Crosscourt: The NBL’s biggest talking points out of round two of the 2022-23 season
A season-ending injury to Melbourne United big man Ariel Hukporti could have serious ramifications for an undersized heavyweight import, says NBL legend Shane Heal.
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Melbourne United import forward Jordan Caroline is under pressure to keep his job.
That’s the opinion of NBL legend Shane Heal, who believes Caroline isn’t a good fit for United.
The American-born forward has averaged just six points in his two games, shooting a lowly 23.8 per cent from the field.
Caroline produced a double-double on Sunday’s against Sydney, dropping 10 points and 10 rebounds in a 20-minute stint, but United was hammered by the Kings.
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Heal has long-term concerns about the Illinois-born forward, following a season-ending achilles injury to United big man Ariel Hukporti.
“With (Ariel) out, there is no doubt that Caroline could be in trouble,” Heal said on The Basketball Show.
“He is a tough kid and could play a role if they had Ariel there but, unfortunately, he looks like the one (who could be cut).
“He holds himself well, but maybe they (United) are looking for a big guy who can do a little bit more.”
United has indicated all options are on the table in regards to changing its roster.
The club’s position on releasing an import could change, especially if they keep losing.
United is lacking size following Hukporti’s season-ending injury.
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Melbourne officials have asked the NBL if they can replace the German big with another Next Star.
The NBL has said no but indicated that could change, leaving United’s ability to make roster decisions in a state of flux.
Hukporti is still contracted and each team can only have one Next Star on their roster.
Asked if United would expedite its hunt for a big man to fill Hukporti’s giant shoes, coach Dean Vickerman said the club was still exploring its options.
If the NBL holds firm on its decision to deny United’s request, any replacement would mean a change to the roster.
Caroline is the man most under pressure but, even with a round-one explosion against Tasmania, Xavier Rathan-Mayes could also be in the gun, given he and concussed Kiwi Shea Ili play the same position, while Rayjon Tucker is yet to distinguish himself.
“We see JC get a double-double tonight, but it’s still one that we’ve got to continue to explore to see what’s out there,” Vickerman said after Melbourne’s heavy Sunday loss to the Kings.
“I thought Ice (Isaac Humphries) protected the rim a lot better and his on-ball coverage was significantly better,” Vickerman said.
“We saw an improvement in that area. We encouraged him to be able to shoot the three ball a little bit more tonight and those didn’t go down for him but we’ve got consistent good minutes into him for a number of games now and now.”
Clubs cool on NBA vs NBL concept
Clubs have gone cold on the pre-season NBL versus NBA concept despite the Adelaide 36ers’ historic win over Phoenix, but there is one team bucking the trend.
The South East Melbourne Phoenix desperately want to be involved in the concept for the first time.
The Phoenix’s interest comes despite other clubs expressing a reluctance to take part in the pre-season NBA fixture.
It costs the clubs to travel to America to compete while it also can disrupt pre-season preparations.
It’s a different mindset for South East Melbourne.
Phoenix CEO Tommy Greer told News Corp that the club’s owners, including NBA star John Wall and Boomers guard Dante Exum, are pushing to play.
“Our owners are very keen to see there club play on American soil,” Greer said.
“As a result, the club is also extremely keen to be involved in the NBL V NBA games next year.”
Hostile hoops fans slammed as ‘hillbillies’
A Crosscourt source has labelled Illawarra Hawks fans “hillbillies” and “bumpkins” with behaviour more associated with “drunken louts in the outer at a country football game”.
Phoenix coach Simon Mitchell was diplomatic following his team’s loss at WIN Entertainment Centre to when asked about the attitude of fans in Wollongong but said a few choice words were directed at the fiery Phoenix mentor.
Mitchell laughed it off after the game, but our sources tell a different story and said the Hawks’ crowd often crosses the line.
“They’re always a colourful group up here, I enjoy their banter,” Mitchell said during his post-game press conference.
“I think it’s been a place where we’ve come and won in the past and we’ve been in some good battles here.
“The people here are always entertaining — always got a lot of advice for me.”
Mitchell can take solace he only had words thrown at him, unlike former Sydney Kings import Marcus Thornton who in 2015 famously copped a face full of amber ale from an elderly gentleman who was seated on the baseline.
Shout out to former @SydneyKings guard Marcus Thornton who signed a 10-day contract with the @cavs today. Looks like the beers are on you 🻠💵 pic.twitter.com/UP9B5nD6Ae
— The NBL (@NBL) February 22, 2018
Last year, when former Kings’ import RJ Hunter went down with a season-ending knee injury, he took to social media to slam ‘disrespectful’ Hawks fans.
“While I’m in hella pain I can literally hear the fans saying disrespectful things and my girlfriend heard the same things in the stands … what type of human beings are y’all? What type of person gets off on someone being hurt and in pain?”
We’re all for creating a hostile atmosphere for away teams, but there’s got to be limits.
MORE DISLIKES
COACH IRE AS LEGENDS CRY FOUL OVER UNSPORTSMANLIKE CALLS
The NBL season isn’t even two rounds old, but the referees have already been labelled “inconsistent”, with frustrated fans, players and club officials calling for a review of the league’s unsportsmanlike foul.
The officiating has dominated conversation over the weekend, with crucial calls leaving everyone involved in the game asking for answers.
The confusion started in Friday’s blockbuster clash between the Sydney Kings and the Brisbane Bullets when Kings coach Chase Buford received a technical foul for waving his arms at the officials.
It’s understood the referees told Buford to, “work with us”, which understandably annoyed the Kings mentor.
The general consensus from the Sydney franchise is that it’s hard for coaches and players to be better if the officials won’t meet them halfway.
The referees’ interpretation of the unsportsmanlike foul also created debate in Saturday night’s Perth Wildcats versus Illawarra Hawks game.
Hawks power forward Deng Deng was slapped with an unsportsmanlike foul in the final two minutes of a 77-71 loss for what looked like incidental contact with Wildcats forward Luke Travers as he attempted to stop Travers from scoring a breakaway basket.
The play was sent to the Review Centre, but commentator Corey Homicide Williams was adamant there was no foul.
“That’s not a clear path foul, he (Deng) is right next to him,” Williams said.
The review confirmed an unsportsmanlike foul on Deng, prompting fellow commentator Lanard Copeland to say: “What?
“That isn’t a great call at this time of the game — they were standing right next to each other.”
The call sparked outrage online, with fans and former players calling for an immediate review of the unsportsmanlike foul.
The NBL, though, insists the decision to hit Deng with an unsportsmanlike foul was correct based on the FIBA ruling the league follows.
The FIBA rule states: “Illegal contact caused by the player from behind or laterally on opponent, who is progressing towards the opponent’s basket with no other players between the progressing player, the ball and basket. This applies until the offensive player begins his act of shooting.”
FIBA ruling aside, plenty of fans and legends want to see the unsportsmanlike foul reviewed.
This includes former NBL forward Shane Froling – the father of current players Sam and Shane.
“My opinion is USL Foul needs total review,” said Froling senior, who played 271 NBL games for four clubs.
My opinion is USL Foul needs total review. It's affected 3 of the last few games. It's frustrating seeing referees gather to discuss if they are going to review or not. Then hold your breath on the result. The game where Mathiang went straight up to block foul is the worst yet.
— Shane Froling (@ShaneFroling) October 8, 2022
“It’s affected three of the last few games. It’s frustrating seeing referees gather to discuss if they are going to review or not. Then hold your breath on the result.
“The whole unsportsmanlike thing is ridiculous and inconsistent at best.”
This column, and countless other people in the game, have been banging on about the standard of the NBL’s officiating for years.
The league maintains that hiring more than two full-time referees won’t make a difference, but the vast majority disagree with this mindset.
So, what it is going to take to support the referees and improve the standard?
BULLETS MISFIRING
The big-spending Brisbane Bullets have loaded up this off-season, headed by former NBA players Aron Baynes and Tyler Johnson, but they are yet to land a bullet after three starts.
The Bullets had every chance to record their first win of the season over the JackJumpers in Tasmania on Sunday, but failed to get the job done in extra time.
The pressure is now on Brisbane to produce, starting next Sunday with a must-win home clash against the defending champions, the Sydney Kings.
Bullets marquee man Baynes was solid in his first two games, before struggling against the Jackies. While he will get better with more court time, his teammates need to lift.
The big man is locked in on his maiden NBL season, but he also has one eye on a return to the Australian Boomers for World Cup and Olympic campaigns.
His last appearance in the green and gold at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics was cut short during the pool rounds following a freakish fall that left him in hospital and wheelchair bound.
Baynes is regaining his fitness and keen to play at the 2023 World Cup and the 2024 Paris Olympics.
“The World Cup and the Olympics are something that is definitely on my radar,” said Baynes, who had four points and six rebounds in Sunday’s loss to Tasmania.
“Playing with the national team with that group of guys, they are my second family and the most fun I have in basketball is with the national teams.
“I’m just trying to build up to what I was and keep taking those steps to get back to where I was playing at that level.
“It’s something that would be fun to be a part of. The highest regard I have for basketball is playing for your country with your mates.”
LIKES
SCREEN’S BALLSY APOLOGY
Former Australian Opal Jenni Screen stuffed up when she said Cairns big man Keanu Pinder is from the Torres Strait during the NBL commentary on Saturday night, but she showed class by owning the mistake.
Taipans coach Adam Forde used his post-game press conference to call out Screen for a commentary slip-up about Pinder’s background.
Screen said Pinder was a Torres Strait Islander, but he grew up in Derby in the Kimberley region of WA, the son of Indigenous woman Tracey Smith and Perth Wildcats dual-NBL champion Nate ‘Tiny’ Pinder, who was born in the Bahamas.
We’re told Screen was on her way home from calling the Taipans versus Phoenix clash and she drove back to the studio to make an on-air apology to Pinder.
Forde said the reigning NBL Most Improved Player had been “cut” by the words.
“I’m not trying to throw barbs at anyone, you can write us off, that’s fine, I get that, it’s all good, (but) just Google search, man.
“Just look up where these guys are from when you start.
“It was disappointing. Keanu had a great game and it cuts him a little bit, so I felt like I needed to do that for him and his family.
“He’s upset.”
SWEET REVENGE
Early doors, but the champions might be even better than last season.
The Kings chipped away through the signing period, lucky to keep Xavier Cooks and Dejan Vasiljevic as overseas opportunities knocked.
But, with those two locked in, they added NBA-level point guard Derrick Walton Jr, former NBL Defensive Player of the Year Justin Simon and big man Tim Soares.
NBL legend Chris Anstey, in the pre-season, questioned whether Cooks could back up from last season and be Sydney’s main man without Jaylen Adams, Jarell Martin and Ian Clark, but the 27-year-old has responded in emphatic fashion.
What the Kings did to United obviously exposed Melbourne’s issues, but it was the precision and ruthlessness of it all that will have other teams with NBL title aspirations privately questioning their chances.
Chase Buford has them humming.
TOUGH TASSIE RESPOND
Discount the Tasmania JackJumpers at your own peril. That’s the lesson this column learnt on Sunday after the JackJumpers recorded their first win of the season against the star-studded Brisbane Bullets.
We were ready to write Tassie off if they lost to the Bullets, but they dug deep to record a 90-86 extra-time triumph.
The JackJumpers are the toughest team in the NBL when it comes to scrapping, which they showcased in spades against Brisbane, coming from behind to win.
Tasmania will need all this energy and more to combat a diabolical fixture in the coming weeks, with clashes against Adelaide, Melbourne United, Perth, NZ, Perth and Brisbane.
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