Post Season Review - New Zealand

The Season

The best team by far and were rightfully rewarded with their second consecutive premiership.  The Breakers had some resistance from Perth but were heads and shoulders above everyone else.  Not only did they have a six game winning streak they also had two five game winning runs which put them firmly in first place after the regular season.  The team drew the fourth placed Crocodiles where they promptly got flogged in the first game but turned it around and won the next two.  That meant that they were pitted against Perth and had a fantastic series which resulted with the Breakers winning 2-1, taking home the trophy.

What went right?

Lots.  Many fans wondered how the team would cope without Kirk Penney but the front office were able to snag (in my opinion) the best player in the league, Cedric Jackson.  Jackson was named to this blog’s first team with an ER of 16.6 while fellow import Gary Wilkinson was selected for the All NBL Second Team (15.8) and Thomas Abercrombie slotted into the Third Team (13.9).  They had amazing depth and more importantly compatible talent with a legit big man in Alex Ledger, a couple of scrappers (Mika Vukona and Dillon Boucher) as well as a couple of dead eye marksmen in CJ Bruton and Daryl Corletto.

What went wrong?

Very, very little.  CJ Bruton was sometimes invisible but made up for it in the Finals but the main concern would be that their young guys that sat near the end of the bench didn’t really improve during the season.  I guess that could be excused because of the talent in front of them but teams always need to look forward to the future.  Leon Henry was the main culprit.

Most Valuable Player

In my opinion Cedric Jackson should have been the league MVP but he will have to settle for being the MVP on the championship team.  He was a revelation and a nightly walking triple double.  The fact that he didn’t get one was a little disappointing because it would have been pretty neat as I can’t remember the last time an NBL player recorded one.  Hopefully he comes back next season to dazzle us some more.

Targets

The team has all but three players under contract with two of those players being main components, Jackson and Wilkinson (the other player being BJ Anthony).  Wilkinson can be replaced, regrettably, but Jackson was very good for the team and the league New Zealand will have a very hard time replacing him.  If Jackson does move onto greener pastures a return of Kirk Penney may well be on the cards.

Next Season

It all depends on their import situation but if they can retain Jackson and Wilkinson or get other players of similar quality this team will again be the favourites for the NBL title, tying the early 2000’s Kings with a three peat.

Grade

A+

Post Season Review - Townsville

The Season

The Crocs were very similar to the Taipans throughout the season, finishing with the same record of 15-13.  They didn’t have any big winning or losing streaks with their biggest losing streak of the season being the bare minimum of two losses on three occasions.  Luckily for Townsville they had the season split with Cairns and were the last team to clinch a playoff spot.  In the playoffs they flogged the eventual premiers, New Zealand in the first semi final game which was a great sign but unfortunately they couldn’t get another win and were bundled out of the playoffs in the first round.

What went right?

They had next to no injuries for their major components.  Sure Luke Schenscher started the season on the injury list but eight of their twelve players that played during the season suited up in every regular season game.  Now that’s consistency.  Jacob Holmes blew up (but faded at the end) which is great news for the team for the future while their two imports, Elvin Mims and especially Eddie Gill had some great games.  Peter Crawford had some blinders and there was talk of him being an Olympian and was selected in the 25 man squad.

What went wrong?

There was some slow down of their better players during the end of the season with Jacob Holmes totalling 13 ER points in the last four rounds which just isn’t good enough.  Eddie Gill was extremely inconsistent as he scored -2 one week and 33 the next and taking home the Dabster Award (the only Townsville player to win one).  Also, Luke Schenscher was alright but for someone of that height and talent he was a bit of a disappointment and Elvin Mims just wasn’t good enough for the majority of the season and will not be back.

Most Valuable Player

Jacob Holmes.  Even though he did fade he was explosive with his rebounding and his mid range shooting.  He was a welcomed addition to this blog’s All NBL Third Team and was second in the league for rebounding.  His time has finally come after slogging away with Adelaide and the South Dragons so hopefully he can continue with his form next season.

Targets

The team has done well so far, re-signing seven of last season’s roster in Ben Allen, the two Cedar boys, Jacob Holmes, Peter Crawford, Russell Hinder and Todd Blanchfield but unfortunately Luke Schenscher has gone home to Adelaide.  That leaves a massive gap at their centre position as Allen isn’t good enough play big minutes, let alone start.  That means that the team will have to focus on getting a centre first and foremost and in an interview coach Paul Woolpert will be looking for “a point guard capable of shifting into the shooting guard role” for his imports.  Hmm, kinda sounds like Eddie Gill a little, no?  It would be good to see Gill back in the green uniform again but a centre is needed for the team to compete with the best.

Next Season

They have a good foundation so far with Holmes at PF, Peter Crawford at SF, the Cedars playing more minutes and Russell Hinder giving big minutes they just need that extra ‘oomph’ to get to that next level of Perth and New Zealand.  Hopefully their imports can be leaders, not only of the team but in the league statistical categories and if that happens they will be a lock for the playoffs once again.

Grade

B

One HD You Suck

Usually my posts are fairly civil and thought out but for once I want to rant, and it is towards One HD.  Please bear with me as I need to get this off my chest and hopefully next Thursday will be something more constructive towards the league.

Last year was fantastic with two NBA games and live NBL games on every week.  Every Friday I would get my friends over and watch the NBL game and it was awesome.  Now you have decided to show rubbish (old rubbish at that) and completely ignore the sporting side for the majority of your schedule and have shunted Australian basketball to the corner.  I was outraged about that and am still quite heated whenever this arrangement is discussed but now you have crossed the line.

You are playing the NBL Finals series at TEN FREAKING O’CLOCK!?!  Are you serious?  That is just unacceptable and I am mightily pissed off.  Let’s recap your schedule for today/tonight’s viewing –

3.00pm – Beach Patrol

3.30pm – Get Smart

4.00pm – Jeopardy!

4.30pm – Beach Patrol (again)

5.00pm – IFISH

6.00pm – M*A*S*H

6.30pm – Get Smart (again)

7.00pm – Cops

7.30pm – Extreme Fishing with Robson Green

8.30pm – The Game Plan (NRL)

10.00pm – THE NBL FINALS

I’m sorry (not) but if that is your line-up for a weeknight’s viewing then you shouldn’t be on the air.  One, don’t these programs have an “Eleven” vibe to them, so why do they need to be on another channel?  Two, why oh why are Beach Patrol and Get Smart on TWICE in the space of four hours?  Again, seriously!  And three, when has fishing ever been so popular that it needs two programs for an hour and a half in the space of three hours?  Granted The Game Plan is directly involved in sports as it goes over the week of NRL and talks about the teams for the coming week but everything else is abhorrent when there is a live Australian sports final on instead.

Another point of contention is I thought that One HD had to broadcast the games at a maximum three hours behind the starting game or else they could get in trouble.  Is that the case?  So why are they playing a game that is starting at 7.30pm in New Zealand (which would be 5.30pm here in Eastern Australia) at 10.00pm?  That is out of their three hour window and should be punished.  This just goes to show that One HD and Channel Ten have no respect for the NBL or Basketball Australia and are just trying to do as little as possible until they can get out of their contract.

This topic makes me so angry because after last season I was pumped for the league to get more viewing and more fans but with one decision it is being pushed back into the shadows.  Good on you Channel Ten I hope you are happy with yourselves and how you have completely bitch slapping the basketballing community.  You can count me out on watching any of your programs on any of your channels from this day forward, preferring to torrent or find somewhere online and hopefully I can find a crappy, choppy, pixelated, laggy stream online in the process somewhere because this is the last straw for this fed up basketball fan.

Good bye and I hope you burn in hell.