Basketball On The Internet.

A PAIR of the all-time greats of our league, Tom Abercrombie and Brad Newley will hang up their boots at the close of the 2023-24 season after stellar NBL and international careers, the sport considerably poorer for their loss. Outstanding players, both are even greater human beings.

This week they announced their imminent retirements from a sport and league they dominated throughout super careers, Newley with the shot at a Melbourne championship in the wings, Abercrombie needing New Zealand at its best this round to extend his stay.

A loss to Brisbane tomorrow would likely scuttle the Breakers and continue the quest for positions down to their final game of the season at Adelaide.

Abercrombie, 36, has logged 16 years in the NBL, all with the Breakers, was a key player in their four championship teams and the Larry Senghstock Medallist in 2011 as Grand Final Series MVP.

An absolute icon of the club, he is the epitome of Breakers Basketball and deserves to close his career in the way he played it - as a winner.

Newley, 39, broke into the NBL with Townsville Crocodiles in 2004, sweeping the Rookie of the Year, Best Sixth Man and All Star Game MVP awards in his debut. He spent a good portion of his 20-year pro career playing in Europe before returning to Sydney for a major rople in the Kings' return to prominence.

Both Newley and Abercrombie were national team stalwarts with the Australian Boomers and New Zealand Tall Blacks respectively, and incomparable ambassadors for the sport.

Hopefully they will stay in the game post playing careers as they have a wealth of knowledge and experience to share.

Of the seven matches to close the regular season this round, probably only the Cairns-Melbourne game has little impact on anything, unless Adam Forde can draw his currently distracted crew into a cohesive unit one last time before it is disbanded.

Illawarra-Perth is huge. A win would take the Hawks to 14-13 and clinch playoffs. A loss for Perth would conclusively reveal Illawarra has the answer for the Wildcats, as it twice already has shown in Perth.

Breakers-Brisbane is massive, NZ on 12-14, the Bullets 13-14 and playing their last game. NZ still has another shot against Adelaide but get this one - and even without injured star Anthony Lamb they can - and the Abercrombie send-off will be in the post-season.

South East Melbourne has been a nemesis for Sydney (12-15) and if the Phoenix get them again, it's all over. You would expect the Kings players to lift, regardless of sideline ranting. But what joy from an injury-sabotaged SEM season than to officially end Sydney's championship threepeat bid.

Tasmania and Perth could have a playoff showdown in the wind so how they approach this last match from a strategic viewpoint will be fascinating. Do you keep a tactic you might use in the final up your sleeve? Or do you just go for it?

The Wildcats have had the wood on the Jackies this season, so just as Perth needs to make a statement against Illawarra, Tasmania needs to make one here.

Having already clinched the regular season championship and most likely reached 20 wins at Cairns' expense, does Melbourne coach Dean Vickerman rest some of his studs and give his bench more time against Illawarra?

Maybe give Brad Newley a longer run that may not be as available in the finals?

Interesting questions but from a Hawks point-of-view, they will be firing on all cylinders.

It all closes in Adelaide with the Breakers' visit, where the only query 36ers fans will have is: Are the boys wearing the 1999 championship heritage uniforms? 

They haven't lost a game in the retro uniforms that harken back to Brett Maher, Darnell Mee, Martin Cattalini, Kevin Brooks, Paul Rees, David Stiff, Rupert Sapwell and Co and some magic must have rubbed off.

Then again, New Zealand needs this one badly. Wow. What a way to finish the regular season.

ROUND 20 TIPS
Illawarra has the formula for beating Perth. Or has it? This win will prove it.
At home and with the season on the line, NZ should be immune to Bullets.
United should gift-wrap win #20 over a Taipans team slithering in different directions.
Wouldn't surprise if Sydney lifted to win, but suspect another SEM upset.
Tasmania cannot let Perth sweep their regular season clashes, and will not.
If Melbourne rests stars, Illawarra wins. Otherwise, United might have too much.
Adelaide in its championship blue to finish with some NZ-inflicted blues.

NBL RANKINGS – WEEK 19
This          Last
Week       Week   Club
  1               2       Melbourne (19-7) Cruising to the finish line. Can take foot off pedal.
  2               4       Perth (17-9) Impressive finish over Cairns but facing a tough double.
  3               1       Tasmania (15-12) All coming together nicely but is Perth a nemesis?
  4               3       Illawarra (13-13) Closing against top two makes it tough. They're tough.
  5               5       New Zealand (12-14) All-or-nothing round will be a challenging finish.
  6               6       Brisbane (13-14) Win and relax, or lose and sweat it out. Easy choice.
  7               7       Adelaide (11-16) Hit the wall but can make one last trip to the well.
  8               9       South East (10-17) Can they sweep and eliminate Kings? Yes indeed.
  9               8       Sydney (12-15) Failed all the big tests and this is the ultimate one.
10              10      Cairns (11-16) Already packed, ready for planes and/or golf courses.