Hoops

Your NBL rankings at this stage

"2) Illawarra - the best coach in the comp and the talent on the team will be hard for them not to be up there"

doesn't Bevo have the same amount of Championships as Joey Wright, Trevor Gleeson and Dean Vickerman?

I think we will see last season top 4 pretty much up there again. The top 3 especially have made minimal changes or upgraded their rosters.

I expect 36ers, Kings, Hawks and United to fight it out for 3rd-7th. Its hard to pick the order of these teams as they have all had significant changes. United and Hawks both with new coached. They all have the talent to be in the top 4 but until we see how they gel and play its a case of "looks great on paper"

I don't think Crocs have upgraded their team, if anything they have downgraded and will be cellar dwellers for most the season.

Ill have a crack at the rankings but I'm pretty sure it'll look a lot different by end of February 2016 lol

Breakers
Perth
Cairns
Hawks
United
36ers
Kings
Crocs

Garlepp is indeed a poor rebounder - I don't know about worst rebounding starting 4 in the competition, but it'd be close. He's really a tweener - not strong enough to be a factor on the glass, and not quite quick enough to guard the perimeter.

Brandt & Garlepp didn't work because Brandt isn't a great rebounder at this stage of his career either. I'm thinking Khazzouh and Childress should be enough to cover up his weakness in this area.

I think Sydney for top, banking on the competition amongst Caddee and Markovic bringing out the absolute best in both and leading the way for the team... If they aren't #1 then I think they could easily be #5 if they rely on Garlepp for rebounds... Is he the worst starting power forward in league history for rebounds/game?

2. Cairns, Gliddon is a superstar and deserves far more plaudits and he will only improve this season. Hopefully Burston stats injury free again and we can see internal competition between the 4 bugs.

3. Perth, expecting them to start the season well as other teams lack chemistry early on but fade out late. Would still love to see McCarron in a Wildcats jersey this season.

4. Hawks, will be scary good come playoff time (think 36ers last season and their run to the playoffs) and I think Ogilvy will be a true MVP contender and my early pick.

5. Breakers, not sure why I have them down here but I just think other teams will be better... I wonder if we will have another C. Jackson that air balls free throws?

6. United, really unimpressed by this team and frankly would be a bit surprised to see them do much of anything this year. Blanchfield is an awesome player but I can't see his game develop with this new team.

7. Townsville, Most Improved Player Clint Steindl... Either he gets this award and they play the role of the great underdog that knocks off better teams or they get absolutely smashed all year!

8. 36ers, such an uninspired roster and I think the only thing that interests me here is Boti trying to put a positive spin on another loss

So far it seem consensus is the wooden spoon is the Crocs to lose with the Sixers not far behind

4 titles in 5 seasons, NZ deserve to be favourites.

Illawarra have signed well in offseason and deserve to be in the conversation.

Perth have retained their talented core and added a couple of pieces, if they pan out they'll be in the conversation also.

Sydney have retained Childress and added Khazzouh & Markovic. Should be around the top half of the comp.

Cairns, Adelaide, Melbourne and Townsville will have their work cut out for them but have every chance of spoiling one of the above Teams chances of making the top 4.

With Motum gone, the Sixers need an import about 6'11" who gets fed raw meat