They are and it's kinda backfiring on them . One thing they get props is that basketball australia is separate from the nbl

Melbourne United, Yuck. Bring back the Tigers FFS.

i have heard SFA about this rapid expansion/merger/whatever in regards to the NBL. if anyone is in the know, has any word of a Newcastle team been mentioned at all?

Maccabi Tel Aviv crowned champion of Europe

By ALLON SINAI

LAST UPDATED: 05/19/2014 00:24


Yellow-and-blue claim 98-86 overtime win over Spanish side, Israeli team takes 6th European championship.


What was deemed as impossible just a few months ago became a reality on Sunday night, with Maccabi Tel Aviv recording a stunning 98-86 overtime victory over Real Madrid in Milan to claim a sixth European championship title in club history.

Maccabi's mere presence in the Euroleague Final Four was a huge surprise, but the yellow-and-blue never had any intention of just making up the numbers in Milan, coming back from 15-points down to snatch a dramatic win over CSKA Moscow in Friday's semifinal.

Tel Aviv wasn't supposed to have a chance against Real Madrid either, but no team could overcome the unflappable character of David Blatt's men, with Maccabi erasing an 11-point deficit on Sunday before securing the win in overtime in front of over 9,000 yellow-and-blue fans who dominated the arena.

Maccabi could have secured the win in regulation, but Tyrese Rice missed in the closing seconds and the final went into overtime. However, the American guard, who was close to being released from the team earlier this season after struggling to settle at the club, more than made up for it in overtime, scoring 14 of his 26 points in the extra five minutes to guide Tel Aviv to its first title since 2005 in its 15th final before deservedly being named as the Final Four MVP.

Related:
• Preview: Another Maccabi Tel Aviv miracle in Milan


• Blatt to Peres: Maccabi win is your going away present


Maccabi had lost in its previous three appearances in the final in 2011, 2008 and 2006 but has got a sixth European title to add to its trophy cabinet after Sunday's triumph, with the yellow-and-blue also winning the continental crown in 1977, 1981, 2001, 2004 and 2005.

“I'm so happy,” said Blatt, who won his first Euroleague title as a head coach. “We have brought so much honor to the country and to Maccabi fans especially. We never wavered and I'm just so proud of everyone.”

Blatt was congratulated by President Shimon Peres over the phone after the final buzzer, with Peres claiming the dramatic game almost gave him a heart attack.

Ricky Hickman added 18 points for Maccabi, with Devin Smith finishing with 15 points, David Blu scoring 14 and Alex Tyus contributing 12 points and 11 rebounds.

Maccabi hit 9-of-22 attempts (40%) from three-point range, committing just seven turnovers.

Euroleague MVP Sergio Rodriguez led five Real players in double figures with 21 points.

Blatt installed Sofoklis Schortsanitis back into the starting lineup for the final after surprisingly beginning Friday's semi against CSKA with Andrija Zizic. Maccabi fed the Greek giant the ball time and again in the hope of taking advantage of his size beneath the basket.

Sofo scored two early baskets and Yogev Ohayon's lay-up just over three minutes into the game gave Maccabi its first lead of the night (6-5). Maccabi's defense frustrated Real and seven straight points by Smith saw the yellow-and-blue extend its gap to six points (13-7).

After scoring just seven points in the semifinal, Smith took his tally in the final to seven points in just over two minutes and Maccabi was off to a dream start, with Real hitting only one of its first 12 attempts from the field.

However, after looking completely out of sync in the first seven minutes of the game, Real found its range, ending the first quarter with a 9-2 run to take a 16-15 edge into the second frame.

Madrid continued its run at the start of the second period, quickly establishing a double-digit gap (26-15) with Maccabi remaining stuck on 15 points.

Marcus Slaughter's dunk capped the 19-2 surge and took Real's lead to 11 points (26-15), with the yellow-and-blue being held to two points in six minutes.

Maccabi was in danger of losing touch of the Spaniards, but a three-point play by Rice, who didn't play a second in the first quarter, kept Tel Aviv's head above water (26-20).

Real soon reestablished a double-figure margin (33-22) thanks to Felipe Reyes's basket off Madrid's seventh offensive rebound of the night.

The Spaniards dominated the boards and had a chance to take a significant gap into the second half. However, Blu by himself would outscore Real 7-2 in the final two minutes, ending the half with nine points.

After averaging just nine points per game in the Euroleague until the final, Reyes scored 12 points in the first half alone on Sunday. But he would score Real's only two points in the final three minutes of the second quarter and Blu's triple to end the half, just Maccabi's second from eight attempts, brought the yellow-and-blue within a mere two points (35-33) entering the break.

The momentum remained on Maccabi's side at the start of the second half, with the Israelis holding Real to only two points in the first four minutes of the third quarter.

However, Maccabi only managed five points over that stretch, with Hickman's jumper giving the yellow-and-blue its first lead (41-40) since the first period.

Tremmell Darden's triple gave the Spaniards a 45-41 advantage, but Maccabi replied with five consecutive points of its own to move back in front (46-45).

After hitting just 2-of-8 three-point shots in the first half, Smith's triple took Maccabi to 3-of-5 from beyond the arc in the third period to put Tel Aviv ahead once more (49-47) Rodriguez picked up his third foul with 1:39 remaining in the third period, but he ended the frame with a three-point play to give Real a two-point edge (55-53) ahead of the final 10 minutes.

A Tyus dunk tied the score to start the fourth period, but Rodriguez answered with a three at the other end to keep Real in front (58-55). A Rice three-point attempt which somehow dropped after bouncing high off the rim put Maccabi back ahead (60-58) and the lead would continue to go back and forth.

Maccabi lost Sofo to a fifth foul with just under six minutes left to play and another Rodriguez triple handed Madrid the lead (64-63).

After both teams combined to score their first 18 free-throws in the first 35 minutes of the final, Real's Nikola Mirotic missed from the line and Rice's floater made it 67-67 with 3:07 remaining.

The score was still tied entering the final two minutes, but a Blu lay-up followed by a huge stop on defense and another Rice basket saw Maccabi move into a 73-69 gap with 55 seconds to play. However, free throws by Rodriguez followed by a Hickman miss saw Real tie the score (73-73) with two accurate attempts from the line by Ioannis Bourousis with 21.4 seconds remaining.

Maccabi still had one more chance to clinch the victory, but Rice missed from distance in the closing seconds and the Euroleague final went into overtime for the first time since 1969.

Rice would dominate the extra period though, scoring eight of Maccabi's first 10 points in overtime to give the yellow-and-blue a six-point lead (85-79) with 2:23 to go.

Maccabi would never look back, remaining in control until the final buzzer to clinch the club's sixth European title.

Durant's MVP speech is a beautiful thing. Nice to see a player so good yet clearly not as arrogant as he is good.

Having not really followed the NBL for many years, what is this about?


Last thing I heard was that the NBL (a couple of years ago) was looking at a A-League style reboot but that kinda fizzled after they couldn't get enough clubs to meet the new licence criteria (think it was a guarantee of $x for y years).

Don't look below if you haven't watched the games.

Great win by the wildcats, some pretty exciting ideas coming from the NBL since the de merger too. I just hope this proposed rapid expansion doesn't backfire.

Btw Benjo how did you record it on FTA?

some pretty exciting ideas coming from the NBL since the de merger too. I just hope this proposed rapid expansion doesn't backfire.

Set top box.

As for expansion, I have a feeling it will backfire, given how many teams have collapsed in recent years.

Btw Benjo how did you record it on FTA?Edited by iridium1010: 8/4/2014 12:16:21 AM

Anyone watching NBL Finals? Perth V Adelaide.

Everything you need to know ahead of the 2013/14 NBA season

CAN the Miami Heat make history? Or can somebody out there stop LeBron and co? We preview the NBA season, which starts on Wednesday.

MISSION: STOP LEBRON

Can anyone do it? The Heat go into the season with the chance to do something not even Michael Jordan and his Chicago Bulls could manage - four consecutive berths in the NBA championship series.

Only the Boston Celtics (1957-66 and 1984-87) and the Los Angeles Lakers (1982-85) have achieved that feat, but LeBron James and Co. have the opportunity to enter rarified air, and already the big three are talking up their chances.

They deservedly enter the season as overwhelming favourites, but so they were ahead of the 2010-11 season after James signed on. That year they were extinguished in the finals against the Dallas Mavericks.



THE CHALLENGERS

Oklahoma City Thunder and Chicago will tell you just how crippling one injury to a star can be.

When Russell Westbrook went down late last year, not even Kevin Durant could drag them over the line and into the finals series, while Chicago battled valiantly but ultimately fruitlessly all year without their main man Derrick Rose, who missed the entire year with a busted ACL.

Remove one of the best couple of players from any team and things tend to slide south quick, and the championship could be wide open if any of James, Dwayne Wade or Chris Bosh spend time on the sidelines.

OKC and the Bulls will again be prominent, while we'd like to see Blake Griffin and the LA Clippers take the next step under former Boston Celtics mastermind Doc Rivers.



READY TO ROCK

This might be the year that Houston finally re-emerges as an NBA force.

Almost two decades after their last title and with just six playoffs appearances in the last 14 years - only once progressing beyond the first round, the Rockets have assembled a roster that looks capable of doing some real damage.

As far as big signings go, they don't come any bigger than walking, talking set of biceps, Dwight Howard. The seven-time All-Star was a misery-guts last year at Los Angeles as he and Kobe Bryant waged an on and off-court war over who was top dog.

But he'll be the main man at Houston, with plenty of support from James Harden and cult hero Jeremy Lin.

Expect a lot better than the 45-37 record the Rockets produced in 2012-13.

DROWNING FAST

Never in recent memory has an NBA season loomed with the LA Lakers in such shabby shape.

With ageing star Kobe Bryant out for a couple more months as he recovers from Achilles tendon surgery and geriatric wizard Steve Nash arguably the team's best player, the customary Lakers march deep into finals looks the flightiest of fancies.

Of the other players, Pau Gasol is the only out and out gun, with the rest a cobbled together group made up largely of castoffs from other franchises.

It could be a dirty, dirty year.

WHAT'S IN A NAME?

Here's something to strike fear into every NBA opponent. New Orleans will play their first regular season game as the Pelicans this year, having switched over from the Hornets in the off-season.

Let's hope last year's No.1 draft pick Anthony Davis can restore some pride to a franchise with one of the wimpiest mascots in world sport.



THE AUSSIES

All being well, there'll be more than just Andrew Bogut to cheer on this year.

Bogut will again be a critical player in Golden State's playoff aspirations (and he really really promises he'll definitely maybe stay injury-free this year), but there are a few other Aussies to keep your eye on.

Matthew Dellavedova has completed the journey from junior basketball in Maryborough and Bendigo in Victoria to the NBA after defying the odds to win a prized roster spot with the Cleveland Cavaliers for the upcoming season.

His game ain't pretty, with Philadelphia and former Australian Boomers coach Brett Brown this week describing him as a "Neanderthal" (as a compliment), but the back-up point guard has taken every chance that's come his way so far.

With Cavs point guard Jarrett Jack resting an injured knee Dellavedova has seen good court time throughout the pre-season, highlighted by a nine-point, three-assist outing against Philadelphia.

Click here to read more about Matty's fairytale journey so far.

Patty Mills is hoping to again be Tony Parker's understudy at San Antonio. With any luck he might be the No.1 man off the bench for the Spurs and he's done his chances no harm with a string of strong recent performances.

In the Spurs' most recent preseason game against Orlando he led all scorers with 22 points in the absence of regular point guard Parker and delivered the pass that allowed fellow Aussie Aron Baynes to hit the game-winning shot last week against Atlanta.

Two Aussies in the one team? Yes please. Baynes has been getting solid minutes off the bench throughout the pre-season, providing able support to the Spurs' power forward brigade.

WHO'S IN THE MONEY?

Given how much can happen throughout a long and taxing NBA season, Miami are at almost prohibitive odds, but there's value to be had elsewhere if you trust certain stars to remain injury-free.

Miami Heat - $3
Oklahoma City Thunder - $6
Chicago Bulls - $9
Indiana Pacers, San Antonio Spurs - $11
Brooklyn Nets, Houston Rockets, LA Clippers - $13
Golden State Warriors - $26
LA Lakers - $34

THE BIG TIP-OFF

Opening games (all times AEDT)

Wednesday
10am: Magic v Pacers
11am: Bulls v Heat
1.30pm: Clippers v Lakers

Bartlett's NBL 'death' comments spark outrage

AFL legend Kevin Bartlett prepared the NBL's eulogy on SEN radio today, labelling the league "lost" and close to "death" in response to Melbourne Tigers forward Tommy Greer's candid opinion piece in The Age.

Greer openly admitted that the NBL made "bad decisions" and became "lazy" after the success during the 1990s skyrocketed the game on the back of Andrew Gaze and a long list of Australian and imported talent.

"We have dropped the ball," noted Greer in his column.

The NBL has been able to hold its head above water over the past 15 years, despite an abundance of off court problems but has been heavily scarred by the number of teams that have gone out of business during that period.

The NBL has slowly been tortured by a thousand cuts, continually holding out hope of a white knight – a saviour who has yet to arrive.

The league remains successful in Perth, where reported crowds of 10,208 and 10,573 have flocked to see the Wildcats' first two home games of the 2013/14 season at Perth Arena. But at the other end of the spectrum the Townsville Crocodiles have only been able to attract 3,265 and 2,905 to their opening two home dates.

With just eight teams in the league, the frightening prospect exists that the loss of one of them may kill the NBL.

Bartlett was not alone in his condemnation of the NBL.

"Basketball is dying a slow death," said his guest, the Herald Sun's Jon Ralph. "The hype is gone ... The sport is just not good enough ... I'm just not interested in the NBL."

Bartlett added that, "Basketball is at a stage of its lifetime, of its existence in this country, that it's just teetering at the moment."

"Was it like Halley's Comet, it arrived on the scene, people enjoyed it for a short period of time then it just fizzled out?"

Former NBL commentator Stephen Quartermain, who called the games on Channel 10 during the glory years, phoned into SEN and added, "It's with a lot of sadness that I hear these comments made about basketball – and it's all true by the way."

Tigers forward Mark Worthington joined the conversation on Twitter to offer a counter view: "I think the start of this season across the board has been the best it's been since I started. We aren't dead. Far from it."

Tigers head coach Chris Anstey also took to social media to slam Bartlett: "There needs to be homework done by @KevinBartlett29 on sports other than AFL before he makes destructive comments about another sport," Anstey tweeted.

On the club's Twitter account, the Melbourne Tigers said Bartlett, a Richmond and AFL Hall of Famer, was peddling "uninformed comments".

Bartlett soon returned fire.

"Basketball is flying pity no one wants to talk about it other than the host", read one of his tweets. "Talkback callers never mention NBL not enough fans interested", said another. "Basketball has a hard core fan base but has no capacity at the moment to draw a wider audience," read a third.

Many die-hard basketball fans fired back insults and wisecracks to Bartlett, but nobody laid out any evidence to disprove his argument.

Without question, the NBL is closer today to being buried than it is to being a prosperous sport in Australia once again.

Of course those involved in the NBL are going to attempt to defend the league. But defending the league is a stance that players, coaches and administrators have taken for so long that is has become redundant. That's what led to the Greer article that started the whole thing, the ownership of mistakes.

After Greer was applauded for his words, Bartlett was scrutinised for saying that those mistakes, highlighted by Greer, are all nails in the NBL's coffin.

Compared to recent history the NBL has received a massive boost in TV ratings this season. With 66,000 tuning in on opening night (Perth v Adelaide), and 53,000 watching (Sydney v Melbourne) the first live Sunday game. The numbers dropped in round two, but still remained impressive, with 45,000 watching last Friday (Perth v Sydney) and 50,000 for Sunday's game (Melbourne v Perth).

But when you compare it to summer's other sporting fare, the A-League, it pales into insignificance.

The wheel will continue to go around and around with one side taking the NBL's stance that things are getting better, but the rest pointing out that this has all been said before and like the boy who cried wolf, why should anyone take any notice now?

A current player in the NBL told me recently he thought the league had two more years left before it eventually succumbed to its own downfall.

There is no guarantee that the end of the NBL would instantly give life to a new basketball league, although there are parties out there that will attempt to build a new professional basketball league in Australia/New Zealand if the NBL caves in.

The NBL's "definitely got a future," said former Melbourne Tigers player Nigel Purchase, with whom Bartlett spoke on SEN.

But how long that future is only time will tell.

Wow didn't even know it was on.