NBA Game 3 up...

NBA Game Three on tap

The NBA Finals series has moved to Dallas tied at 1-1 after the Mavericks pulled off yet another improbable victory to tie the series in Miami.

Miami will be looking to finish strong if in position to do so as opposed to blowing a late lead. Dallas in turn will be looking to get ahead and hold on for once in this series. The Heat will hope to get better production from Chris Bosh who has been woeful from the field. Additionally to jump back ahead, they will need a solid contribution from the bench as a whole and possibly a big contribution from one bench player, i.e., Mike Miller.

Dallas on the other hand will rely on the veterans, Nowitzki, Terry, Marion, Kidd and Terry. Any positive contributions from J.J. Barea and the rest of the Dallas bench could see them gain the ascendency in this series.

I’ll throw my hat in the Heat’s ring. I think Bosh may turn his game around enough to be effective and the Miami crew will win another close one. I will stick to my Heat in six prediction from the start of the finals.

Elsewhere in the Hoop World

I will join the chorus in wishing the Big “Whatever he wants to be” Shaquille O’Neal all the best in his retirement. Thanks for all the memories, sound bites and antics. There are even rumours out of a city called Townsville here in Australia have their sights set on the big man with the local NBL team the Townsville Crocodiles offering this invitation on their website: Former NBA player in the Crocs’ sights . Hmm…The Big Crocodile or The Big Croc Hunter!!

 

Also the WNBA season has kicked off with a smattering of Aussie talent on show. Of course there is Lauren (MS. Jackson) Jackson in Seattle, new sensation Elizabeth Cambage in Tulsa, Jenna O’Hea in Los Angeles, Sandy Brondello (assistant coach) Los Angeles, Penny Taylor in Phoenix, Erin Phillips in Indiana, Tully Bevilaqua in San Antonio and Belinda Snell who is also playing in Seattle. Good luck on the season ladies.

 

Ok, back in a couple of days to check in…..

WNBL Landscape to Change!! Ms. Jackson Returns!!

LAUREN JACKSON RETURNS TO WNBL

Basketball Australia (BA) can confirm that four time Women’s National Basketball League (WNBL) Most Valuable Player Lauren Jackson has signed a contract with the Canberra Capitals to play out the remainder of the 2009/10 season.

The Capitals announced Jackson’s signature this morning at ActewAGL House in Canberra alongside ACT Chief Minister Jon Stanhope and ActewAGL Chairman John Mackay.

Chief Minister Stanhope and Mackay played vital roles alongside Capitals CEO Mark Cartwright in providing and generating the funds necessary to secure Jackson’s services.

Jackson became the hottest free agent in women’s basketball when she signaled her intention to opt out of a two year deal with Russian club side Spartak Moscow in the aftermath of the assassination of team owner Shabtai von Kalmanovich.

The Capitals were quick to swoop and Jackson’s international clearance to join the Capitals was received overnight, just hours before a league deadline for player registration.

Under Rule 3.3 (e) of the WNBL Operations Manual, “A club can register no further players after half the regular season games for that Club in that season has been played.” In the Capitals’ case, that “half the regular season” date is today, November 25^th.

“This is terrific news for the WNBL and basketball,” BA Chief Executive Larry Sengstock said.

“It is a rare chance for basketball fans to see the best player in the world playing in our WNBL and we urge the people of Australia to take that opportunity.

“We have a number of Olympians in the league already this year and the competition has been first class but adding Lauren to the mix will undoubtedly be a huge boost.

“Spectator numbers will increase dramatically as will media interest and they are just a couple of indicative positives we’ll see from having Lauren back in the WNBL.”

Jackson has played 154 WNBL games since her rookie season with the Australian Institute of Sport in 1998/99 and has won five WNBL Championships; one with the AIS and four with Canberra.

She last played in the WNBL in the 2006 Grand Final where she led Canberra to victory and was named Most Valuable Player of the Grand Final.

The Capitals have indicated that Jackson is not expected to suit up for the Capitals this week as her rehabilitation from a back injury continues.

Her return to the WNBL is tentatively slated for Saturday December 5^th, when the Bendigo Spirit hosts the Canberra Capitals at Bendigo Stadium. That clash is the ABC TV Game of the Week, televised nationally on ABC1 at 1:00pm AET.

If Jackson was not ready for action on that date her next available opportunity would be the Capitals’ round 11 clash with Perth on December 12. That would allow Jackson to play 13 games for Canberra if it makes the Grand Final.

After eight rounds of competition, Canberra is running fifth of 10 teams with a 6 win, 4 loss record.