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Random dribbling - That's a Wrap
TweetCAN barely wait to get to Dandenong this week and no, it's not just to catch up with my Rangers niece Sara (though that's always great too)!
But with the 2012-13 iiNet NBL Championship looming, this week's joint NBL-WNBL Preseason Tournament cannot come soon enough.
The chance to see everyone, and at very close to full potency, under one roof, is a fabulous first at a time when we will be able to see every game on NBL.TV (get your earlybird special before it runs out this week!) this season.
BA CEO Kristina Keneally was up in Townsville this week touting the likelihood the WNBL also might pull off an all-games-covered viewing deal so no-one can say the sport isn't on the go.
That's why it's time for us junkies to be getting twitchy about who can, who might and who will in Season 2013.
ON the courts this week, we have seen Wollongong come back from an opening loss to New Zealand in a raucous Christchurch, with wins in Dunedin and Hamilton.
Should we be surprised?
I mean, factoring in the regular absence of key players through preseason games, I'm pretty sure you can find my September 5 blog saying under-estimate the Hawkers at your peril.
That was after they touched up Melbourne and now they have come home from the land of the long white cloud in pretty good shape.
And that's BEFORE adding Adris Deleon.
The Hawks' match against Adelaide on Thursday - the 36ers are 5-0 in the preseason but the quality of their opposition has been questionable - is one I am truly looking forward to in Dandenong.
THE Kings are 2-2 against the Mango Munchers, coming off two losses to Townsville in Toowoomba this weekend after twin wins over Cairns in Tamworth earlier.
Read precious little into any of that beyond Rusty Hinder is back and progressing nicely for the Crocs, at least one of Sydney's imports looks a keeper (the other one still has work to do) but no-one was at full strength, which may have to wait for Dandenong! You beauty!
HAD a few yarns up on adelaidenow.com.au which you may find worthwhile so here's a few links:
PRETTY pleased to see Brendan Joyce get the nod from his peers as President of the inaugural NBL Coaches Association, Breakers boss Andrej Lemanis the vice-president.
The association's intentions are very positive and it's been a long time coming.
But I can just see the first meeting and Brendan with the gavel.
"OK, ok, shut the &#$@ up you loud-mouthed mutha-&#$@%*s or we'll never get any of this &#$@^%! $#!+ done."
FORMER Taipans prodigy and future Boomers boomer Nathan Jawai has had a day out off the bench for Regal FC Barcelona, with a game-high 21 points against Lukoil Academic.
He shot it at 57 per cent, grabbed four boards and blocked a shot in 23 minutes and in front of 3500 as Barca won 71-69.
For those bemoaning Nate's omission from the London Olympic team, trust me, the ball is completely in his court. No-one has shut any doors on him.
All the Boomers ache to see is the type of commitment which made him NBL Rookie of the Year in 2008.
HALL of Famer Cal Bruton has his "Bruton 2-on-2" tournament looming at Tuggeranong on September 29, with four age groups from 14-and-under to 31-and-over, men and women both invited to compete.
The two-player teams will square off in a 12-minute game (four three-minute quarters) and with a 13-second shot clock.
"It will be exciting because players will have to keep moving," the Black Pearl said.
"This tournament will have a carnival-like atmosphere – all you really need is a partner to play.
"This concept is designed to teach teamwork, there’s been a lot of dynamic duos to play together.
"There’s nothing like having a partner and going to the courts, playing together and reading off each other."
The tourney includes a two-hour training camp run by Cal, teaching fundamentals of the game.
For more information or to register, visit www.blackpearlbasketball.com.au.
Always great to see the Hall of Famers still staying involved. Our game needs them and does a pretty shite job of looking after them frankly.
THE Wildcats splitting two games with Cairns tends to make me think my earlier prediction Perth (and champion NZ) may be back-to-the-pack marginally, is on the money.
Rob Beveridge's core group stays intact but losing Luke Nevill still means Matty Knight will have to stay healthy and Jesse Wagstaff must continue to blossom.
And it also may be time for some of the Trueman Show now, with Jeremiah really needing to deliver on his undoubted potential.
Shawn Redhage remains a prime-time player, Kevin Lisch is our top guy and I am not suggesting for even a millisecond Perth won't be tough or around the mark.
(Just that its occasional glint of invincibility will no longer be as evident.)
ANYWAY, that's a wrap as far as the build up goes.
It's time for the real preseason to begin and then we can get into the REAL real stuff at long last.
Looking forward to seeing the new imports, how players adjust to increased (or decreased) roles, so many of our great Opals Olympians.
All roads next week lead to Dandenong. Well, apart from the one leading to the MCG on Saturday...
A BABY seal walks into a bar and orders a Canadian Club.
The barman looks up from where he is cleaning glasses, stares at it and says: "Is this some kind of joke?"
