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THE NBL playoff/play-in aspirations of every club not named Melbourne or Perth will go under the microscope across the eight matches in Round 15, our rankings reflecting the wide form variations which have made tipping a nightmare, beyond the always re;liable - expecting Bryce Cotton to shine. 

Brisbane, with its record chugging up to 9-11 now, hosts Tasmania (11-9), then Illawarra (8-9) which still has a couple of games in hand.

The first of those, before facing the Bullets, also will be on the road ... to Tasmania.

That trio of opponents easily could do each other a world of good, or bad, as they engage in a mini-series all of their own.

Not really in the top-six hunt but no-one is telling them that, the (6-13) 36ers first host teetering Sydney (10-10) before hitting Cairns (9-12).

Sydney then backs up against New Zealand (8-10) after the Breakers first have hosted Melbourne.

The United have lost two of their past three road games so may be vulnerable, NZ coach Mody Maor doing an impeccable and admirable job keeping his team focused on what they can achieve on-court.

Like Melbourne, Perth only has one fixture this round, and beating South East Melbourne at the Jungle should be tougher if the Phoenix suit their first-choice team.

But even so, SEM coach Mike Kelly needs to instill some form of epic desire in his crew, which now has dropped to the lowest rung in our rankings, which are based mostly on current form.

ROUND 15 TIPS
Beating Tassie at home is the one Brisbane simply has to get.
Ready for another Adelaide upset? DJ’s control a key V Sydney.
The road starts getting very long if NZ doesn’t beat Melbourne.
At home to surging Illawarra, Tassie will be tested again, but will pass.
Dropping off the pace, a Cairns win at home over 36ers is vital.
Perth has passed every test. South East can cause worries, but not more.
Huge for both clubs, Brisbane may have turned the corner on Hawks.
Grand final rematch looms as Sydney’s demise at NZ’s hands.

NBL RANKINGS – WEEK 13
This          Last
Week       Week   Club
  1               1        Melbourne (15-5) Can expect no favours from Vickers’ old crew.
  2               2        Perth (12-7) Who knows what to expect from SEM?
  3               6        Tasmania (11-9) Coming off an erratic period, this round is vital.
  4               7        Illawarra (8-9) Beating the beatables. The real tests start now.
  5               8        Brisbane (9-11) Round represents a chance to get record even.
  6              10       Adelaide (6-13) Spoiler alert! Sixers are surging under Scotty.
  7               4       New Zealand (8-10) At risk of dropping off pace without a 2-0 return.
  8               3       Sydney (10-10 Its best form is in the rearview mirror. 2 must wins.
  9               5       Cairns (9-12) Capable of so much more but time closing in.
10               9       South East (9-11) Unreliable, great or grate? Perth looms largely.