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SEVEN games. That is how many matches an NBL player must participate in to be eligible for playoffs if anyone at Sydney is paying attention.

Converting Charles Carmouche from a scoring threat into a playmaker and/or asking shooters such as Ben Madgen and James Harvey to take on that responsibility is akin to robbing Jesse to pay Sam.

Carmouche’s 33-point game in the road win over Townsville and 27-point back-up performance in the loss to Adelaide in November was most likely what dazzled Kings ownership into parting ways with the less statistically potent playmaker Jesse Sanders when Sam Young became available.

But a 1-5 record since Sanders was bucketed means at some point the rhetoric out of Sin City has to stop and reality faced.

Even a win over the 36ers in Adelaide would not convince that the Kings have the balance right for the long haul.

But here’s what is most interesting. If you cut a local player during the season, you cannot bring him back. But if you cut an import, can you bring back a previously cut import?

It’s never happened so it’s never been challenged.

Seven games.

The thin end of the wedge gets closer each week.

NOW that Adam Ballinger has seized his moment – he even won the BOTI Player of the Week award this round – in the absence of foul-hampered import Scott Morrison, the gauntlet has been thrown down to ScoMo.

If he wants his minutes back, my inside info is Tigers coach Chris Anstey has challenged Morrison to jump higher than Ballinger’s socks.

MOVES apparently are afoot to add Steve Dunn to the Kings’ assistant-coaching panel.

And while I think of it, was reminded this week that back in 1992 when the Adelaide Arena opened as the Clipsal Powerhouse, then CEO Barry Richardson declared NBL ticket prices in SA always would be commensurate with cinema ticket costs, the 36ers being viewed as an alternative night’s entertainment.

Who knew he meant Gold Class?

ABBY Bishop has joined former fellow Queen B, Suzy Batkovic, as a second time winner of the WNBL’s  Player of the Week after another two sterling performances for the Canberra Capitals last round.

Abs averaged 23ppg and 11rpg as the Caps scared the ghosts out of the Spirit closet before dousing the Flames with a double dose of “you’re not the best team outside the playoffs” blues.

THRILLED multiple-championship winner Stephen Hoare agreed with my call here last week for the NBL to get tough on the floppers.

Hoare, who should have the NBL’s Sixth Man award named after him, believes players should be fined for flopping, with the fine doubling with each subsequent transgression.

I applaud his thinking but just believe our players’ earning capacities aren’t all that huge compared with the rest of the world and that fining might become contentious and even litigious.

But I like the doubling concept on top of my plan that anyone caught flopping on the match video review cops a straight-forward one-game suspension.

Another transgression and it doubles to two games.

How fast would this blight on the game be cleaned up?

 

THE NBL needs to get on the ball when it issues press releases to the fourth estate at large.

Last week it trumpeted if Melbourne beat both Townsville and Cairns, while Adelaide lost to New Zealand, the Tigers would jump into second place.

Um. Wrong.

The Tigers did win both but had the 36ers lost, their record would have been 10-5 to Melbourne's 10-6, which would have meant NO change in ladder positions.

Even when this was pointed out, the NBL did not send out any "Oops, we made a blue" follow ups.

Very unprofessional of the league - one, to get it wrong and two, to not cop to it and leave the mistake out there.

NEW Zealand has activated naturalised forward and occasional Tall Black Casey Frank to add some size to the lineup in the prolonged injury-forced absence of centre Alex Pledger.

Frank, part of the SKY-NZ commentary team at Breakers’ home games in Auckland, will suit against Melbourne and should be a monty for the “in-game on-the-bench interview” for ONE-HD’s coverage.

Speaking of injury replacements, with Cam Tragardh missing from the Cairns lineup for the rest of January, the Taipans are considering activating Aaron Grabau’s uniform out of retirement.

RELIABLY informed Adrian Preposterous, er, Adrian Proszenko, the "chief rugby league writer" for Fairfax Media, who recently magnanimously dubbed Kings' import Sam Young as "the best basketballer to step foot on to an Australian court" agrees with the ABC's Darren Boyd that Phil Brown is one of the greatest coaches in Australian history.

Brown's subtle suggestions were pivotal in the final design of the Sydney Opera House.

 

NBL Rankings

This Wk - Prev

8 (8) CROCODILES – Tough night at The Jungle coming up but would be a chance if Josh gets thumbs up.

7 (7) KINGS – Player meetings, public declarations – Sydney keeps putting pressure on itself.

6 (5) BREAKERS – That was a welt from the 36ers and Melbourne won’t be any less forgiving.

5 (6) HAWKS – Always on that perch, right? Where you’re about to count them out and… wham.

4 (4) TAIPANS – Will be content with last round’s split but this week is a very big game.

3 (3) TIGERS – Have enjoyed six of the best and can cane Breakers.

2 (2) 36ERS – The NZ game was impressive but Kings will be desperation-plus. Big day ahead.

1 (1) WILDCATS – A two-game skid will be halted at home and quickly forgotten.

WNBL Rankings

This Wk - Prev

9 (9) WAVES – It’s back to reality and against the Vics, reality bites.

8 (7) THUNDER – Got the job done in Perth, just, but Rangers will be ropable.

7 (5) FLAMES – See? Like I’ve said before, you just can’t trust them.

6 (6) LIGHTNING – Wow, for once Adelaide DID play four quality quarters.

5 (8) CAPITALS – Impressive double last round with Abby in All Star form.

4 (4) BOOMERS – Ouch last round. But Melbourne will savage West Coast.

3 (3) RANGERS – Took Lightning lightly and now must fire up on Queensland trip.

2 (2) FIRE – Sometimes a bye is the best way to move up the ladder! Tough week.

1 (1) SPIRIT – Just when you think they might be waning … bam, right in the kisser.

 

THIS WEEK'S TIPS

THE Breakers will  have their work cut out at Melbourne, the Tigers rolling and constantly growing as a unit, with individual cogs all functioning together pretty smoothly. If NZ wants to be around in the post-season, this becomes a must-win and right now, it looks very unlikely.

TOWNSVILLE hasn’t seen Perth since the preseason, yet this round will even travel on the same plane as the Wildcats! At full strength, the Crocs can cause headaches, Shawn Dennis particularly cluey about the lie of the land. But after consecutive losses, Perth will be merciless.

WOLLONGONG already won in Cairns earlier this season and must be feeling on top of the world after beating Perth. That is, of course, until it realises Cairns also just beat the league’s measuring stick. This is a biggie for sure and down Cam Tragardh, maybe the Hawks soar again.

SO much talk this week out of Sydney that the pressure will be on to deliver in Adelaide. The thing is, the Kings DO have the horses. It is the absence of a chariot-driver which has caused the problems. But if you like an upset, this is your bet. Personally, I like a 36ers win.

AND so the Wildcats and Crocs jump on a plane and fly to Townsville for their weekend re-match. Let’s hope Peter Crawford doesn’t get confused which team he is suiting for now. This is hard to pick without seeing their first clash so just on ladder positions, you’d lean to Perth.

LOGAN is hoping for storms and high winds to accompany the Thunder against Dandenong but the Rangers, smarting from being outsmarted in Adelaide, should be on a “take-no-prisoners” mission for redemption. Expect a big dea from O’Hea.

WEST Coast went so close last week that it’s almost a shame what will happen to the Waves against Melbourne. The Boomers were given the Bendigo blitz last round and will be just as happy to hand some of what they learnt around. And in come West Coast. Oh dear.

THE ABC-TV game will see Adelaide at Canberra, both sides in very good form just now. The Caps knee-capped Sydney after narrowly losing to Bendigo while the Lightning smacked the smug out of Dandenong. They are 1-1 in head-to-heads too. At home, a slight lean to Canberra.

THIS could be the match of the round with second place and the double-chance up for grabs as Dandenong takes on the Fire at Townsville. Can the Rangers stop Suzy? Can the Fire contain Jenna? Will Leilani fire? Or Rachael rise? Can Alice spring up? Will Steph be cunning? Have I run out of silly rhetorical questions? Yes. For now. Fire by five.

WEST Coast should inquire now what the score is for a forfeit rather than make the trip to Bendigo. Just a suggestion. This is first (and firing) versus last (and tiring). What should we expect here?

 

DEAR Kristina,
Where are you?
Sincerely,
Australia’s basketball community