Hoops

Boti calls for 3 imports rule

Concern l would have about awarding bottom 2 finishers an additional import spot the following season would be 'tanking' by teams unlikely to make finals.

The imports were generally dominant and exciting to watch in the early days (Green, Davis, Loggins etc) due to there being such a large gulf between the imports & local talent levels.

The large Gulf was generally due to a far lower standard across the board in Aussie talent (athletically & skill wise) aswell as a higher standard of available import relative to Aussie talent. This gulf is no longer there, partly due to a significant improvement (and depth) in Aussie talent & athleticism, but also the NBL can’t compete with other bigger money leagues to attract top quality imports, that are a step above the whole league & have the ability to dominate as they did many years ago.

Occasionally we see an import flow through at this level who can dominate games & bring the crowds in, but it is becoming fairly rare & short lived, as they generally leave the NBL & head off to the big $ leagues.

Many years ago, all imports would always be your marquee & go to players & despite a few rare Aussie exceptions, it would generally be unheard of for all imports to not be first choice offence or not playing almost full minutes, let alone coming off the bench. This started changing with significant improvement in Aussie talent (the Gazes and Mahers of the world) & teams could no longer afford/attract “marquee imports” that had the capacity to completely dominate these types of Aussie players. At best now the NBL can only afford to attract 2 imports that are equal to the best available Aussie talent (if you are lucky), which is why the NBL churns through so many imports.

I can’t see how having 3 imports will change this or improve the spectacle, but allowing 1 marquee player could potentially do this (provided it didn’t send any teams broke).

It is clear from watching the Aussie soccer teams in the ACL (in previous years at least!), the benefits a marquee player who is clearly a step above all other players on the field can make (their salary is also far higher than everyone else). It brings a wow factor for the crowd & I’m sure all of the team mates training against the marquee player each day & opposition playing against the marquee player would become better players as a result. This should be highlighted even more so in Basketball given 1 player out of 5 can have more influence on a game.

For example, the only reason the NBL was able to attract Julius Hodge was due to all of the baggage he brought with him, but he did have the skills to dominate & excite (on the court). Imagine if every team could have 1 player with Julius’ ability (with no baggage).

That could potentially be what happens if 1 marquee player outside of the cap is allowed in each team.

The only downside is the richer teams may be able to buy a far better marquee player than say Wollongong, which potentially could advantage one team over another.

BJF, Wilkinson looked fairly Athletic when he dunked on Worthingtons head

Agree Average Okka. Boti has no idea sometimes!

Rhea: Cedric Jackson, Gary Wilkinson

PeterJohn, I fully agree with your comments about why the game isn't as exciting or fun any more because of the handling allowed. I blame the Euro leagues for that.

I'd also add in coaches who are scared to take risks, so they turn the game into a grind-it-out affair where players have to follow what the coach draws up rather than just get out there and use their skills and ENJOY the game.

I'd also add that the quality would improve greatly if there was more money. All the good imports and lots of good Aussies play in Europe cos there's more money there.

Keep it at 2 Imports per team. Spend more time developing talent instead of trying to buy it in.

3 imports in a 40 min game will give most of those 9 aussies bugger all playing time.

A club is better off finding 2 good ones than 3 affordable hacks.

I'm calling for number of refs officiating a game to be culled from three to two. Cuts the awfulness down by a third instantly. Win!