2010 NBL Season & Offseason discussion

[bloods08]

Can see both teams shooting the lights out in this one - 90+ each is right in the equation here, should be a very entertaining, high octane match that the Sixers could sneak home in.

Some of the Wednesday games on Fox so far this season have been shockers so hopefully it will be a good one but I reckon the Blaze will be too good for the Sixers up there. Hope I'm wrong

Sixers seem to play better away from home so don't be surprised if they win by 10-20.

[CK]

Disappointing result for Adelaide after being in a winning position.

Perth defeat the Breakers 106-100.

I keep saying: NZ are pretenders and they keep dropping these sorts of games. Mind you, the Wildcats would have to be outright title favorites now, and deservedly so.

Reckon that Cairns can cause a boilover tomorrow night over the Tigers. The situation with their recent import can't be good for team bonding etc....although Chris Anstey will make his long awaited return in this game.

[Gozu]

I couldn't believe the Wildcats won that, when I stopped watching they were down by nearly 20 points. Is Anstey going to play on their road double this weekend? I thought he said the other day he's on track to make his season debut after Christmas, I must've misread it.

[Gozu]

Round 12 results:

Gold Coast 80 (Petrie 19, Gibson 15, Ubaka 13, Maxey 12) def Adelaide 72 (Gilchrist 19, Ng 14)

Perth 106 (Cattalini 18, Lisch 17, Wagstaff 15, Schenscher 12, Weigh 12, Redhage 10) def New Zealand 100 (Penney 29, Bruton 19, Rickert 14, Abercrombie 10, Boucher 10)

Cairns 89 (Mills 20, Rychart 13, Jones 12, Melzer 12, Rampton 11) def Melbourne 74 (Hodge 18, Johnson 15, Greer 14)

Wollongong 109 (Tragardh 23, McKee 20, Davidson 18, Campbell 13, Gruber 12) def Perth 84 (Schenscher 22, Lisch 19)

New Zealand 92 (Rickert 22, Penney 19, Bruton 14, Abercrombie 13, Ronaldson 11) def Adelaide 85 (Gilchrist 20, Ballinger 18, Ng 14, Burston 13)

Townsville 89 (Williams 20, Williamson 18, Roberts 10) def Melbourne 79 (Johnson 19, Hodge 14, MacKinnon 12, Worthington 10)

[CK]

I couldn't believe the Wildcats won that, when I stopped watching they were down by nearly 20 points. Is Anstey going to play on their road double this weekend? I thought he said the other day he's on track to make his season debut after Christmas, I must've misread it.

Yep, Anstey played both matches. Was a little quiet against Townsville, but looked okay and will improve over time.

Still no-one rating Townsville out there? .

Adelaide awful when it counted again last night. Each time I look around the crowd, there seem more grey hairs and baldness than the week before. Can't imagine why.

Boti Nagy on the RPH show tomorrow morning at 8.30am, as we talk all things NBL, not just the Sixers.

[Gozu]

Still no-one rating Townsville out there?

Nah I just don't rate the Tigers! How's them Breakers? Seriously what a massive choke job by the Sixers. Up by 15 at 3 Qtr time and end up losing by 7. Pathetic.

Gold Coast have just signed Kiwi international and former Brisbane Bullets big man Craig Bradshaw. The guy is a bit over-rated but a pretty good pick up for the Blaze especially given they were getting nothing out of the now injured Pero Cameron.

[Not Scared]

The Sixers choking is getting way beyond a joke now. What do we put it down to? At least we are around the mark I guess!

[Gozu]

It's hard to say but I think the lack of a true point guard on the team hurts us especially down the stretch. Still shaking my head about not re-signing Brad Davidson this season.

Good interview with Boti this morning CK.

[Not Scared]

True. Now that it's happened a few times the mental barrier will be massive. They'll be thinking about it every time a game gets close. Lets hope they can get up in a close one soon to get them back on track.

[CK]

It's hard to say but I think the lack of a true point guard on the team hurts us especially down the stretch. Still shaking my head about not re-signing Brad Davidson this season.

Good interview with Boti this morning CK.

Boti is always good value on the show, even if we do disagree about Cortez Groves

For those that missed the interview, he mentioned that, in the Townsville v Melbourne game, the Melbourne coaching staff arrived to find pictures of Brett Maher on their chairs. After the game, the Crocs mascot brought out a big Julius Hodge signature, laid it on the court and stamped all over it.

[Gozu]

I'm in furious agreement with Boti about Groves, been waiting for him to find his voice about it frankly

Here is a pic of the Taipans mascot from Friday night's Cairns/Melbourne game

CairnsJoeBlake.jpg (56.16 KiB) Viewed 407 times

and here are some links from Saturday night's Townsville/Melbourne game:

The Tigers bench with the Brett Maher pics:

http://twitpic.com/t67m2

and some Crocs fans that sit directly behind the opposition's bench:

http://linky.com.au/n82f2

[Gozu]

Big game tonight on Fox with the 36ers hosting the Blaze from 7:30pm. The Sixers just have to win this one.

[Swooper16]

Good work by the Townsville faithful there. Reminds me alot of the type of stunts the "Bad Boys" used to pull during Adelaide games back in the day.

[CK]

That could be the win to turn things around for them. At 81-79 with 2.37 left, it was looking ominous again, until Gold Coast seemed to go foul crazy and concede a number without actively attacking themselves. Good to see Balls get his hands on it for 28, and Matt Burston showed how valuable he can be with 18 points, ten big rebounds and two blocked shots.

Hopefully this can be the catalyst.

[Gozu]

Hopefully, there were plenty of stages during that second half when they looked far from convincing though and like you said it did look ominous (must admit I expected the Sixers to roll over again) but with a little help from the Blaze and a better mindset they managed to get over the line. Balls & Burston were certainly impressive.

Townsville at New Zealand from 4:30pm tomorrow live on Fox too.

[aceman]

I think I know why the NBL struggle to find sponsors.
Having just read a document related to apparel sponsorship, I think they will struggle to get anyone to take up the new option.
Huge money involved, too big for anyone other than multi-nationals who are struggling also for the spare corporate dollar
Expected payment to the NBL far exceeds the anticipated return to the sponsor.

[Mop Up]

Thought might be bigger crowd there last night given the School Holidays, not sure what Sixers can do to get bigger attendances. Whenever I go I find it really enjoyable, decent quality basketball, good atmosphere and rarely line up for a drink and your not charged arm and a leg. I reckon its a great night out and people complain about the prices, child please, its not that bad!

I remember reading comments at start of the yr that they were trying to scrap the theatre and concentrate more on the basketball but surely to attract and keep people, especially kids, the theatre is the way to go. I know it was NBA, i.e. more money etc, but I saw a Lakers game in LA and theyre intros were rediculous. Theres probably video on youtube of it but they shut off lights, had big projected video on this curtain with gr8 music, then all these yellow and purple spotlights circling and shining on the court when players introduced.... Was amazing, got the crowd absolutely pumping and everyone loved it! One of the highlights of the trip funnily enough... I know it might take a little bit but I reckon small things like that would keep kids etc wanting to come back..

Also, Great to see the Sixers finally throwing the ball around, stringing 3 quick passes together and finding the big man under the ring, certainly been missing. Also some offensive movement and hussle, theres a reason for the bench (and 36ers depth on it), play hard then come off for rest!

[Gozu]

I think the main reasons why it might've been a poor crowd are (a) the game was live on Fox and more importantly (b) the Sixers being on a four game losing streak and not being a championship contender.

aceman, the NBL has been in talks with Fox to show every game for the season on TV and if that did happen I think you would see a number of multi-nationals lining up to get on board with the NBL. But firstly a team needs to be re-established back in Sydney and preferably the Kings.

[aceman]

I think the main reasons why it might've been a poor crowd are (a) the game was live on Fox and more importantly (b) the Sixers being on a four game losing streak and not being a championship contender.

aceman, the NBL has been in talks with Fox to show every game for the season on TV and if that did happen I think you would see a number of multi-nationals lining up to get on board with the NBL. But firstly a team needs to be re-established back in Sydney and preferably the Kings.

They want $450K a season, I have the documents and I'm not sure even total Fox coverage will get anyone for that money.

[Gozu]

They want $450K a season, I have the documents and I'm not sure even total Fox coverage will get anyone for that money.

The NBL want $450k a year from a naming rights sponsor? Just a couple of years ago they were getting double that and considering the Fox deal sitting there is for $35m I'd think they would get 3-4 times that current asking price with an all encompassing Fox deal.