Charity Begins At Home

The finals home curse claimed yet another victim as Blue Chip Nelson Giants came to Napier and snatched the first game of the Dominion Finance NBL championship series 76-67 off titleholders Easy LPG Bay Hawks.

If the Hawks can take any consolation from the result, it is that they will successfully defend their crown if the trend continues.

Don’t count on it.

Not since the Waikato Titans prevailed at Mystery Creek in 2001 has the home team won a national league crown. That’s six straight finals encounters won by the visitors.

Box Score (html 21KB)

Back to top

Head-To-Head

When the plug was pulled on the Women’s National Basketball Invitational tournament last week, the screams of horror emanating from Canterbury were understandable.

The province that won the last fully fledged national league title contested in 2005 had virtually sacrificed its chances in the conference-based WBL last month, dividing its talent among age group and club teams to help sustain a competitive southern playoff.

“Putting one team together for the WNBI was to be the culmination of that,” says Gameface Canterbury Wildcats coach Craig Hickford. “We had put in a lot of preparation and commitment … but it was taken away from us.”

Read More ...

Back to top

We're LIVE, Baby!

Coverage of the 2007 Dominion Finance NBL finals will break new ground, now available via the internet through live webcasting.

Live stats and play-by-play descriptions of the oncourt action can now be accessed through the website of Cybersports, the US-based company that manufactures the statistical programme used for all NBL games.

The service was test driven during last week’s semifinals and came through with flying colours, providing an alternative medium for anyone not near a TV (SKY Sport 1) or radio (Radio Sport) during the best-of-three championship series.

Read More ...

Back to top

M-V-Pace

In his first season with the Blue Chip Nelson Giants, American guard Josh Pace was pretty darn good - good enough for selection to the 2006 NBL All-Star Five - but this year, he returned even better and has walked away with the Dominion Finance NBL’s ultimate individual honour .

After a process involving votes from league coaches, selected media and fans, Pace was an easy choice as the competition’s Most Valuable Player, averaging 22.4 points, 8.1 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 1.3 steals through the regular season.

Back to top

Rare Art

In the days leading up to Sunday’s Dominion Finance NBL semifinal, Arthur Trousdell and his fellow Easy LPG Bay Hawks benchwarmers were put on notice.

Possessing one of the deepest rosters in the league, the defending champions knew they would lose reigning MVP Paora Winitana for their sudden-death road clash with regular season winners Appliance Shed Harbour Heat.

“All of us were aware that, without Paora, someone had to step up,” recalls Trousdell (26). “We all had that in our minds.”

Dominion Finance NBL Finals Guide (pdf 962KB)

Back to top

Final Chapter

NZPA
Ed Book owes the script writers a Budweiser or two for gifting him the chance to add a champion’s closing chapter to his long basketball career.

Better still the American has also been granted the opportunity to do it at home, in front of friends and family.

The veteran Nelson centre is to hang up his singlet after the best-of-three National Basketball League (NBL) finals series against reigning champions Hawke’s Bay starting in Napier tomorrow night, ending a domestic career which began in 1994.

Back to top

Christchurch Sirens Take Flight

Just as their namesakes did to sailors in Greek mythology, the Christchurch Sirens hope to lure opponents in the defencejobs Australian Women’s Basketball League (WNBL) to their demise.

The new franchise name was announced in a statement from the Canterbury Basketball Association (CBA), managing the Christchurch-based AWNBL team in a partnership with Basketball New Zealand.

According to legend, Sirens were half-bird, half-woman sea deities that lived on a variety of islands and lured passing mariners to their death on surrounding rocks with their enchanting music.

Back to top

Bradshaw With A Bullet

AAP
A mid-season trip to the US during their championship season has netted Brisbane a signing coup that could go a long way toward helping them defend their Australian National Basketball League title.

Brisbane on Tuesday completed their roster with the signing of highly regarded young Kiwi international centre Craig Bradshaw, currently trying to push his NBA draft claims in the United States.

Bullets general manager Jeff Van Groningen got under the guard of several NBL clubs keen to sign the 210cm centre when he secretly flew to North Carolina last December to make contact with the young Olympian and 2007 World Championship player.

Back to top

Courses

The NZ CoachApproach - "How To Coach"
Presented by Sparc coach development specialist Lyn Kidman

Monday, July 16 (7-9pm)
Arena 2, Pascal St, Palmerston North

Theoretical and practical information that will make coaching easier and help you become a better coach

Back to top

Briefs

NBL Milestones (Finals)

Easy LPG Bay Hawks point guard Paul Henare needs 17 more points to reach 2000 National Basketball League points and three more games for 200 NBL appearances. He has averaged 10.1 points over 197 games.
Read More ...

Dominion Finance NBL Player of the Week - Josh Pace (Blue Chip Nelson Giants)
37 points (12/21 FG, 1/4 3pt, 12/18 FT), eight rebounds & seven assists v U Park It Waikato Pistons
Read More ...

K-Mac Hot, Blues Cold
NZ Tall Fern guard Kate McMeeken-Ruscoe led all scorers with 30 points, but couldn’t spark Frankston Lady Blues to victory over Albury Wodonga Lady Bandits, falling 69-80 in the South East Australia Basketball League.
Read More ...

Back to top

X's & O's - Teaching On-Ball Screens

Key Offensive Concepts
Offensive players must establish spacing that makes the defence have to guard the whole court.

Watch and Read
Watch your team-mates … they tell you where to go. Read the defence to determine what to do.

Make The Defence Decide
Get distance from team-mates so the defence have to make a decision to help on ball or stay with their player.

Back to top