Basketball On The Internet.

 

NO-ONE is going to argue about New Zealand's Mika Vukona winning the NBL's Player of the Week award now are they?

Have you seen the guy? Why would you argue with him about anything?

Plus a 15-15 double-double is pretty impressive in a 73-71 home win over Townsville, let's be honest.

And as impressed as I was again with Bendigo's Gabrielle Richards claiming back-to-back PotW awards in the WNBL, it proves to me that the women's league's decision to have this award decided by a fan vote each week is no less flawed than any other system.

All you need is a strong fan base and they will get you across the line, whether you were the best candidate or not.

I have no quibble with Kristi or Gab claiming the Week One and Two awards respectively, but was Gabby's effort of 23 points and 13 rebounds in a 74-51 home rout (of a West Coast that Bendigo already hade beaten in Perth) better than say Suzy Batkovic's 24-point, 17-board haul?

Batkovic did that at Logan in a must-win 72-62 road success for Adelaide, and for good measure had four blocks, two assists and two steals. Richards had one block, no steals and no assists.

A PotW has to be judged on however many games his/her team plays in the given week and while Adelaide played two, Suzy was injured against Logan so that was her only game for consideration.

(Those calling for Jenni Screen to be PotW after going 10-of-11 for 23 points in the Lightning's upset over Townsville may be overlooking her three points on 1-of-6 shooting against Logan, which also has to figure in calculations.)

OK MIKA, you are far from forgotten.

Apart from the big fella's 15-15, he also had three assists and three steals and shot at 55 per cent.

Phew. Vukona can get pretty fiery before he has that first cup of coffee in the morning. He even got fiery in a time-out to lift his Breaker brothers. And he was very snappy with the Crocs.

IT WAS a big NBL round for Cairns, one way or another.

According to the league: "Sydney has had the wood over Cairns in NSW since the Taipans were formed in 1999. The North Queenslanders lost all 14 matches played in Sydney until November last year when the Taipans won at the Kingdome for the first time ever, 85-67."

So to put the Kings away 88-68 in Sydney was big for Cairns on Friday.

But it was the other way around in Adelaide where the Taipans were on a 3-0 run and had chalked up a 6-0 mark against the 36ers during Marty Clarke's time at the helm.

Clarkey got the monkey off his back with an Adam Gibson-inspired 85-81 success, leaving the Breakers as the only team Adelaide has yet to conquer during his run as an NBL coach.

GARY Ervin maintained his record of never scoring less than nine points with/at Wollongong, with nine against his former club at the Sandpit in Townsville's 66-84 loss.

In his Crocs debut, the 2011 MVP scored eight points which is a career low. At the Hawks, nine was his lowest tally in 27 games.

FORMER Lightning stars who also "made good" elsewhere, namely Abby Bishop and Cayla Francis, are thriving in the land of the baguette.

Bishop, the Abdominator, is starring for Perpignan in France, leading her team with 16ppg, which is also good enough for second in the league. Perpignan is 3-2 and currently seventh.

Cayla is just off delivering a weekly double-double (11.2 points and 9.8 rebounds) playing with Marianna Tolo for Aix-en-Provence. She leads the league in rebounds and blocks (2.2 per game).

The pair, who clashed at Hillcrest and Mount Barker back in the day, square off for the first time this season on Sunday (Aussie time).

YES, the All-Star game is back in all its glory and you can catch up with the latest news about it at adelaidenow.com.au or click this link: http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/basketball/adelaide-arena-to-host-all-stars-match/story-fndekpx4-1226502628453

If you want to read more about the NBL, my Around the NBL column also is up at http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/basketball/around-the-nbl-sign-up-tom-abercrombie-for-all-stars-slam-dunk/story-fndekpx4-1226502603800  for your consumption.

HERE they are, this week's rankings after Round 3.

NBL Rankings

This Wk ... Prev

8 ... 5 KING - Schooled at home and with a tough road trip, plus no James Harvey.

7 ... 7 CROCS - Good at NZ, bad at Wollongong but can see the light now.

6 ... 6 TIGERS - Played some solid ball against Perth but 25 turnovers ... and NZ next.

5 ... 8 TAIPANS - A big jump after an impressive 1-1 roadie and Dusty coming back.

4 ... 4 36ERS - Not where they want to be yet but solid enough over Cairns.

3 ... 3 BREAKERS - In a holding pattern, win over Crocs barely good enough.

2 ... 2 HAWKS - Who says the Hawks fly under the radar?

1 ... 1 WILDCATS - Steady as she goes for Capt Silverbeard's hardy crew.

WNBL Rankings

This Wk ... Prev

9 ... 8 WAVES - Thrashed twice and happy to get home to host a depleted Lightning.

8 ... 9 FLAMES - Karen gave us all a new saying this week. Check Around Round 3 to find it.

7 ... 7 THUNDER - Had Lightning at their mercy but missed the pot of gold.

6 ... 5 BOOMERS - Split two road thrillers and question-mark over Jarry's health.

5 ... 6 CAPITALS- Broke through and now host a shakey Thunder. Only way is up.

4 ... 4 FIRE - Lucky to hold ranking this week after strangling the golden goose.

3 ... 3 LIGHTNING - Down but never out, Adelaide showed great heart for a 2-0 trip.

2 ... 2 RANGERS - Emphatically dumped the Waves and ready to put out the Fire.

1 ... 1 SPIRIT - Home test against Dandenong at full strength will challenge the streak.

THIS WEEK'S TIPS

AS crap as I have been tipping the WNBL, I have only blown one so far in the NBL and that was Perth thrashing New Zealand in Round One in Auckland. Didn't see that coming and while Perth winning was no stop-in-your-tracks dead-set-shock, the margin was.

All self back-patting out the way, this week is much tougher but you have to take New Zealand to break Melbourne, Townsville to open its W account against Sydney and Cairns to also mock the Kings. Adelaide-Wollongong is a toughie - they went to overtime at the PSST and match up well. The 36ers aren't quite in sync yet which tends to make me lean to the Hawkers although this is exactly the type of fixture the Sixers have to win if they want the crowd to go from 4000 to 5000.

Four out of six was my WNBL strike rate last round, the best I have been so far but come on, you know women are erratic. (That'll get me an email or three).

For what it's worth, I expect the Fire to splutter on the road at Dandenong and Bulleen, though I only favor the Boomers if Rachel Jarry plays. Logan is on the road to Sydney and Canberra, and finally the Flames should fire up, as should the Caps at home. West Coast thumped Adelaide at the PSST and both sides will recall that vividly. Lightning this time though. The biggie is the top-of-the-rankings clash between Bendigo, at home to Dandenong which it already has beaten on the road. Then again, Jenna O'Hea is back for the Rangers. Then again, they are backing up after playing Townsville. OK. Against my better judgment (whatever THAT is), I'll stick with Bendigo.

A SCOTSMAN, an Englishman and an Irishman walk into a bar.

The barman looks up from where he is cleaning glasses, stares at them and says: "What is this? Some kind of joke?"