Another monster week in the NBL with only one game being decided by over 10 points, and another one going into double overtime. I’m sure there would be some sore bodies in the New Zealand and Melbourne camps this week. With the higher scoring, free flowing games coming about there are more and more individual performances that are newsworthy. In fact, out of the six games this season where a player has scored over 30 ER, there were two in this round and more amazingly it wasn’t just for scoring a lot of points. It might be the Christmas spirit coming around but this year’s season is bringing presents for all the good fans around the country.
Dabster Award
Round Nine Dabster Award Winner
Diamon Simpson, Adelaide 36ers – 1 game, 22 points (10/12 FG, 2/5 FT), 10 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, 1 block and 1 turnover. ER – 33.
With Daniel Johnson and Chris Warren shooting poorly, Simpson had to take his game to another level to get his team past the (then) league leading Perth Wildcats. And what a game he had. Only missing two shots would have probably been good enough to nab a Dabster Award but he also backed up his point total with 10 rebounds and four assists, showing that he can get his teammates involved making him all the more dangerous. Simpson is definitely in the conversation for the Menga Award if he keeps this kind of production up. Suddenly the league is becoming the Simpson and Tragardh show as those two players have won the past month’s awards.
Honourable mentions
Thomas Abercrombie (New Zealand) – 33 points, 11 rebounds, 2 blocks. ER - 32
Ron Dorsey (Melbourne) – 21 points, 6 rebounds, 2 steals, 2 blocks. ER - 26
Matthew Knight (Perth) – 21 points, 7 rebounds, 3 blocks. ER - 25
Lucas Walker (Melbourne) – 20 points, 8 rebounds, 4 steals. ER - 24
Tim Coenraad (Wollongong) – 22 points, 4 rebounds. ER - 24
Elvin Mims (Townsville) – 18 points, 9 rebounds, 2 steals. ER - 23
Julian Khazzouh (Sydney) – 18 points, 6 rebounds, 3 steals, 3 blocks. ER – 21
Abercrombie must feel pretty hard done by, being only one of six players who have gone over the 30 ER barrier and being denied of the Dabster Award. He should be proud of what he has done and his last month’s play has been electric.
Previous Dabster Award Winners
Round One – Kevin Lisch (Perth)
Round Two – Will Hudson (Gold Coast) and Alex Pledger (New Zealand)
Round Three – Julian Khazzouh (Sydney)
Round Four – Stephen Weigh (Adelaide) and Daniel Johnson (Adelaide)
Round Five – Gary Wilkinson (New Zealand)
Round Six – Cameron Tragardh (Melbourne)
Round Seven – Diamon Simpson (Adelaide)
Round Eight – Cameron Tragardh (Melbourne)
Menga Award
Round Nine Menga Award Leader Board
1. (1) Julian Khazzouh, Sydney Kings – 20.6
2. (3) Diamon Simpson, Adelaide 36ers – 19.4
3. (2) Cameron Tragardh, Melbourne Tigers – 18.1
4. (4) Mark Worthington, Gold Coast Blaze – 17.5
5. (8) Daniel Johnson, Adelaide 36ers – 16.6
6. (10) Jamar Wilson, Cairns Taipans – 16.5
7. (6) Kevin Lisch, Perth Wildcats – 16.2
8. (7) Cedric Jackson, New Zealand Breakers – 16.1
9. (5) Jacob Holmes, Townsville Crocodiles – 15.8
10. (NR) Matthew Knight, Perth Wildcats – 15.8
Some shake up in the top ten, with the surprising Matthew Knight breaking into the leader board while Kevin Lisch continues his freefall down the ranks. Jacob Holmes has fallen as well, being as high as third three weeks ago.
Zike Award
Round Nine Zike Award
Adam Gibson, Gold Coast Blaze – 29:16 minutes, 4 points (2/9 FG, 0/1 3P, 0/0 FT), 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 2 turnovers. ER: 1
After raving on about how he is the best Australian point guard in the league in Thursday’s article, Gibson shows me up with this stinker. Not only did he play nearly three quarters of the game, he missed more shots than his actual point total. I’m going to give him the benefit of the doubt because Jamar Wilson was unstoppable and it was an anomaly, but this is uncharacteristic of Mr Gibson and deserves this week’s Zike Award for the worst performance of the round.
Gibbo is struggling big time of late, he doesn't seem to have a clear role. Bad times
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