Stars won’t stay if they can’t play - NBL’s concerning issue with officiating big men
There are plenty of big talking points in the NBL ahead of round 11 - and we have you covered.
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NBL’s biggest talking points ahead of round 11, with Matt Logue
CONCERN OVER OFFICIATING BIG MEN:
If the NBL wants to continue to attract marquee centres and forwards to the league, then the referees must learn how to officiate big men.
That’s a strong feeling across the league from multiple coaches, officials, and players, dating back years, who believe the NBL runs the risk of losing star big men if the officials continue to rack up the fouls against them.
It has been an issue in more recent times through the likes of Andrew Bogut and Jock Landale, who both battled with foul trouble.
The trend is continuing this season, with four of the top five players on the personal foul count all from the frontcourt.
United guard Caleb Agada leads the way with 37 fouls but it’s all big men behind him in Antonious Cleveland (36), Jarell Martin (35), Vic Law (34) and Yanni Wetzell (33).
South East Melbourne’s Chinese star Zhou Qi comes in with 25 fouls (equal 12th in the NBL), including 3.1 per game, but was recently at the centre of the officiating big men debate.
Zhou only played 12 minutes against Perth last round after copping four fouls in 10 minutes, forcing him to sit for the remainder of the match and prompting serious question marks.
There is also a belief that opposition players are deliberately running into big men’s hips and legs and throwing their hands in the air to exploit the longstanding officiating trend when it comes to big men.
The recent foul struggles of players like Zhou has prompted the question: should the NBL increase the foul count to six like the NBA?
Obviously the NBL is only a 40-minute game compared to the NBA’s 48-minutes, but some people would like to see the change made.
Sydney Kings swingman Xavier Cooks, who had his own foul battles when he was ejected against Brisbane in round eight, doesn’t think six fouls would work in the Australian league.
“The people who are complaining about six fouls are normally hacks anyway – they can’t slide their feet,” Cooks joked.
“I don’t think six fouls is realistic in a 40-minute game and five is plenty.
“The part I disagree with is that unsportsmanlike and tech fouls are the same thing because it is a disqualification.
“It happened to me in Brisbane, and I wasn’t happy about that situation, but if there were six fouls in the NBL I’d be out there hacking people.
“It is frustrating to sit in the first half with two fouls, but that is on your discipline.
“If you get five unlucky calls, the refs just hate you, so you just have to try and not put yourself in those situations.”
BIG JO ON NBA RADAR:
Melbourne United centre Jo Lual-Acuil has been dubbed the NBL’s best big man – now the NBA is within his reach.
Lual-Acuil will tell you he isn’t focusing on the world’s best league as he looks to win a championship here, and fair enough, but plenty of respected people are taking notice of his standout season with United.
The South Sudanese-born big is averaging 16.17 points and 9.67 rebounds while shooting 53 per cent from the field.
JLA appreciation post.
— The NBL (@NBL) February 7, 2022
In @MelbUnited's loss yesterday Jo Lual-Acuil posted a career-high in points and rebounds, as well as becoming the Club's first player to have a 20/20 game 📊#NBL22pic.twitter.com/dQzZoDLDfz
Lual-Acuil produced his finest performance of the season in last round’s loss to Tasmania, dropping an impressive double-double with 26 points and 21 rebounds.
One respected figure with NBA afflictions was courtside at the game and told me: “Jo came up against a former NBA and G League player in Will Magnay and dominated. If I’m an NBA club, I know which player I’m going with.”
Lual-Acuil, who went undrafted in 2018, is on track for at least an NBA Summer League appearance this off-season.
He faces another stern test on Saturday night when United host the NBL’s benchmark franchise, Perth.
ARE GOOJIAN’S CHAMPIONSHIP FAVOURITE HAWKS DONE?
Chris Anstey knows Brian Goorjian as well as anyone and he has never seen a Goorjian-coached team with as much talent as the current Illawarra Hawks side look so disjointed.
Goorjian’s Hawks have lost five of their past seven games to drop out of the top four, prompting NBL commentator Corey Homicide Williams to announce that he has lost faith in Illawarra.
Even the greatest coach in NBL history has declared it is ‘alarm bells’ for his struggling Hawks.
Anstey thinks Goorjian will revive Illawarra’s season, but he wants to see more smarts from the Hawks’ import trio of Tyler Harvey, Xavier Rathan-Mayes, and Antonio Cleveland.
“They take horrible shots,” Anstey said.
“Harvey, Rathan-Mayes, and Cleveland often over dribble the ball, no one else on the team touches it and they’ll take a contested fadeaway jump shot.
“But they don’t work hard offensively without the ball, they don’t free up opponents, they don’t make hard cuts and they become really stagnant and easier to guard than they should be.”
CREEK’S NBA FUTURE:
Off-contract South East Melbourne Phoenix MVP candidate Mitch Creek has the NBA firmly in his sights.
Creek had brief stints in the NBA with Brooklyn and Minnesota in 2018/2019, but it was enough to “light a fire” in him to return.
At 29, he believes he still has time to prove he belongs in the world’s best league and add to his five games.
“I feel like I deserve to be there and should be on a team,” Creek said.
“I feel like I can help organisations win, so I’m just waiting for the right time to get over there.
“I know my team is doing all they can, so we’re hoping for some good news very soon.”
PLAYERS UNDER THE PUMP:
Caleb Agada:
Melbourne United need more from Agada offensively, and he is more than capable.
The Nigerian import guard has recorded eight points in his past three games, which is still decent, but he has the ability to offer a bigger contribution to a United side that has lost two straight.
Robert Franks:
Robert Franks was in the MVP conversation not that long ago, but his form has dipped to coincide with Brisbane’s slide to second last.
The Bullets can revive their season with wins over Adelaide and Sydney this weekend.
MILESTONE MEN:
Perth power forward Jesse Wagstaff plays his 400th NBL game against Melbourne United on Saturday night.
It has been quite the journey for Wagstaff, who was set to sign with the South Dragons in 2009 before the franchise folded, opening the door for him to join the Wildcats where he has been ever since.
Wagstaff, who has won six championships, is only the second Wildcat to reach 400 games alongside the legendary Ricky Grace.
Tasmania forward Clint Steindl will play his 250th NBL game against the South East Melbourne Phoenix on Sunday.
KEY STATS:
The Sydney Kings haven’t won a road game this season. The Kings are 0-4 heading into Thursday’s away clash against South East Melbourne.
The last team to win 5 games in a row in their first season in the NBL was the New Zealand Breakers in January/February 2004 – a stat the Tasmania JackJumpers can equal with a win over South East Melbourne on Sunday.
NBL ROUND 11 DRAW:
Thursday, Feb 10 from 7.30pm at John Cain Arena and Live on ESPN and Kayo
South East Melbourne Phoenix vs Sydney Kings
Friday, Feb 11 from 7.30pm at Nissan Arena and Live on ESPN and Kayo
Brisbane Bullets vs Adelaide 36ers
Saturday, Feb 12 from 5.30pm at the WIN Entertainment Centre and Live on ESPN and Kayo
Illawarra Hawks vs Cairns Taipans
8pm at John Cain Arena and Live on ESPN and Kayo
Melbourne United vs Perth Wildcats
Sunday, Feb 13 from 1pm at John Cain Arena and Live on ESPN, 10Peach and Kayo
South East Melbourne Phoenix vs Tasmania JackJumpers
3pm at Qudos Bank Arena and Live on ESPN, 10Peach and Kayo
Sydney Kings vs Brisbane Bullets
Monday, Feb 14 from 7.30pm at the Cairns Convention Centre and Live on ESPN and Kayo
Cairns Taipans vs New Zealand Breakers
Originally published as Stars won’t stay if they can’t play - NBL’s concerning issue with officiating big men
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