Hoops

Melbourne’s injury crisis creates off-court drama

Adnam in that side is a joke.

Oh and it does remain a mystery why DD seems to prefer Adnam over Tomlinson...

Yeah it will be interesting seeing how Andersen fits back in. Barlow has changed the look, and is playing well enough defensively such that they don't seem to be missing DA.

I don't think Joey cares about that LV.

As for Melbourne's injuries, while losing Goulding and Blanchfield for a few games has hurt, and Moore's absence probably will too, losing Williams and Andersen has made them a better team with Boone as back-up C and Barlow spreading the floor as PF.

No, the rules are simple, if a bit nonsensical.
A player must play 25% (ie 7 games) to qualify for the finals.
HOWEVER he can only be registered if the team has played LESS than 75%.
So, provided he plays games 22-28, he will qualify for finals, BUT he must be registered before game 21.

So there's a misalignment there, but there's nothing nefarious in MU making sure they comply, by registering him prior to game 21, even though he might not even be in the country.

Paul, the lesson that the basketball community is starting to realise what a wanker he is

Gibbo has been around a while now so up for wear and tear injuries. Doesn't seem to be a fit athletic team either so wonder about their strength, conditioning and recovery programs.

Meanwhile, Gibson is probably gone for season with calf injury. How about those Bullets and their injuries. LK curse.

ISn't it more about interpretations being about rounds vs no of games along with the notification of a player being listed within the number of games and them not even being in the country or cleared with visas as has been a problem in the past as Joey would have experienced with previous season replacements trying to get them signed, cleared and on the bench in time for finals. Sure other coaches too would be questioning it all... I have wondered about some replacements seem to be instantly in and being sourced prior to injury. Thinking about Stockton and he was supposed to be out wiht ongoing back injury and being replaced, then watched a game and there was Stockton.. ??? weird

How do we know they complied?
How do we know anybody complied?

Any nong can make up allegations, if you want to allege wrongdoing the onus is on you to provide proof, not on them to prove their innocence.

And how is it backwards.
Obviously MU know the rules and would have concentrated on getting his registration in before the deadline.
They'd look a bit bloody stupid if they did it the other way around, announced his signing on Thursday, then tried to register a day late.

How do we know Joey was talking about the United?

No rules were broke, whats the problem.

Did I say anything about a contract?

Media announcements are rarely made the same time the contracts are actually signed.

Maybe the issue is, how do we know they complied? How can it be verified? What is the normal process for registering a player? When does the league have to sign off on a registered player, and how did United get the new import registered on Thursday but wait until Friday afternoon to make the signing announcement? That seems a little bit backwards.

Meh. The wording of the rules is a bit silly. To qualify for the finals you must suit up for 25%, ie 7 games, but the way the other rule is written if you have ONLY 25% left you can't be added.
So obviously you need to get him registered before that 21st game, which is what MU supposedly did.
So what's the issue?
For mine, that's not a loophole, almost the opposite. He'll qualify for final if he plays in the last 7 games, but he had to be registered before the last 8. If MU complied, what's the problem?

As for bringing back an injury replacement, firstly the prohibition on re-adding a previous player to the list is a dubious rule, and secondly there has always been an exemption for season-ending injuries, which MU has in abundance.

Not sure what the story is here?

What is it with Twitter wars and winning? First Trump....now the 36ers

Sounds pretty dodgy. I bet the other clubs share Joey Wrights opinion and I wonder if Melbourne make the Finals what the NBL's statement would be?

NZ had to release Tueta when Ili came back from injury and boy would he have been handy to have now

What lesson LV? Since the Kickert incident his team has won 11 of 12 games.

Nothing to report here, no rules were broken.

Wright should spend less time on social media, I would've thought he'd have learnt his lesson after the Kickert incident? Pull your head in Joey.

As the coach of the highest-paid-and-most-dodgy team in NBL history led by Eddie Groves, Wright should perhaps be more consistent in his own thinking before accusing others of inconsistencies!

The NBL could even have a list of injury replacement players such as Bennie Lewis, Lucas Walker (fringe NBL players), SEABL players with 0/little NBL experience (could even allow SEABL imports like Jackson and Kendle types to be on this list), that can be called upon at anytime to fill in, even if a injury happens after the 7 game mark, to allow a club to fill a full sqaud.

This limits manipulation of the rules

To me the rules just need to be simplified

Allow injury replacements to fill in for any injury, ala Bennie Lewis can fill in for anyone injured on the Melbourne roster

Make it so all players have to be on the squad for a set number of games, i.e 7 and get rid of all the other rules and complications, review the number each off season and announce it before the season starts, this is more important for imports i suppose or top notch aussies who may finnish a gig elsewhere

Or even have a date ie. 10th of January, where teams typically will have 7-10 games left and say after this date only DP's and already registered injury replacements can fill in for injuries.

Much simpler to understand and less room for manipulation.

Personally i have no problems with what melbourne have done replacing Moore, they have 7 games left, and he seems to have a similar level resume, so it seems like a genuine injury replacement, they havnt just faked an injury to get a NBA/Euroleague level import in for the run home.

Yes he should be slapped with moderate force on the wrist and fined $3.50

Injury replacements have always been allowed to return if there's a season ending injury.

When it comes to rules, inconsistency and doing things on the fly the NBL has always been a joke.

A strong framework consistently applied is important.

With that said, it's clear the NBL is in a transition phase under LK and part of that does include a fair bit of flexibility and adapting to situations while that strong framework is being created.

I don't think this is a situation where Melbourne have been naughty - the idea of special dispensation is like the "exceptional circumstance" clause of anything to avoid absurdity.

If you've got a club which can't field a 10 player side due to injury, it's a fair call to allow injury replacement. Really, that is an exceptional circumstance.

Plus with 7 games left, I don't think it's in the interest of the league to deprive Melbourne of injury replacements - I don't see it as an anti-competitive use of a loophole.

This is the same Joey Wright that coached the Eddy Groves Bullets team? Yeah poor guy, always being screwed over by other cheating clubs!

To make finals that is

Go back the last few years and look at precedents. Joey has had the same injury woes in years past as had other coaches and the all had to have their replacements players ready for last 8 games sitting on the bench suited up and hit the court even if for a few seconds. There were issues for teams trying to get working visas through as well... So thinking this is why they are mentioning words like dodgy and cheating as they know the process first hand...joey is the only ne with the guts to say it though others are likely thinking it...

As usual the new NBL has so many grey areas just like the salary issues not being released and vague rulings, no wonder the reffing is so bad.... Don't tell anyone anything attitude.... Is the organisation run by a bunch of lawyers ?????

just the normal faking crap and making it up as you go along for so many aspects of this club and team.. With so many injuries as a club I would be looking at why that is occurring... Ankles 'why aren't they strappng?' And what is contributing to it all... Nutrition, recovery, gym, courts....... Etc...

I read Joey's cheat words yesterday and at that stage no mention was made of this debacle.
The reality is that despite all of LK's cash injection the NBL still invents the rules to suit as they have always done.
It will be interesting to see what the NBL does about Joey calling their rule inventions CHEATING.

Dodgy as hell, but not surprising.

Not even in a parallel universe did or would Benny Lewis impact any game in this league.

Perhaps everyone would prefer Melbourne turned up with an undermanned and short team just make the league look a little more ridiculous.

According to the recent email update from the Sixers, Darren Ng could miss most of the remaining games this season,

Talented and in form Adelaide 36ers guard Darren Ng has suffered a season threatening ankle injury. Initial xrays cleared him of bone damage but a further MRI scan revealed significant ligament damage.

Early prognosis is that one of the league's premier perimeter shooters will be sidelined for 8 - 12 weeks. The 36ers coaching staff and management will meet later today to discuss the options available to them.