Basketball On The Internet.

HAVE you been naughty or nice and was it Santa or the dyslexic version - Satan - who gave you your season's greeting so far?

Let's see what we found under the trees across our warm snow-free nation this fine day, shall we?

Way over in the west, Bevo awoke today to find an 8by10 photograph of Rhys Carter wearing an eye patch, bandana and with a cutlass between his teeth. Who knows what that could mean?

Shawn Redhage found a copy of "How to win Friends and Influence others", signed by all the combatants in the All Star Game. How sweet of them.

Deanna Smith found "The Book of Remedies", sent to her by Mick Corkeron. (That one may test some memories!)

Moving along to SA, Marty Clarke found an egg-timer from CJ Massingale, just so he can properly keep track of his new import's minutes.

Suzy Batkovic found a big heart-shaped box of chocolates from a blushing media member. Oh dear. What a giveaway!

Over in Bendigo, Kristi gave Bernie tickets to see "Parental Guidance" while Bernie, in stark contrast, gave Kristi passes to see "Rise of the Guardians". Those wacky Harrowers!

Chris Anstey and Darryl McDonald made each other egg nogg, then opened their presents and gave that cute nose wrinkle when they saw they had both bought The Odd Couple. Aww.

Over in Dandenong, Mark Wright found a DVD of Monica Wright's career highlights which shocked him, I think. Who knew she could play that well and in that long a spurt?

Tom Maher was a little disappointed, I hear, that all he found today was a Bertocchi Christmas ham.

For Shane Heal, the fabulous Dustin Hoffman movie "Little Big Man" was nestled in his stocking. But across town, Karen Dalton, stormed out of a session of Les Miserables when she realised she had been duped and it wasn't a retrospective doco about her coaching career.

Across the Tasman, CJ Bruton found some lateral movement and Josh Bloxham received just what he wanted, a book on Geology. He figures he's a better chance to get into Earth's rotation than Andrej's.

At Wollongong, they are all on the same page so sharing copies of Gangham Style was no surprise, though Rhys Martin is still miffed Reece Mastin got to sing at the All Star Game and he didn't.

In Canberra, it just snowed on the Caps.

Up Logan way, a CD of "Call Me Maybe" lobbed at the club, the return address rubbed out but looking a lot like Cayla Francis's.

Chris Lucas received a copy of 100 Great Jokes, not that he needs to lighten up or anything.

Paul Woolpert, meanwhile, is still singing along with John Lennon's "Nobody Told Me There'd Be Days Like These", generously given to him by Ian Smythe, Jacob Holmes, Larry Abney, Jason Forte and Curtis Withers. Cheap bastards.

In Cairns, Clint Steindl received a Secret Santa double-pass to see "Here Comes the Boom", I'm guessing from Channel 10.

 

HERE come the rankings and yes, with the All Star Game last weekend, the NBL haven't changed from last week.

NBL Rankings

This Wk ... Prev

8 (6) TAIPANS - May be the most disappointing team not named Adelaide so far this season.

7 (8) TIGERS - A slight move upward, the potential for success still evident.

6 (7) CROCS - A good win over 36ers and have them again at home on New Year's Eve.

5 (5) 36ERS - Now lose Mitch for the rest of the season. Hard to be a believer.

4 (3) KINGS - Drop a spot after beating Hawks? Don't worry. They are just fine.

3 (1) WILDCATS - Had the tools to beat Hawks at the 'Pit so it was a disappointing loss.

2 (2) HAWKS - A 1-1 weekend without key men shows Wollongong is for real.

1 (4) BREAKERS - Lucky to be back at #1 after only beating Cairns but schedule looks good.

WNBL Rankings

This Wk ... Prev

9 (9) WAVES - Waving goodbye to 2012 from a familiar vantage point.

8 (7) CAPITALS - Not out of it, just playing as though they are.

7 (8) THUNDER - Taking out Bulleen was solid but still mainly just a spoiler.

6 (6) BOOMERS - Need to take stock during break to reclaim spot in the finals.

5 (4) FIRE - Loss to Sydney hurt and need Mia Newley back on court.

4 (5) FLAMES - Right now may be in best form of any team other than top three.

3 (3) LIGHTNING - Getting it done despite adversity. Has to help for later.

2 (2) RANGERS - The most talented team but getting the minutes Wright is the issue.

1 (1) SPIRIT - What a great story to close 2012. Even better if they go on to win it.

THIS WEEK'S TIPS

ADELAIDE will add Scott Christopherson to its line-up but unless a few players can pick up the  heart and energy Mitch Creek was generating, do not expect this to end well for the 36ers against the reigning champion and league-leading New Zealand Breakers.

Perth at full potency and playing well is a scary sight for any team in this league but if Sydney is going to get the Wildcats anytime soon, this will be the time.

New Year's Eve and the 2011 Grand Final re-revisit (it already happened a round back and New Zealand beat Cairns 97-76) will require the Taipans to improve by at least 22 points. You are what you eat, as the saying goes, and I'm expecting all that Christmas turkey to stuff Cairns up again.

Wollongong at home on NYE and with Auryn MacMillan ready to show his minutes against Perth were no fluke makes it hard to see a Melbourne upset. The Tigers slowly are improving but much interest here will centre on Adris Deleon and Jonny Flynn going head-to-head. My feeling is, unlike the All Star Game, Deleon, Lance Hurdle, Oscar Forman and Gordie McLeod will have the last laugh this time around.

Jacob Holmes out for six weeks after scans showed the bruising and stress fracture to his knee was way worse than first suspected means Russell Hinder will need to go back to the well and find something resembling his old form to help compensate. Or someone must wake Rip Van Allen up and remind him how some scribes had him as likely Most Improved this season based on his PSST form. He's just PSST it away. Either way, Adelaide will win this one.

 

JOSEPH, a heavily pregnant Mary and their donkey amble into an inn. The innkeeper looks up from where he is polishing goblets, stares at them and says: "You didn't book ahead? What is this? Some kind of joke? Hoyey vey. Hold on a minute then. I'll check if we have some room in the stables."

Merry Christmas