Melbourne United and the Perth Wildcats are rolling in the NBL right now but still not guaranteed of playoff action while the Sydney Kings and Cairns Taipans further consolidated their top two positions, and the Adelaide 36ers just about fell right off a cliff.
The final month of the NBL23 regular season was always going to be chance to define the fortunes of the eight teams still in the playoff hunt, and it certainly did that in a lot of ways.
It started with a record thumping from the Sydney Kings of the Brisbane Bullets, and along the way both Sydney and Cairns moved further clear in the top two spots, the Tasmania JackJumpers, Perth Wildcats and Melbourne United kept winning, and the New Zealand Breakers and Adelaide 36ers didn’t.
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It was another fascinating round of NBL action that started way back on Tuesday night with the Tasmania JackJumpers beating the Illawarra Hawks 92-89, and the Perth Wildcats defeating the New Zealand Breakers 93-90.
Then on Wednesday night, the Sydney Kings recorded their biggest win of the 40-minute era thrashing the Brisbane Bullets 116-67.
There were two more games on Thursday night with Melbourne United downing the New Zealand Breakers 77-65 and then the Tasmania JackJumpers beating the Adelaide 36ers 98-82.
Friday night saw the Cairns Taipans hold out the brave Illawarra Hawks 89-84 before on Saturday, Melbourne United beat the Brisbane Bullets 101-91, and the Perth Wildcats defeated the Adelaide 36ers 112-97 with the roof open at RAC Arena.
There was another two matches on Sunday beginning with the Cairns Taipans moving clear in second spot defeating the New Zealand Breakers 85-83, and then the Sydney Kings staying top beating the Illawarra Hawks 84-79.
It’s not quite done yet either with the South East Melbourne Phoenix returning to action to take on the Brisbane Bullets at Melbourne’s State Basketball Centre on Monday night.
NON-AUSTRALIANS DRIVING WILDCATS’ SWAGGER RETURNING
The Perth Wildcats put up 67 points under the open roof at RAC Arena in the first half on Saturday as their full starting five made up of non-Australians showed that they could still take this team a long way in NBL23.
When you are a franchise with a history as rich as what the Wildcats’ is, it’s not easy to set new landmarks but on Saturday night they opened the roof to The Jungle for the first time, and it’s a non-Australian starting five that is lighting things up.
The addition of Tai Webster to the Wildcats late in the season had the potential to make them the most lethal offensive team in the league when you put him alongside prolific scorers Corey Webster and Bryce Cotton, the dangerous Brady Manek and strong inside presence of TaShawn Thomas.
It hasn’t taken long to click. In just Tai’s third game of the season, the starting group of the Webster brothers, Cotton, Manek and Thomas were just on fire on Saturday night in front of a sold out crowd at RAC Arena with the roof open.
The ‘Cats piled on a season-best 67 points in the first half shooting a phenomenal 63 per cent from the field while connecting on 9/13 three-point attempts with Manek putting up 18 points, Cotton 16, Thomas 11 and the Webster brothers combining for 17.
By the end of the night, Perth beat the Adelaide 36ers 112-97 to improve to a 12-10 record to stabilise themselves in the top six with an offensive arsenal that could still take them a long way.
It’s the first time in the rich history of the Wildcats that they have not had an Australian in the starting line-up. There’s still a chance for Luke Travers to replace Tai Webster in that group moving forward, but it’s making them dangerous.
For coach John Rillie, it’s all about having quality players out on the floor and trusting them to be good enough to make the offence flow. He knows it has to start at the defensive end for it to work though.
“When you put good basketball players out on the floor and they enjoy playing with each other, and sharing the ball, I don’t need to draw up tricky plays,” Rillie said.
“They share the ball and play to each other’s strengths. I think when I have to try to manipulate the game too much, that takes away from their instincts and in this game you saw them playing purely on instinct.
“You look ahead and we’ve got the Sydney Kings next who are the barometer. I want our team to enjoy this win because that was a great performance, but the barometer is the Sydney Kings so let’s re-evaluate and this week we’ll spend preparing for them.
“Obviously we want to keep building momentum because we’re in the thick of it so we have to keep trending forward. But I would say is that when our defence is locked in at a good level, that allows us to play great offence.”
UNITED’S CHAMPIONSHIP CALIBRE TEAM THAT COULD STILL MISS PLAYOFFS
If you look at the way Melbourne United is playing right now with their stars delivering and still dealing with some injuries, you can make a strong case that they are a good enough to team to win the championship.
The only problem is United left themselves such a hole to climb out of with a slow start to the season. With three games remaining over the final three rounds, even if they keep winning their destiny isn’t in their own hands in terms of sneaking into the top six.
You can argue Melbourne’s basketball is on the level of top two teams Sydney and Cairns, and you wouldn’t rule out United being able to make a real run for the championship.
However, it’s still going to take some luck for Melbourne to be part of the post-season action after starting the season losing 10 of the opening 15 matches.
Coming back from being 5-10 was always going to take something special, but right now Melbourne has won eight of the last 10 games to be knocking on the door of the top six. In fact, if Brisbane beats South East Melbourne on Monday night, United will close Round 15 in sixth position.
The reality, though, is that Melbourne will need some luck to make it and to win its last three matches, starting in Adelaide against an equally desperate 36ers on Saturday.
United then finish off back in Auckland against New Zealand Breakers and then in the last game of the season at home to the Sixers once more – which could still decide which of the two teams makes the playoffs.
All United can do is win those last three games and hope things fall their way, but there’s no question should they make it, they would be every chance to win their way into a semi-final clash. From there, anything would be possible.
On Saturday night alone in Brisbane, every time Melbourne was challenged their stars stepped up with Rayjon Tucker finishing with 30 points, Chris Goulding 21 on five three-pointers, Xavier Rathan-Mayes 20 points, five rebounds and five assists, and Shea Ili 11 points and seven assists.
They did it without Isaac Humphries and David Barlow as well but now that this Melbourne team is clicking and found some chemistry, they have a lot of weapons and are mighty impressive.
With Ili and Rathan-Mayes finding their groove as the playmakers, Tucker’s improved shooting and working out how he can be effective in the NBL, and the shooting prowess of Goulding, that United backcourt is terrific.
Marcus Lee was in foul trouble in both games this weekend, but both against New Zealand and Brisbane he was important despite his numbers not standing out. Then Brad Newley, Mason Peatling and David Okwera are playing important roles.
There’s two things now with this team. Tucker announced himself this season as feeling he was the best new import coming into the league. That became a bit of a running joke early on, but now he might well be right.
Tucker has proven himself a match-winner for United with him improving his outside shot and being unstoppable in the open floor and when aggressive going to the rack.
He is fresh off a 30-point performance against Brisbane on Saturday and he credits the Melbourne coaching staff for helping him find the form he is in.
“I’ve been settling in better but it’s just the confidence that my teammates and Deano have given me,” Tucker said.
“The extra work that I’ve been putting in with Rhys Carter and D-Mac too just working on my shot to expand my game, and different aspects to have the scouting report on me kinda change to open up things for other guys on our team. To do what I do at a high frequency level has been good.”
In the bigger picture, Tucker has no doubt this Melbourne team can go all the way if they reach the top six.
“We’re super desperate to get to the playoffs, that desperation is what we’ve been playing with for the last couple of weeks,” Tucker said.
“Just that relentlessness and desperation to give ourselves the best opportunity to make that playoff berth because we do feel like we’re a championship calibre team.”
UNDERDOG ROTH DRIVING JACKJUMPERS CULTURE
As a self-confessed white kid from Cleveland, Ohio, Scott Roth knew the odds were against him to reach the NBA. He did it.
He now sees the odds against the Tasmania JackJumpers and that’s why he is so proud of the home he’s found and is driving the development of their culture.
Roth has felt like an underdog his whole life and is proud that he’s continued to defy the odds.
He grew up in the suburbs of Cleveland, went to the University of Wisconsin and then for the 1987/88 season, he found his way into the NBA to live out his dream.
He would end up playing 166 games in the NBA between the Utah Jazz, San Antonio Spurs and Minnesota Timberwolves, and will forever be proud of what he has accomplished.
However, Roth has continued to want to break new ground. That’s why has fully embraced being the inaugural head coach of the JackJumpers, and why at nearly 60 years of age, he has found home.
It might be on the other side of the world from where he started and in a place he’d never heard of when he was that NBA player. Or that didn’t even have an NBL team two years ago, but what Roth has found in Tasmania has been life-changing for him.
It hasn’t been all smooth sailing. Because of COVID, becoming an NBL head coach meant that Roth was isolated from his wife Lorie and daughter Dene, and the only way to survive was fully embracing life at the JackJumpers.
Having been an underdog his whole life, Roth loved being part of an organisation that was battling above their weight and that nobody had any expectations of.
That’s why reaching the Grand Final last season meant so much and that’s why the fact they are in the hunt again this season in fourth position at 13-10 after Thursday’s win against the Adelaide 36ers means so much to him.
Roth couldn’t be prouder to be part of the NBL’s underdogs because that’s what he has felt he’s been his whole life, which he does reflect on at times on his NBA journey.
“It brought back memories of the flowing mullet and really tight shorts that I had, but it lets you reflect,” Roth said.
“I was lucky to play in the NBA really at that time and play with some great players, and it’s a nice reflection to bring back really good memories.
“I worked my entire life to become an NBA player which was quite hard to do in my era with not as many teams, and it just wasn’t something that a white kid from the suburbs of Cleveland, Ohio would ever have the chance of doing. People would count you out and that’s why I’m so passionate about this stage.
“My underdog story is still being written in some fashion or form, but it started when everyone said I couldn’t do anything in basketball. It just progressed from there to the NBA and the few moments I had there. I’m proud of it and it’s a legacy for my family to see which is fantastic.”
When talking about why the JackJumpers mean so much to him and why he has embraced Tasmania so much, it’s simply because of how welcoming the whole state has been to him.
“It took me 58 years to find home and this is home. This state has been off the charts in welcoming me and my family with the passion they’ve shown us,” Roth said.
“This is a wonderful place to be living and then to represent the entire state as a foreigner coming in here to get this kind of love and friendship from everyone that’s been part of this organisation is quite unique, and quite special to me and my family. I found home.”
LITTLE USED TAIPANS STEP UP HUGE WITHOUT PINDER
When even a player who has barely hit the floor all season can come on and turn the tide of a game with second spot on the line like Lat Mayen did for the Cairns Taipans on Sunday you know you’ve got something special.
It’s impossible to not get caught up in what the Taipans are doing this NBL season. With three rounds to go, they are clear in second position with a 16-7 record having now won their past six matches, all in the absence of superstar Keanu Pinder.
When you consider where they came from after winning just nine games last season and it’s a hell of a story, and one in which they continue to do simply because of the vision coach Adam Forde had and the players fully buying in.
Taipans management listened to the vision Forde had of the team he wanted to build and how he wanted them to play in the off-season. He will forever be grateful that they entrusted him to go put that into place.
The end result is that Forde has built a team to play how he wants. He wanted them to play at the fastest pace in the league, to take more three-point shots than anyone else and to all start by them playing at a high intensity at the defensive end.
The key to that was having players who fit that style, but who were also willing to be unselfish enough to put the good of the team first and not let their egos get in the way.
It’s certainly worked and that’s why missing Pinder and his 17.9 points and 9.9 rebounds a game hasn’t stopped them winning in his absence winning all six matches since he’s been out with an ankle injury.
Forde knew he wanted Tahjere McCall to be his leader and that’s why he came back. He also trusted McCall to help build this team and new imports DJ Hogg and Shannon Scott have been outstanding in not only their production, but proving themselves unselfish team first players.
Adding Sam Waardenburg to provide that size up front has worked too, Bul Kuol might very well be their most important and consistent performer even if his numbers don’t stand out. Ben Ayre, Majok Deng, Mirko Djeric, Jonah Antonio and Josh Davey have had their moments.
Perhaps the best indication of just how strong the culture is with this Taipans team is looking at a player who has barely played at all.
Before Sunday’s game in New Zealand, Lat Mayen had only played 40 minutes the entire season. He had scored just four points and none of those since November 4 against Melbourne United.
However, Forde has taken note of the positive attitude Mayen has kept up in his first NBL season. He has seen the work he’s put in and wanted to give him a chance, and that happened in the third quarter on Sunday.
With the Breakers making a run, it was Mayen who proved the steadying influence to close the third quarter. He ended up with four points and three rebounds in his eight minutes of court time.
Mayen’s impact to stop New Zealand’s charge was crucial before his good mate Ben Ayre hit a three to put the Taipans back up by nine points before they went on to win by two.
For Forde, he was glad to give Mayen the chance and to see him deliver what he described as the most important eight minutes of the game from any player.
“Lat has had a string of DNP’s and I was sitting back in my hotel room thinking about when I’m going to give him a crack at this,” Forde said.
“I thought this was a game with a great match up for him because of his length and size. He was instrumental for us to retain that lead in the third quarter.
“I’ve given Lat nothing. There’s a lot of guys in the league, past and present, who would just quit and start showing up only when they need to and be the first guy to leave the gym.
“But Lat is still getting in there first to work out before everybody else and the same with Ben, and they’ve got a great synergy. The cool thing about it is that this a lot on Lat, and I’ve given him donuts but he’s stayed ready.
“He’s stayed hungry and this is the result you get and I felt like he played the most eight important minutes of the game. He nailed it, he killed it.”
KYRGIOS ON BOARD AS PHOENIX RETURN TO ACTION
Tennis superstar Nick Kyrgios is on board as a part owner of the South East Melbourne Phoenix as they play their first game in over a week on Monday night in a must-win affair against a Brisbane Bullets fresh off an improved performance.
Their focus won’t be aligned so much right now with Kyrgios preparing to being his Australian Open campaign while the Phoenix will be returning to the basketball court across town trying to secure their playoff spot.
However, Kyrgios is excited to now have joined the ownership group running the Phoenix and it’s a lifelong dream of the basketball fanatic to further dive into the spot.
Kyrgios has long talked about his love of basketball, he is always adorned by Jordan clothing and famously wears Jordan shoes onto the tennis court, and now is a part owner of an NBL club.
He will now no longer be seen in the purple and gold of the Sydney Kings instead in the black and green of the Phoenix, but for the world No. 21 tennis player, he is excited to be hands on with his role with the club.
Whether it’s taking the chance to come work out with the team when they’re in Melbourne, to help build the profile of the Phoenix through his social media and public profile, or whatever it is, Kyrgios expects to throw himself into his part in the team.
Kyrgios expects to be on hand in Melbourne a lot too noting the positives of not travelling year-round like the rest of his fellow players on the ATP Tour.
“Mitch Creek’s giving me the feels every time I’m watching him play and I feel like I’ve got some great relationships within that team already,” Kyrgios said.
“I was actually watching the Sydney Kings a bit because I’m living up there, but this is the team at heart now and I’ll be backing them until the hills come home.
“Obviously for me this is a big opportunity. My good friend Romi is a big part of it and everyone knows my basketball roots so I’m excited to be a part of the NBL.
“There’s been so much growth over the last two years and I’m pretty much tuning in all the time. It’s a massive move for me personally in my career and I’m super excited to jump on board and do anything I can to help the team and enjoy the success really.”
More immediately, the Phoenix play their first game in eight days on Monday night against the Brisbane Bullets at Melbourne’s State Basketball Centre.
The Phoenix had lost four straight following last Sunday’s loss in Cairns, but now welcome back import duo Trey Kell III and Gary Browne, and must beat the Bullets or find themselves outside of the top six at the expense of Melbourne United.
