Aussie Basketball Discussion

[koberulz]

The same reason they've played games in China, England and various European countries. To expand into international markets and make money.

They've played pre-season games in which the superstars spend 90-100% of the game on the bench. Nobody's going to bring an actual team out here and risk injury to give the NBL a leg-up.

As for reaffirming the NBL's status as an inferior league...perhaps, but if it brings fans to the games then like I said, those fans are also getting some exposure to the NBL and players they could take an interest in. I don't see how they could be any worse off for doing it.

Because most people who watch the NBA but not the NBL do so because they think the NBL is shit. Reaffirming that is going to make the problem worse, not better.

[Kenny]

Granted I watch the NBA more because it's an elite league, but it's also because it's far more accessible than the NBL. Getting our asses kicked by NBA teams wouldn't hurt the sport as much as not having games shown live on free-to-air. And I'm pretty sure it's already a well known fact that America is the far superior basketball nation.

[Nick]

Granted I watch the NBA more because it's an elite league, but it's also because it's far more accessible than the NBL.

I gotta agree there. I've paid more attention to NBA than NBL over the past decade not because NBL is shit, but because of accessibility.

It's a good step that NBL is actually getting TV time these days. I watch it now whenever i get the chance.

[koberulz]

The people who don't watch it because it's not accessible won't be converted by an NBA tour either.

[Andrew]

I still think that anything that could raise interest in basketball in Australia is worth a try. I'd like the opportunity to see some NBA players live and I'll admit that's a big part of my interest in the idea, but if the NBL could get on board with that somehow then it's exposure for them. I think in a way it could help legitimise them as a pro sports league here in Australia, having involvement with a much bigger entity. If nothing else though, I'd like to see a champions tournament similar to the old McDonalds Open and get the NBL champs in on that.

What would really help lift the profile of the game of course is success for the Boomers at the Olympics next year. Gold is out of the question, but the bronze or overachieving for silver? It might just get basketball some more attention and respect.

[koberulz]

I still think that anything that could raise interest in basketball in Australia is worth a try. I'd like the opportunity to see some NBA players live and I'll admit that's a big part of my interest in the idea, but if the NBL could get on board with that somehow then it's exposure for them.

An NBA-only game with NBL promotional presence would work better than an NBA vs NBL game.

If nothing else though, I'd like to see a champions tournament similar to the old McDonalds Open and get the NBL champs in on that.

I watched the Wildcats-Rockets game last night. Apart from the commentary team being enamoured with Andrew Vlahov for reasons that are completely beyond me, it was a perfect example of why that sort of thing should never happen again. The 'Cats opened 1/16, managed to stay within single digits somehow over the course of the first half, then the Rockets decided to actually start trying and blew them off the court in all of three minutes.

[The X]

I remember that Wildcats-Rockets game and the commentators loving Vlahov

[koberulz]

It was particularly hilarious because he really wasn't playing that well. He's 1-3 and they're going on about how he's completely unguardable. "And they've got Vlahov with the ball in the post again. Just watch, he's going to score here. [Defender] can't guard him." *Vlahov spins baseline for a turnaround fadeaway jumper, misses*. "I, uh, well...I thought he was going to spin the other way there, and get to the basket, but he's really good. He's unstoppable." And then something about how he's big enough to play rugby. Saw him in person a couple of months back, and he's absolutely huge. He's practically square.

[koberulz]

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/ ... 6217563742

Sydney are completely screwed. Even if it's only Khazzouh and it's only the two weeks, this'll basically end their season.

[The X]

Good on him. Hope he can stick

[Kenny]

Hopefully he can have a strong showing. Not sure how he'll match up against people of Howard's cailber, but it'd be cool to have another Aussie in the NBA since Patty is in China and Dave Anderson didn't pan out.

[Andrew]

Agreed. In the short term it doesn't do much for the NBL to lose a promising player overseas but more Aussies in the NBA surely help in raising the profile of the sport here and I think that has to have some trickle down effect. If nothing else, one can't begrudge the guy for taking a shot at the big time. Good luck to him.

[The X]

I hope old mate Aleks Maric gets a shot to crack NBA. He's Australia's best centre (yes, I just said that )

[Andrew]

As long as Bogut isn't playing for an Australian club, that could be a technically accurate statement.

[koberulz]

Given that Maric isn't playing here either (he's playing in Europe), I don't see how that makes a difference.

[Andrew]

Indeed. That goes to show my lack of familiarity with him. Carry on.

[koberulz]

phpBB [video]

Hell of a game, though the ten-minute review ruined the ending just a bit.

[koberulz]

[Andrew]

It makes more sense on second glance. Seems they're basically pre-empting the inevitable potshots from disgruntled NBL fans with a bit of self-deprecating humour that ties into the post about An Idiot Abroad. Still funny to see though.

[Nick]

On an unrelated note, i saw Lenard Copeland hitting the town at Chapel St last Friday night. True story

[koberulz]

It makes more sense on second glance. Seems they're basically pre-empting the inevitable potshots from disgruntled NBL fans with a bit of self-deprecating humour that ties into the post about An Idiot Abroad. Still funny to see though.

It's still got far more sarcasm and general informalness (if that's a word, which it isn't) than you would expect from an official Facebook page. One wonders why the NBL is still getting shafted so badly if its supporters are vocal enough for it to come up that quickly.

In other news, second Melbourne team to be announced tomorrow, according to Chris Anstey.

[The X]

:shake:

phpBB [video]

Hell of a game, though the ten-minute review ruined the ending just a bit.

Epic game. Don't know how it would take them 10 minutes to review it though, considering you could see on 2nd angle that red lights on backboard were on well before shot got released.

Hope Blaze-Tigers game I'm going to in a couple of weeks is a good contest. Not expecting a triple OT game like I got with Blaze-Breakers earlier this year but always good to see a competitive game with both teams going at it.

[J@3]

The Bullets are coming back too apparently.

[Andrew]

It's still got far more sarcasm and general informalness (if that's a word, which it isn't) than you would expect from an official Facebook page. One wonders why the NBL is still getting shafted so badly if its supporters are vocal enough for it to come up that quickly.

True. Perhaps they feel it'll appear less stuffy and thus more appealing to their fans? It certainly did get its fair share of likes based on that screenshot. In any case, certainly unusual.

[koberulz]

Epic game. Don't know how it would take them 10 minutes to review it though, considering you could see on 2nd angle that red lights on backboard were on well before shot got released.

It took them five minutes to get up to the monitors, which were in the back row of the stadium, then another five to get down. Plus a minute of One fucking around showing the wrong camera angle.