The following are previews with betting tips for Round 12 of the 2017/18 NBL season.
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Tuesday, December 26
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Melbourne United v Brisbane Bullets7:30pm AEDT |
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Pre-Game Lead-Up: For Melbourne, very recently and unfortunately, Casey Prather was ruled out for a significant amount of time through injury. Rather than sit down and cry about it, they instead bought in former Cleveland Cavalier Carrick Felix as a replacement for Prather. The man who used to play with Kyrie, is a beast defensively and someone who gives it their all when they’re out on the court. While many viewed Prather’s injury as the end to Melbourne’s potential Championship hopes, bringing Felix into the fold makes them well and truly alive once again. While for Brisbane, they currently reside 3rd from the bottom after a 101-95 defeat at the hands of the Kings. Their opponents were led by Jerome Randle with 27 points, Todd Blanchfield with 20 and Jason Cadee with 18 of the bench. As for the Bullets their star men were Travis Trice with 19 points, 1 rebound, 4 assists and 2 steals. While Perrin Buford scored 18, grabbed in 5 boards, dished out 5 assists and got a steal and a block. Of the pine, Stephen Holt scored 13 while starters Tom Jervis and Daniel Kickert both scored 12 apiece.
What To Look Out For: The play of Carrick Felix. Many imports have come to the NBL and realized that it’s tougher than it looks and failed. A few names who come to mind include Josh Powell, Derek Cooke JR (currently struggling) and Josh Childress (blighted by injuries throughout his tenure with Sydney). It ain’t NBA level, but it isn’t a kids league either. He’ll want to get his start of on the right foot, and he’ll bring his style of play up against a Brisbane side desperate for a rebound victory.
Betting tip: Choose Brisbane to claim the upset win at $3.25 (Ladbrokes)
Thursday, December 28
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Illawarra Hawks v Cairns Taipans7:30pm AEDT |
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Pre-Game Lead-Up: Despite their huge, 96-84 upset victory over Perth, Illawarra are still currently 2nd from the bottom. They lost the 1st quarter 30-18, but scored 32 in the 2nd and won all the others on their way to the emphatic win. Rotnei Clarke ended up with 21 points, 1 rebound and 6 assists. This while Demitrius Conger produced a stat-line of 21 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals and 3 blocks in a monster effort from the big man. Nicholas Kay also scored 13, while Delvon Johnson had 11. Of the bench, Tim Coenraad also scored 11. The fact that this Hawks side achieved the win without 3 players, makes the victory all that more sweeter for them. Cairns meanwhile are currently in 5th and only a win of a finals spot after their 19 point, 94-75 win over the 36ers. They outscored them by 10 in the 1st period and kept them to only 15 points in the 2nd. While in the 3rd period they again outscored them by 10 and kept them to only 17 points for the quarter. For the Taipans Cam Gliddon was simply killing his opponents with venom as he ended up with 27 points, a rebound and 3 combined steals/ blocks. While Alex Loughton scored 20, grabbed in 7 boards, dished out 3 assists and got 1x a steal and 1x a block. Mitch McCarron also came agonizingly close to a triple-double with 17 points, 11 rebounds and 7 assists. He also ended up with 3 steals.
What To Look Out For: Mitch McCarron. If he could do what he did against the 36ers, then imagine what he could do against a weakened Hawks side, only a spot of the bottom. For the season he has averages of 10.0 points per game, 2.3 assists per game and 6.2 boards per game. Cairns are a ‘team-ball’ type of side so that would reflect upon his not so strong averages. But with his breakout game against Adelaide in tow, there’s no reason why he can’t put a struggling Illawarra side to the sword as well. Expect him to have a big impact in a Cairns win.
Betting tip: Pick the Taipans to win at $2.62 (CrownBet)
Friday, December 29
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Adelaide 36ers v New Zealand Breakers7:30pm AEDT |
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Pre-Game Lead-Up: NZ are currently 1st, while Adelaide reside in 4th. The last time these two teams met, NZ were humiliated by the 36ers. Revenge will play a part in this game as the Breakers attempt to chase the victory. For the 36ers, their last game was a demoralizing 19 point loss to Cairns. They were already down by 10 at the end of the 1st period and it didn’t get much better from there as they put up only 15 points in the 2nd. In the 3rd they were again outscored by 10 before they drew the 4th period, 25-all. J-Chill was the best of a losing bunch as he shot 60% from the court for 20 points, 13 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals and a block. Shannon Shorter also scored 12, grabbed in 2 boards, dished out 3 assists and got a steal. Matthew Hodgson also scored 12. Nelson Larkins coming of the bench also put in a decent shift with 7 points, 1 rebound, 2 assists and a steal and a block. While NZ won a very tight and controversial 99-95 points game over Sydney courtesy of a late ridiculous call on Brad Newley. The Breakers were down by 5 at half-time but won the 3rd quarter 28-21 in what was a very decisive period for them. They also won the 4th, 28-26. Starting for NZ, Edgar Sosa scored 21 to go along with 3 rebounds, an assist and 2 steals. While DJ Newbill got 11 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists but shot a poor 3-7 from the court. Thomas Abercrombie was also very poor as he shot just 1-6. In just over 22 minutes of play all he ended up with was a shocking 3 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 block. Coming of the bench, Robert Loe and Kirk Penney were on absolute fire as they combined for 37 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists.
What To Look Out For: So far this campaign, the 36ers have scored more points than any other NBL team (1381) bar the Sydney Kings. While NZ are 3rd in the points scoring department. Also this season, Adelaide have scored 90 or more points 8 times. While that number for the Breakers is 7. Combined with the talented basket-getters that both teams posses in the likes of Josh Childress and Edgar Sosa, you can expect this game to be a high-scoring affair and nothing less. This game is going to be a fun one to watch.
Betting tip: Pick the 36ers to be the first to 10 points at $1.83 (William Hill)
Saturday, December 30
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Sydney Kings v Melbourne United5:30pm AEDT |
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Pre-Game Lead-Up: The Kings finally claimed another victory courtesy of their latest 101-95 win over Brisbane away from Qudos. While United also won their latest game, a 99-91 win over Adelaide. Unfortunately for the Kings they are still in last place, while Melbourne sit comfortably in 3rd spot. Jerome Randle and Perry Ellis combined for 41 points to go along with 11 rebounds, 7 assists and 1 steal in an awesome effort from the pair. Todd Blanchfield also shot a very strong 7-12 from the court for 20 points to go along with his 3 rebounds and 1 steal. Brad Newley also scored 12 and of the bench Jason Cadee was an absolute freak, hitting 2 3’s and scoring 18 points in the process. He also got 2 rebounds, 4 assists and a steal. While for United, the players helping them charge towards victory were the back-court duo of Casper Ware and Chris Goulding who combined for a massive 46 points as well as 3 rebounds and 6 assists. Also playing a starring role for United was Tai Wesley who scored 14, pulled in 7 boards, dished out 7 assists and swatted away 2 shots. Of the pine, Peter Hooley scored 11 while Craig Moller scored 8. The definitive and match winning quarter for Melbourne was when they kept Adelaide to only 12 points in the 2nd quarter and they themselves put up a big 22. While despite the 36ers having a big 4th period (31 points), Melbourne pretty much kept pace with them (28 points).
What To Look Out For: The Kings unlikely charge to the final playoffs spot. During their match against Brisbane, the Fox Sports NBL commentary team were talking about in the case of Sydney, throwing all the maths out the window. Why? Because it’s pretty simple, it’s now a win or go home scenario for the Kings. They’ve won 2 of their past 3, sandwiched in was an unfair/ controversial 4 point loss to the 1st placed Breakers. They are now playing with some vigor and enthusiasm, which has lacked for a lot of their season. Look to see them play with more passion and care as they attempt to take another step towards the unlikely.
Betting tip: Pick the Kings to beat Melbourne at $2.39 (Sportsbet)
Sunday, December 31
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Illawarra Hawks v Brisbane Bullets3:00pm AEDT |
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Pre-Game Lead-Up: Illawarra Hawks players recently volunteered at the Light House Church in Woolongong. They were helping out those in need by giving meals to people who needed them the most. However on the court recently the Hawks have been anything but giving as evident through their most recent upset victory over the defending-champion Wildcats. They have won 5 of their past 9 games and have moved their record up to a more positive 6 and 9 on the season. Being led by former MVP Rotnei Clarke (18.9ppg) they’ll prove to be no pushovers against an in-form and hot Andrej Lemanis coached Bullets side. As for Brisbane, they’ve been even better than their opponents for this match as of late as they are currently only a win out of a finals spot and have won 4 of their past 6 games. While their 2 losses were incredibly close games against both NZ and Sydney. With the Bullets being led by the likes of Travis Trice and Perrin Buford, this match should prove to be very tight played by 2 in-form sides.
What To Look Out For: A tight game. Neither side has that much over the other. Both teams are in a dog-fight for the final playoffs spot and Brisbane are only 1 win ahead of the Hawks. While both have also suffered 9 losses this year. Also their top players in Clarke and Buford are also pretty closely matched both skill-wise and as competitors. While of the 2 games these sides have contested this season, one was decided by a single digit margin. This game will be the type that ultimately gets decided within the final minute or so.
Betting tip: Pick the Bullets to win by a margin of 1-10 points at $3.50 (William Hill)
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Cairns Taipans v Perth Wildcats7:00pm AEDT |
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Pre-Game Lead-Up: This was the Taipans tweet after their smashing of Adelaide. “Our biggest road win since October 2014!! And, the very first time Cairns have had two players score at least 20 points in same game this season. Merry Christmas!
“. For the record, they won 94-75 only a game after they suffered a reverse 19 point loss at the hands of the Kings. Cairns twitter team got it all right as twice they outscored their opponents by 10 points in separate quarters as well as keeping them to only 15 points in the 2nd one (depsite they themselves only putting up 14). 3 players scored in double-figures while 1 of the other 2 starters who didn’t, Nnanna Egwu still grabbed double-digit rebounds (12). While of the bench, Jerry Evans JR chipped in with 9 points and a steal. While also coming of the bench, Jarrad Weeks put in 6 points, 1 rebound and 4 assists in a little bit under 20 minutes of play. Cairns are now equal with 4th placed Adelaide on 4 wins. While for Perth, they are currently 2nd after their upset loss to the Hawks by a score-line of 96-84. The quarter that lost them the game was the 2nd, they put up only 19 points during the period but conceded 32 in a very weak defensive effort. Jean-Pierre Tokoto finished with 27 points, 12 rebounds, an assist and a steal. This while Brice Cotton sored 23, grabbed in 3 boards, dished out 4 assists and stole the ball twice. Lucas Walker also ended up with 13, 8 and 3. However the scoring effort from the bench was dire as they put up a total of 6 points, shooting a horrific 3-20 from the court.
What To Look Out For: A rebound Perth win. This season they’ve always been 1st or 2nd for a reason and are also the defending champions. With or without their influential captain in Damian Martin, expect them to bounce back strongly and win this encounter. A team possessing the likes of Cotton and Tokoto is too good to stay down for too long and against a team that has a below 500% record, now is the perfect time for the Wildcats to pounce.
Betting tip: Pick Perth to win at $1.95 (William Hill, Palmerbet, Mad Bookie)
Also pick Perth to also be the first to 10 points at 1.90 (William Hill, Mad Bookie)
Best Bet of the Round
Pick Illawarra to reach 10 points first vs Brisbane at $1.80 (William Hill, Mad Bookie)