Basketball On The Internet.

SOMEBODY asked me at the Preseason Blitz whether we were heading for another year such as a couple of seasons back when Perth and New Zealand were a cut above the NBL pack all season.

Even the teams which finished third and fourth had losing regular seasons (13-15 and 12-16) such was the disparity between the top two and the pack in 2012-13.

The inference at the Blitz was that the 2014-15 season, which tips off on Friday, has the hallmarks of a similar tumble back into six-team irrelevance while the revamped Perth and Melbourne teams set themselves apart from the rest.

No sooner had that suggestion been made than both Melbourne and Perth lost their Blitz opening games.

Not that preseason counts for much more than an initial hit-out.

But a great deal of stock is put in "new faces" and far less on stability of personnel, of organisation and of coaching. Two out of those three will put you in the picture. Three out of three spells consistent championship contention.

For example, the reason Perth is so consistently strong is because its core is kept intact (stability of personnel), its organisation is No.1 in the NBL and therefore can bring in those complimentary pieces - Kevin Lisch, James Ennis, Jermaine Beal, DeAndre Daniels, Earnest Ross - which ensure it stays at or near the pinnacle. 

Now look at Wollongong and virtually every year we wonder how they will compete successfully - yet they do. The core is kept intact and its coaching is first class.

Now that it is getting the "organisation" component correct, look for the Hawks to become a regular force.

Scroll down to Adelaide next. It kept its core intact last season despite its bomb shelter finish the year before because there was recognition it was lacking in the coaching area. The organisation might still be in the learning phase but the core is back and so is the coaching.

Pretty much every season, one team surprises everyone and often is the dark horse which sneaks into the top four.

That team easily could be Loggins-Bruton Cup-holder Townsville - odds favor teams which win preseason tournaments to be in the finals mix that season - but then why not Cairns?

For that matter, why not Sydney? Josh Childress gives the NBL its biggest NBA name yet, the organisation is solid, the coaching is experienced.

Did the Kings keep enough of their core? Or did they identify they needed to evolve and the squad now represents their new core for the foreseeable future?

And let's never overlook those sneaky buggers across the Tasman. Their core took a whack last season, their coaching changed and the organisation remained the only constant.

No surprise then they took a tumble. But would it be a surprise to see the Breakers surging back this season?

Not at all.

When all is said and done, Perth does represent the strongest qualities in terms of ticking all the boxes to remain at or near the summit.

At the end of the road which starts on Friday, I do expect Melbourne to be very close behind.

That said, last year Adelaide came out of no-where so why shouldn't someone else this season?

Lord knows, the talent is there in abundance, as I sifted through for News Corp at: http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/basketball/nba-import-quality-and-returning-stars-from-europe-give-nbl-huge-boost-ahead-of-37th-season-next-week/story-fnii09gt-1227079299450

But here is my team-by-team summary, with additional predictions at the end.

 

ADELAIDE 36ERS

Titles: 4

Last Year: 18-10, 2nd, Lost Grand Final

Coach: Joey Wright (187-133, 58%)

Returning: BJ Anthony, Mitch Creek, Adam Gibson, Anthony Petrie, Luke Schenscher, Brendan Teys.

New: Peter Crawford (Townsville Crocodiles), Tom Daly (Mount Gambier Pioneers), Sam Johns (Southern Tigers), *Daequon Montreal (Dandenong Rangers), *Jamar Wilson (Cairns Taipans).

No: Jason Cadee (Sydney Kings), *Gary Ervin (Wollongong Hawks), *Jarrid Frye (Auditioning for next series of Lost), Daniel Johnson (Stelmet Zielona Góra, Poland).

Best case: Chemistry is a key but history also helps, revealing many beaten Grand Finalists come back on a mission. With minimal disruptions, a return to the Championship Series is realistic.

Worst case: Montreal is a bust, PC has lost a step, Schensch spends more time on the massage table than at the scoretable and the 36ers crash back to the Marty Clarke zone.

Money Man: Jamar Wilson can make it happen and Adam Gibson often does, but watch Anthony Petrie when a game needs winning.

Time out: In the off-season, Mitch Creek had more 3s than a Bulgarian Beauty Pageant.

My Tip: 3rd

 

CAIRNS TAIPANS

Titles: 0

Last Year: 12-16, 5th

Coach: Aaron Fearne (56-62, 47%)

Returning: Shaun Bruce, Matt Burston, Cameron Gliddon, Alex Loughton, Cameron Tragardh, Stephen Weigh, Mitch Young.

New: *Torrey Craig (USC Upstate), Corey Maynard (Bryant University), *Scottie Wilbekin (University of Florida).

No: *Demetri McCamey (Oita Heat Devils, Japan), Clint Steindl (Townsville Crocodiles), *Jamar Wilson (Adelaide 36ers).

Best case: Burston stays healthy, Wilbekin is a star, Craig is set free to tear up the league, Loughton, Tragardh and Weigh remember how to win and the Taipans make it to the Grand Final.

Worst case: Craig gets the Jamar Wilson scenario, Loughton and/or Burston have a running battle with injury, Wilbekin loses interest and Fearne fixates on his bromance with Gliddon as the Taipans slither to another year of under-achievement.

Money Man: Scottie Wilbekin is a superstar but Cam Tragardh can make a big shot.

Time Out: It's time the club stop dining out on making a Grand Final four years ago - their defence last year was somewhere between non-existent and deceased - and this is the line-up to take the leap forward.

My Tip: 8th

 

MELBOURNE UNITED

Titles: 4 (As Melbourne Tigers)

Last Year: 15-13, 3rd

Coach: Chris Anstey (28-31, 47%)

Returning: *Stephen Dennis (injury), Auryn Macmillan, Owen Odigie, Nate Tomlinson, Lucas Walker, Mark Worthington.

New: David Barlow (Stelmet Zielona Góra, Poland), Daryl Corletto (NZ Breakers), Daniel Kickert (Iberostar Tenerife, Spain), *Jordan McRae (University of Tennessee).

No: Adam Ballinger (Wollongong Hawks), Chris Goulding (CAI Zaragoza, Spain), *Mustapha Farrakhan (Ready to show his talent, "just gimme a shot, coach"), Tommy Greer (ret), *Scott Morrison (Moving in Slow-Mo), *Ayinde Ubaka (Recalling them thar good olde days in Cairns...).

Best case: Steve Dennis pulls it all together on court and United's multitude of talents check their egos at the door, mesh to perfection and claim the club's fifth - or is it first? - title.

Worst case: Bickering over court-time and roles leads to at least one player getting cut, Nate Tomlinson stays on the angry pills, coach Chris Anstey and offsider D-Mac find their heads in a noose as performance falls short of expectation.

Money Man: Jordan McRae impressed at the Blitz, Steve Dennis has the moves, Daniel Kickert can be a monster and Wortho can make the big shot. It may be a "who's hot" on the night here.

Time Out: Jordan McRae's movement without the ball makes former club great (or was he?) Andrew Gaze look like a freeway cone but the big question here is will David Barlow play imaginary D around time-out huddles?

My Tip: 2

 

NEW ZEALAND BREAKERS

Titles: 3

Last Year: 11-17, 7th

Coach: Dean Vickerman (11-17, 39%)

Returning: Tom Abercrombie, Alex Pledger, Reuben Te Rangi, Mika Vukona, Corey Webster.

New: Duane Bailey (Super City Rangers, NZ), Rhys Carter (Adelaide 36ers), *Ekene Ibekwe (San Sebastián Gipuzkoa, Spain), *Cedric Jackson (Union Olimpija, Slovenia), Tai Wesley (Guam), Tai Wynyard (Breakers Academy).

No: CJ Bruton (unofficially retired), Daryl Corletto (Melbourne United), *Kerron Johnson (MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg, Germany), *Darnell Lazare (Centrelink), Jeremiah Trueman (Wuzza Bullfrogs), *Gary Wilkinson (Lone Rangas).

Best case: Corey Webster adds consistency to his flash, Mika Vukona adjusts to the officiating, Cedric is entertaining, Tai Wesley is Rookie of the Year, the winning feeling is back and the Breakers join Adelaide and United - or is it the Tigers? - on four titles.

Worst case: Abercrombie and Pledger's season-starting injuries are a sign of things to come, Ekene Ibekwe gets caught up in a paranoia the league's thugs - led as they were in the preseason by that wild-eyed Greg Vanderjagt and with other potential uncontrollable renegades such as Luke Schenscher, Adam Ballinger and Oscar Forman waiting in the wings - are out to get him, Jackson is not as devastating, Wesley's spin move is shut down and so are New Zealand.

Money Man: Cedric Jackson but don't be surprised if Corey Webster takes a quantum leap this season.

Time Out: If only Ben Allen, with his crazy and inflammatory antics, was still playing to also get under Ibekwe's skin ...

My Tip: 5

 

PERTH WILDCATS

Titles: 6

Last Year: 21-7, 1st, Won Championship

Coach: Trevor Gleeson (128-96, 57%)

Returning: *Jermaine Beal, Greg Hire, Tom Jervis, Matt Knight, Damian Martin, Shawn Redhage, Drake U’u, Jesse Wagstaff.

New: *DeAndre Daniels (University of Connecticut), Earnest Ross (University of Missouri).

No: Erik Burdon (Mt Gambier Pioneers), *James Ennis (Miami Heat, NBA).

Best case: Daniels is as good, or better - he'll assuredly be different - than Ennis, the team continues to tick along smoothly and title #7 becomes a Perth reality.

Worst case: Daniels is as good, or better - he'll assuredly be different - than Ennis, the team continues to tick along smoothly and title #7 becomes a Perth reality.

Money Man: Jermaine Beal didn't win the Larry Sengstock Medal by accident but DeAndre Daniels also owns a sweet shot.

Time Out: Perth hasn't had this many foreign-born players since it suited Crawford, Pinder, Grace, Hansen, Lichti and Fisher. At least its coaching staff is Australian. ... Oh. ... Wait.

My Tip: 1

 

SYDNEY KINGS

Titles: 3

Last Year: 12-16, 6th

Coach: Damian Cotter (R)

Returning: Cody Ellis, Tom Garlepp, Ben Madgen, Kevin White.

New: Angus Brandt (Oregon State University), Jason Cadee (Adelaide 36ers), *Josh Childress (New Orleans Pelicans, NBA), Madol Chol (Kings devt squad), Josh Duinker (Zorg en Zekerheid Leiden, Netherlands), Daniel Joyce (Canberra Gunners, SEABL), *Kendrick Perry (Youngstown State University).

No: Ben Allen (Mount Gambier Pioneers), *Charles Carmouche (No longer in charge), James Harvey (Waiting to see if he or CJ gets the first call), Brad Hill (Wollongong Hawks), AJ Ogilvy (Manresa, Spain), *Jesse Sanders (Limburg United, Belgium).

Best case: Childress slots in quickly and wants to play, Perry finds the NBL tempo, Garlepp and Ellis continue their growth as players, Duinker and Brandt adjust fast and the Kings are this season's surprise finalists.

Worst case: Perry struggles and the Kings bring back Jesse Sanders.

Money Man: Josh Childress on reputation, though Ben Madgen isn't too shabby taking the big shot.

Time Out: The Kings are confident Josh Childress will be more value than their previous import with the same surname, Randolph Childress mustering 10 games in 2001.

My Tip: 4

 

TOWNSVILLE CROCODILES

Titles: 0

Last Year: 10-18, 8th

Coach: Shawn Dennis (30-56, 35%)

Returning: Todd Blanchfield, *Brian Conklin, Mirko Djeric, Jacob Holmes, Steve Markovic, Mitch Norton, Greg Vanderjagt.

New: *Mickell Gladness (Reno Bighorns, D-League), Leon Henry (Southland Sharks, NZ), Clint Steindl (Cairns Taipans).

No: Peter Crawford (Adelaide 36ers), Russell Hinder (ret), *Josh Pace (Nelson Giants, NZ), Scott Kenny (Singing a Skyhooks song).

Best case: The players continue to work hard for each other, Steindl and Henry play with a point to prove, Gladness stays healthy, Blanchfield steps up and The Marksman takes some shots as the Crocs make it back to the playoffs.

Worst case: They become the best last-placed team in history for the second year in a row.

Money Man: Steve Markovic can make the winning play, be it shot, pass or great decision, but Mickell Gladness is a tower-of-power in the block, evoking memories of Clarence Tyson and Ray Owes.

Time Out: The Adelaide 36ers boast more members of the Crocodiles' historic 20th Anniversary team than Townsville.

My Tip: 6

 

WOLLONGONG HAWKS

Titles: 1

Last Year: 13-15, 4th, swept in semi finals

Coach: Gordon McLeod (184-226, 45%)

Returning: Tim Coenraad, Dom Cooks, Larry Davidson, Tyson Demos, Oscar Forman, Dave Gruber.

New: Kyle Adnam (Adelaide 36ers), Adam Ballinger (Melbourne Tigers), *Jahii Carson (Arizona State University), *Gary Ervin (Adelaide 36ers), Brad Hill (Sydney Kings), Luke Nevill (Kalamunda, Taiwan).

No: *Rotnei Clarke (Okapi Aalstar, Belgium), Rhys Martin (Singing Irish Eyes),

Best case: Ervin and Carson penetrate and dish, the shooters are "on", Ballinger and Hill play as men on a mission, Nevill provides a different look and, yet again, McLeod's men make it back to the post-season.

Worst case: Carson and Ervin duplicate their skills, Davidson struggles after returning from injury, the shots don't drop and the Hawks do.

Money Man: Gary Ervin can still get it done, provided it's not in Perth.

Time Out: The Hawks are concerned how it will impact on the rest of the team when Tim Coenraad returns from his course at Advanced Hair Studio.

My Tip: 7

(*Denotes import)
 

MVP: Daniels will lose votes to Beal and Martin and Redhage etcetera. Adelaide will have different faces stand-out on different nights. McRae will lose votes to Dennis, Kickert, Worthington et al. Childress, if he plays upto his rep, is a big chance. No-one stands out at Wollongong and similarly, New Zealand has a number of players who will ruin each others' chances.

That leaves Scott Wilbekin as the stand-out in Cairns - though he will drop votes to Torrey Craig (and Cam Gliddon if you-know-who is casting votes)  - and Mickell Gladness already has shown with his Ray Borner Medal win that he can attract attention.

Not having seen Childress in Kings purple yet makes it difficult but unless he rips it up, Gladness or Wilbekin have the inside running.

That said, on what I saw at the Blitz, Jordan McRae is pretty special but our voting system might do him in, as it did James Ennis last year.

ROOKIE: New Zealand recruit Tai Wesley has to be a huge chance for this.

Let the fun begin!