Basketball On The Internet.

YES, it is still the United Nations-mandated "Good News Week" so starting this "Random dribble" by throwing out the hearty cheers to Gary Ervin, Andrej Lemanis, Rachel Jarry and Cedric Jackson on their individual accolades this week.

Ervin, Townsville's livewire import and an NBL MVP at Wollongong just a couple of years back, was named Player of the Month for January after averaging 21.8 points at a sizzling 52.5%, 5.5 rebounds and 5.5 assists per game.

That made it back-to-back PotM awards for Ervin and now sees him as less-than-a-longshot challenger to Action Jackson for the 2012-13 iiNet Championship MVP.

Jacko, meanwhile, showed how smoothly he is travelling with another Player of the Week accolade after delivering 22 points, five rebounds, eight assists and five steals as New Zealand routed its main championship threat Perth 98-81. And he hasn't missed any games.

Perfectly fitting too that in January, the month in which tennis reigns in Australia, Lemanis took the Breakers through 6-0 for his second Coach of the Month award.

Bulleen may not have set the WNBL alight this season but London Olympian Rachel Jarry has continued to blossom, claiming PotW honors with her 23-point, 10-rebound, four-assists, four blocks performance against Logan last round.

That's about as much good news as I can bear for now.


CANBERRA's exciting centre Brigitte Ardossi has been found guilty of deliberately tripping Townsville guard Rachael Flanagan and suspended for two WNBL matches.

OK, how does that fit with the "good news" theme?

She could have copped three games, right?

She also recognised her momentary lapse in reason and apologised to Rach.

And it also reinforced good sportsmanship is still a key issue in these pro and semi-pro sporting days. All good.

Think the Caps jumped the gun by suspending Ardossi before the league Tribunal investigated and inadvertently prejudiced the outcome. But it was fairly cut-and-dried on the video evidence, Ardossi pleaded guilty and the Caps also maintained their integrity as an organisation.

Good news all around.


GOOD news too - though it can be debated - that Australia's premier woman basketballer, Lauren Jackson will not participate in the 2013 WNBA season.

It's good because it means Inaction Jackson can properly heal from hamstring surgeries without rushing to fulfill a deadline for Seattle Storm. And the WNBA franchise has been equally gracious in accepting, understanding and supporting Lozza's position.

Of course, we all know it has to be good news because BA CEO Kristina Keneally was wheeled out for some quotes.

"Lauren is one of the biggest names in our sport and an asset to basketball worldwide, so I’ve got no doubt fans both here and in the United States are eager to see her back in action," Keneally said.

"But it makes sense for her to take the advice of her medical team and put her body first – her health and well-being are rightly top priority here."

So true. And we needed KK to tell us, given we don't have an Opals coaching appointment yet.

Or Boomers.

Maybe there is some work to attend to?
  

HOW big is tonight's Wollongong-Melbourne fixture at The Sandpit?

Given their ladder positions and respective struggles, it is huge but it's important to remember too their season-series is tied at 1-1.

Not only that but the Hawks won 74-66 (+8) in Melbourne while the Tigers won 80-72 (+8) at the Gong, making them not only 1-1 but zero on points difference. Every point in the final margin will matter tonight so expect a scrap right to the siren.

This game is big and the March 2 "final showdown" between these two veteran clubs will be as well. Just how big will be determined tonight.

Similarly, the NBL's longest enduring rivalry has another go-around in Perth where Adelaide has enjoyed some measure of success, even when it has been lower than a goanna's gonads.

Whether it is the fact 36ers coach Marty Clarke assisted Perth' sensei Oh Gracious Grand Master Bevo on a national junior team or Clarke's right-hand man Mark Radford assisted at Perth during its most recent championship, or even that Sixers Luke Schenscher and Stevie Weigh started on that title-winning Wildcat team, Adelaide has been something of a bogey to the NBL's most successful club.

Expecting that bogey to be blown in no uncertain manner this time but only if the Wildcats aren't debilitated (as usual) by the hoodoo factor.

And with that, let's check out the rankings this week.

NBL rankings

This Wk ... Prev

8 (8) 36ERS - Lost 11 of past 12, looks like 13 of past 14 after this round.

7 (7) TAIPANS - Had their chance against Melbourne and now it's the desperation derby.

6 (6) HAWKS - Keeping dream alive but "reality hit" was harsh in Perth. 

5 (3) KINGS - Needing to halt slide and Breakers won't offer much respite.

4 (5) CROCS - Sydney scalp was big and can now short-circuit derby rivals.

3 (4) TIGERS - Working their way up and among current "form" teams.

2 (2) WILDCATS - Bounced back against Hawks, now host nemesis Adelaide.

1 (1) BREAKERS - Beaten all three teams with it in top four in past 2 rounds. Next challenge?


WNBL Rankings

This Wk ... Prev

9 (9) WAVES - Can see light at end of tunnel, sadly it's the Sydney bullet-train.

8 (7) THUNDER - Even surrendered "spoiler" role to Caps and now host Rangers.

7 (8) CAPITALS - Shocked Townsville but Bendigo-Bulleen double in the "too hard" basket.

6 (6) BOOMERS - Should lower-case the Capitals and finish season with an exclamation point.

5 (5) FLAMES - Face form team Adelaide, then West Coast so should split.

4 (4) FIRE - Good double o/t win but loss to Caps not best prep for Dandenong.

3 (3) RANGERS - Will want to sweep Qld trip to flex their finals muscles.

2 (1) SPIRIT - Will bounce back against Caps but dropping in Adelaide was a surprise.

1 (2) LIGHTNING - Form team of the moment after taking out Dandenong and Bendigo.


THIS WEEK'S TIPS

BEEN reminded again it's Good News Week so before previewing the Wollongong-Melbourne game, let me start with some great news for Hawks' fans - everyone has come through this week unscathed ... so far.

(Well, that is if you don't count Gordie McLeod's sore throat and Mili Simic's paper cut.) The Hawkers looked the goods against Adelaide but crashed to earth in Perth, as so many have. They haven't won at home for a while so I'm tipping they rise to the challenge and beat Melbourne.

The last time Perth crashed to earth in Perth was when they gave birth to the Arena of Perth. The 36ers won, causing great mirth. As for wins since, there's been a dearth for Adelaide which I expect to continue, for what it's worth.

Sydney has lost five straight games and looked little like the team which smacked New Zealand way back when, with Corin Henry schooling the Breakers for 29 points. Kings fans fondly recall that period as "the good old days" and they will look back even more fondly after this encounter.

Twice already Cairns has lowered Townsville's colors in the Far North Queensland derby this season and the Crocs have had enough. This time, the Nevill-Ervin combination will put the snakes back in the basket.

It seems a season ago Adelaide belted Melbourne at Adelaide Arena, the Tigers twice since proving the 36ers' masters. This should make it three times.

TOWNSVILLE took a welt from Canberra, which doesn't bode well for Dandenong's visit, given the Rangers are at the other end of the WNBL scale. Again, if the Fire are expecting to advance past the post-season's opening round, they need to scorch here and they are a chance because Rangers' import Krista Phillips is out injured. Who could have guessed? Still like Dandenong to win.

After toppling Dandenong and Bendigo, Adelaide will be raring to get at Sydney. Just as Logan caught Lightning when they were down, so did the Flames earlier this season. And just like Adelaide handed Logan a belting in reply, it has a belting waiting for Sydney now too.

Bendigo should bounce straight back to the winner's circle by beating the Brigitte Ardossi-less Canberra, formally clinching the regular season championship and home court advantage for the playoffs. The dream nears fruition every week.

Alice Springs hosts its third Waves "home" game in three years when West Coast entertains Sydney. The Waves barely made a ripple last round but will be inspired here to show local supporters what they have to offer. It will make for a good match but it won't be enough to beat Sydney.

Bulleen has reasserted it is the best team outside the playoffs and will dismiss Canberra yet again while at Logan, Dandenong should have few issues repeating their win over the depleted and diminished Thunder.


KOFI Annan, Boutros Boutros-Ghali, and Kurt Waldheim walk into a bar. The barman looks up from where he is cleaning glasses, stares at them and says: "Is it Good News Week again already?"