Hoops

Copeland suspended for one game

XY, If you read my comments you would have seen that I explained quite explicitly that the situation with tennis racquets and tennis balls supports the argument about needing the right conditions in professional sport to perform at your best. As for Lleyton's schedules, he played Baghdatis on Saturday and won that game, but what happened to him against Djkovic on Monday? Gee, I wonder how much fatigue influenced that game? When it comes to scheduling arguments, I rest my case.

DJ I don't think the price would be as high as that in a local venue. Do you honestly believe the schedule isn't that bad? How good is a schedule that sees a team play in one city and then 24 hours and 1,000 kilometres later in another city? Particulary in a sport where the body gets battered and no chance for recovery before next game. I am not just defending the 36ers, the schedule has been bad throughout this season. It is a pro league and with any sport at that level, players can only perform at their peak if the conditions are right. What do you think Lleyton Hewitt would say if you tried to take away his tennis racquets and replace them with a cheap inferior substitute? You might say he is a professional tennis player and should be able to adjust. Same goes with new balls. During a match when a player is handed new balls, the first thing they do is give it a few test bounces. If the ball is not right, they reject it. This just goes towards the arguments that the conditions need to be right regardless of professionalism. In fact professionalism dictates it. You cannot play basketball at this lop pofessional level if you can't get the venues at a suitable time. The NBL should not even be expecting the players to suit up under these conditions. Hence the additional injuries that go with it as well.

I don't think too many people are going to pay $25-$35 to go to a local venue with some extra temp seating to watch a basketball game. A definte step backwards IMO.

It's a pro league and the schedule isnt THAT bad.

Statman, I have attended several games this season and they have been anything but sold out. Even so, sold out to them is still only around 3,500 people. A greater number attended the grand final series last year and hence a change of venue. Also the fact that several thousands more attended the grand finals, it suggests that price is an object when it comes to going on a regular basis to games. My argument is not only the expense of hiring this type of venue but the availability of it.

Playing out of entertainment and convention centres are never going to work. The venues have to be more purpose built and 1st preferance availability given to the NBL games, as in Adelaide. As most of the eastern states teams only attract between 2,000 and 3,000, surely some of the bigger basketball stadiums could be used with temporary additional stands put in for these games. It would surely have to be cheaper than hiring entertainment centres and enable better scheduling of the games. A gold ticket to the Brisbane game cost me $36 plus $12 carpark compared to $25 and $7.50 carpark here in Adelaide. Isnt it any wonder that the crowds aren't great at these venues.

If Lanard wanted to be threatening to the ref, he would have let all hell loose after the Tech foul and suspension from the game. He has already paid the penalty (actually, let me re phrase that), the whole team paid the penalty of his outburst. As far as I'm concerned he has already served his punishment. Having said that, if a further punishment was in order, then he did well with a one game suspension. Considering the 36ers record at the moment and that they really have nothing else to play for, it won't make a lot of difference.

This season has been a particularly bad one for player behaviour and the level of anger experienced. The calibre of the officials, together with the ridiculous scheduling this season has taken its toll on many of them. The NBL could take some responsibility in trying to alleviate this by better scheduling of the games. Its not just the 36ers in this last week that had to put up with an exhausting schedule but other teams this season have also put up with it. Before anyone throws at me the same old argument of how difficult it is due to venue availability, this has always been a problem but not to the extent that it has this season. The schedules this season has gone beyond ridiculous, its criminal. What's the punishment for this crime?

lose by 25 with copeland or 30 without him, it doesnt really matter. just please for the love of god dont start sutton.

i think its a bit rough......when you look at his long career in the NBL, how many times has he had to face the tribunal?....couldn't he have just got a fine like the Wildcats did?...whether he's handy off the bench or not!

"While he does push the envelope from time to time"

now i don't know if he has been reported before but surely you can either take into account his clean record or his prior reports, not the way he plays the game. In AFL do you think the tribunal takes into consideration how many free kicks go against a player or how chatty he is with the umpires. He is either reported or not reported, surely.

Hasn't Heal done worse and copped less?