Hoops

Is the NBL in trouble? (Mini spoiler alert)

First of all we have a coach sacked (woolpert) and STILL no mention of it on the MBL official website. That is not good enough.

I'm not sure what iinet bring to NBL but maybe they should teach them about the Internet, 20 articles a week if we are lucky and that includes pre-game and post-game write ups. I'm not criticizing the content but want a lot more.

Maybe special features on our imports and how they have settled in down here, where are they now? And more interviews with players/coaches would be a good start.

I think Ben Madgen is an out and out legend in the making, he plays his guts out every game and amazes us with his work ethic, leadership and desire. He would make a terrific poster child for the NBL and I'd love to see him on national broadcasts (I may support Wildcats and live in Perth) and I wouldn't begrudge him that honour and I think getting our players on fishing shows or celebrity shows could help too if for only a short time and hopefully NBL make most of this and run with it. I'm thinking a spot on Dancing with the stars for example (like Andrew Gaze did).

I would love more interaction between NBL and WNBL especially cities that have a representative of both with double headers and NBL.tv should include WNBL too.

Basketball gets lots of government funding through AIS and I think if we could include an AIS team coming from Canberra with government backing then I think that would be great, of course government funding can be fickle so it's a risk and the import situation is a concern, do you allow imports in at the detriment of a youths on court development?

Finally my biggest gripe with the NBL/BA is they really look from my perspective to have no money and no ability to help a team that's in trouble and dare I say it, it comes across like Perth Wildcats have more money than NBL/BA do. I know that's completely wrong but NBL/BA seem to sit on their hands so much and are scared to make a financial blunder that they seem too afraid to act on a good thing. I love the NBL but so often I feel sad thinking about the state it's in.

Oh and whoever thinks the NBA style is better is kidding themselves, why do we want to watch a player have 20 shots from the free throw a game because the opposition is too afraid of his speed and strength? Only to be helped out by the refs!
I would love to see our players get to the free throw line more as 4 free throws for a half is way too few but it keeps the scoreboard ticking over and I think we all want to see higher scoring games with more dunks and 3s and less missing lay ups.

Thanks for reading

isaac-maybe it isnt dire at the moment and maybe injuries etc played a role in it but when teams (other then money teams)cant afford to replace injured players then there is a risk.

i have noticed increasingly in the nbl,maybe not for whole games but definately whole quarters of very,very ordinary basketball.

enjoy your problem, thanks for playing.

^ still crying over an opinion you didn't agree with?

I'm not sure if it's 6ers being bottom or near bottom of the ladder for a number of years, Marty's game plan which I found same shit different game most games or the domination of NZ and Perth that's killed my passion somewhat for the game. I used to go to every home game, watch every game I could on TV no matter who was playing and talk about basketball 24/7 now i can't even be bothered watching this grand final series and only watched the Perth Wollongong semi final game 2because i was hoping Wollongong could muster a small miracle and make it through. I even found it hard to drag myself to the last few home games but i did because i am a true supporter who will still get sucked into renewing my season tickets because i know it has to get better someday.

For starters

- Better grassroots development and marketing, not enough of the junior player base (and their families) go to NBL games
- Smart marketing as per above - they have a best in category example being set by NBA across video and social platforms (NBL is not NBA I know but a template of content marketing is there to be adapted and leveraged)
- Link WNBL and NBL more with double headers and joint promotions. One of basketballs best assets is its unisex nature (bigger crowds, families)
- Polish the on court product to what the "like basketball" (as opposed to the love/die hard audience) market want. If this means 48 minute games and season timing changes, do it

Paul while WC is already locked in and success important what I am talking about would be like the ANZAC test in league locked in every year. Best of 3 series with NZ it's all about sports profile and consistency.

If you look at basketball as a brand with the NBL as part of that brand one thing that is lacking are regular international series. We have a truly international sport yet the only time boomers seem to play is lead up games to WC or Olympics. We need regular series with NZ and other Asian teams to lift sport profile. I understand that all players will not be available all the time but soccer manages it with consistent games with what players are available. I guess my point is we need consistency to know there will be a NZ series every year around the same time. Will this help the Nbl , no doubt as all exposure is good.
I believe it is an under utilised aspect of our game.

"Going back to 40minutes has killed off the in game storylines as there is not enough time for teams to get down and potentially make dramatic come backs etc"

You didn't watch any of the Breakers games in the first half of the season?

2 most successful teams off the court had the most success on the court and will both fill their stadiums for the finals.

Boring to watch? Its almost the most PURE brand of Basketball played in the world.........
The NBA is an entertainment league and they admit that.
NCAA ball has some ridiculous rules.

So basically, Australia and most of Europe has the most PURE brand of Basketball around the world.

Teams play defense.

I also see an on-the-court problem.

NZ and Perth were so far ahead of teams this year it got a bit ridiculous.

Some competition would be advantageous to the product IMO.

NZ had a win % of 85 (Unbelievable 24-4)

Perth had a win % of 78 (22-6)

3rd place team, which was Wollongong, had a 46 % win percentage.

I am actually glad the NBL isn't rushing in getting a Brisbane team/2nd Melb team back.

Last thing you want is for those teams to come back, only to get into financial trouble and fold a few years later, just as South Melb. did.

Man, the South Melb. thing makes me really sad looking back. Because they were such a great brand, and those rival games against the Tigers were awesome in front of 10k people.

I think a supporter of any NBL team would be aware of the finals series: there just aren't that many of them.

Disagree that the product is boring to watch, but it's definitely not optimal for the casual viewer.

For all the talk from Kristina Keneally regarding the progression of the NBL over the past few years, the 'NBL brand' appears (in my opinion) to be as weak as ever - even taking into account Perth and NZ.

Real, sustainable progression as a league will take sounds leadership and many, many years.