Round 7 of the National Basketball League is coming right ya with Throwdowns, slam downs and games played down-town.
Six games, epic road trips, bruising schedules and plenty on the line this weekend is set to be epic.
We preview every single game of NBL Round 7 with the aim of finding you a winner.
Of all the matches played between the Adelaide 36ers and the Perth Wildcats, this Friday nights clash will most certainly be one of them.
Both teams come off very disappointing losses in Round six and will be desperate to turn things around in what should make for a good contest.
Adelaide was pretty disappointing against Melbourne United last weekend, falling off the cliff after an excellent first quarter and giving up 21 points within the first five minutes of the second quarter and then 37 in the second period overall.
How embarrassing for them.
Some in the NBL Media predicted that the 36ers would be a team that would be tough to score against.
That’s not the case of recent.
For the Wildcats, they are coming off a loss to the Sydney Kings and in the grand tradition of all sports teams from Western Australia are developing a reputation for being flat-track bullies and have lost two games away from the comforts of RAC arena.
Bryce Cotton and Nick Kay tried their hardest for the Wildcats against the Kings on Sunday, but the rest of the squad seemed a bit ordinary and had everyone chipped in, Perth may have scored a massive upset on the weekend.
It appears as though both teams have been somewhat inconsistent so far in NBL season 2019-20, but with that in mind, I’m willing to back the Wildcats in the 1-10 margin area based on value alone and perhaps more players than just Bryce Cotton can pull their weight for the Wildcats.
We’re seven rounds into a new NBL season and the two Melbourne sides are at it again with the Third edition of what they now dub as “The Throwdown”
The rivalry between United and Phoenix is so intense they have to meet on what seems to be a fortnightly basis to really work out who rules Hoops in old Melbourne town.
Not even do the Cripps and the Bloods meet on the mean streets of ‘da hood as often as the NBL tends schedule “the Throwdown”
The city of Melbourne can’t even get a moments rest as it remains divided over who rules the area formally known as Hisense and not named after an old Tennis player with divisive opinions.
Pretty ironic for a team called Melbourne United to leave a city so divided.
So far, Phoenix and United are on one win each in the Throwdown.
Melbourne United has had a slow start to the season but Dean Vickerman and his boys have strung four wins in a row and the Phoenix had a bloody good win over the Breakers at home last week.
With that in mind, I’m backing the establishment in Melbourne United.
The first two Throwdowns have been great contests, I think we’re due a blowout and happy to take United 11+ at the current price.
This Saturday night, Queensland is a state divided – this time not on the issue of Daylight Saving but on who rules the NBL in the Sunshine State.
Both the Cairns Taipans and Brisbane Bullets have a reputation for being inconsistent to back and known multi-killers.
The Taipans had an embarrassing loss to the Illawarra Hawks and the Bullets are well rested after going down to the Sydney Kings at home by 10 points last Friday night.
For both sides, this will be the only game they play this weekend so winning is even more important.
As both teams can’t be trusted, sometimes it is best to tip based on who’s home court it is, so happy to take the Taipans to win at the $2 price.
Credit where credit is due, the Illawarra Hawks were sensational last Saturday night against the Cairns Taipans getting their much needed second win of the season.
In the words of former Prime Minister/then treasurer Paul Keating “This was the win Illawarra had to have.”
The Hawks dominated everywhere on the stats sheet and most importantly on the scoreboard over the Taipans.
Are they going to have a repeat performance over the Sydney Kings this Sunday?
No. No, they will not.
Sydney will be out to remind the NBL world that they are the team to beat this season and will be keen to give the team from down the road a serious reality check.
Don’t be tempted by thinking the Hawks are turning this around, back the Kings.
The line of -10.5 is the best value.
Since the hearts of the Australian Basketball Public were broken when the Singapore Slingers withdrew from the NBL in 2008, the New Zealand Breakers make the longest road trip in the league.
The Breakers will head to Perth who will come off a short-rest against Adelaide on Friday night in what they are calling the “Jet-Lag Derby”
Historically, New Zealand has struggled against the Wildcats with only one win out of their last seven encounters.
The Breakers had a shocking Round 6 losing both their encounters on their home and away double including getting smashed by the Phoenix 61-30 in the second half of their match.
Do we expect a repeat performance?
The rest factor might be of benefit to the Breakers in this one as Perth cops the brutal end of the schedule in NBL Round 7.
Don’t be surprised if the Breakers get close, but not too close.
Monday night Hoops is back as the Phoenix and 36ers back it up for their second round 7 hit out for the two respective sides.
The Phoenix will be glad to be home, after playing Melbourne United with whom they share a home within the third, but most certainly not the last edition of the Throwdown.
The 36ers will head to Melbourne after a home game against Perth on Friday night, at least they got the weekend off.
Returning to work on Monday, after working on Friday is a pretty common occurrence for many Australians but when it comes to playing NBL – it’s a bruising schedule.
The 36ers have won only one game outside of Adelaide this season and the South East Melbourne Phoenix have been a pretty good team to watch and punt on.
Perhaps the 36ers might find themselves in front at the main break with the likes of Mitch Creek and John Robertson getting on with the job in the second half and cruising them to victory.