Sponsored by:
Specialising in Action, Team and Portrait Photography.
---
Advertising opportunities available.
Please contact me.
---
Rankings #17 ... and so very little
TweetTHE buzz about the SEABL and the NBL affiliating is growing louder, the prospect of obvious pathways into the big league sparking talk of new teams and even whispers of a potential promotion system.
In South Australia, after years of club teams playing in the SBL and SEABL, the state once put together a composite team - the Adelaide Buffalos - which acted as the feeder for the 36ers' NBL team.
That didn't make it a weak team by any stretch - it won the SEABL in 1987, for example.
Imagine NBL clubs having official SEABL affiliates - much as NBA teams look at players from various affiliated D-League teams in the US pro system.
Has a fair bit of merit, doesn't it?
What about a richly-estabished club such as a Ballarat Miners, where so many of our greatest coaches did their NBL and WNBL apprenticeships, putting up its hand to take the step up into the NBL?
Or Brisbane Spartans?
I am hearing of a couple of NBL clubs pursuing the concept of local university involvement, making a scholarship to study part of a new team concept and also a means to keep talented young Australians from being swallowed into the US college system.
It's exciting stuff and, from an outsider's perspective, would be even better if it happened next year.
After all, NBL CEO Fraser Neill is on the record predicting his league will have upto 12 teams to tip off the 2015-16 season.
(Frankly, first I'd like to see two of the current teams drawing more spectators to home games and looking a little more long-term sustainable than at present.)
That said, imagine the boost for our sport in 2015 if the SEABL rebranded itself as the AussieLeague and had direct links into the 2015-16 NBL.
Bit similar to Euroleague and EuroCup, or NBA and D-League, but providing year-around development.
"AussieLeague" is just a suggested name prompted by Euroleague but personally, a complete rebranding to launch 2015 makes sense to me. If the SEABL is to legitimately underpin the NBL, then the "South" and the "East" would no longer be as relevant.
Australian Basketball League, or ABL, would have immediate identification issues with the ABL that is our national baseball league.
But AussieLeague, much as Euroleague, would be unique to us, just like the best-of-three playoffs is unique to us. And by us, I mean basketball.
And the best thing?
Basketball Australia, like any good parent, doesn't have to get involved and can do what it does best. Take credit if it works, pick up the pieces if it doesn't.
It would work though because the people who run the NBL and SEABL genuinely are passionate and excited about our sport and its potential.
HARD to tell how big an impact injuries will have on teams this round.
After all, Perth was down Matty Knight when it beat NZ Breakers.
Melbourne was missing Lucas Walker when it beat Perth.
Cairns is back on the upswing, but minus Cam Tragardh.
Mustapha Farrakhan was out for Melbourne's game in Wollongong and you know what happened.
So yes, Jason Cadee (broken finger) is out for Adelaide against Cairns and Greg Vanderjagt (wrist) is unlikely for Townsville against Wollongong.
But will that just mean other players will lift and/or seize their opportunity?
The biggest blow is for Melbourne Boomers, with centre Chelsea Poppens out for the rest of the season after an ACL injury last round in the win over Sydney.
That one is going to hurt as we head into the season's business end.
CONGRATULATIONS to budding Bendigo talent Sara Blicavs for being recognised as the WNBL’s Player of the Week.
The Blitz had 13 points at 75 per cent and 25 at 77 in Spirit wins over the league’s mango-munchers.
“I’d like to thank my mother, my father, my brothers, my coach, my teammates but, most particularly, a certain moustachioed basketball writer for all he has done for me,” Sara apparently said.
“You know who you are and you know I cannot thank you enough.
“Ever since you gave me that basketball for Christmas when I was just eight. If only my parents had seen then what you already foresaw for me.
“But no. They wanted me to play bocce.
“I forgive them now with free tickets to our games. But you, I can never truly repay.”
Have to take a moment here. I'm just a bit choked up.
RELIABLY informed Adrian Preposterous, er, Adrian Proszenko, the "chief rugby league writer" for Fairfax Media, who 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.
Recent studies allege after the Girl Guides were formed, Brown suggested the support group called "The Brownies".
RANKINGS
OH wow. Second week in a row the WNBL rankings are identical to last week so please don’t think that’s a misprint and skip to the “Dear …” gag.
No. Sydney beating Adelaide in the clash of the sadly irrelevant did not make much impression, given Lightning still won that series 2-1 and Amy Lewis was out injured.
And why are some pundits still proclaiming there are teams in the final four hunt? Melbourne (3rd) is four games clear of Adelaide (5th) and owns the split. Canberra (7th) and Sydney (6th) are four games back of Townsville (4th). It’s over. Really. Chill.
There is movement in the NBL rankings, however and it is a race that is wide open.
Here’s a couple of News Corp stories that might suggest the rankings better reflect current form than the placings:
NBL Rankings
This Wk - Prev
8 (8) CROCODILES – Win when they shouldn’t, lose when they should win. So they are a good roughie against Hawks.
7 (6) HAWKS – See above. You would expect them to win this, which is why I am leaning the other way.
6 (7) BREAKERS – Beating Sydney would be a huge fillip and keep NZ relevant, if its key men stay out of foul trouble.
5 (5) TAIPANS – This is a very big road trek for the Taipans who need a split at worst to keep the momentum going.
4 (2) 36ERS – Spluttering a little lately and with Jason Cadee out, appear more vulnerable than ever now.
3 (4) TIGERS – Wins in Perth and Wollongong were huge. Beating Perth again should mean finals.
2 (3) KINGS – A four-win streak has Sydney moving up but it all unravels fast if it loses in Auckland.
1 (1) WILDCATS – Been a different side since the Christmas-NY break and need to find the swag again, and fast.
WNBL Rankings
This Wk - Prev
9 (9) WAVES – It doesn’t get any easier for West Coast, Dandenong very capable of racking up big numbers quickly.
8 (8) THUNDER – Catch Adelaide in a trough and can sneak a win out here. Or turn on the fire sprinklers.
7 (7) FLAMES – The end of the season cannot come soon enough and Bendigo will only hasten that mood.
6 (6) CAPITALS – Took Melbourne as predicted but a tougher ask on the road this time.
5 (5) LIGHTNING – Tilting at windMills now after last round’s disappointments.
4 (4) BOOMERS – Losing Chelsea Poppens for the season is a huge blow on top of Rachel Jarry. But Melbourne has heart.
3 (3) FIRE – Have been challenged to bounce back after being dispirited last round and will do just that.
2 (2) RANGERS – Travelling back from Perth will take its toll but Rangers still should stave off Canberra.
1 (1) SPIRIT – Great road win but cannot now settle back into complacent mode. Good habits die hard.
THIS WEEK'S TIPS
SYDNEY made a statement last round against the 36ers and the Breakers would have taken note. NZ at home is always a tougher proposition but the Kings have arrived now and must continue their momentum by winning another big one on the road. This is that one.
CAIRNS shook Perth up in Cairns last month to the extent some Wildcats didn’t even want a post-game shake! There’s a bit of that around now, apparently. Cairns has troubled Perth previously too but two straight Wildcats losses at The Jungle? Can’t see it.
WOLLONGONG remotely is in the playoff hunt so beating its old rival – 2001 Grand Final for those with short memories – becomes essential. The Crocs have played some excellent basketball without reward and now down Greg Vanderjagt, it looks grim. You know what? Crocs will lift.
IF Cairns gets the upper hand in Perth, it will have such a positive impact. And if it loses, securing a split in Adelaide becomes essential. Either way, the 36ers are in for a huge fight and there won’t be any 24 or 20-point margins this time around. But the 36ers should sneak in.
THE match of the round gives Perth a chance for quick revenge after losing at home on Friday to the Tigers. The thing is, any doubts Melbourne may have entertained about matching the competition’s Big Dog have gone now and the Tigers will be fired up. Another thriller to Tigers.
DANDENONG will go for the quick kill at West Coast so it can rest its main players ahead of Canberra’s visit. Last week the Waves did not go a single quarter in single digits – ah, the joys of the bye. This week? It could get ugly out west.
MELBOURNE only dropped to Canberra last round in overtime and that was with on-the-run adjustments after Chelsea Poppens was injured against Sydney. With a week of preparations and finals around the corner, the Boomers simply have to win while the Caps only are playing for pride.
SAW Sydney beat Adelaide in the battle of the we-blew-our-seasons pairing last round and it is tough to see Bendigo doing anything but winning well against the Flames. Katie-Rae Ebzery is Sydney’s bright spot but the Spirit backcourt is among the league’s most formidable.
ADELAIDE had to dig deep last round against Sydney after the dismay of how the Dandenong game was taken from its grasp. Sadly, it couldn’t and this game at Logan presents the Thunder with a genuine chance to take Lightning. If Amy Lewis doesn’t travel, I’m tipping Logan.
FLYING back from Perth to host Canberra at Dandenong is just one of those anomalies of the draw that has most fans scratching their heads and a couple of people down at BA sniggering in a corner. Look for Brigitte Ardossi to have a big one against the Caps in a Rangers win.
HAD Adelaide’s season not been struck down by a massive millstone last week, its match with Townsville would have been season-defining. Now instead it’s just another game on the schedule ahead of finals with the Fire ready to flourish and Adelaide ready to flip to 2014-15.
DEAR Producers of “The Blind Side”
Where are my royalties?
Sincerely,
Luke Schenscher
