Aussie Basketball Discussion

[Andrew]

Surely he wouldn't be classified as an import, given he was born in Melbourne and holds Australian citizenship.

[koberulz]

If he holds Australian citizenship then no, I don't imagine he'd be an import. Even so, though, most teams already have ten players, so they wouldn't have room to slot him in. The Hawks are really the only team with a spot free at this point. The Blaze will have to cut someone just to sign Bogut, and he'd be Sydney's 11th IIRC (and even so, the Kings have six point guards or something anyway). Teams can have up to 12 players, as long as those players don't combine for more than 70 skill points. Imports are automatically a 10, and I'd imagine the same would go for anyone in the NBA.

Homicide seems to be the frontrunner for the Hawks job at this point, though I don't know what inquiries have been made to this point by either party as far as Wes Matthews goes. He seems interested, so it may just depend which way the Hawks want to go. It'd be nice to see Williams in the league again, as he's the sort of guy who can get publicity, but it'd obviously be good to have another NBA player around even if only short-term (with the option of picking up Homicide if and when the lockout is resolved). Williams tends to be a 'great for the league as long as he's not on our team' type of player, though, and with the not-for-profit community-based thing the Hawks have going, it'd be a surprise to see him picked up.

It'd be much better if these NBA guys had expressed an interest back in July or August, because teams actually had room and, in the case of the American NBA players, import slots to fit them in. The players left it until there was a more clear indication of how the lockout was progressing, though, so nothing happened until earlier this month when most teams had rosters filled already. The Tigers had to cut Daryl Corletto to fit Mills in even back then.

Bogut apparently wanted to wait until October, but it's seemed pretty much like it's just a matter of picking a team rather than picking a league at this point and the season starts on the 7th. Not sure if there's still some sort of holdup with his insurance.

No excuse for not having any tip-off times yet though.

[Andrew]

That strikes me as something of a weird system, though I'm sure it makes more sense to someone more familiar with it. So imports are automatically a ten, how do they normally determine a player's value?

[koberulz]

There are some that are determined automatically, like imports and Australian-born college players (who are given a certain rating based on how many years they played college), but once you've played a year in the league it's based on your stats within the NBL. Obviously that's not an option for first-year players, thus the auto-rating.

[koberulz]

Patrick Mills' first NBL outing: 6 turnovers, 0 assists, 4/11 from the field.

http://www.fibalivestats.com/matches/48 ... y9pUrdWV2/

[The X]

I'm not surprised at all given how terrible Mills looked in person for the Boomers in Brisbane a couple of weeks ago, which was a stark contrast to how good he looked as an 18 year old playing for Australia before heading to college. I don't know if he's just trying to do too much but he seems to have learnt the American style of play of dribbling shot clock down then jacking up long threes. Hopefully we can see more of the Mills of old as he becomes more comfortable in the NBL setting with the Tigers.

I'd love to see old mate Aleks Maric in NBL, he'd absolutely dominate and be my runaway pick for MVP of league. All good though since he's doing great in Europe.

[koberulz]

Be interesting to see how he goes against other teams. When you got Martin/Robbins pressuring you up the floor and Nevill waiting for you in the paint, it can make life pretty tough.

[koberulz]

Just been confirmed that no games will be shown live at this stage. NBL's making a last-ditch effort to get one game a week live, the rest will be 10:30 or so.

The netball, however, is live, and there will doubtless still be many, many reruns of COPS. The people running Ten are complete morons.

[The X]

Just been confirmed that no games will be shown live at this stage. NBL's making a last-ditch effort to get one game a week live, the rest will be 10:30 or so.

The netball, however, is live, and there will doubtless still be many, many reruns of COPS. The people running Ten are complete morons.

Disgraceful With an impending NBA lockout, Mills & possibly Bogut playing in Australia, this is not ideal time to stop showing games. One HD has turned to shite long ago though. When they started it was great. Then they got rid of college bball coverage, but they got NBL coverage so I thought that was good & hoped they'd eventually get A-League coverage too. Now they've shafted the channel, may as well get rid of it at this rate. The minute Murdoch or whatever his name got involved it was always destined to go downhill.

I can still watch the NBL games through my iiNet but that won't help the league like live free-to-air will. Hopefully NBL at least get one marquee game live per week.

Was talking to my wife & although she says NBL has a pretty good product, she agreed that teams needed more marquee players to draw crowds/TV. Mills & potentially Bogut help. I'd imagine a high flyer like James White would be good for the league. League needs a few more athletes if possible.

Ahh well, I've already got a ticket to one Blaze game in December. Will have to support league by going to games slightly more (although given not in Brisbane, won't be much).

[Andrew]

No live games on Foxtel, either?

[Kenny]

Someone definitely dropped the ball on that one. You think with the lockout, it'd be the best possible time to promote the Australian game... at least with the logic of "any basketball is good basketball" right now.

[Andrew]

Mind you, this is a league that I've seen promote itself as a "fun family night out with a game of basketball thrown in". Marketing isn't necessarily their strong suit.

[koberulz]

No live games on Foxtel, either?

None on Foxtel at all.

They had a really good deal with the previous Ten ownership, which would have seen three live games a week this season and eventually worked up to every game being shown live in the fifth year of the contract, but then Murdoch came in and fucked it all up. I haven't even watched ONE since the Lakers were eliminated; other than COPS reruns I wouldn't have a clue what they show.

EDIT: Hawks confirm no interest in NBA players due to insufficient funds.

[Andrew]

None at all? Unacceptable, as is the situation with One HD.

[koberulz]

They had the opportunity to move over to FTA, they took it. Wouldn't you? Had the previous Ten ownership remained in place, they'd have three live games a week on FTA, which is far better than being on Fox.

[Andrew]

Well, as a Foxtel subscriber it makes you wonder what you're paying for when Fox Sports isn't getting all the professional sports leagues in Australia (particularly the one I'd actually have any inclination to watch, I'm not a footy or cricket fan). But sure, being on FTA is definitely better exposure for the league, or would be if they were actually showing live games. But no games on Foxtel and one taped game on FTA isn't a good situation for their television coverage.

[koberulz]

It's three games a week on FTA, the hope at this stage is they can get one of them live. There is a clause in the contract that dictates no more than a three hour delay, so games may be played on Saturday/Sunday afternoons to facilitate a good TV timeslot. Thank god they had at least that much foresight.

Fox Sports' lack of content is more of an issue with Fox Sports than with the NBL or NBA.

[Andrew]

For sure, but that doesn't make it any less disappointing.

At least one live game on FTA would be something. Surely, there are still just as many people interested in watching live NBL games as there are netball games.

[Kenny]

As much as a traitor as I feel with this upcoming statement, I think I actually prefer watching the Netball over the NBL. It's not that I like Netball more, but Australia and New Zealand are the elite nations in Netball and the competition seems far more intense than that of the NBL. And I know I keep harping on this, but the fact that Brisbane (well, the whole of Queensland, but played in Brisbane) have a team in the Netball also makes me more inclined to watch it.

[Andrew]

I wouldn't go that far myself, but I see your point.

[koberulz]

Saw this on OzHoops:

I heard a while back that the TV would be late on Fridays, on a smaller delay on Saturdays and live on Sundays. It seems to have changed a few times since then with some renegging going on, but I wouldnt be surprised if that's how it ended up. Certainly though, if Ten is going ahead with the 3-hour thing I think moving games to 6pm on Saturdays would be one strategy to consider, but only if BA is willing to go to court to back it up if Ten dont stay within three hours.

Not as good as them all being live, obviously, but that seems like a decent enough deal. Particularly with where the league is at right now.

[Andrew]

Agreed, far better for the league than no live games or nothing at all. Even the NRL has to make do with tape delayed games at times, so I guess it's not really a slap in the face.

[shadowgrin]

As much as a traitor as I feel with this upcoming statement, I think I actually prefer watching the Netball over the NBL. It's not that I like Netball more, but Australia and New Zealand are the elite nations in Netball and the competition seems far more intense than that of the NBL. And I know I keep harping on this, but the fact that Brisbane (well, the whole of Queensland, but played in Brisbane) have a team in the Netball also makes me more inclined to watch it.

I prefer watching (women's) netball than watching the WNBA.

[koberulz]

Agreed, far better for the league than no live games or nothing at all. Even the NRL has to make do with tape delayed games at times, so I guess it's not really a slap in the face.

11:05 PM Sunday, according to ONE.

I don't even see how that falls under the three hour rule.

[Andrew]

Well, so much for that.