Crosscourt: Likes and dislikes out of Round 15 of the 2024-25 NBL season
The leak that could turn into a tsunami for the JackJumpers, Adelaide 36ers supporters have a new enemy, and is it time to hit the panic button at Melbourne United. MATT LOGUE and MICHAEL RANDALL’s NBL likes and dislikes in this week’s edition of Crosscourt.
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Proof JackJumpers need urgent government help.
Are Melbourne United close to hitting the panic button?
Is Adelaide’s turnaround the real deal?
Can an under fire Sydney import maintain the rage?
What’s next for Adam Forde; the brain fades that cost Illawarra and why Brisbane is yet to show up when it really matters.
Matt Logue and Michael Randall’s likes and dislikes from a captivating NBL round.
LIKES
LOCKED IN TREZ GIVES SIXERS A CHANCE
Emotion fuels former NBA star Montrezl Harrell and when he harnesses that energy in the right way he becomes an unstoppable force for the Adelaide 36ers.
This was on show in Saturday’s blowout win over Melbourne United, with Harrell controlling his edgy temperament to lead the Sixers to a massive win in front of a record 9588 at Adelaide Entertainment Centre – their 11th sellout in as many home NBL25 games.
The 2020 NBA Sixth Man of the Year looked locked in from the tip-off and dropped 28 points while adding nine rebounds and add three blocks.
Judgement Day 💀 pic.twitter.com/Aow56A8gAr
— Adelaide 36ers (@Adelaide36ers) January 4, 2025
Harrell held his nerve, too, late in the first quarter, when he gave Shea Ili an ‘Iverson step over’. It wasn’t necessary but, instead of inflaming an already combustible situation, Harrell walked away with arms in the air, the refs had a little chat to him and it was play on.
The big forward formed a deadly combination with fellow American import Kendric Davis, who also dominated to bury United.
Davis finished with 28 points, while adding 11 assists and five rebounds in another MVP-calibre display.
Perhaps even more impressive was the collective effort on ‘D’ from a team that was on pace to be the worst defensive team in the modern 40-minute era.
The Sixers were stifling from the first moments of the game, forcing five turnovers in the first five minutes and holding United to just 81 points, it’s fourth lowest total of the season.
Unheralded local product Lat Mayen deserves plaudits for his job on Chris Goulding, the long 206cm forward sticking to the task to limit the United superstar to just 14 shots and eight from deep – coach Dean Vickerman wants him to launch a minimum 10.
Adelaide has won consecutive games over heavyweights Sydney and Melbourne, but remains stranded in eighth (9 wins, 11 losses).
There’s little margin for error for the Sixers ahead of a season-defining three-game stretch beginning with Friday’s away clash against the JackJumpers in Tasmania. It’s then wounded ladder leader Illawarra at home on January 13 before another away trip to Perth to tackle the Wildcats on January 17.
OLIVER RESPONDS AS KINGS BUILD MOMENTUM
Sydney Kings are building winning momentum on the back of MVP-calibre form from Jaylen Adams and Xavier Cooks, but import big man Cam Oliver could be the key to the Kings fulfilling their championship potential.
Oliver – coming off a three-season NBL hiatus after stints in the NBA, China, Puerto Rico and Spain – has been inconsistent as he finds his way back in the Australian league.
Kings coach Brian Goorjian has repeatedly called him out for failing to meet standards, resulting in his benching in multiple games.
CAM BE SLAMMIN' 🚀
— Sydney Kings (@SydneyKings) January 4, 2025
Keep watching our round 16 clash with the Brisbane Bullets live on ESPN! #TakeTheThronepic.twitter.com/XCzNQUY9w6
But in Brisbane on Saturday night, Oliver responded with 14 points on six of nine shooting from the field (66.7 per cent) and nine rebounds in 22 minutes.
The former Houston Rocket is a vital front-court presence for a smaller Kings’ side, especially with big Keli Leaupepe sidelined with a hamstring injury.
Goorjian was thrilled with Oliver’s performance and hopes it will pave the way for more standout displays in the coming weeks.
“Another one for me was Cam Oliver and getting that going,” Goorjian said.
“They (Brisbane) had a big line-up and we could go small when they went small.”
.@tooheyy is built different 🥶 https://t.co/r6gNWF1bDM
— Sydney Kings (@SydneyKings) January 4, 2025
Sydney has won two straight games heading into Thursday’s blockbuster home game against Melbourne United.
The Kings will welcome in import guard Lamonte Turner for the United clash.
Turner most recently played in Serbia, while he also has experience in Finland and Poland.
He enjoyed a strong college career with Tennessee from 2016-2020.
Goorjian says Turner has been signed to enable Adams to play more off the ball, while he’ll be expected to distribute and defend at a high level.
“You could see that with JA (Jaylen Adams) that having another body there to help carry the ball is going to help us,” Goorjian said.
TAIPANS GUARANTEE ON FORDE
Cairns Taipans’ officials have guaranteed coach Adam Forde will see out the final season of his contract and haven’t ruled out extending his stay in far North Queensland.
It comes as multiple sources told Crosscourt there have been whispers Forde could look overseas before the end of the season.
But wins of the ilk of Saturday night’s stunner over top team Illawarra suggest the highly-respected mentor still has plenty of fight in him in Cairns.
The win over the Hawks snapped a horror 15-game losing streak and came just days after the Taipans lowest points of the season – a 24-point New Year’s Eve loss to a New Zealand squad missing suspended superstar Parker Jackson-Cartwright.
The Taipans’ remarkable night was built on a 40-point third quarter – the first time the club has reached that total in any quarter in 17 years.
Cairns chief executive Mark Beecroft did not return Crosscourt’s calls.
DISLIKES
STOP THE LEAKS
Days after NBL owner Larry Kestelman urged the Tasmanian government not to forget about the JackJumpers amid the urgent need for upgrades and expansion at MyState Bank Arena, Sunday’s clash with South East Melbourne was delayed for several minutes in the second quarter - due to a leaking roof.
With water leaking on the court, play was stopped with 3.43 to go in the half as officials scrambled to locate and stop the leak to ensure player safety.
Kestelman, on Wednesday, told Crosscourt the stadium needed more seats to cater for a fanbase that has now sold out 51 straight games.
“We’re talking to the government about expanding the venue but it’s the government’s call,” Kestelman told Crosscourt.
“The commitment by the government to the team over the past four years to the tune of about $10 million is greatly appreciated and we feel has provided and amazing return to the Apple Isle. The main investment the government has made is to its own venue ($56 million redevelopment).
“The government deserves a pat on the back for having the vision to invest because it’s proved to be an amazing investment and I hope with AFL coming, they continue to invest in basketball.”
TIME FOR PANIC BUTTON AT UNITED?
Melbourne United started the season 12-4 and looked the team everyone was chasing but coach Vickerman must be getting close to hitting the panic button after a meek effort against a fired up Adelaide on Saturday night made it five losses in their past six games.
In the first meeting between the two teams since the crowd blow up in Melbourne, the parochial Adelaide fans made Ili public enemy No. 1, booing him mercilessly – and not just for his role as third-man in the melee that kicked off those ugly scenes at John Cain Arena.
The reigning defensive player of the year has been Melbourne’s most important player this season. Ili was the only player to record a positive plus-minus (+3) in the game, but managed just 18 minutes as foul trouble wrecked his night.
United took a season-high 41 threes, making 13 (32 per cent), and the lack of pressure on the basket meant they took just nine free throws for the game.
Adelaide took just 22 threes, imports Harrell and Davis slicing the United defence to pieces, leading to 30 free throw attempts in the 100-81 smacking.
United need more to match the Kiwi’s effort and passion, with the NBL title race now beginning to look more like a last survivor series than one team’s for the taking.
With United’s slump, Illawarra’s back-to-back struggles and Sydney’s signs of life, all three are now tied on 13 wins, with Tassie nipping at their heels and South East Melbourne among the form sides in the league. Perennial contender Perth remains thereabouts and outsiders Brisbane and Adelaide loom as dangers.
United’s next opponent: The rejuvenated Kings in Sydney.
HICKEY IN HOT WATER AFTER HAWKS’ NIGHT TO FORGET
Will Hickey might be among the favourites for the NBL’s Most Improved Player award amid a breakout season for title fancy Illawarra but two moments of madness against Cairns cost both he and the Hawks in one of the biggest upsets in recent memory.
Hickey has been fined $1010 – dropped $700 with the Hawks taking an early guilty plea – having been charged for an after-the-whistle kick to sprawled out Cairns import Pedro Bradshaw.
The brainfade completely changed the dynamic of the game, eventually ending in the top-of-the-table Hawks’ shock loss to bottom-placed Cairns.
Up 70-66 with four minutes to go in the third, Hickey was whistled for a foul as he attempted to block Bradshaw’s lay-up from behind. As Bradshaw hit the deck, Hickey continued his trajectory and chose to kick out with his leg.
ROB EDWARDS CLUTCH 🤯
— NBL (@NBL) January 3, 2025
Tune into ESPN now 📺 pic.twitter.com/2JjV0ute02
The movement had little force behind it but Bradshaw sprung to his feet, roaring at referee Ken Widgeon, “Hey, he kicked me man, Davo kicked me while I was right here”.
Hickey’s move was assessed an unsportsmanlike foul on review, Bradshaw made all four free throws and Cairns went on a 19-7 run to close the third up 85-77.
The Hawks should have arrested the slide but Hickey blew a late chance to atone when, up three with 12 seconds left, he attempted a wild full-court pass that was picked off by Taipans import Rob Edwards, who added insult to injury by tying it up with a three.
From there, it should have gone to overtime, but it was Hyunjung Lee’s turn for a head scratcher, fouling Taran Armstrong on a full court heave with two seconds remaining, allowing the young gun to ice it from the free throw line.
The soon-to-be-26-year-old Hickey has become a key piece at both ends of the floor in his third season at Illawarra, averaging 9.2 points, 4.4 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 1 block and 1 steal.
So good has Hickey been that he owns the best plus-minus of any player in the league.
The Hawks are 168 points better off when Hickey is on the floor, with Sydney’s former league MVP Xavier Cooks second at 132.
BULLETS FAIL TO FIRE WHEN IT MATTERS
You can see the gradual improvement of the rebuilding Brisbane Bullets, but Saturday’s loss to the Sydney Kings highlighted how the process isn’t done yet.
Josh Adams nets his first points in blue! 💙 pic.twitter.com/r0stf6bk4j
— Brisbane Bullets (@BrisbaneBullets) January 4, 2025
The Bullets gave themselves every chance to beat the Kings. Josh Bannan, Tyrell Harrison and Casey Prather all dropped double-doubles and Brisbane dominated the rebound count by 18. Yet the Bullets gave up 29 of Sydney’s 34 field goals in the paint, despite a clear size advantage.
Coach Justin Schueller is doing a magnificent job of defying the doubters to have Brisbane in the mix for the top six this season.
Schueller is also dealing with injuries to James Batemon (season-ending), Rocco Zikarsky and Tohi Smith-Milner, but the Bullets still need to nail the basics when they game is there to be won.
Instead, Sydney executed under pressure in the fourth quarter to record a vital road win.
The good news for Brisbane fans is they remain in the hunt for the post-season.
The Bullets sit in seventh position ahead of vital games against New Zealand (H), Phoenix (A), Perth (H), Cairns (H) and Illawarra (A).
Originally published as Crosscourt: Likes and dislikes out of Round 15 of the 2024-25 NBL season
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