Basketball On The Internet.

EXPECTING South to prevail in the NBL All Star Game at Adelaide Arena on Saturday, not just because it is "home court'' but because of the Gold Coast connection.

South's bench includes Adam Gibson, Anthony Petrie and Jason Cadee (36ers), along with Chris Goulding (Tigers), all Blaze teammates.

If in doubt, South coach Andrej Lemanis can just rest his starters and tell his bench: "Go play some GC ball fellas.''

Of course, North guard Adris Deleon will be privvy to whatever they try in that regard, having also been a Coaster last season before that whole ride became a roller-coaster of emotion.

NORTH coach Gordon McLeod earlier this week indicated he might "ring Shane'' and run some of the Kings' stuff when his Stars line-up boasted Ben Madgen, Darnell Lazare, Corin Henry and Ian Crosswhite.

But with King Henry and Crossy out, that plan has gone back on hold.

Here's a bit more on the All Stars from my weekly column at adelaidenow.com.au http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/basketball/around-the-nbl-with-boti-nagy/story-fne5r4t9-1226540669502 but you may have to cut and paste because I am suffering link-envy at the moment. 

BENNIE Lewis is my tip to win the Slam Dunk Contest after being a late entry to replace Mitch Creek (ruptured Achilles).

Not sure about Lazare though. He could be a sleeping giant.

Peter Crawford and Clint Steindl just need to repeat what they did with Townsville and Cairns respectively when they last hit Adelaide Arena to be in the thick of the Three-Point Shootout.

Stephen Weigh (36ers) might find the local support an additional pressure and South Aussie Oscar Forman too might be distracted by home support and having to play the Stars match.

That leaves Ben Madgen, who has ice water in his veins, as my favorite for this.

Book your tickets for the All Star game extravaganza now but don't pay until you pick them up Saturday.

That way, if the Mayan calendar is correct and the world ends tomorrow, you at least won't have done your dough.

NOT one to split hairs, I must come clean and immediately and openly admit Rohanee Cox has for many years been one of my favorite WNBL players.

The Olympian and league MVP is tough, she's skilled but she also has that touch of magic very few players are fortunate enough to possess.

She has the "it'' factor.

That said, Ro winning WNBL Player of the Week last round is just marginally contentious.

Yes, I know it is huge for Sydney to beat Bulleen on the road by a whole four points when the Boomers are down Elyse Penaluna AND Emma McDonald.

But after that, they copped a 23-point belting from Dandenong.

Again, I am not knocking Ro, who compiled 33 points, 17 rebounds, four blocks and three steals in the two-game road trip.

But I would just say that in the game where the Flames were comprehensively pantsed by Dandy, Jenna O'Hea had 35 points (more than Coxy compiled in TWO games) at 65 per cent, six boards and six assists.

That's the season's single-game high individual tally.

Not a bad day's - or round's - work, I would have thought.
 

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 - Promising win over collapsing Caps but Adelaide a big test.

8 (8) THUNDER - Going along about as well as might be expected.

7 (7) CAPITALS - Wow. Canberra is in such a trough it is hard to see any light ahead.

6 (4) BOOMERS - Injuries have scuttled Bulleen and it will need a split this round.

5 (6) FLAMES - Making a bit of a move and would love to pull rug from under Townsville.

4 (5) FIRE - Have crashed the top four but will find this trip demanding.

3 (3) LIGHTNING - Playing well but cannot seem to keep team fit and settled into a groove.

2 (2) RANGERS - Still look a country mile better than the pack and have an early recess.

1 (1) SPIRIT - Had a road setback but it wasn't against Logan, this week's protagonist.

 

THIS WEEK'S TIPS

TOWNSVILLE has a tough WNBL double ahead, especially if Mia Newley (knee) is not able to make much impression.

Canberra looked lost losing to Adelaide, which followed a Caps' loss to West Coast and a hiding from Sydney.

With the Fire in the four, expect them to get this one.

Having beaten Logan at Logan, it is unlikely Bendigo will drop to the Thunder at Bendigo, wouldn't you think? Spirit star Gabrielle Richards will celebrate her 150th WNBL game to boot.

Injuries have hit both Adelaide and Bulleen but at home and playing extremely well defensively, Lightning should prevail.

This will be Tess Madgen's 100th WNBL game. It is nice she can play it at "home'', even though she has never played at elite level for Adelaide.

Sydney at home to Townsville could be the match of the round and while the Fire have everything to play for, this time it will be the Flames who will be hotter.

They will be even hotter when they realise they missed out on a shot at Bertocchi hams at Bulleen this week.

Fire star Jess Foley will play her 200th game here.

If Logan are smart, they will get in early at Bulleen and try to be among the 100 lucky recipients of those Bertocchi Christmas hams.

Wait, sorry, my crystal ball is fogging over and, OMG, I see a Logan upset here.

That can't be right, surely?

Lightning will be down captain Jo Hill (broken thumb) for this West Coast trip and are unlikely to fly Suzy Batkovic or Angela Marino west.

Both have injuries which are manageable for the Bulleen game but likely to be exacerbated by the flight to Perth so you have to give West Coast a chance.

A chance?

Yes.

A win?

No.

 

CAMILLA the Duchess of Cornwall, Sarah Jessica Parker and Black Caviar walk into a bar. The barman looks up from where he is cleaning glasses, stares at them and says: "Why the long faces?"