Hoops

So the "New" NBL will be no different

Membership for everything in Perth is absurd - at least the Wildcats have a venue worthy of the expense! Subiaco is an above-ground hole, nib stadium is only just emerging from the stone-age with the latest improvements and the WACA is designed first and foremost as a grueling test of character.

There were supposed to be cheaper memberships when they moved to the Arena, but instead they increased twice. People are still buying in though - not sure what that says.

Interesting article Paulo, I in particular agree with the notion that the NBL has not done enough to assist junior development or to instil a strong and clear pathway for our elite juniors such as other sports here have.

However BA probably has to put its hand up for that one also!

Your point about young players having to step up from our National State league levels to the NBL being a huge gap is very valid and something which needs addressing immediately, but how?

Now we are talking about a potential restructure in the SEABL level or its equivalent, that will need some cooperation and strong leadership across the whole country (Sounds like BA needs to step up).

While we go softly into transition, taking another year or two to make any decent changes, are we just broadening that gap even more?

Is the cooperation there to support and assist Steve in these ideas so they can in fact be implemented, or is he going to be a lone wolf and become frustrated like others before him?

I too see some light at the end of this tunnel, I just hope we don't make the mistake of taking too long to make the 'big picture' changes needed mate...

In today's world of smart TV's and internet speed I would like the NBL to do some more in improving the online product too.

NBL.tv needs a little kick along, maybe looking at NBA league pass and trying to copy some of their marketing strategies would help?

Even better, send an NBL league official (the right one) over the the United States with a brief of 'Hey Uncle Sam, we are the NBL and we want to be your little brother. Can you join with us and show us the way, mate?'

Then come back here with the new succession plan and go for it, no holding back!

I guess I'm thinking more of helping to fix attitudes and opening people up to watching or attending games, as I know a lot of people listen to the radio either on the way to and from or during work, so if you're getting negative attitudes like "basketball is gay, footy is a mans sport!" instead of it being mentioned and being absorbed positively, it won't matter if it's on tv or not... I know that I listen to the radio than watch news reports or even FTA tv or the physical paper... Although I've been a huge advocate for using that free Mx paper that they give out at train stations of an afternoon as much as possible as that should be a huge target market for a team based in the city proper...

Ask 10 people on the street to name one NBL player in 2013 and I would be very surprised if they could name one.

Normally the question is "Is Gaze/Hammer still playing?"

It's not just going to be one thing that does it... Rule changes to make the product more exciting on court is important, opening areas up and allowing athletic players more chances to get inside and dunk, or faster players to get ahead of their opposition without being manhandled, and even things like the jump ball when otherwise you'd have people new to the game going "why is that other team getting the ball?", are key to having the people at the stadium enjoying their experience...

BUT we need to get people TO the games and spending money when they get there... that means marketing the crap out of it and not just through the same old channels that haven't worked in the past... The New New NBL have proven already that they're thinking outside the box so hopefully it won't be the same old thing, but it needs to be an attractive product and then smashed into peoples faces so they can't so easily ignore it... Hell, even getting sports people on the radio on side I feel is important, as usually they're ex-footy/cricket douchebags that have something against basketball, either because they see it as a Tank sport or whatever, but it's even so hard to get a mention of results or upcoming games on sports reports on most radio stations... Flood the people with positive items and things will improve...

There is another way forward, a way to make the sport matter and a way to bring back the fans. It is called MARKETING!

More specifically I will call it marketing the super star, because this is where it has to happen.

Look at any sport you like, kids don't just want the LA Lakres top or the Miami Heat top, or the Hawthorn top do they?

They want the Kobi# singlet, the LeBron# singlet or the Buddy Franklin# jersey.

Before Andrew Bogut played for the Bucks I had no idea they were green/red, but I wanted one of those singlets with his name and number on it because he is a star (and an Aussie).

The South Dragons were cool, they had nice tops and all, but it was the Joey Ingles No.7 singlet that people wanted then, so here is my answer to what must be done to make that difference to the new NBL...

Somehow, we need to make the NBL attractive again, like it was before it became bland, team oriented, defensively minded and all about survival with bad news dominating the headlines and most of the emphasis on the teams and where they are on the ladder etc...

Corey 'Homicide' Williams comes to mind, he was exciting and kids wanted to see him play, while I am not saying bring him back, it is the promotion of exciting super stars that clubs and the league have to get on board with to make the NBL different to the previous model IMO!

If that means introducing the marquee player concept, then fine, but make that player worthy of the super star tag and get that excitement back, or we are probably just re-badging the same old car with the same old engine and performance (boring)...

Agree with Boti entirely about Carfino's incessant 'time out on the floor' calls - they aren't 'on the floor' when they're called from the bench. How can you have played and commentated at the level Carfino's has for so many years and not instinctively know that?

Not financially viable at the moment hoopie, I will explain why IMO...

Geelong - Doesn't control its own venue and has no income from the likes of poker machines, has no canteen and has rival Associations to develop a working relationship with (Still in progress).

Bendigo or Ballarat (compared with) at least have no rival Associaitons and have those inclome steams I mentioned above available to them.

So although Geelong is a bigger regional city, it is not yet prepared for such a move and is at least 5 years away from it IMO!

Sorry, those are the facts...

The next Victorian team should come from Geelong, given the current Knox situation.

The refereeing changes are an important starting place. With more time and as the constraints of the existing media deals are dropped, more opportunities to improve will arise.

HO, I like your point about the Green Bay Packers (also one of my favourite NFL teams). I relate to them because they are a smaller town team compared with some of the larger franchises, similar if you will to the Geelong FC in the AFL.

The marketing and self promotion of a club to develop their fan base through a culture and sense of belonging is huge, so how is this best achieved in the NBL?

You see, coming from Victoria, as an example, I had a high level of interest in the South Dragons. Not just because I hated the Melbourne Tigers (still not keen on them by the way); But also because they were different and offered a rival for me to follow.

What are my options now?? Sorry but interstate teams don't cut it because I can't watch them live as often or relate to them in the same localised sense of belonging (tribalism if you will).

For the NBL to gain ground it needs to somehow find that passionate supporter, then breed a sense of rivalry & tribalism among those passionate supporters for coming generations...

This takes time, but the A-League should stand as an example, they bit the bullet and have created that tribal rivalry here in Victoria by adding the Heart to the market. Yes, they are second to Victory at the moment, but over time they should survive and prosper along with the A-League itself.

The NBL can't do this if it isn't stable, so of course many factors have to be taken into account, but at some point in time (very soon hopefully) the NBL has to bite the bullet and expand to a point where it offers the new and potential fans what they are craving...

At least give us some hope that it is around the corner!

Agree, quite a few changes will take time and rivalry is one of them. Rivalry is something I was very keen to see in previous threads on this topic, but rivarly in its true sense is something built over time.

Yes, it needs to start somewhere and the league needs to look at how this can be initiated (by adding the right new clubs and getting the scheduling right), but the article was more about the product, I thought...

It will be interesting to see what changes are implemented short term and how they will impact on the league overall, notwithstanding the necessity for promotion of medium and longer term strategies that keep punters keen on the future of the NBL...

Just what we need more negative shit from Boti!!

Rules being the rules, I think (and always have thought this) that it is in the interpretation of certain rules that could make a difference, especially in the game style.

The NBA has a game style, they also officiate it in a way that allows that style to flourish, therby fostering growth in the entertainment factor of the NBA.

While I'm not comparing us to the NBA, my point is to consider how we officiate key elements that can make it more entertaining to watch the NBL.

Things like relaxing a bit on the spin move, stop calling every spin a travel, also the two step lay-up on the fly, please give the offence a chance to score with that extra half step and stop pulling them up?!

It's things like these and perhaps calling the holding in the key early to set a tone, while protecting the player going for the dunk to encourage a 'dunk' mentality that will make a difference on the court IMO...

What'cha sayin' HO, they bringin' back thu tight fitting high thigh shorts as well?

I truly hope it is going to change, simply can't go another season like we have been...