Finals Series gets underway tonight...

NBL Grand Final Series Rematch up soon

The 2012-2013 NBL Grand Final series will pit Perth against New Zealand in a rematch of last seasons' title series with New Zealand seeking a third consecutive title. 

The evergreen C.J. Bruton will be the emotional leader for the Breakers and lead the charge once again. During the regular season, Perth won three of the four meetings but will start the series minus the scrappy Damian Martin who is a three time NBL Defensive Player of the year. 

Overall the series should be exciting ...prediction wise, I am predicting a close series but looking for New Zealand to pull it off.

Finals Series Prediction:

New Zealand Breakers 2-1

Aussie Hoop playoffs start tonight....

Playoff time in Australia 

Australia’s National Basketball League has reached the postseason with four teams vying for the title. The semi-finals which are the best of three start later today when the New Zealand Breakers host the Townsville Crocodiles. In the other semi-final the Perth Wildcats will meet the Gold Coast Blaze.


New Zealand finished the regular season on top of the ladder with a record of 21-7, Perth went 19-9 in finishing second, Gold Coast finished 17-11 and Townsville came in at 15-13 for fourth.


New Zealand is hoping to send the retiring CJ Bruton off in style and is favourites to take the crown. Breakers Gary Wilkinson, Thomas Abercrombie, Cedric Jackson and stalwart Daryl Corletto will be integral in making that happen. Perth will continue to look to NBL MVP Kevin Lisch to lead their charge. Jesse Wagstaff and Shawn Redhage round out the major threats for the rugged Wildcats lineup. For the Queensland teams, the Gold Coast  squad of Coach Joey Wright to advance, they will need solid play from Captain Adam Gibson and forward Mark Worthington. Finally North Queenslanders Townsville  is hoping Peter Crawford and Eddie Gill can lead them to a couple of upsets on the way to the title.


Prediction wise, I will give the nod to New Zealand and Perth for a championship series.


You can read the preview from the NBL site here.


I’ll be back with my NCAA Final Four picks tomorrow.