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ROUND ABOUT NBL14/WNBL15
TweetAT 5.30pm in Adelaide, 6pm Eastern, the NBL released a press statement today headlined: Anstey Comments Under Investigation.
Say what?
The release gave out the cryptic: “The NBL has launched an investigation in post-match comments made by Melbourne Tigers Coach Chris Anstey following his team’s game against Sydney on Sunday.
“The NBL will be making no further comment until the investigation is complete.”
Fair enough. But what about Anstey being reported in the tunnel post-game for alleged abusive language toward the officials?
When will that be made public?
Chris wears his heart on his sleeve and was typically forthright post-game with: “There were three really, really, ordinary human beings on the court today.
Asked about the calls, he added: “I didn't mention anything about the calls, but there were three people who were a joke today.
“They were not professionals.”
Got a feeling that may cost him a fistful of dollars. Who knows about the report though?
And no, Chris wasn’t irate because, at last, Scott Morrison showed he is the best centre in the Tigers program.
Actually enjoyed Wortho’s post-game comments: “We weren't sure if we were in a netball game to start off the first half, or if we were at Wrestlemania the second half.”
TALKING about good quotes, Bendigo’s WNBL Championship coach Bernie Harrower pulled a few together after his Spirit’s 16-game winning streak came to an end against nemesis Townsville, which also won in the first round to book-end that great streak.
“We didn't come to play, I'm struggling to find anything good to say,” he said.
“It's probably the loss we needed to have to refocus after such a winning streak.
“It might get our players to stop reading their own press.
“We played like millionaires.
“They certainly outplayed us, but it might be a good reality check that we can't just walk onto the court and win.”
That’s why those of us lucky enough to cover basketball love the bulk of our coaches and players. They actually SAY something, unlike the clichés you hear trotted out weekly in most of the other team sports.
But Bernie does have cause to be concerned, not only losing twice to the Fire but seeing his potent team held to eight points in the third quarter.
Even West Coast thought that was poor.
TALKING “poor” the rate of flopping going on at the moment is, I believe, unprecedented.
Jesse Wagstaff did a more than passingly good impersonation of Greg Louganis with his dive to the floor when he felt minimal contact from a startled Casey Frank, who must have feared Big Jesse had been struck by a sniper’s bullet.
Worse, referee Michael Aylen bought it hook, line and stinker, giving Frank the foul.
The situation isn’t helped at all when someone such as Steve Carfino on air repeatedly insists players HAVE to flop to get that call.
I don’t believe that for a second. Take the hit to the chest and if it advantaged the offensive player, you will get the call.
If you HAVE to flop “to get that call”, then you are having to exaggerate the contact which must mean if you didn’t get the call, it wasn’t that bad, surely?
Recently the rate LeBron James flops really has started to cloud my high opinion of his abilities because, as I have written previously, I never saw Ken Cole, or Lindsay Gaze, or Andrew Vlahov, or Earvin Johnson, or Kareem or Larry have to flop.
But hey, if you're a fan of the flop, then try this: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/01/14/lebroning-flopping-videos-meme_n_4595599.html
YEAH, NO KIDDING
YOU know to operate this website, I have to watch an awful lot of NBL and WNBL on TV so it is truly gratifying when it is possible to report something positive.
I know commentators tend to galvanise in the “for” or “against” category but I have to say I have always been a fan of Lachy Reid’s work in Perth and the ONE telecast of the Wildcats-Breakers was one of the best of the season.
For starters, The (Un)Bear(able) Tony Ronaldson has definitely improved and is smiling naturally now, which is a great relief. When some director is telling you through the earpiece to smile while your co-caller is talking and you’re both on-screen, well, that’s got to be difficult. Tony made it painful.
But we got the real Bear on Friday and even though I disagreed with his contention New Zealand would make the four – it is merely a difference of opinion and a spark for conversation as opposed to an ill-conceived assessment – he is working at the gig and it shows.
Reid is a consummate pro and his work with Matt Knight at halftime was quality, as was Knighty’s commentary in the second half. When one team is getting drubbed, it can be a tough job to keep the conversation interesting but they succeeded handsomely on Friday.
Fast forward to Saturday’s WNBL on the ABC and Lori Chizik is back to work with the enthusiastic Darren Boyd and total pro Stephanie Brantz. Add Jenna O’Hea to the mix and, again, we had a quality broadcast.
I still found the Kings-Tigers call to be too Sydney-centric with a lot of “Shane this” and “Shane that” and not a lot of “Chris this” but it, too, had a few nice high spots.
Basketball On The Internet's Player of the Week
KEVIN Tiggs went for a career-best 27 points, Sam Young was prominent in Cairns but less so against Melbourne, Scott Morrison had his best offensive game of the season.
But at the risk of an accusation of blatant bias, Adam Gibson’s game stood out as Adelaide pulled away from Townsville and he matched his career-best points return with 28 at 60 per cent.
He led the 36ers from the front, his five assists and four rebounds also significant, as was his intercept of a lob in the key to Crocs centre Brian Conklin which 36ers coach Joey Wright described as a “huge, huge play”.
James Harvey had a big one against the Tigers but his Cairns game was less imposing. Brad Hill, too, had a wicked quarter against Melbourne with 11 successive points and 13 for the period. But his two fouls in two minutes against the Taipans was more Ben Allenesque, leaving Gibbo as the BOTI Player of the week this round.
PotW Winners
Rd 1 Daniel Johnson
Rd 2 Shawn Redhage
Rd 3 Chris Goulding
Rd 4 Charles Carmouche
Rd 5 Brian Conklin
Rd 6 Gary Ervin
Rd 7 Damian Martin
Rd 8 Mika Vukona
Rd 9 James Ennis
Rd 10 Mark Worthington
Rd 11 Rotnei Clarke
Rd 12 Adam Ballinger
Rd 13 AJ Ogilvy
Rd 14 Adam Gibson
THE WNBL will reveal its PotW winner within hours but before it does, let me just quietly remind PLOCH the Predictable to take ALL weekend performances into consideration.
Jessica Bibby was sensational for 32 points as the Caps routed the Waves and Laura Hodges again was exceptional with 24 points at 69 per cent, plus nine boards as Lightning struck out Thunder.
But it was The Batgirl who stood up – except when she lay down on her ankle – with 18 and 15 in Townsville’s win over Bendigo and 25-11 in the loss to Dandenong, a weekend average of 21.5ppg and 13.0rpg, surely the round’s best performances.
Reviews
Boomers V Thunder (W)
CHELSEA Poppens paired 20 points and 11 boards and Nicole Romeo banged in 21 points at 67 per cent with 3-of-4 triples to give Melbourne a slight 74-63 edge over a gallant Logan.
Emma Langford’s 24 points at 59 per cent led the Thunder who had to be buoyed Natalie Taylor got through 9:25 of action on her road back from ACL and meniscus injuries.
Taipans V Kings (M)
SAM Young had his way with the Taipans who were unable to preserve their eight-point interval lead and eventually succumbed to Sydney 92-88.
AJ Ogilvy delivered a 19-10 return (can someone - anyone - have an 18-12 double so I can call it an 18-12 overture? Thanks) as Cairns’ top-four hopes took another dent at Cairns Convention Centre.
Flames v Waves (W)
SYDNEY essentially did as it pleased after halftime, containing West Coast to a 9-point third period and a two-point last quarter for a comfortable 75-43 victory.
With all due respect to the Flames’ defensive abilities, an 11-point second-half and a two-point last quarter by the Waves? Seriously? That’s beyond embarrassing to both the team and the league. No heads will roll though because, clearly, this is the state of women’s basketball in the West.
Wildcats V Breakers (M)
AND in stark contrast to the West’s women, it’s men continued to roll, absolutely pantsing NZ Breakers 97-72 to complete a 4-0 season-sweep over last year’s Grand Final tormentors.
Shawn Redhage was huge early, The Menace threw down another rim-rattler, Jermaine Beal was sharp while the Breakers looked more intent on bitching-and-moaning about officiating which really has been heading in the same direction all season. Get aboard or get left behind.
Spirit V Fire (W)
IT was loud at Bendigo Stadium but the noise couldn’t drown out a thoroughly convincing 81-70 Townsville rout, ending the 16-game winning streak of the home side in serious style.
Rachael McCully raised her game to meet the Kristi Harrower challenge and The Batgirl was super, even after an ankle scare, with an 18-15 points-boards double.
Lightning V Thunder (W)
AVOIDING a weather vein for this review (see what I did there?) Adelaide’s opening 30-point quarter set up its 88-68 win, with Laura Hodges starring while Amy Lewis and Jo Hill produced season-best games.
The joy for Logan was the excellent game by Nat Taylor with 19 points in 22 minutes on 8-of-13 shooting but Sarah Graham and Kristen Veal need to swap their shot selection, Graham ridiculous and Veal way too meticulous.
36ers V Crocodiles (M)
MITCH Creek is an athlete, we all know that. But to see him in full flight is a treat not to be missed, his 13-point first-half on 6-of-6 shooting with two dunks and just great heads-up plays certainly set Adelaide on the road to its 92-79 win.
Adam Gibson matched his two-year-old career-high with 28 points and was the 40-minute star, Townsville falling behind 50-69 before a zone it gambled on, slowed the contest right down and brought the Crocs back to within seven, Brian Conklin again more preoccupied with the officiating than participating.
Capitals V Waves (W)
CANBERRA guard Jessica Bibby is a scoring machine and her 32 points in a 96-65 cruise came on 10-of-14 shooting and 5-of-7 threes.
To its credit, West Coast put up something of a battle – 14 points its lowest single-quarter return (kind of sad though when that’s cause for celebration) – but with Carley Mijovic adding 20 points and Abby Bishop an 18-12 overture (Yes! There it is! Finally. And you wonder why I adore Abs) the result was never really in any doubt.
Kings V Tigers (M)
JAMES Harvey was hearing chants of MVP – which does sort of show where the Kings crowd is really at – after delivering a vintage performance with 21 points on 7-of-8 shooting and 4-of-4 triples in a rousing 97-84 win over Melbourne.
The season-series clinching win was underpinned by a wicked 13-point Brad Hill second-quarter outburst which included 11 straight points, the Tigers too caught up in the officiating, which did change after halftime but not as much as the Kings’ desire for the W, the 57-point half the club’s best in a 40-minute game.
Rangers V Fire (W)
TOWNSVILLE was rolling early but a head clash with Rachael McCully and Leilani Mitchell sent the Fire playmaker to hospital after just 3:40 of action and, eventually, the Fire could not cover her significant absence, Dandenong running away to win this shoot-out 103-83.
While McCully was held in hospital overnight, the Rangers clinched the season-series with Jenna O’Hea, Alice Kunek and Natalie Novosel all prominent.
Hawks V Taipans (M)
It took 39:31 for Cairns to first taste the lead in this one after trailing by 16 at halftime, Demetri McCamey giving the Taipans the lead in another thriller against Wollongong.
Kevin Tiggs had a career-high 27 points for the Hawks, tying the game at 77-77 before McCamey went the length of the floor and scored the winner ahead of the buzzer, keeping the Taipans also still alive in the race for the top four.
BEEF of the WEEK
YEAH, it’s back to the floor wipers, with national TV this round showing both players and even refs wiping the court surface AFTER the kids endeavoring to do it had failed.
Again, let me be clear. I don’t blame the kids.
I blame the clubs AND both the NBL and WNBL for not being more vigilant in this area and not insisting on a minimum standard requirement.
It hasn’t happened yet – or has it? – that a player has slipped and been seriously hurt but it is only a matter of time.
And you know what? That player will have a case for legal action because keeping the playing surface safe is a definite “duty of care” issue.
Once one club and its league gets sued, I’m thinking this issue then will be put to bed.
Sadly, it looks like first it will take a hospital bed to force any action.
BIGGEST WINNERS/LOSERS
SYDNEY taking out Cairns in Cairns, then clinching the season-series over Melbourne at the Kingdome has made third place a realistic goal for the Kings and the club this round’s biggest NBL winner.
WOLLONGONG had Cairns at its mercy and the chance to build momentum but could not get it done, the loss sure to sting in the run down the straight and making the Hawks the round’s big loser.
TOWNSVILLE ending Bendigo’s 16-game winning streak and doing it at a hostile Bendigo Stadium qualifies it as this round’s biggest WNBL winner.
AND in a rare twist of fate – or the moustache - losing captain Rachael McCully to a head injury and thus unable to stave off the Rangers, losing the season-series to Dandenong, also makes Townsville the round’s big loser. I mean, if you don’t want to just permanently put West Coast here.
PS
NZ guard Daryl Corletto says the new refereeing style is a deliberate Basketball Australia ploy to stop the Breakers winning a record fourth straight NBL title. But DC is very pleased the way teammates Mika Vukona and Tom Abercrombie are adjusting to the tighter officiating
