Hoops

Kings owner slams NBL, Wildcats over Grand final decision

"There is always a need to balance business decisions and transparency to the public, but it continues to be a question, that’s been highlighted again in this latest series of events. There’s a need for greater transparency on impactful decisions, especially when it relates to outcomes from behind-the-scenes discussions, that will drive better accountability and trust from all parties."

NBL Grand Final fallout: On transparency, Rule 34 and why speed was critical, especially with coronavirus threat

Dear NBL,

Please schedule game 1 of the season to be Sydney playing in Perth, unfurl the banner and really promote the hell out of the game and make the average punter feel like there was unfinished business.

Thank you for your time,

Perth has 3 American players too.

The afl don’t have any imports that want to get back to America, it not the same.

It’s been great publicity for the nbl and next season Perth v Sydney is going to be fantastic. No such thing as bad publicity was the nfl catch cry. Times have changed but this has got excitement and sensationalism written all over it.

Why was finishing the series untenable? The AFL with all their experts and dialogue with government obviously think playing is tenable and their game is just a tad more physical.

"Perth should accept their championship and stop being so arrogant."

Maybe the Kings should start us off and cut back on the arrogance themselves.

Everyone thought the kings would lose game two but they didn’t, it’s all assumptions.

Perth should accept their championship and stop being so arrogant.

i am a Kings supporter, BUT PERTH ARE THE CHAMPIONS!

PERTH led 2/1 in the series , and The Kings decided not to come out for game 4!!!

Season games do not count. Minor premiers are NOT always championship winners.

PERTH were the BEST in the FINALS which is where the championship is decided.

WELL DONE PERF

The NBL made the right decision, so if they had to reneg on a so-called "handshake agreement" then so be it. What a sore loser.

This also suggests Smith only cared about his players' welfare enough to withdraw from the series because he believe it would be declared a non-result - however delusional this belief may be.

I didn't think I could dislike the Kings more than I already had this season...

Smart, can't choke if you quit first.

Hand shake deals, lmao. Written contracts are hardly worth anything in the sports industry now.

Afl and nrl are Australian sports, they don’t have imports that want to get home. Smith actually did the right thing by his imports letting them go but would have looked a lot better if they had played the series out with his Australian players or any import that wished to stay. They would have got beat but it would have been an honourable loss, not shit fight it is now.

Smith is a good owner, I hope he stays on and has success, even the best business men take time to get success, it’s not normally instant. He is brash but he’s good for the league and we need more like him.

It’s all been great publicity for the league, onwards and upwards.

Congratulations Perth, I still you are all wankers.

These are weird and different times, finishing the full series would have been untenable.

Given the circumstances Perth being up 2-1 going back to Perth, either neither win, or Perth wins.

Sydney are pretty a shitty and petulant organisation to be reacting like this, realistically they weren't deprived anything given it was either Perth or nobody.

"Sorry Paul you'll have to speak up ...we can't hear you over the sound of our 10 banners flapping in the breeze."

Even as a Kings fan that made me smile. Well played sir.

Wish Casper had shown up... but there ya go.

I think there is something wrong with the Kings owner.

At the presser they literally said "it couldn't matter less to us in the scheme of things the competition'.

Once LK called Smith, Smith tweeted that he expressed no disappointment at the decision of the NBL.

https://twitter.com/psmithtse/status/1240498102596845568

Nekt minute...accusations of treachery and deal breaking.

Is there a new strain of the Corona Virus that alters one's gender as well?

Sydney Queens with all the drama they've created

Bit of an anticlimax if you're Perth players? You legit didn't get to win the competition because it was cancelled. I've won a GF before because the other team forfeited and it felt a bit weird being give the trophy.

Based on the head-to-head throughout the year you could argue that they deserve it but the reality is that they didn't win it and Sydney didn't lose it because the series was best of 5.

I'm a Kings fan but Smith is a bit halfcocked here. Just because his own company believes one interpretation should be applied to the virus doesn't mean everyone should agree to interpret it that way. Clearly the NBL don't and they're the only group that matter.

The NBL have pretended throughout this that they care about the players. They don't, they want revenue and this decision proves it, letting teams choose whether to play or not and then penalising a team when they choose not to. If they had said to Sydney "if you choose not to play Perth will be named champions" then the Kings may have played after all but I doubt that was said.

Paul Smith, despite the money, is the worst owner in NBL history.

Smith is just making sure Wildcats fans enjoy it even more.

It's definitely working! #10

Why does he even care? It's not like it's cost his team anything.

And here we go. Local basketball is back with a vengence and I’ll get this ship cast off and out to sea to face giant squid, mines, pirates and icebergs. I trust everyone’s basketball labido is raging and ready for BSA to unshackle the chastity belt of the off season. I’ll get R1 off to a start then see how we go because I can't guarantee a weekly windup.

South v North @ the Southern Tin Shed
Women: North have been strong for a while now and South’s star is on the rise. The Rockettes would have pencilled this one in for an easy W last year, but the Pantheresses will be in the hunt early with only faith in themselves holding them back. Not quite enough though tonight as Rockettes hold back a team that will get deadlier as the season goes on.
Men: Why do these teams have to be so clean cut? It’s so hard to stir them up when both teams look like members of boy bands. Norf to win this arm wrestle.

Norwood v Southern @ MARS
Women: Massive player drain at Southern between seasons will test them tonight against one of the League’s power teams. Norwood Lightning could get out of second gear if they want to, but it’s only round 1.
Men: Brad’s boys look set to double the pain for the Tigers. You would think they would offer them a panadol if they were nice guys. Norwood to give a lot of teams headaches, starting from tonight.

Sturt v Centrals @ Pasadena Manor
Women: This game looked a lot more interesting a month ago. Sturt with a young team and Centrals with more pre-season worries than Rolf Harris at a Jamboree. But AJ knows how to make silk purses and so this will still be a close game. Sturt will not disappoint their mummies at home and will celebrate with a shopping trip to Burnside Village.
Men: Sturt are always hard to beat at home, as Centrals would know. Even with Kyle on fire, it’s hard to tip against Sturt. I see Sturt have picked up a St Marks boy – it’s rare to see them outside their natural habitat of the Oxford. Sturt to start the season off with a win.

Woodville v Eastern @ St Clair Nissan Hut
Women: Woodville have recruited well and look considerably stronger this year. I am particularly impressed and that’s just looking at their head shots. The Eastern Madgens are always strong. Will Woodville be able to work as a team and shut down Tess, or will Tess chalk up some early MVP points. I am leaning towards the Mavs stealing an early one.
Men: Great to see a Woodville legend in Darren Ng back in the green and gold. All they need to do now is get Ricey back on the pine. Can someone lend the Mavs a camera though? Their headshots are awkward to say the least…. Woodville by plenty at home.

West v Forestville @ Port Adelaide
Women: A month ago, the only interest in this game was whether Carla would be put on the teamsheet. Sheesh. This is the GOTR with the recent additions to the Bearcats. This will be a tough, tough game and princesses best not take court. Sorry Eagles fans, don’t expect milk in your skinny decaf-macchiato with a twist of lemon coffee tonight. West to scratch out a hard fought surprise win.
Men: There are some things Paul Bell does well and recruiting Sixers players is one of those things. I don’t think they are playing yet, but West are always hard to smack around on the pine (or the replica pine) at the Port. The Eagles have a real fight on their hands tonight and only their long range bombs to be the difference tonight. Eagles to be like North Korea and rain fire from outside the arc to get the win.