NBA Preview

Finally Back from Injured Reserve!!!!

Yes, after quite a long absence, I am back to my basketball blog. The NBA season starts tomorrow (Tuesday USA) so I will jump right in. My last post ages ago, was on the verge of the NBA Finals. A lot has happened since then including Mr. James going to South Beach and The Big Shamrock appearing in Boston.

A lot of ink/cyberspace has been used in analysing LeBron’s move to Miami. Bottom line, the young man took the option that he felt best suited to his needs. Still with the recent injuries on the Heat Roster, no title is guaranteed. Some of the comments about James’ loyalty were interesting. I remember a few years ago a certain young draftee did not want to play in New Jersey if drafted there and wanted to play for the LA Lakers. At least LeBron went to the team that drafted him and gave it a shot there.

Ok, now to look at this upcoming season:

Eastern Conference


Atlantic Division
Boston is still the class act here and will win the division as they tune up for the playoffs. New York could be an interesting team and may make the playoffs, same for New Jersey. Philadelphia will be looking to reverse the bad fortune of last year with some new faces and new coach. Toronto will need work although rookie Ed Davis could impress.
Division Winner: Boston Celtics

Central Division
Chicago has reloaded and Milwaukee is looking to consolidate last year’s playoff effort. Cleveland will be under the radar and have time to improve/rebuild. Indiana will be hoping point guard Darren Collison will solidify their backcourt. All in all, the division will not be the power it once was.
Division Winner: Milwaukee Bucks


Southeast Division
Definitely the power group of the Eastern Conference with Orlando, Miami, and Atlanta at the top and Charlotte looking to return to the playoffs. Add in Rookie of the Year candidate John Wall in Washington and this group looks exciting.
Miami will have to stay healthy and get solid if not spectacular from the frontline to live up to expectations. Dwight Howard and Orlando should be stronger again. Atlanta will be solid and dangerous.
Division Winner: Miami Heat

Playoff Teams:
Boston, Chicago, Miami, Milwaukee, Atlanta, Orlando, Charlotte and New York
Conference Champions:
Miami Heat

Western Conference


Southwest Division
San Antonio and Dallas will be looking for one last big run as they age. Houston hopes to stay healthy and gel as a unit and Memphis looks to make the playoffs after a near miss last season. The Hornets are hoping last seasons debacle is way behind them.
Division Winner: San Antonio Spurs

Northwest Division
Oklahoma City is suddenly the class of the division this season. Portland will be solid. Denver will be an interesting prospect and Utah is always in the playoffs.
Division Winner: Portland Trailblazers

Pacific Division
The Lakers will use the division as a playoff tune up. Phoenix is hopeful as usual and will entertain. Sacramento could be the best of the rest while Golden State is always a chance of scoring 120+ in a game. David Lee will help the Warriors inside. The Clippers are the Clippers, you never know.
Division Winner: LA Lakers


Playoff Teams:
San Antonio, Portland, LA Lakers, Dallas, Utah, Oklahoma City, Denver and Phoenix
Conference Champions:
LA Lakers


NBA Champions:
Miami Heat, though there are several obstacles along the way, if this team stays reasonably healthy, they can actually win it all but the burden lies more with Dwayne Wade than Bosh or James.

Locally here in Australia, the National Basketball League season is underway. Catch NBL and NBA action on OneHD here.

Recently Released NBL Free Agents List

from the NBL

NBL RELEASES FREE AGENTS LIST

The National Basketball League (NBL) today released its free agent list in order to allow clubs to begin their recruitment process for the 2010/11 season. 
The free agent list shows players from all clubs that had not signed new contracts with their existing teams by the deadline of 5:00PM AEDT today (Thursday 1 April).
Any player on the free agents list may now be approached by any club who wishes to offer them a contract for season 2010/11.
Some of the league's leading stars appear on the list including the reigning NBL Most Valuable Player Corey Williams as well as fellow 10-point players Tywain McKee, Adam Ballinger and Ayibde Ubaka.
The full Free Agents List is below:

2009/10 Team	Player		Player Points Ranking
Adelaide	JOHN	GILCHRIST	10
Adelaide	ADAM	BALLINGER	10
Adelaide	CORTEZ	GROVES	8
Adelaide	MATTHEW	BURSTON	8
Adelaide	JACOB	HOLMES	7
Adelaide	NATHAN	HERBERT	6
Adelaide	BRAD	HILL	5
Adelaide	DAVID	COOPER	5
Adelaide	TOM	GARLEPP	3
Adelaide	CHRIS	MOLITOR	1
Cairns	JULIEN	MILLS	9
Cairns	RICH	MELZER	9
Cairns	PHILL	JONES	7
Cairns	GARY	BOODNIKOFF	5
Cairns	KERRY	WILLIAMS	4
Cairns	DWAYNE	VALE	3
Cairns	MICHAEL	CHITHAM	D
Cairns	JAMES	COMINO	D
Gold Coast	MICHAEL	JOINER	10
Gold Coast	ERRON	MAXEY	10
Gold Coast	AYINDE	UBAKA	10
Gold Coast	CRAIG	BRADSHAW	9
Gold Coast	MIKA	VUKONA	8
Gold Coast	GREG	VANDERJAGT	5
Gold Coast	CASEY	FRANK	5
Gold Coast	PERO	CAMERON	5
Gold Coast	TYSON	DEMOS	4
Gold Coast	TOMMY	AMMAR	D
Gold Coast	BRENDAN	TEYS	D
Melbourne	JULIUS	HODGE	10
Melbourne	MARK	WORTHINGTON	10
Melbourne	MIKE	ROSE	9
Melbourne	LUKE	KENDALL	7
Melbourne	BEN	KNIGHT	7
Melbourne	DARYL	CORLETTO	7
Melbourne	NATHAN	CROSSWELL	6
Melbourne	TOM	GREER	6
Melbourne	DANIEL	JOHNSON	6
Melbourne	TIM	LANG	3
Melbourne	MATT	O'HEA	3
Melbourne	RYAN	BATHIE	D
Melbourne	YUSUF	QAAFOW	D
Melbourne	ROBBIE	STONE	D
Melbourne	BODEN	WESTOVER	D
Melbourne	EDIN	ZUNIC	D
New Zealand	RICK	RICKERT	10
New Zealand	KEVIN	BRASWELL	10
New Zealand	AWVEE	STOREY	9
New Zealand	OSCAR	FORMAN	7
New Zealand	JOHN	RILLIE	6
New Zealand	JEREMIAH	TRUEMAN	4
Perth	SHAWN	REDHAGE	10
Perth	LUKE	SCHENSCHER	10
Perth	KEVIN	LISCH	9
Perth	GALEN	YOUNG	9
Perth	SAM	HARRIS	2
Perth	MARKO	DERIK	D
Perth	JARRAD	PRIOR	D
Perth	JOEL	WAGNER	D
Townsville	COREY	WILLIAMS	10
Townsville	ROLAN	ROBERTS	9
Townsville	STEPHEN	HOARE	8
Townsville	BRAD	WILLIAMSON	7
Townsville	PETER	CRAWFORD	7
Townsville	CAMERON	TOVEY	6
Townsville	KELVIN	ROBERTSON	5
Townsville	JEFF	DOWDELL	4
Townsville	TODD	BLANCHFIELD	D
Townsville	CHRIS	CEDAR	D
Townsville	KEEGAN	TUDEHOPE	D
Wollongong	TYWAIN	MCKEE	10
Wollongong	CAMERON	TRAGARDH	9
Wollongong	GLEN	SAVILLE	9
Wollongong	DAVID	GRUBER	7
Wollongong	TIM	BEHRENDORFF	6
Wollongong	LUKE	MARTIN	4
Wollongong	DANIEL	JACKSON	3
Wollongong	GARETH	DAWSON	D
Wollongong	ZAC	DELANY	D
Additional Free Agents
	WADE	HELLIWELL	8
	NEIL	MOTTRAM	6
	MARTIN	ITI	4
	LUKE	NEVILLE	9
	ZARRYON	FERETI	5
	DAMIEN	RYAN	7
	LUCAS	WALKER	2
	BLAGOJ	JANEV	5
	LUKE	COOPER	4
	JASON	CADEE	3
	PERO	VASILJEVIC	5
	LIAM	RUSH	9
	THALO	GREEN	7
	KAVOSSY	FRANKLIN	9
	DANIEL	JOYCE	5
	BJ	CARTER	4
	ANDREW	RICE	4
	DANIEL	DILLON	3
	GRAEME	DANN	6 *
	MARK	DICKEL	9 *
D = Development Player
* = Points appeal pending

 

MVP Gala tonight

BASKETBALL MVPS NAMED TONIGHT IN MELBOURNE

The superstars of the National Basketball League and Women’s National Basketball League will gather in Melbourne tonight for the 2010 NBL/WNBL Awards Dinner to witness the announcement of the Most Valuable Players of both competitions.

In one of the true gala events on the sporting calendar, the elite of Australia’s basketball family will attend as the annual awards for both the NBL and WNBL are presented in a combined ceremony at the prestigious Palladium Room C at Crown Casino in Melbourne.

The highlight of the event will be the presentation of the Most Valuable Player awards to those two athletes who have been the best of the best in the NBL and WNBL this season.

The outstanding player of the 2009/10 season for the men’s NBL will receive the Andrew Gaze Trophy as the Most Valuable Player.  Past winners have included Leroy Loggins, Scott Fisher, Chris Anstey and of course the man the award was named after, seven-time recipient Andrew Gaze.

Some of the greatest names of the women’s game have taken home the WNBL MVP trophy previously, including Robyn Maher, Rachael Sporn, Penny Taylor and Lauren Jackson. A number of past winners of the men’s and women’s awards will be in the audience to welcome the new recipients to basketball’s most exclusive club.

Other men’s awards that will be presented tonight include NBL Coach of the Year, NBL Rookie of the Year, NBL Best Defensive Player, NBL Most Improved Player, NBL Best Sixth Man and All-NBL First Team.  The WNBL will also present their Coach of the Year, Rookie of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year.

Media wishing to attend the event are asked to contact Marc Howard on 0419 512 139.

Fresh from the NBL

MEDIA RELEASE from tne NBL

18 March 2010

NBL SET TO RETURN TO SYDNEY
The National Basketball League is building on the success of the 2009/10 season and will welcome a new team to the league in 2010/11.

Sydney will once again have a team in the National Basketball League, with Basketball Australia announcing today that a club based in the New South Wales capital would be included amongst the nine teams to make up an expanded NBL competition for the 2010/11 season. 

Sydney will join the existing eight clubs who competed in the recently completed NBL season to make up an expanded league in 2010/11.  Those other eight teams are the Hood Sweeney Adelaide 36ers,  Skytrans Cairns Taipans, Gold Coast Blaze, OAMPS Melbourne Tigers, Burger King New Zealand Breakers, Perth Wildcats, Townsville McDonald’s Crocodiles and Wollongong ahm Hawks.

Whilst the name for the new Sydney team is yet to be revealed, Basketball Australia Chief Executive officer Larry Sengstock said that the group backing the club were a diverse collection of very well respected business people who had a passion for basketball.

“I am delighted to announce that the NBL will be back in Sydney next season, with a very strong consortium making a compelling case for BA to issue them with a license,” said Sengstock.  “Their application was unanimously endorsed by the NBL Commission last night and as a result they will take their place in the NBL in season 2010/11. 

“Whilst the people backing the new Sydney club have asked to remain anonymous for a little longer until they have had the chance to launch the team properly, I can say that the ownership group has impeccable business credentials.  They are also all fully committed to making the Sydney team a long-term success both on and off-the-court, and have embraced the NBL’s renewed community focus.  This team will be a side for all of Sydney and will have very strong links to the community.”

NBL Commission Chair Diane Smith-Gander said that the NBL would look to continue to expand its footprint by including a team in Brisbane in the future, but that only teams that have satisfied the new, more stringent financial criteria would be awarded licenses.

“The NBL Commission and the BA Board are taking a controlled and strategic approach to expansion and are not rushing into additional marketplaces before the time is right,” said Smith-Gander.  “We have Sydney now and that leaves Brisbane as the only major Australian market in which we don’t have direct representation.  We are continuing discussions with a group there and are confident that they will come to fruition, we are targeting the 2011/12 season, but we will not hamstring a team by rushing them into the competition before they are completely ready. 

“We need to make sure that we only issue licenses to teams that can meet our criteria and that have the capacity to be successful in the long-term.  Sydney and the other eight existing teams all satisfied the NBL Commission that they deserved a license.  The NBL will now build on the success of this most recent season, which saw increased attendance and strong television coverage.”

“BA and the NBL have been undergoing a necessary commercial reform process over the past two years,” added Smith-Gander.  “The announcement of the nine teams for next season is another significant step in basketball’s growth as a sport.”

The NBL season will start in October 2010 and will conclude in March 2011. The 2011 Finals will once again see the top four teams qualify for the post-season, with one playing four and two playing three in best-of-three Semi Finals.  The Grand Final will once again be a best-of-three.