NBL Rankings, Tips 17: Shades of United's best
MAKE no mistake, Jo Lual-Acuil is a very important player for Melbourne but the NBL leader's recent slump has a lot more to do with the absence of Shea Ili and concussion protocols. Yes, Matthew Dellavedova works hard defensively but Ili is United's defensive barometer and also the architect behind keeping their offence flowing.
NBL TotW 16: Doomsday Doublers on the Surge
THIS was arguably the toughest round from which to separate two outstanding performances to determine our NBL Team of the Week. Tasmania also was exceptional in its demolition of Melbourne but both Adelaide and Perth had two matches to negotiate in Round 16 and both came through unscathed.
NBL Rd16 Wrap: Wildcats now right on United's tail
DON'T say you missed some of our NBL match-by-match reviews across Round 16? Well, if you did, here's a chance to sit back, relax and read them all together in our weekly NBL Wrap. Put your feet up and take it easy. We've done all the work compiling it and it's all here for you.
Phoenix, Hawks start with 'forfeits': NBL
BACK in the day, if your basketball team forfeited a match, it went into the books as a 20-0 loss and your team additionally lost a championship point. Between them yesterday, the NBL's two losers - South East Melbourne and Illawarra - collectively gave their respective opponents a 20-0 start and never truly recovered.
Bryce is right but Aron still frights: NBL
BRYCE Cotton today played traffic warden, guiding the Wildcats past Sydney's potentially dangerous streets while in Cairns, Aron Baynes fully embraced his villainous image, burying a 3-point back-breaker that consolidated Brisbane into the post-season, leaving the Taipans to rue their lost yo-yo year.
Jackies swarm and Wildcats maul: NBL
TASMANIA last night stalled its recent run of NBL outs with an NBL rout of league-leading United, Jordon Crawford back to his best before it was party time in the West, where Bryce Cotton was at his best as Perth gave Brisbane a lesson in teamwork and discipline, the Bullets humbled by 32 points.
Brad&Boti: Crocodile tears for Sydney
POOR Brad&Boti podcast colleague, past Kings captain Brad Rosen, had a mixed NBL round when he described Sydney's loss to Adelaide akin to watching paint dry, then was back in full fanboy mode as it smashed New Zealand. Fortunately Sydney's Flames saved their WNBL season after also going 1-1 over the round.
Lat for the win as Hawks fall: NBL
THEY went into the match without Sam Waardenburg, Bobi Klintman and Jonah Antonio, then had Akoldah Gak, Taran Armstrong and Tajhere McCall foul out, Bul Kuol and Lat Mayen on four fouls in a 28-16 disparity, and Illawarra shooting 32 free throws to Cairns' 11. It may not be the Taipans' greatest victory in their NBL life, but it's surely up there.
Sixers flummox Phoenix in road rout: NBL
ADELAIDE 36ers forward Kyrin Galloway produced an NBL career-high 23 points last night, establishing a tone early which South East Melbourne never could match as the league's current bomb shelter resident fired off another warning shot its season as the league's easybeat is over.
NBL Rankings, Tips 16: Time to smarten up
LAST round in the NBL easily could have been dubbed "Brain Fade Round". First Tassie didn't foul late against Brisbane. Then Sydney left its big boy pants on the plane in Adelaide. Zylan Cheatham tried to call an on-court time-out, Jordon Crawford took a three when his team had time to win with an easier basket.

