Hoops

NBL Top 6 - The Run to the playoffs

Its ironic because Cairns is the only team now that stands in our way of making the playoffs. The best it could possibly do is win all 3 of their remaining games and we lose both of our remaining games and this would only give us an equal win/loss record. However, this game with the clock error resulted in a win to Cairns by 1 miserable point which is all that was needed to give them the split over Adelaide and claim 6th spot. If its any consolation, after watching the 36ers play against the Dragons tonight, there's every likelihood that they can lose both of their remaining games, but then its not likely Cairns will win all 3 of theirs because they still go up against NZ & Dragons.

Isaac, 1 second is very little time and opinions can be divided. From what I saw the shot went through the hoop after the clock expired. At that stage I didn't realise that there had been a delay in starting the clock and accepted that the shot had left his hand before it expired. It wasn't until later when the delay in clock was mentioned that I realised there was no way that Mee would have been able to nake that shot on time if he didn't have the extra time. Anyway its all water under the bridge now and no correction will be made, however an extra win at this late stage of the season is extremely valuable and could be the difference between making playoffs and missing out. It could also be the difference between getting a home final or just 1 away. I agree that this wouldn't have made a lot of difference if the 36ers had done a lot more themselves to win some extra games, but you can't take away something that they have not been responsible for and not think anything of it. As poorly as they have performed this season, if that extra win lead to a championship because of circumstances, then everyone would be forgetting about their regular season performances and saying what a great season they've had.

If the refs were sharp enough to remember that, then their concentration on the task at hand had to suffer. I don't remember the 0.7 seconds being an error. I remember the matter being resolved with the NBL satisfied with the timing. Cairns being so disgusted with the result lodged a complaint with the NBL and it was investigated. This is something that I hold against Ninnis for not taking the matter to the NBL in this more recent game. He is obviously pissed off at a lot of calls but where the game is at stake, then he should show some assertiveness and lodge a complaint for investigation.

The ball went through the hoop just after the clock expired which means 1 second earlier, the ball was still in his hands. I keep playing that scene in slow motion in my mind and remember seeing the ball go through the hoop and then immediately looked at the clock. There was no time left on it and wondered when the refs were going to rule it too late. Kent, DT standing out of court when he threw the ball back in goes against the refs and what I was saying about their performance in tight games. KingJames how did the 36ers lose that game themselves? Maybe they should have been in a stronger position in the dying seconds of the game but they had actually won the game if you take away the fact that the refs did not make a call on DT and the bench did not stuff up on the clock. The 36ers lost it on errors beyond their control.

skip, thanks for jogging my memory. I do remember it clearly which was just the right amount of extra time that Mee needed to put in that last 3 pointer. He did nothing else all game but was awarded an extra second at the very end to dig the dagger into every Adelaidean in the Dome. When the score bench was mentioned, I was thinking of score tally, not the clock.

Anon #224163, can you give some more details about this. I must have been in a dream cloud when that happened. My gripe in close games has been the performance of the refs but not familiar with the score bench making such a critical error. If it was a score bench error, surely its in writing.

The NBL site has amended its comments now saying "The Adelaide 36ers have all but booked a playoff berth after triumphing over the Perth Wildcats 107-92". Its not in the bag yet. Skip is right, unlikely but he is right. It would be a disaster if the loss to Cairns 2 weeks ago ends up biting us on the bum.

Skip is right. Adelaide have 3 games left, Cairns have 4. If Adelaide lose their last 3 and Cairns win their last 4, we'll be equal on 14 wins and they have the series over us. Ergo, they go to the playoffs and we don't. Everyone is jumping the gun with "Adelaide secures a playoff berth" comments.

Cairns did have a chance, then they lost later the same evening that the Sixers won.

The finals are set.