Hoops

WNBL 2016/17 Season

Roy Ward's season preview:
http://www.theage.com.au/sport/basketball/wnbl-season-preview-townsville-fire-tipped-for-threepeat-dandenong-rangers-to-challenge-20161006-grwbpk.html



Both journos have the same 4 teams making the finals:

Boti:
1. Perth
2. Townsville
3. Bendigo
4. Dandenong
5. Sydney
6. Canberra
7. Melbourne
8. Adelaide

Roy:
1. Townsville
2. Dandenong
3. Perth
4. Bendigo
5. Canberra
6. Melbourne
7. Sydney
8. Adelaide

Boti's season preview:
http://www.botinagy.com/blog/no-missing-lynx---wnbl-preview/

Just read the preview of Bendigo on the WNBL site and had a giggle. Firstly they listed Heather Oliver as a departure (Spirit had their launch last night and there was Olly front and center holding her number 7 singlet). Then later on they say that the loss of Joy Burke could take its toll. By all accounts Burke was a lovely person and worked hard (and did well in SEABL for Rush) but she didn't contribute much at either end in limited minutes. Had the height but was just too slow, contributed little on offence and often got into foul trouble quite quickly. Had my doubts right from the off how Gabe and Burke were going to work together and couldn't see why you would "spend" an import slot on a backup 5. Nayo looked far better value when I saw Spirit take on Boomers here in the 'Rat the other week. Looked very much like a Griffin clone. Snell wasn't overly flash either so Kelly Wilson looks like the only major loss and if Dietrick is up to the mark then the additions of Nayo, Payne and Karaitiana and improvement from Spencer should make the Spirit much better.

The Pick and Roll - Your ultimate guide to the 2016/17 WNBL season
http://pickandroll.com.au/ultimate-guide-201617-wnbl-season/


Basket Case podcast - Episode "A"
https://www.spreaker.com/user/carolwical/basket-case-1617-ep-a

last year just for example
Button, Penaluna .. Injured nearly all season
Others out for Opals commitments
Few if any were the main players in their teams
Yes all good players in their own right but they have been replaced by equal or better in most cases for this season
If they were all to stay the league would be the same as last year potentially
Now they have been replaced not by lesser players either then how can that in anyway make the league weaker
Oh and if they were to stay the others brought in would not be here most likely

Take Tupeaa as an example has been replaced by Mitchell IMO a far better prospect so how has that been detrimental, yes sad that she's injured but she's been upgraded now to an opals starting PG
Penaluna... When was the last time she actually even played consecutive games with any form of production let alone a season... So how is loosing her going to impact the league...
Just like Bunton ... She hardly took the crt for Rangers last season her loss to Europe won't be missed in that team as far as productivity goes from last season

It's not saying these players are not good but them leaving the league will certainly not cause the demise of s good decent Como infact I bet it will be an even more competitive one than last year

I think the league is in good shape too, btw! It's still a strong league and yes some doors have opened for some talented younger players.
But come on... those 8 players I named who left, and then add to those another couple with Penaluna & Tupaea being lost to injury ... that's a lot of talent to lose. And sorry, but claiming that players like Jarry, Madgen & Ebzery had little impact is just clueless. It's not even arguable how good those 3 are.

I don't disagree that there are some quality imports joining the league, and the unfortunate but predictable demise of SEQ will concentrate the talent we have into 8 teams instead of 9, so that helps offset some of the personnel loss too.

^ totally disagree that the league this year isn't as strong, with the exception of maybe George ( who backed up Batkovic) the rest had little impact on the overall league..
Think the league is in good shape, some teams look to have got some good mobile imports who,could fit nicely into the faster paced WNBL game played here in Australia.

Some good athletic teams this year with plenty of young talent coming through.
Most seem to have recruited well with the exception of maybe Boomers and Sydney, though picking up Mitchell will be good for them

It will come down to team chemistry for many of them as to just who goes the distance

I think Adelaide will do similar to last season and win their fair share of games.

The league isn't as strong as last season due to the higher profile players going to Europe.

If Chris Lucas has them buying in and organised they will surprise plenty.

I would prefer Adelaide finish bottom than not start.

There's actually some good talented young (local) girls in that squad. The challenge would be for them to click as a team and collect a few scalps along the way.

While other teams may have a bucket load of talent, if they underestimate Adelaide, an upset will ensue.

Nayo Raincock-Ekunwe looks to be a very athletic/agressive player, very Kelsey Griffin like for the Spirit.

Good chance to get back into the title mix.

Got a little wager on Canberra as a $21 smokey for the title.

New coach, Tolo, Mansfield, Ruef, decent imports.

Are Paul Maley and Sally Phillips still heading up the WNBL? I haven't seen one article regarding the competition since her initial appointment.

They brushed off any talk of TV deals in her initial appointment press conference

Live streaming with commentary? This should be the minimum.

Unfortunately, unless the NBL take over the running of the WNBL the league will die off and watch women's soccer, netball, AFL and rugby sevens overtake basketball

I'll be putting $200 on the lynx at those odds, to me it's almost guranteed they win the title. They are MUCH better than last year and the rest of the league hasn't drastically improved, maybe even gotten worse.

Oxymoron

[ok-si-mawr-on, -mohr-]

1. a figure of speech by which a locution produces an incongruous, seemingly self-contradictory effect, as in “cruel kindness” or “to make haste slowly.”.




Is the TV deal still imminent?

I don't have OneHD. What are the chances of a stream somewhere for games that they televise?