but Mat Campbell has been around since the dawn of time. Playing his 500thgame this week, all for the Hawks the man known as “Soup” joins the likes of Brett Maher, Andrew Gaze, Mark Bradtke, Leroy Loggins, Ray Borner and James Crawford to become the 11th player to reach the 500 game mark (a feat that will take just over 6 full seasons in the NBA… if that was running, but a feat that takes eternity in the NBL).
Can you name any more of the NBL’s 500 gamers?
