Logue Down column: Call for common sense on NBL coach’s challenge
Some of the NBL’s best coaches have urged the league to consider a huge change to its coach’s challenge system. Plus, details on an influx of American scouts to Australia in this week’s Logue Down.
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Leading NBL coaches want the league to tweak the coach’s challenge to allow the system to adjudicate on the entire play in question – not just the referee’s on-court call.
At present, no-calls from the officials can’t be changed or challenged via the coach’s challenge.
It’s understood a large number of coaches supported the current system because they didn’t want the “new discovered foul” to be included in any review.
However, the time has come for common sense to rule. The league’s integrity has to be the priority.
It comes as NBL has conceded it made a crucial mistake in Monday’s Melbourne United versus Perth Wildcats overtime thriller, which cost United a chance to win.
Here’s every major moment that happened in the final 20 seconds of regulation last night + Vickerman’s reaction after the game#NBL24pic.twitter.com/5ncOqH9cx6
— NBL News (@NBL_News) November 7, 2023
Referee boss Scott Butler admits the officials missed a foul on United star Matthew Dellavedova with 1.8 seconds remaining in regulation time.
Perth big man Alex Sarr made contact with Dellavedova as he completed a successful layup, which would have sent him to the free-throw line with a chance to win the game, but Wildcats coach John Rillie appealed and had the on-court call of a “push” overturned.
The Wildcats went on to win 102-95.
Butler said the officials made the correct call to overturn the pushing foul, however a foul should have been called on Dellavedova.
The league seeks input from coaches at the start of every season on a range of issues and it’s understood officials will consider the feedback from the coaches regarding the coach’s challenge.
Fans via social media also called for the NBL to adopt common sense on the coach’s challenge – and NBL legend Shane Heal agrees.
“I’ve been big on the coach’s challenge and I love the fact that if you get it right, you get to retain the challenge, but we saw an issue in the United game,” Heal said on this week’s Basketball Show.
“The good thing about the video review is that you just want to get the call right, so there shouldn’t be a technicality because the foul wasn’t a pushing foul as the referees called on court.
“We got the wrong result, but the NBL has done a great job of being able to adjust rules really quickly, so they should be able to fix that.”
The refereeing has become a hot topic.
The average foul count is 39.9 – the most since 2016/17 - while 45.1 free throws per game is the most in the 40-minute era.
There was also a season high 61 fouls called in Monday night’s thrilling overtime clash between Melbourne United versus Perth Wildcats.
BRING BACK MONDAY NIGHT HOOPS
The NBL needs to seize the moment and bring back Monday night hoops as part of the weekly schedule.
This week’s Melbourne United versus Perth Wildcats overtime thriller was the perfect advertisement for Monday games.
It was close, captivating and controversial. Brilliant television.
UNREAL SCENES AT JOHN CAIN ARENA!!!!!
— NBL (@NBL) November 6, 2023
Watch overtime live on ESPN via Kayo 📺 pic.twitter.com/fkdypVdwo0
Of course, not every game will be as dramatic, but the NBL has a chance to fill a hole in the sporting schedule. Let’s face it: there also isn’t much on television over this period and you can never get enough sport to start your working week.
Monday night is usually a dead space for sport in the summer, outside of the Big Bash cricket league and the NBL could also feature prominently.
This week’s United and Wildcats clash attracted more than 900,000 impressions via social media posts, which is a fantastic result.
Obviously some markets may struggle to attract a crowd on a Monday, but if the fixtures are targeted towards the bigger markets, then I believe Monday night basketball would be fantastic for the NBL, as both an on-court and television product.
The NBL have Monday games coming up on Christmas Day via the JackJumpers vs Phoenix and the Kings vs the Hawks. There will also be another game on New Year’s Day when Tasmania hosts New Zealand.
NBA CHAMPION’S “CHIP ON THE SHOULDER” ADVICE FOR COOKS
Championship-winner Ian Clark believes former Sydney Kings teammate Xavier Cooks still belongs in the NBA and has urged him to develop a “chip on his shoulder” after being waived by the Washington Wizards.
Uncertainty hangs over Cooks’ career following the Wizards’ decision to cut the former NBL MVP from its roster for the 2023/2024 season.
It’s left Sydney’s back-to-back champion on the lookout for a new team, with the EuroLeague emerging as the most likely option should he fail to secure another NBA contract.
The Logue Down column understands Washington’s decision to cut Cooks was largely based on a business decision and roster construction – as opposed to form.
The 28-year-old ex-King is an effective two-way player, but doesn’t possess a strong jump shot and this makes it difficult in the ultra-competitive NBA environment.
But Clark, who won an NBL title alongside Cooks at the Kings in 2022, insists the reigning NBL MVP deserves to be in the NBA – and he is confident the gifted forward can reignite his career despite his lack of a consistent jump shot.
“That’s the easiest thing that people can point out to him (Cooks), because he has got everything else,” said United’s Clark, who won an NBA championship at the Golden State Warriors alongside superstar Steph Curry in 2017.
“It’s easy to say, ‘oh if he had a jump shot, he would be here or there’.
“Guys have different specialties and he (Cooks) is a Swiss Army knife.
“He can do everything. He can guard one through four, he is a great passer, defender, has high energy and is athletic.
“I think all those things trump him shooting the ball as great as everyone wants him to, and I know he’ll continue to work hard.”
Clark is speaking from experience. He was waived in his second season at Utah in 2015 – and understands how the pain of rejection can fuel a greater comeback.
“Being waived was tough and I didn’t know it was coming, but you have to put a chip on your shoulder,” he said.
“I know Xavier and I know he is a strong-willed and strong minded guy. “I don’t think he will be down on himself about the situation.
“We all know what he can do and what a special player he is.
“I still believe that he has a place in the NBA, and if he just keeps grinding, then his agent will do the due diligence and find him a club where he can be a fit.”
NBA SCOUTS FLOOD OZ TO ASSESS NEXT STAR DRAFT CLASS
An unprecedented seven NBL Next Stars are in the mix for next year’s NBA draft, prompting an influx of scouts to hit our shores to assess the talent.
ESPN’s draft analyst Jonathan Givony has released his most recent mock draft – and it has a strong NBL flavour.
Givony has Perth’s seven-foot French big man Alex Sarr at No.2. It comes as Sarr dropped 17 points and added six rebounds and one block in front of scouts from the Detroit Pistons and the Utah Jazz.
Alex Sarr extends the lead for the Wildcats 😤
— NBL (@NBL) November 6, 2023
Watch OT live on ESPN via Kayo 📺 pic.twitter.com/cWJ15K7fcK
It’s understood more NBA scouts are headed Down Under in the coming weeks to survey the bevy of talent on display.
GM of Next Stars recruitment Liam Santamaria is thrilled to see the current crop of Next Stars feature so prominently in NBA draft calculations.
“The talent and upside that exists within our 2024 Next Stars class is undeniable and it‘s great to see NBA scouts and draft analysts becoming more aware of their potential,” Santamaria said.
“To have each of the seven Next Stars who are eligible for the upcoming NBA Draft ranked inside the top 85 by ESPN - at this early stage of our NBL season - is very promising.
“That said, I think there‘s room for many of those guys to rise even further. Guys like AJ Johnson and Trentyn Flowers are champing at the bit for more opportunities to demonstrate their potential while others, like Alex Toohey, are still flying a little under the NBA radar.”
ESPN TOP 100 RANKINGS FOR THE 2024 NBA DRAFT:
Alex Sarr (Perth Wildcats) – 2
Bobi Klintman (Cairns Taipans) - 21
AJ Johnson (Illawarra Hawks) – 41
Ariel Hukporti (Melbourne United) – 44
Trentyn Flowers (Adelaide 36ers) – 60
Mantas Rubstavicius (New Zealand Breakers) - 71
Alex Toohey (Sydney Kings) - 83
Lachlan Olbrich (Illawarra Hawks) - 92
NBA ALL-STAR TRAINING WITH PHOENIX
Five-time All-Star John Wall will use his connection with the South East Melbourne Phoenix as a part-owner to maintain his training schedule as he aims to return to the NBA.
Wall arrives in Australia this week – and will train with the Phoenix as he attempts to secure another NBA contract.
The 33-year-old veteran guard will also use the time to connect with South East Melbourne’s officials and commercial partners, while he is attending Sunday’s Throwdown against arch rivals Melbourne United at John Cain Arena.
Wall has played 684 NBA games for three teams over a 13-year period. He last played for the Los Angeles Clippers in the 2022-23 NBA season, but he is keen to return to the world’s best basketball league.
WHO’S IN THE HOT SEAT?
Illawarra Hawks: Five wins in two seasons simply isn’t good enough. It’s vital the foundation franchise is successful. Saturday’s clash against the Cairns Taipans is a must-win to avoid yet another wasted season.
Mitch McCarron: McCarron is one of the league’s best guards, but just two points in 14 minutes on the floor during last round’s loss to Perth can’t happen again if the 36ers want to make the finals this season.
Adelaide also need much more from forward Jacob Wiley, who only had one point in the 99-88 loss to the Wildcats. The 36ers have slipped to eighth on the ladder heading into Saturday’s crucial home clash against the Tasmania JackJumpers.
NBL ROUND 7: (All games live on ESPN and Kayo)
Friday, November 10:
Perth Wildcats vs New Zealand Breakers at RAC Arena from 9.30pm (AEDT)
Saturday, November 11:
Cairns Taipans vs Illawarra Hawks at Cairns Convention Centre from 5.30pm (AEDT)
Adelaide 36ers vs Tasmania JackJumpers at Adelaide Entertainment Centre from 8pm (AEDT)
Sunday, November 12:
South East Melbourne Phoenix vs Melbourne United at John Cain Arena from 2pm (AEDT)
Sydney Kings vs Brisbane Bullets at John Cain Arena at 4pm (AEDT)
Originally published as Logue Down column: Call for common sense on NBL coach’s challenge
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