We’ve reached the final round of the 2021 NBL season, and with playoff spots and pride on the line just about anything and everything can happen.
The round will run from Tuesday, June 1st, and wraps up on Tuesday, June 8th.
With many games over the week, we will update this page as the round progresses so be sure to swing by as we look to finish the final regular-season round of the NBL with an absolute fill-up.
Brian Goorjain’s Illawarra Hawks can all but book their place in the NBL playoffs if they can get the job done over the Perth Wildcats tonight.
It will be the third game in five days, with another match to come in two days’ time, but this team has proven to be one of the best stories of the season so far.
Currently, on a four-game winning streak, the Hawks are doing everything they need to do to ensure they feature in the business end of the season.
With home-court advantage, and leading the head-to-head markets at the $1.80 price at the time of publishing, this should be a cracking match to get Round 21 underway.
Perth has already booked its spot and cannot finish lower than the second spot.
The Wildcats are a formidable force, but the Hawks have so much more to play for and you just can’t go past momentum.
Expect the Hawks to win, but the Wildcats to give them a run for their money in this dress rehearsal for the Playoffs.
Take the Hawks 1-10.
There’s nothing but end of season pride on the line as the 8th placed New Zealand Breakers host 9th placed Cairns Taipans.
The end of the season couldn’t come quick enough for these two, but there’s no doubt they’ll both want to finish on a high note.
The Breakers have been back across the ditch, and this time the good people of Rotoura gets a taste of the NBL action.
New Zealand have lost their past two “home” games, as they’ve played around the country to make up for lost time.
Cairns had a little bit of luck go their way when they managed to pull off an upset win against the South East Melbourne Phoneix last Friday night, only to be brought back into reality when Melbourne United got the job done against them in front of no one in Sydney.
Avid readers of our NBL tips know that we love a good stat/omen.
Well, how about this one:
New Zealand has won each of its last eight Wednesday home games.
It’s a Wednesday night – ✅
The Breakers are the home team – ✅
I’m backing the Breakers to make it nine wins at home on a Wednesday on the trot.
May the midweek home streak continue!
The South East Melbourne Phoenix host the Brisbane Bullets infront of nobody in Cairns tonight.
What a depressing sight it will be, and excuse my editorial, they could have just sucked it up and played in Brisbane.
Why sacrifice home court advantage you ask?
The away team has won each of Brisbane’s last four games.
Yet again, another fancy trend in the NBL gone to waste.
This empty old Bunnings Warehouse in Cairns will play host to a match where the Phoneix will need to win to ensure a Playoff spot and the Bullets season is done.
I’ll leave this one to you Punters to find a tip, this is one of the rare moments I pull the no bet trigger.
No fans. No atmosphere. No bet.
With just 48 hours to back it up from a thrilling 81-79 win over Perth on Tuesday, the Illawarra Hawks are up and about and headed to the playoffs.
They might not have the fresh legs going into this game, but what better incentive to chalk up another win than by ensuring their big-city rivals from up the road – the Sydney Kings can’t make them.
Yet again, it is the master coach that is Brian Goorjian that has taken a team he is in charge of to the playoffs for the 21st consecutive season.
Avid readers of my NBL tips will know, I’ve been a huge fan of the Hawks and Goorjian all season long.
They are on all roll and have picked the right time to do so, winning eight of their last nine games.
That’s not to say that the Sydney Kings won’t fancy themselves having defeated Melbourne United 100-98 in an absolute thriller last Sunday.
Having said that, momentum is everything and an adoring home crowd in the ‘Gong is ready to cheer the Hawks home and I’ll take them at the line to get the job done.
We’re in for an absolute treat just before the finals with the top of the table clash between the Perth Wildcats and Melbourne United.
Many pundits regard this as a Grand Final preview.
If Melbourne United can get the job done in this, they can secure the top spot and lock in home-court advantage during the finals.
The Wildcats will need to back it up from a close loss to the Illawarra Hawks on Tuesday night, and can potentially secure top spot depending on how Melbourne United’s results sway over the course of the weekend.
As you all know, I love a good stat and a bit of a trend and it appears that both the Wildcats and Melbourne United do some of their best work after dark.
One of my researchers has informed me that the Perth Wildcats have won each of its last 10 night games following an away loss.
Yet, each of Melbourne’s last six night games have gone OVER the total match points line.
Combining these two lethal stats, I’ve gone with the good old line/total points double – The Perth Wildcats and the Over at the tasty value of $3.60.
It should be a beauty.
After two very disappointing losses for the South East Melbourne Phoenix, it’s all or nothing as they head across the ditch to take on the Breakers.
Phoneix simply has to win this game or the likes of the Sydney Kings could potentially find themselves in the Playoffs depending on how other results end up in the rest of this round.
The Breakers have shown some fight since being back in New Zealand, but if South East Melbourne Phoenix can’t win a game like this against a side that is 8th on the ladder, they shouldn’t bother with the Playoffs.
I’ll take them at the line.
Depending on how other results sway, both the Kings and Bullets could find themselves a chance to play in the finals.
We’re calling this the Lloyd Christmas Cup -because, we’re saying there is a chance.
The Kings will take plenty of confidence from their thrilling 79-73 win over the Illawarra Hawks on Thursday night, giving hope they can make the business end.
In an abandoned old Bunnings in Cairns, the Bullets notched up a thrilling 91-84 win over the South East Melbourne Phoenix in front of nobody.
This should be a cracking contest.
Yet again, the weird and wonderful stats the Neds data crunchers provide me with for inspiration in my tips come into play.
How about this one?
The Sydney Kings have covered the line in each of its last eight-night games at Qudos Bank Arena following an away win.
You guessed it – I’m backing the Kings at the line.
SUNDAY
Melbourne United will “host” Adelaide 36ers in Adelaide. Not even giving the 36ers free home court advantage will give them a chance in this one.
TUESDAY NIGHT
The final regular-season game wraps up when the Brisbane Bullets play host to South East Melbourne Phoenix – this time in front of a crowd. It may decide just who takes the final spot in the top four.