Hoops

Wildcats v Breakers, Fri 17

Theres something missing in the Breakers system atm
Perth has both imports firing on all cylinders

> Why isn't anyone in a management capacity asking why Perth
> are leaps and bounds in every aspect above the rest of
> the league?
> Is it solely the Bendat factor or something else?

I think Perth has a lot of advantages over other clubs, many of which would not be possible to replicate.

1. Long history of success --> fairly good general awareness of the team from the heydays
2. Quality stadium close to A) a shitload of people, and B) places to go before & after games
3. The Bendat factor. He was willing to spend money to make money. It was a big call, and so far it has paid great dividends, but it was still a brave/generous call.
4. A cashed-up city. I don't think you could get away with charging this amount for skyboxes, corporate boxes or even the good quality public seating, in too many places. There's no way it would fly in the regional centres. But it's pretty much the only way to stay in the black in a stadium this expensive
5. Good media coverage. NBL came pretty close to falling off the radar of big media here, but I think due to the history of success factor it just managed to maintain traction. The Perth Arena move was then a springboard back to semi-decent coverage, and now the Ennis factor has got outlets almost scrambling for places on the bandwagon. That move really has been gold.

But I think it all ties in together and snowballs itself. And it also doesn't hurt that the Perth Glory kinda suck these days.

I don't think it's the right model for the majority of clubs to try and emulate. Though I do wish the general professionalism was a little more contagious.

I'm trying decide when it was the Breakers threw in the towel on this match. Because there definitely seemed to be a bit of defeatism out there, players performing below their level (Abercrombie, Webster, Corletto, etc). There was a bit of a fightback around the third quarter where they had an short early run and won the quarter by 2, but apart from that, the Breakers just looked like they were going through the motions?

I was surprised given their good play in Melbourne.

that dunk ! wow
cant say much . thanks for the memories Casey

Interesting definition of obsession you have there

Yeah, a hypothetical Cats home grand final this season in a larger Arena would likely end up on that list.

Anyway, breaking high attendance records is not nearly as important in the NBL right now as avoiding the lowest ones on the list in places like Wollongong.

A shame we won't be able to break into the list but all things considered, that's a very minor complaint to have.

23 * Shane Heal 2/5 1/7 0/0 7 1 5 6 2 4 8 0 2 41:03

Best point guard ever comes back with 1 of 7 from 3 Ball.
8 Turnovers
Still played 41 minutes

Maybe it's time for him to retire and take up coaching?

Nathan of Perth: "If Ennis goes over the top of Casey Frank I think we could chalk this season up as a success no matter what happens."
Mystro: "Casey Frank used to have the biggest vert in the NZNBL (by a fair bit from memory but that was pre-Abercrombie etc) and is quite the unit and strong, he would foul real hard before he would let that happen."

I knew as I typed that there was a real good chance of it happening just because I typed that haha but WOW! that was a DUNK!
props to Casey for contesting it and bigger props to Ennis for finishing it!

I was disappointed Johnson and Te Rangi didn't foul out. 5-on-4 would've been interesting to see.

"Casey Frank ‏@Kseefrank 4h
Hmmmm. Might need to a couple more weeks of training before I contest that one..."

I couldn't believe he did it and in the 1st quarter, it was exactly how I envisioned it too.

Like all my Christmases come at once.

Wilkinson was brilliant today, but not enough support. I think the Wildcats had their plans and who to go after to try and get them in early foul trouble, and it all came off without a hitch. Solid hit-out for the Wildcats given Ennis had a very serious down week by his standards.

Nathan of Perth: "If Ennis goes over the top of Casey Frank I think we could chalk this season up as a success no matter what happens."
Mystro: "Casey Frank used to have the biggest vert in the NZNBL (by a fair bit from memory but that was pre-Abercrombie etc) and is quite the unit and strong, he would foul real hard before he would let that happen."



Well then.

Great to get the win.
Game was a pretty boring freethrowfest though. After an impressive 1st quarter (from one team at least) it was bit of a painful grind the rest of the way. Feels wrong to say that about a 97 point effort, but it was so stop-start.

Thanks for the dumb cheap fouls, Mika.

Il still be calling it 2013 for at least another few weeks/months.


Ennis makes Abercrombie look a bit ordinary. Abo just cant get anything done and looks like he is travelling every play

1977 - 2014

R.I.P Casey Frank

1977 - 2013

OMG ENNIS!!!!

well done to Perth, that is pretty impressive.

the Breakers ticket sales have been pretty good considering you don't have to purchase a ticket to the game to watch it live.
no other NBL franchises ticket sales are up against a live broadcast every single home game.
the australian broadcasters also don't have to worry about any of the commentary crew being required to play in case of injuries either.

Rugby and basketball aren't even on at the same time.

Perth Glory are also playing tonight. That's significantly more relevant.

Oh Pikachu, I really don't know whether to laugh or cry sometimes.

If you want to run it down, you could always point to the cricket; they got 20,000 yesterday, clearly we need to pull up our socks and improve.

Wildcats get crowds because the Western Force is no good, Ennis only dunks because he's tall, and Te Rangi would be more athletic than Ennis if only politics didn't get in the way. Oh and Australia only plays rugby and basketball.

Do you have any more pearls of wisdom for us?

not like perth has a strong rugby team to go watch? looks like the only sport their good at

Jervis = local legend

perth by 5

This is going to fall short of a sell-out unless the game-day walkups are extensive.

Vukona is key. 3 fouls by half time would see Perth win by 30. If he can stay out of foul trouble Perth will only win by 10. :)

Bad for the game, good for the season, they were wrong to rush him back.

and a cloud of pot smoke

Te Rangi would athletically outperform Ennis except for politics getting in the way?

Te Rangi has ups . trust me
he just been playing a role for the breakers
if they let him him play his natural game shit happens
but we cant expect to see this? why?
politics . abercrombie is a slashing small forward that is handy from range . but he cant post up
Ennis plays american ball
knows how to get buckets
its all about the buckets and getn $$$$$$$$

Good lord

Great athlete my arse. The guy just has a natural advantage being 6'7 tall. Are his dunks really any better than similar sized players like Wortho, Holmes or Petrie?

Wait what has Te Rangi done now ? Has it affected his cheaper than chips Dream Team score of about $47k... Some rookie of the year we have there!

Can't wait for the game, Townsville game was a cracker and it was a bit of a shame that the second quarter was such a blow out (19 points or so) as the crowd was really set to explode... So with the 4th level opened up hopefully more come in and enjoy the most bitter rivalry the NBL currently possesses (with respect to reptile rumble that lost its gusto when Cairns was fighting for the Crocs survival).

Great work by Marvin, Bendat and all involved... Breakers auctioning off their jerseys too?

Ennis dunking over Frank and Abercrombie would blow the roof off the arena... It probably has as much probability too but one can only hope and make no mistake Ennis is a hell of an athlete and he is devastatingly quick... His leap isn't that bad surely!

I think the moment you include "or te rangi" you can just go ahead and excuse yourself as well. :)

please excuse yourself . ennis dunks because of his height
he doesnt get up and above like abercrombie or te rangi
and if he was to jam over frank itll be from a tip in

Oh, it wouldn't be easy, but then it wouldn't make the season a success all by itself if it was easy.

But he did throw down on Wilkinson and that's not the easiest thing to manage in the NBL either.

Frank took to the court like a duck to water, so will be interesting to see how he goes here. Probably just as well the league has (mostly) moved on from its little jail-ball era.

Casey Frank used to have the biggest vert in the NZNBL (by a fair bit from memory but that was pre-Abercrombie etc) and is quite the unit and strong, he would foul real hard before he would let that happen.

If Ennis goes over the top of Casey Frank I think we could chalk this season up as a success no matter what happens.

Should be a great game.

Cats auctioning off the players' signed, game-worn jerseys after this one also for the bushfire appeal.

To bid:
http://t.co/kBqkxbqeTs

^ Whichever three crowd members fit the available ref shirts best.

At times like this we must heed the words of the great Mr Bendat.
It's not how you play the game, it's how you win, and you must win, and you must win.