Crosscourt: Likes, dislikes and the latest news from Round 19 of the 2024-25 NBL season
The long suffering Adelaide 36ers will have to wait five more days to learn their playoff fate, after slipping their chance against the Phoenix on Sunday. LIKES, DISLIKES from Round 19.
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It’s been Exactly 2500 days since the heartbreaking loss in game five of the 2018 NBL grand final — and long-suffering Adelaide will have to wait at least another five to confirm a return to the postseason.
The bombastic melting pot of elite talent and combustible personalities that has produced equal parts wow and cringe moments this season couldn’t quite get the job done against South East Melbourne on Sunday but at least they showed something new — an in-game resilience with their backs against the wall.
Back at the scene of the ugly crowd incident that threatened to derail what loomed a very bright season, Montrezl Harrell jawed with a courtside fan, causing security to converge.
Managing to navigate that without a full blown explosion, a listless Harrell went to the sheds at halftime with more fouls (3) than points (2) and shots (2) at halftime.
Despite the high stakes, it looked like they’d mailed it in, down 23 a couple of minutes into the third and playing with the energy of a sloth with a hangover as the Phoenix ploughed through them like wet paper mache.
On recent evidence, the expectation inside John Cain Arena was the Sixers would roll over and South East Melbourne would cruise to an easy blow out win.
But, just as all looked lost, the switch flicked in the wonderful world of the Monsta.
Six minutes after the NBL’s biggest personality combined with wily veteran Jason Cadee to spark a 19-0 scoring run, it was game on.
Down 2 at the last break, the Sixers kept throwing punches and found themselves out by five with just under six minutes to go, dreaming of an end to the drought.
But they’d just spent one too many petrol tickets as the Phoenix found a way to keep their eyes on a top-four berth and avoiding a sudden death playoff — more than likely against the team that just pushed them to the wire.
Dominant Harrell smacked in 23 of his 25 points in the second half, making 10-12 from the field and 3-6 from the free throw line while Cadee wound back the clock with 15 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists.
The Sixers remain in the box seat to finish sixth: both Tasmania and Brisbane need a major miracle to top them and they can still lose their last game and make it.
But Adelaide’s fate remains in their talented hands — albeit in one of the toughest finishes to a season imaginable: the Wildcats in Perth — a team they’ve beaten just once in their past nine meetings.
PHOENIX OWNER UNDER INVESTIGATION
The NBL is investigating comments made by South East Melbourne owner Romie Chaudhari after an extraordinary swipe at one of the league’s referees.
Following Friday night’s one-point loss to the Wildcats in Perth, Chaudhari took to X, formerly Twitter, referring to referee Nico Fernandez as “definite front runner for worst ref ever, by a mile”.
“Refs aren’t going to get every call right, and that is totally understandable.... but this guy is exceptionally bad,” Chaudhari wrote.
The now-deleted tweet, seen by Crosscourt, was posted with an image of Fernandez.
The NBL confirmed on Sunday it would investigate Chaudhari’s comments.
“The NBL stands by the integrity of the game and its officials. Comments directed at referees and game officials are viewed seriously and will be investigated,” a league spokesman said.
French national Fernandez has been an NBL referee since 2017 and is closing in on 200 games. He is an international referee with a FIBA licence.
Fernandez was part of the referee crew that officiated South East Melbourne’s 99-100 loss, in which the Phoenix blew a 12-point lead with nine minutes to go.
Crosscourt has sought comment from Fernandez through the NBL.
Postgame, coach Josh King expressed frustration after the Wildcats shot 21 free throws to SEM’s 10, bringing the total to 51-20 across the past two meetings in Perth.
“I love stating facts, when I come to Perth this year on the road at Perth it’s 51-20 (to) them in free throws,” King said.
“How you want me to look at my guys in the locker room 51-20 on the road two games that I've coached.
“Give us half of those attempts I think we’ll figure out a way to win the game.”
King was bemused star big man Matt Hurt didn’t go to the free throw line, despite a free throw, despite a game-high 19 field goal attempts.
“Come on guys let’s stop playing games. Matt Hurt didn’t take a free throw, that’s crazy to me,” King said.
“He took a lot of shots around the basket close, right? He didn’t take 19 threes (1-3).”
UNITED’S MAX POWERS: KB’S ‘VIOLENT’ GYM STREAK
Melbourne United’s Hoop City HQ shakes like an earthquake when no-fuss big man Kyle Bowen is in the weight room.
Off the back of his best performance in a United jersey, United’s strength and conditioning boss Jay Ellis said the second-year forward’s improvement has been built on a physical transformation.
Bowen, who had 15 points, 8 rebounds and 1 block as United escaped with a two-point win over nemesis Tasmania, is the club’s hardest worker in the gym and that’s translated to a leaner, more chiselled physique and a fitter, stronger player on the floor.
“He’s got a really aggressive violent intention when he lifts weights,” Ellis said of the 24-year-old.
“He loves the weight room, It’s really part of his character and he prides himself on how he competes physically, both on the court and in the weight room.
“He’s changed his body and it’s been a long, drawn out process that hasn’t happened overnight and I think that resembles how his game has improved as well.”
Ellis said coach Dean Vickerman challenged Bowen when he arrived from St Mary’s at the beginning of last season.
“We play a pretty physical, up-tempo brand of basketball and Deano loves to have the players resemble that in the weight room,” he said.
“He’s become a real barometer for the boys and what he does a great job of is not just really push himself in the weight room but also the standards for the whole group.”
Ellis is the club’s resident Simpsons encyclopaedia and he’s got a ripper for Bowen.
“If he was going to be Simpsons, I think the Max Power Episode with a few Power Source bars and climbing mountains is his closest resemblance,” Ellis laughed.
Next Saturday, second-placed United faces state rival South East Melbourne in a blockbuster last game of the NBL regular season.
FROLING A PERFECT FIT IN SYDNEY?
Sydney CEO Chris Pongrass has confirmed the Kings’ interest in off-contract Illawarra Hawks big man Sam Froling.
Eyebrows raised across the league when Crosscourt revealed Froling, one of the few premier Australian big men in the league, could enter free agency after he was lowballed by the Hawks.
The Townsville-born big has loved his six seasons at Illawarra but would consider other options if the Hawks don’t come back with a significantly increased offer.
This has opened the door for rival NBL teams to assess their options, with Sydney understood to be considering a run at the 24-year-old Boomer.
Pongrass, on Monday, said Sydney will watch the Froling contract situation closely.
“We obviously like to monitor all major free agent movement, but will of course keep a close eye on
what happens with Sam in Wollongong and if there’s a desire to look elsewhere,” Pongrass said.
“He’s an exceptional player.”
The Kings would benefit enormously from a marquee centre who can impact the game at both ends of the floor.
Froling perfectly fits this mould as a big who attacks the rim, rebounds, blocks and makes other players around him better.
Sydney’s import big man Cam Oliver is off-contract and no certainty to return to the Kings again in NBL26 following a fluctuating season.
Oliver has spent more time on the bench than any other period in his career at the Kings this season, despite finding form in recent rounds.
For now, the Kings are locked in on their final regular season clash against Illawarra on Friday.
The Hawks face a tough path moving forward, despite looking set to finish the regular season in first position.
Illawarra take on the Breakers in New Zealand on Wednesday, the Kings in Sydney on Friday and then won’t play for another month.
The NBL’s Play-In tournament is set to start next week before a one-week FIBA break between February 17-23.
It means the NBL semi-finals won’t start until at least late February.
It’s understood a potential Hawks’ grand final series could be pushed out to as late as March 8 due to a venue availability at the WIN Entertainment Centre.
HOPE SPRINGS FOR GUTSY BULLETS AHEAD OF CRUCIAL OFF-SEASON
No one gave the Bullets a hope in hell when they rolled into Adelaide with eight players back in Brisbane nursing injuries.
But coach Justin Schueller and his battle-weary bunch pulled off one of their best wins of the season, throwing a big spanner in the works for the 36ers.
The Bullets named 10 on the team sheet — four of them development players — and leant on a six-man rotation to lead by 13 with eight minutes to go in the game. They held their nerve as the fast-finishing Sixers threatened, recording a three-point victory over a team that could have sealed its place in the top-six.
The Bullets have ridden a rollercoaster and, while they haven’t always helped themselves, their monumental injury curse has curtailed what might have been the end of a six-year NBL postseason drought.
Led again by the MVP-calibre renaissance of veteran Casey Prather, the Bullets kept the door ever-so-slightly ajar for a miracle postseason berth. While that’s almost no chance of happening, the rousing win over the Sixers is a little green shoot for success-starved fans to cling onto as they enter a crucial off-season recruiting phase ahead of a 2025-26 campaign where anything less than a top-six berth won’t be tolerated.
BRUISED BULLETS
Brisbane’s list of outs v Adelaide: Josh Bannan (concussion), Tyrell Harrison (concussion), Rocco Zikarsky (knee), Deng Adel (groin), Emmett Naar (oblique), James Batemon (hamstring), Jarred Bairstow (ankle), Sam McDaniel (shoulder)
JACKJUMPERS WILL BOUNCE BACK
Injuries have derailed Tasmania’s title defence in NBL25, but the JackJumpers will return bigger and better as long as coach Scott Roth is around.
It’s never easy to play without stars like Will Magnay and Sean Macdonald, but the resilient Jackies have found a way to remain in post-season contention.
And while they face an uphill battle to reach the top six with one round left, the club’s future remains bright with Roth at the helm.
The American-born mentor has instilled a toughness in Tasmania that will ensure the JackJumpers bounce back next season.
Roth is contracted for another two seasons – and despite fears frustrations could prompt his departure – he is expected to honour this deal.
The veteran mentor will ensure the JackJumpers re-sign key stars, while he’ll hit the open market to lure in a big name.
Roth sets the standard and it showed during his press conference after Saturday’s two-point loss to NBL heavyweights Melbourne United.
“It doesn’t really matter – no one cares and no one is going to feel sorry for you,” Roth said when asked if injuries have taken a toll.
WATCH ON CAIRNS WEATHER AHEAD OF SUNSHINE STOUSH
With torrential rain bombarding Far North Queensland and causing flash flooding, Thursday’s Cairns-Brisbane Sunshine stoush could be in jeopardy.
Areas including Cairns, Mackay and Townsville have been smashed by rainfall of up to 800mm in the past 48 hours, with more heavy downpours forecast.
The NBL is closely “monitoring” the situation, but was unable to provide contingencies when asked by Crosscourt.
The Taipans are last on the ladder. It’s understood the Bullets would look to offer up their Boondall home court as an alternate venue (pending availability) should the extreme weather render Cairns Convention Centre unavailable.
PERTH INCENTIVE TO LOCK IN PINDER
If big man Keanu Pinder can fire like he did against the Phoenix last Friday, the Perth Wildcats would be well served to extend his stay in the West for a third season.
Pinder produced one of his best performances of NBL25 in the Wildcats’ comeback win after trailing by 12 points in the final frame.
He dropped 22 points and added 7 rebounds, two assists and a block in a potent 28 minute stint to get the Wildcats home in a thriller.
Pinder has battled injuries and inconsistency throughout NBL25, including one of the worst displays in his career against Sydney back in round 2.
He scored just one point in 10 minutes on the floor to go with four turnovers.
The forgettable performance prompted former NBL MVP Derek Rucker to declare that Pinder needs reminders of what he can produce at his finest.
“I would just show him some video of games where he’s excelled. I think that’s what sparks him,” he said.
“But also, a little bit of tough love. I think that’s what really got his career going when he received that from Adam Forde up in Cairns.”
Pinder has delivered in recent rounds, dropping consecutive double-doubles, which is exactly what Perth needs from their marquee big man.
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Originally published as Crosscourt: Likes, dislikes and the latest news from Round 19 of the 2024-25 NBL season
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