Basketball news: NBL fixtures for rounds 8-11 revealed
The pandemic has wreaked havoc on the NBL fixture, but renewed confidence has given the league the opportunity to lock in its fixtures from rounds 8-11. SEE THEM HERE
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The NBL’s contenders and pretenders will emerge in the coming weeks, with the league announcing the next phase of the season schedule.
The league is set to release major draw changes for round 8 to 11, featuring 16 games in 10 days from January 21 to February 13, as they look to catch up after Covid chaos forced multiple postponements.
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The rapid-fire schedule will play a major role in deciding who makes the finals and who fails for another season.
Here are the five teams that need to start banking some wins to have any chance of securing a playoff position alongside benchmark teams like Perth, Illawarra and the two Melbourne teams, who have emerged as a clear top four at this point.
PERTH WILDCATS
Currently 1st (Five wins and one loss)
The competition lead will go on the line when Perth travels to Wollongong for consecutive games against the Hawks in round 8 and 9.
The Wildcats then face a game against the Kings in Sydney before finally returning home to take on New Zealand and Cairns.
Wildcats draw from round 8-11: Hawks (A), Hawks (A), Kings (A), Breakers (H) and Taipans (H)
ILLAWARRA HAWKS
Currently 2nd (four wins and one loss)
Brian Goorjian’s high-flying Illawarra Hawks have a chance to go to the top of the ladder if they can beat Perth in back-to-back home games.
The Hawks should fare well with this schedule to at least remain in the top three.
Hawks draw from round 8-11: Wildcats (H), 36ers (H) Wildcats (H), Taipans (A), Breakers (A), Bullets (A), Phoenix (H) and Taipans (H).
SOUTH EAST MELBOURNE PHOENIX
Currently 3rd (three wins and one loss)
A decent draw for the Phoenix, which should help them solidify their top four position.
The hardest clash will be away to Goorjian’s Hawks.
Phoenix draw from round 8-11: JackJumpers (A), Taipans (H), Bullets (A), 36ers (H), Hawks (A), Kings (H) and Bullets (H).
MELBOURNE UNITED
Currently 4th (four wins and two losses)
A decent run on the road, but United has the class and experience to win those games before returning home for winnable games against cellar dwellers Tasmania and New Zealand.
United draw from round 8-11: 36ers (A), Bullets (A), 36ers (A), JackJumpers (H) and Breakers (H)
CAIRNS TAIPANS
Currently 5th (two wins and two losses)
Cairns has a horror draw, which will make it difficult to qualify for the finals.
The Taipans face four of their seven games against top four teams, including two games against Brian Goorjian’s high-flying Illawarra Hawks.
Cairns desperately need star guard Scott Machado back from his ankle injury, and fit, to have any chance of causing the upsets they’ll need to rise up the ladder.
Taipans draw from round 8-11: Breakers (H), Phoenix (A), Hawks (H), 36ers (A), Kings (A), Wildcats (A), Hawks (A),
HOLY XAVIER COOKS
— Sydney Kings (@SydneyKings) January 13, 2022
The ring shook so hard I was worried the roof was going to leak 😅 @xaviercooks10#WeTheKings#NBL22pic.twitter.com/A4ufBRyPaq
SYDNEY KINGS
Currently 6th (Three wins and four losses)
The Kings have been hit hard by injuries, but they still possess the talent to make a run for the playoffs.
Of course, they’ll miss Jordan Hunter (foot fracture) and RJ Hunter (knee), but the likes of Jaylen Adams, Xavier Cooks and Jarell Martin gives Sydney hope.
Expect the Kings to recruit another import, and depending on who they secure, it could be a game-changer to keep the Kings’ season alive.
Sydney’s two games against Brisbane could prove crucial in their bid to make the finals.
Kings draw from round 8-11: Bullets (A), Bullets (H), Wildcats (H), JackJumpers (A), Phoenix (A), 36ers (H).
BRISBANE BULLETS
Currently 7th (two wins and three losses)
It has been enjoyable to watch Brisbane play this season despite their lowly position on the ladder.
Nathan Sobey has formed a potent combination with import Robert Franks and forward Lamar Patterson, but once again consistency remains a problem.
The Bullets’ two games against Sydney will be vital, because they then face the Phoenix twice and United and the Hawks.
Bullets draw from round 8-11: Kings (H), Kings (A), United (H), Phoenix (H), Hawks (H) and Phoenix (A)
When Kai met Jawai 😤 #WeAreSixerspic.twitter.com/CVJs1dNW0n
— Adelaide 36ers (@Adelaide36ers) December 18, 2021
ADELAIDE 36ERS
Currently 8th (two wins and three losses)
Adelaide has been cruelled by Covid and injuries this season, and when they have played, the team has struggled to be consistent.
Still, the 36ers possess enough strike to push for a finals position if they can produce their finest form.
Two clashes against Melbourne United could prove telling in their quest for the finals.
36ers draw from round 8-11: United (H), Hawks (A), JackJumpers (A), United (H), Taipans (H), Phoenix (A) and Kings (A).
TASMANIA JACKJUMPERS
Currently 9th (two wins and five losses)
Tasmania has four straight home games, including an away clash at home against New Zealand.
Regardless, the JackJumpers will need to significantly improve to win those games, especially against the Phoenix in round 8.
JackJumpers draw from round 8-11: Phoenix (H), 36ers (H), Breakers an away game at home, Kings (H), United (A) and Bullets (A).
NEW ZEALAND BREAKERS
Currently 10th (two wins and three losses)
The Breakers have dealt with so much this season, most noticeably playing away from home due to Covid, so making the finals seems a bridge too far.
The New Zealanders play winnable games against Cairns and Tasmania before games against powerhouses Illawarra, Perth and Melbourne United.
Breakers draw from round 8-11: Taipans, JackJumpers, Hawks, Wildcats, United
*All Breakers games will be played in Australia.
FIXTURE ROULETTE
The NBL has been forced to postpone more games due to positive Covid tests.
The league had announced a seven games in seven days schedule following only one game last round before Covid intervened again.
The Tasmania JackJumpers clash against Adelaide on Sunday has been postponed.
Perth, who have had up to 10 positive cases, were set to play Illawarra on Sunday, but the Wildcats will continue to sit out, meaning Melbourne United will now take on the Hawks.
Perth will now play the 36ers in Adelaide next Tuesday before the New Zealand Breakers close out seven games in seven days against the JackJumpers next Wednesday.
Why dodging NBL’s elephant in room means everything
The NBL has only played three games since December 27, but league commissioner Jeremy Loeliger is confident the season is on track to finish as scheduled.
Covid has wreaked havoc on the draw, forcing clubs to postpone multiple games to deal with positive tests and close contacts.
Seven teams, Melbourne United, Tasmania JackJumpers, New Zealand Breakers, Illawarra Hawks, Perth Wildcats, Brisbane Bullets, and the Cairns Taipans have been wiped out with positive results.
Other teams have also been impacted as the Omicron variant slowly makes its way across the nation.
As a result, clubs are losing big dollars in revenue as they struggling to sell tickets due to the constant schedule changes.
One club official told me he expects this year to be a bigger financial burden on clubs than last year, saying he expects clubs to lose millions in revenue dating back to last season.
Loeliger, though, is remaining optimistic that the NBL can push through the pandemic and finish the season on time in April.
He said the league has no plans for a bubble or behind closed doors games while he is adamant the season won’t continue into June.
“We built contingencies into the fixture to give ourselves plenty of flexibility and enough of a buffer to maintain our planned end date, hopefully regardless of any Covid postponements and delays,” Loeliger said.
“We are still on track to end the season as planned.
“A significant number of our players have had the virus and would have built up some immunity to the current variant, so we have reason to be positive about availability of our players throughout the balance of the season.”
Loeliger said the league has no plans at this stage to assist with any recruiting effort as all teams have done an “exceptional job” working closely with NBL1 clubs in their regions and have players on standby as replacements.
The NBL has also implemented “Covid replacement players”, over and above “nominated injury replacement players”.
“Importantly, unlike injury replacements, Covid replacements may play for multiple NBL teams during the same season, and there is no minimum period or number of games for which they must be contracted,” he said.
“Again, we feel we have navigated our way through a busy period with respect to Covid implications and are starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel which means we are gearing up to hit the ground running and get through as many games as possible — including playing all the games that have recently been rescheduled.”
Bullets forward Lamar Patterson believes this year’s NBL championship will be heavily influenced by which team is Covid free at the right time of the year.
“I think it will come down to which team stays the healthiest,” Patterson said.
“I’m not talking injuries, but who stays away from Covid.
“It will come down to who is there to play, and we all need a bit of luck.”
Sykes’ high praise for phoenix
It has taken Keifer Sykes seven years to play his rookie NBA game after going undrafted in 2015, and the affable guard says he wouldn’t have achieved his dream without the South East Melbourne Phoenix.
Sykes was on a high when I called him this week, just days after his non-guaranteed contract with the Indiana Pacers became guaranteed.
He signed a two-year contract with the Pacers in December after a strong season with the Fort Wayne Mad Ants in the NBA G League.
The contract became guaranteed when Sykes was not waived prior to the deadline.
Sykes has excelled in his past three games, but he was particularly impressive against the Knicks at Madison Square Garden last week, dropping 22 points.
He credits his remarkable rise to South East Melbourne’s vision for him.
“They’re like family, the Phoenix,” Sykes said.
“And the NBL is a legit league and everyone in the NBA knows it.”
To read more about Skyes’ remarkable journey to his rookie NBA season, check out News Corp papers and online in the coming days.
Giddey record relief
Josh Giddey’s historic maiden NBA triple-double was met with as much relief as excitement.
Giddey became the youngest player in NBA history to record a triple-double with his 17 point, 14 assist and 13 rebound game against Dallas last week.
The Melbourne-born guard (19 and 84 days) surpassed the record held by former NBL Rookie of the Year and Next Star LaMelo Ball (19 and 140 days).
NBL great Chris Anstey expects Giddey to hold the youngest player triple-double record for some time.
“The most famous person to hold the triple-double record was LeBron James and he held it for 12 years,” Anstey said.
“I tend to think that Josh’s record might stand for a little while now.
“I know he would have been feeling that pressure, because he came so close so many times before.
“You only get one chance to do something historical when it comes to being the youngest and he was running out of time.”
Gibson return?
Could we see veteran guard Adam Gibson make a comeback to the NBL court at some stage this season?
Gibson hasn’t officially retired and is currently working at the South East Melbourne Phoenix in coaching and high performance.
While I’m told the 35-year-old is focused on life after basketball at the moment, don’t rule out a return, especially in these Covid times.
Maker money
I’m told the main stumbling block to NBL clubs signing former NBA and Boomers forward Thon Maker is money.
It’s understood Maker’s management want upwards of $300,000, while there is talk the former Boomer is being pitched as a package with former No. 1 draft pick Anthony Bennett.
Clubs remain reluctant to sign Maker, including Tasmania who have the cap space, but NBL legend Chris Anstey would love to see Thon in the NBL.
“He just needs to play,” Anstey said.
“Play for low dollars to exhibit your worth and that will develop you and put you in a position to succeed.”
Mathiang’s patient game
Former Australian NBA big man Mangok Mathiang continues to recover from his right leg injury, and he can thank the South East Melbourne Phoenix.
Mathiang, who played four NBA games for Charlotte between 2017-18, hasn’t played since September 2020 when it was announced that he would miss at least six months after suffering a right leg injury that required surgery while playing in Slovenia.
He has trained with South East Melbourne in the pre-season for the past few years, including this year, while the Phoenix recommended a surgeon for his injury.
Mathiang still hasn’t fully recovered, but he would be an asset to any club when fit.
He won’t line up for South East Melbourne at this point, with the Phoenix to announce their import signing to replace the sacked Devin Thomas this week.
LIKE
Australian batsman Usman Khawaja for his LeBron James inspired celebration after he blasted a 137 in his return to the Test team following a two-year absence.
The 35-year-old ripped his helmet off before stopping and busting out his own version of James‘ trademark ’silencer’ celebration.
“I love LeBron James,” Khawaja said.
“It just felt right. I do it mucking around with the boys all the time or when I hit a few good shots playing basketball. So, I’ve had a bit of practice at it.
“I love Test cricket. But sometimes it feels a bit traditional for my liking, so I like to give it a bit of spark.”
DISLIKE
There is a concern within clubland that some teams are bending the rules to suit them if their stars can’t play due to Covid.
Each NBL team needs a maximum of eight players to play a game, but some clubs and players are worried that rivals are opting not play with younger or development players if their best players are ruled out because of Covid.
The only problem is that the NBL has already postponed multiple games and are adamant the season will finish in April despite all the schedule changes.
I’m told the NBL will crack down on clubs if they don’t play because a star is sidelined with Covid when they have enough fit players to compete.
SHOOSH
Which Australian legend is strongly considering making a comeback to the court to play in front of their kids?
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