The following are previews with betting tips for Round 13 of the 2017/18 NBL season.
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Thursday, January 4
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Adelaide 36ers v Perth Wildcats7:30pm AEDT |
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Pre-Game Lead-Up: The 36ers last match was a tense, right to the end affair victory over the Breakers. The margin was only 3 points. For Adelaide the 1st quarter was definitive for them as they led 25-17. While they entered half-time with an 11 point advantage. Their 1st half is essentially what won the game for them. They were also outscored by NZ in both the 3rd and 4th periods. Shannon Shorter had a very good match, shooting 9-17 from the court for 23 points. He also got 8 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals and 1 block. While Josh Childress also shot 54.5% for 17 points. While he also pulled in 6 boards, dished out 3 assists, got a steal and swated away 2 shots. Nathan Sobey also scored 15 points, this while of the bench Majok Deng had 13 and Mitch Creek 10 points. Adelaide are now only a win ahead of 5th and 6th place. However Perth sit in 1st place with 11 wins from only 16 games this campaign. Their last game was an easy 83-68 win over Cairns. They beat them in the 1st and 4th quarters, 32-18 and 25-19. However in the 2nd and 3rd periods, Perth really played quite poorly as they scored only 14 and 12 points respectively. Bryce Cotton shot 4-6 from 3pt range on his way to 23 points. He also got 4 rebounds, an assist and 2 steals. While Lucas Walker got 14 points, 2 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals. Derek Cooke Jr had a massive defensive effort also with 6 combined steals/ blocks. Coming of the pine, Clint Steindl scored 11 points.
What To Look Out For: Derek Cooke Jr. His presence down in Perth might not always be felt on the score-sheet. But for a moment last round it was in his massive effort. His stat-line reads from that game against the Taipans, 8 points, 7 boards and a huge 2 steals and 4 blocks. Coming up against a 36ers side that score points like it’s nothing, he will again be relied upon to help steer Perth defensively. Look for him to do that as Perth try to get the victory.
Betting tip: Pick Perth to win at $2.00 (Sportsbet)
Friday, January 5
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Cairns Taipans v Brisbane Bullets7:30pm AEDT |
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Pre-Game Lead-Up: Cairns are currently in the thick of it fighting for a final spot, as are the Bullets. The two sides have 8 and 7 wins for the season respectively. For Cairns, last round they suffered a 15 point defeat at the hands of the Wildcats. They were already down by 14 at the end of the 1st quarter, the game was pretty much over after that. However in some solace for the Taipans, they did manage to keep Perth to only a combined 26 points through the next two periods. Alex Loughton and Mich McCarron combined for a very impressive 34 points, 15 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 steal. While Cam Gliddon ended up with 14 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists and a steal. Coming of the bench, Dayshon Smith shot a very poor 28.6%. But he still ended up with 7 points, 3 boards and 3 dimes. While for Brisbane, poor is just about the only way to describe their embarrassing 22 point loss to the Hawks. They were down by 8 points heading into the 2nd period, however by half-time it was only a 4 point deficit. And the margin was only 9 heading into the 4th, however that’s where they absolutely imploded and lost the game, they got outscored 23-10 during the quarter. Adam Gibson and Tom Jervis combined to shoot a disappointing 5-12 from the court while also giving away a combined 4 fouls. However Travis Trice was an absolute beast in this game as he scored 32 points while hitting 6 three-pointers in a Steph Curry esque performance. He also got 3 rebounds, 4 assists and a steal. Daniel Kickert also scored 16 points. While of the bench, Stephen Holt shot 100% on his free-throw attempts and ended up with 12 points, 2 rebounds, an assist and a steal.
What To Look Out For: A redeemed performance from Dayshon Smith. He shot a poor 28.6% last round, but for the season he is shooting 39.0% while averaging just under 11 points per game. His poor shooting hampered the Taipans, so look for him to do things a bit differently when he comes of the bench this time around. The Taipans need the win, so you can expect that his impact in this match will be a positive one, rather than a negative one.
Betting tip: Pick Brisbane to redeem themselves and get the victory at $2.45 (William Hill)
Saturday, January 6
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Sydney Kings v Perth Wildcats5:30pm AEDT |
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Pre-Game Lead-Up: 5 wins from 19 games, in dead last position and 2 victories of the next worst team while also coming of a very demoralizing 24 point loss to Melbourne, it’s safe to say that Sydney’s season is officially down the drain. Sorry, that’d be rude to whatever lives beneath the surface as the Kings have been absolutely shocking this season and have found more ways to lose games than the recent Sam Hinkie led 76ers side. In their 3rd quarter against United, the Kings lost the period 28-13. While in the 4th they were outscored by 11. These two quarters are just some of the many shocking ones from Sydney this campaign. Perry Ellis and Brad Newley had a night they’d rather not remember scoring just a combined 17 points and they shot a horrific 6-19 from the court. Jason Cadee was crap for a lack of a better term, shooting just 3-10 for 30% shooting, while also getting just 1 assist as well as giving up 4 personal fouls. While in your usual lets bully Tom Garlepp moment courtesy of Andrew Gaze, he got just 4 minutes and 20 seconds of playing time. However he still proved to be one of the better players during this small period of play as he converted on half of his basket attempts. He also grabbed a rebound and got 2 massive blocks. Jerome Randle was one of the few shining lights for Sydney in this match as he made 4 of his 5 three-point attempts on his way to a strong 26 points. He also grabbed 2 boards and dished out 5 assists. This game against the Wildcats is just for pride and nothing more.
What To Look Out For: Another damaging loss for the Kings. This season they’ve had quite a few including a 17pt one vs NZ, a 30 pt one vs Adelaide, a 24pt one vs Perth, a 18pt one vs Utd, a 26pt one vs Utd, and a 24pt one vs Utd. While they are coming up against the reigning NBL champions and a team who know a thing or two about inflicting serious pain onto their opponents. This while if the likes of Cadee, Ellis and Newley shoot the ball as poorly as they did in their last game, then the match is pretty much over before its even started for Sydney. This won’t be pretty. Brace yourself Kings fans.
Betting tip: Pick Perth to win and with relative ease at $1.65 (William Hill)
Also pick Perth to be the first to 10 points at $1.83 (William Hill)
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Illawarra Hawks v Melbourne United7:30pm AEDT |
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Pre-Game Lead-Up: The Hawks are currently only a single win out of a finals spot, while for Melbourne, they are flying high in second position on the ladder. The Hawks came out of last round as easy 22 point victors over Brisbane. They were already ahead at the end of the 1st period and had a 4 point advantage heading into half-time, as well as a 9 point lead heading into the final stage of the game. However in the 4th quarter they absolutely wrecked Brisbane, keeping them to only 10 points while also lighting up the court for 23 themselves. Demitrius Conger and Rotnei Clarke were again the Hawks heroes as they combined for 45 points on 16-29 shooting. While they also got 11 boards, 10 assists and 4 steals in what was a huge effort from the pair. Nicholas Kay also shot 7-13 on his way to 16 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists and 4 huge steals. Of the bench, Tim Coenraad scored 10 points, while Cody Ellis scored 8 points, got 2 rebounds, an assist and got 4 combined steals/ blocks. As for Melbourne they simply destroyed the Kings in their 24 point victory. The definitive period was when they kept them to only 13 points in the 3rd quarter. While also in the 4th period when they outscored them 31-20. Those two quarters are essentially what won them the match and pushed them to only behind the Wildcats in the process. Every starter for United bar Carrick Felix scored in double-digits. Ware had 26, while both Goulding and Boone scored 18, while Wesley got 12. However the new man and ex-NBA player Felix, still scored 7 points, along with pulling in 7 boards, dished out 2 assists and got 2 steals, while slipping right into a starting role for Melbourne. Boone also got 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals and a block. And he got his 18 points from a stellar 8-9 shooting. Craig Moller also made his presence felt of the bench with 9 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist and 2 blocks.
What To Look Out For: An Anthony Davis vs Draymond Green like battle. So simplified, a game with high octane offense, with some strong defence in their as well. The Hawks poses the likes of Clarke who is shooting 43% this season while averaging just under 19 points per game. But they also have guys like Conger and Kay who know a thing or two about defence. While for Melbourne you only have to look at players like Ware, Goulding and Boone to know that this applies, along with ex-Cavalier Carrick Felix now in the team as well. This should be a well-balanced game that’s well worth a watch.
Betting tip: Pick Melbourne to come out victorious at $2.05 (Palmerbet)
However, when the match odds become available, pick the Hawks to be the first to 10 points
Sunday, January 7
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New Zealand Breakers v Cairns Taipans1:00pm AEDT |
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Pre-Game Lead-Up: After spending most of the season in a two-way battle with Perth for the top two positions, the Breakers are now in danger of falling out of a playoffs spot entirely. They have 11 wins currently, however Adelaide are right behind them with 9, while both Illawarra and Cairns have 8. While the Bullets aren’t far behind the pack either. The Breakers have won only 2 of their past 7 games and are in a massive slump heading into their sort of must win match-up against the equally as desperate Taipans. NZ’s last game saw them lose a close one, going down 88-85 against Adelaide. Heading into half-time, the Breakers were already down by 11 points. And despite winning the final 2 periods, they couldn’t pull the game back enough to get a much needed victory. NZ’s defence kept Nathan Sobey to 6-18 shooting and Daniel Johnson to 1-8 shooting but it wasn’t enough. For the Breakers, Edgar Sosa ended up with 24 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists and a steal. While Alex Pledger shot very poorly going only 2-6 from the court. Mika Vukona was also impressive with 6 points, 11 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal and 1 block. Thomas Abercrombie also scored 14 points. That while coming of the bench, Robert Loe got 9 points, 6 boards, 2 steals and 1 block. NZ need a victory to not fall form their perch, while Cairns need it not to fall out of the finals race entirely. This game will see two desperate teams going at it in what should be a highly entertaining affair.
What To Look Out For: A strong rebound effort from NZ to help them break their recent losing run. Only a couple of rounds ago they were in 1st place, with every team looking up at them on the ladder and their was no telling how far they could go this season. While they also started of the campaign is blistering fashion winning 9 out of their first 10 games. They also have absolute stars on their squad through the likes of Sosa (15.8 points per game), Abercrombie (just under 1.5 blocks per game) and DJ Newbill (13.7 points per game and 3.7 assists per game). This team won’t stay down for long, especially now that they’re coming up against a Cairns side who have been struggling as of late.
Betting tip: Pick NZ to bounce back and win at $1.37 (Labrokes)
Also pick NZ to be the first to 10 points at $1.65 (William Hill)
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Brisbane Bullets v Adelaide 36ers3:00pm AEDT |
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Pre-Game Lead-Up:Â Andrej Lemanis after his sides dramatic and recent 1 point defeat to Melbourne, called their defence the best in the NBL. It’s one thing to complement your opponents after a game, but another entirely to do so when they could very well prove to be the team that is the one just ahead of you in securing a finals spot. What Lemanis said was nice, but maybe something that wasn’t needed during this crucial point in Brisbane’s season as they relentlessly chase a finals berth. While again focusing on the Bullets, Travis Trice will be at the forefront of Brisbane’s attempts to beat Adelaide. This is coming from his massive 32 point performance against the Hawks last round. He shot 11-18 from the floor as well as hitting up Illawarra for a huge 6 three-pointers. In addition to that, he also pulled in 3 boards, dished out 4 dimes and got a steal in his awesome game. For the season, Trice is averaging just under 5 assists per game and his creativity and scoring prowess will be much needed against a rampant 36ers side coming of a win over the Breakers.
What To Look Out For: Travis Trice and Perrin Buford. They are the Bullets two best players and if they want the win, they’ll have to get them their. Trice had his monster game last round while Buford this season is averaging 16.1 points, 8.4 rebounds, just under 2 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.2 blocks per game. Defensively look for Buford to do all he can to stop Adelaide from scoring, while on offence, expect the two to click as well as James and Wade did in their Heat days as they chase the win.
Betting tip: Pick the 36ers to win at $2.05 (Palmerbet)
 Bet of the Round
For BRI vs ADL, pick the Bullets to be the first to 10 points at $1.87 (William Hill)