Hoops

The NBL is stagnant

Doesn't rugby reward high scoring? Give an extra competition point for scoring 100, and maybe even take one off for less than 70.

Yeah, I miss the 90s too. Maybe it's because they knew how to shoot in those days, in a free-flowing game. I might be wrong, but I don't think Lindsay Gaze needed a play-board at every stoppage. Take them away from the coaches and I bet they'd feel naked. Too much X's and O's takes away the imagination. Maybe THAT'S why I don't like the current game - not enough imagination. Please come back, Goulding. Sigh.

Paul - dont disagree at all. Makes better sense than an allstar team.

No disagreement their either Bear, I think you have to walk before you run though. NBA haven't shown much interest in bringing a game to Oz, but they seem to understand the level of interest here is high (e.g. we're the highest per capita subscribers to league pass).

Even if it was a NBL allstars team Vs any NBA team pre-season squad, that would be real interesting.

Agree, state comps in winter are doing very well, don't want to mess with them.

The NBL has got to do something with the summer season and using the NBA as big brother, holding hands, getting into bed with them, whatever it takes we need to consider...

Speed 44 I couldn't agree more. I miss the NBL of the 90s too!

While I still am interested in the NBL and still watch the One/Ten games when I can, my interest has waned quite a bit since the turn of the century.

Now this is just my case, but wondering if anyone else feels the same. I find that I have lost interest in my local team (36ers) as there doesn't seem to be an SA identity to the team anymore. In the glory/big crowd years of the Sixers, when I had season tix every year, the team had a real local feel. You had McKay, Ninnis, Maher, Blakemore, Wheeler etc. Even the imports back then like Davis and then Mee and Brooks connected locally.

Don't get me wrong, I understand that it is difficult for pro sports to be "local" like that now, but I really think it was part of the appeal back then. Not just for the Sixers but for the other successful clubs too (Tigers with Gaze and Copes etc, Wildcats with Vlahov and Grace, Crawford and Fisher and TT etc).

The imports come and go now, it's hard to become invested in them as fans. You like watching them, but they don't have that long-time built up cache like Davis or Crawford or Loggins had.

The chopping and changing of players in teams every season really makes it difficult for the casual fan to keep in touch. I wonder how many casual Adelaide fans could name 3 current players. I think not many. In the 90s, that wasn't the case.

I know this can't be fixed now, it's not like we can implement a State Of Origin type league. I know the AFL is barely a "local" type of league now, but it has a huge following which allows it to operate that way. The NBL has never had that type of following, so cashing in on the local aspect I think helped at one stage to get some more locals out to games.

Geez that's a rambling, TL;DR post, but I hope you get what I'm saying. It's just my view as to one of the reasons (out of many) that I think the league has slipped away.

haha Bear you're all good mate.

I think having the state comps in winter works.

With the growth of the NRL and AFL over the last 10 years, i don't think we should be going on data from the 90's. I think 'offering something different' works for a very small % of the community. The sports nuts that attend AFL/NRL games with disposable income are the people you want to target. Having some synergies across football and basketball is an excellent idea, something which i believe the A-League has done/doing.

ch10 had female courtside reporters for 2 games, but now it's carfino

Thanks @Libertine, yes that idea has been mooted before, I think attracting money and players or in some way connecting with the NBA would be awesome for the NBL, I hope it happens and it works, for sure...

@MACDUB, try another idea, one that can actually be implemented, that's my thought, zones are in the rules and part of the game...

The problem there is with coaches who need some more inventiveness to counter a zone defense IMHO.

In terms of the relative lack of excitement in game.

My theory = this isn't helped by zone defences.

It slows down the game and bores me to death. Pass pass pass..bad shot (repeat x 100).

Ban zone defence..make teams play man on man. Get 1 on 1 action and speed.

Thoughts?

At the risk of King Podge's head exploding, I don't think the NBL can change back to winter season now, it has gone too far and is committed to summer now IMO.

However, basketball at SEABL level and all other major junior competitions are in winter season.

There is an argument there for the NBL to align with these as the major competition during winter, but they may not have the game times available that they want.

This could be as big a problem as anything else you have mentioned, however no one attending games isn't correct, they came in droves years ago during winter because basketball offered something the AFL/NRL didn't...

I swear if i hear the 'summer' argument again my head will explode.

Competing with the NRL, the AFL and Super Rugby - IS. NOT. A. GOOD. IDEA.

1) you wont get anyone coming to games
2) corp sponsorship? why would i sponsor a basketball team when i can get my logo of a footy jumper?
3) Do you really think players (esp older players) would use the entirety of their off season to play in another league? instead of rehabbing/training etc
4) The A-League isn't half as popular as it's gov handouts and the media make it seem. Even if it wasn't it's still SIGNIFICANTLY less of an issue than the combined power of AFL/NRL.

stagnant, in promotion of the game YES.

Without good FTA coverage it will remain stagnant.

Rarely have i have heard "passing too much" is bad!

Coaches are judged on winning, not playing "attractive " basketball. If you want to keep your job, WIN. Winning cultures are always criticized by people not supporting that club. Mostly, people are happy if their team is winning, regardless of the "style."

what Venom said.

3 weeks into the season.... i hardly think it's time for the obituary just yet....

With the exception of about 3 games (i've watched them all), i'd say the refs have been reasonable, if somewhat inconsistent compared to pre-season.

Bwahahaha - biggest G up I have ever read.

Yes we all agree the refing needs to be more consistent - nothing new.

1. Teams pass the ball too much ?? WTF - So by definition the San Antonio Spurs with the smoothest ball movement and the extra pass are stagnant ? Give yourself an uppercut x 1. I mean shit, watching United brick the 3 ball 30+ times for 2 games was riveting and they won those games didn't they ? Oh Breakers 1 pass bricking it was entertaining and oh they won that to didn't they v United ?

2. Drive and kick to the open man to make it more exciting ? Its a standard fare play for any PG worth their salt the world over - Give yourself an uppercut x 2.

3. There is merit in the defensive 3 second rule to open the key for dunks etc. How not having it makes the NBL stagnant I cant see. Good Offence ie. passing and off the ball movement (shock horror) will pull the defenders out of the key anyway. A game of lazy D is boring as bat shit - or is Damian Martin stagnant ?

4. What a load of generalised codswallop about Cairns zone D. its actually a modified zone D that transitions to man on man when required - highly effective, adaptable but also requires full team buy in to make it work all the time. Perth have played variations of it previously.

Uppercut again

5. Screens are an offensive technique not a defensive technique - contact is all part of the screen so give examples of illegal screens from Cairns please. Body Contact is also part of the game even in the NBA.

6. So your saying United selected players for low contact/fast trans O ? bwahahahaha Worthington is mister contact etc Cairns have killed other teams with fast points from turn overs. This last comment makes no sense - just like this thread.