NBL mid-season report card: Andrew Bogut, Perth Wildcats among big early season winners

With the NBL about to embark on a break due to FIBA World Cup qualifiers, it’s the ideal time to see who has - and hasn’t - made the grade after seven rounds of action. A certain Kings star features prominently.

This pictures encapsulates what’s been good and bad with the NBL.

The NBL takes a breather this week due to another round of FIBA World Cup qualifiers.

So who has — and who hasn’t — made the grade after seven rounds of action in the 2018-19 season.

Andrew Bogut has been a wonderful addition for the NBL.

A:

Andrew Bogut:

Has talked the talk and walked the walk. The superstar’s arrival in the NBL has attracted extra attention to the League and he has delivered by leading the competition in rebounds, blocks and provocative tweets.

Perth Wildcats:

The perennial powerhouse is back on top of the table. When you make the play-offs more than 30 years in a row, you judge success by titles won, not finals appearances. They didn’t make the grand final last season and even with injury problems, are hellbent on making amends.

Melbourne United:

The reigning champs are rolling. They’ve had injury and form slumps to key players to contend with but are 9-3 at the break and are right in the hunt for back-to-back crowns.

B:

Sydney Kings:

They are not the greatest roster ever assembled but are clearly a finals-bound squad. Haven’t beaten anybody higher than fourth so are yet to claim a significant scalp.

Andrej Lemanis has the Bullets pushing hard for a finals berth.

Brisbane Bullets:

Most people predicted Brisbane to win the wooden spoon, again. But Andrej Lemanis has his squad firing better than expected and knocking on the door of the top four. Should be better than their 5-6 record suggests.

C:

Adelaide:

A slow start for last year’s grand finalists as they got used to life without Mitch Creek. A change of imports will do wonders as they get back on track and eye another finals berth.

D:

New Zealand Breakers:

Like a lot of teams, had a major roster overhaul in the off-season. Struggling to put it all together and are in danger of missing the top four, which is unusual territory for them.

Rob Beveridge and the Hawks have plenty of work in front of them.

D-:

Illawarra Hawks:

At their best, they can beat anyone. But too often, the offence is clunky and the defence lacks physicality. They have the very astute Rob Beveridge as head coach to sort it out. But it better be soon.

FAIL:

Referees: The NBL say they believe the whistleblowers are doing a good job. What else are they going to say though? Coaches, players and fans are privately, and now publicly, frustrated by the inconsistent application of the rules and some mind-boggling decisions that swing the momentum of games. Heavily lopsided foul counts and seemingly little feel for the game are cruelling too many contests.

Cairns Taipans: The Snakes take an eight-game losing streak into the break. Ouch! Their only win came against Brisbane on October 13. Imports Melo Trimble and DJ Newbill are doing their bit but the rest of the squad need to lift appreciably.

Melo Trimble has done his best. Now it’s up to the rest of the Taipans list.

NBL crackdown on coaches swearing in televised time-outs: You can’t have full access to such a charged environment and then warn coaches about using some occasional profanity. It’s pro sport. Let big boys, be big boys. Silly PC stuff.

First Ever ads: The first round of TV ads for the league’s uniform supplier featured music that sounded like a cat getting stood on.

Foxtel is your home for LIVE NBA, NBL & WNBL action. SIGN UP NOW!

Originally published as NBL mid-season report card: Andrew Bogut, Perth Wildcats among big early season winners