Hoops

SBL returns with West Coast Classic

Rankings after Round 2:

1. Wolves (3-0)
Last Week's Ranking: 1st
Cougars challenged them before blowing away the undermanned Buccs on Sunday. Missed Cummings through injury against Gero and will need him against a tough Senators line-up this week.

2. Lightning (3-0)
Last Week's Ranking: 2nd
Big win over the Hawks and without Jay Bowie. Cougars on the road this Saturday is another tough match-up. Could go to first in the rankings with a Wolves loss.

3. Senators (2-1)
Last Week's Ranking: 3rd
Have won their last two games by a combined 120 points but championship credentials on the line this weekend against the Wolves.

4. Hawks (3-1)
Last Week's Ranking: 4th
Bounced back with a big win over the Redbacks after going down to the Lightning the night before. Scheduled for their third double-header in a row this weekend.

5. Flames (3-0)
Last Week's Ranking: 6th
A solid 3-0 start to the season. Heavily reliant on their starters and a good test this week in Kalgoorlie against the Giants.

6. Tigers (2-1)
Last Week's Ranking: 7th
Not convinced they are a top-4 team, and this will be put to the test against the Hawks on Friday night.

7. Redbacks (2-2)
Last Week's Ranking: 5th
Big sliders in the rankings and rumours on internal rumblings. Should be doing better with their line-up and this weekend's double-header should tell us where they are.

8. Cougars (0-3)
Last Week's Ranking: 8th
Have started the WCC with three losses but have had some tough match-ups. And no easier this week against the Lightning.

9. Giants (1-2)
Last Week's Ranking: 12th
Solid win over the Suns on Saturday. Slightly tougher this week against the Flames but could notch their second in a row.

10. Buccaneers (1-3)
Last Week's Ranking: 9th
Liam Hunt's loss is significant and takes away their leading scorer and rebounder. And now have their third straight away double-header this weekend, before a run of six home games.

11. Eagles (1-2)
Last Week's Ranking: 10th
After a solid round one, suffered a surprise loss to the Magic. A Redbacks/Slammers double this week should net them at least one win.

12. Eastern Suns (0-3)
Last Week's Ranking: 11th
Still without a win following their loss up in Kalgoorlie. To make things worse, they have both of last year's Grand Finalists this weekend.

13. Magic (1-3)
Last Week's Ranking: 14th
Showing signs of life with a close loss to the Tigers followed by a win over East Perth. Can they take it to the Hawks this Saturday?

14. Slammers (1-2)
Last Week's Ranking: 13th
Suffered a massive loss to the Senators. Can they bounce back against East Perth as it could be their last opportunity for another win this season.

HBF Arena to get upgrades.

Wolfpack had a meet and greet plus photo op with Premier Mark McGowan today. Are we getting funding?

I went to the Hawks vs Redbacks games last night... CJ makes Lako look like a master coach

Unfortunately trying to repair the damage done by Lako.
Redbacks more of a joke if they kept him

Dongara? Wow.

Of there are no courts to play on - where do these so called players play?

Annonn. What have I said that is so wrong? Joondalup juniors play at at least two venues I know of. Redbacks play at three. Hawks play at two or three. Eagles play at two or more. etc etc. And Joondalup draw juniors from Padbury to Dongara or there abouts. Perhaps it's you that has no fucking idea.

Yeah, the Wolves hate barometer reading is at an all-time low. It's just not the same.

Rankings after Round 1:

1. Wolves
Roberts and Cummings are huge additions, and the Wolves have plenty of depth when you add their veterans and their up-and-comers.

2. Lightning
Deep team with at least one import (Bowie), Isenbarger didn't play on the weekend, but if he does then they go to no.1.

3. Senators
Hiccup against the Hawks first-up, but their starting-5 is as good as any going around with an import and four current or ex-NBL Aussies.

4. Hawks
Apart from Purser, no superstars but got the job done against Warwick. Giants gave them a fright yesterday but their young players are a good crop.

5. Redbacks
Have a good core (Nelson, Wagner, Jackson, Gattorna, Tawhiti) and an import (White), and will rank higher if Carlwell plays.

6. Flames
Plenty of firepower with Hussey, Godfrey and the Beards, which was the difference against the Cougars.

7. Tigers
Good balance between shooters and bigs. Scott should be getting 25ppg, and will when his percentages go up.

8. Cougars
Some warning signs when Seva Chan is your leading scorer, in front of Field and Travers.

9. Buccaneers
Split the double-header but will struggle against guard-heavy teams.

10. Eagles
Surprise packet of the weekend but can they keep up the momentum.

11. Eastern Suns
Disappointment of the weekend. Can they gather some momentum? Where was Timms?

12. Giants
Smashed by Senators but bounced back with a close loss to Hawks. Lacking scorers.

13. Slammers
Already have bragging rights over the Magic but will find things different against Flames and Senators this week.

14. Magic
Should not have lost to the Slammers but were a lot better against the Redbacks.

Richard ked you obviously have no idea

Annonn. Because they have the biggest population draw. They, like many other clubs, use facilities available to them in many different suburbs rec centres etc.

first games are tomorrow ...
anybody with team by team analysis please?

Why should they be the biggest. All clubs are limited by how many courts they can access. You can't fill courts you dont have.

Does anyone KNOW how many teams Joondalup have in their junior comps? Should be the biggest but ...

Who are the favs for both men and women this year guys?

its great to have basketball back!

WABL got off to a flyer last weekend. Great to see so many kids, coaches, officials, volunteers and parents back around it

WCC to get underway this weekend with a ton of basketball to go see. so many double headers! the hard part will be choosing which games to watch

I don't get it. So they spend a heap on the sbl because they have so much money.

But their rent is hugely expensive…???

Their comps are no bigger than most other clubs - the argument makes no sense

If your club is paying someone. They have been bluffed by a player. Most players understand the circumstances - some are showing their true colours right now

All clubs not paying... LOL

You'll find literally all clubs will not be paying any players. they've all taken a monumental hit from COVID.

Wolfpack tap tap tap.....Wolfpack tap tap tap.....

Wolves not spending a cent this year. Ask the players themselves

Live streaming?

Agreed that it's a Mickey Mouse competition but the mentality is that after three straight chokes and finally replacing the cause of it you can understand the eagerness to win something. Plus what else do you do with all that money in the association's coffers, got to spend it on something. AHWOO!

any big names playing in the classic, few surprise names popping up in the waratah league

Cause they aren’t getting their $100 for a game

This is great. Good on WA for getting things rolling.

Will other states follow?

Lightning will field the same team as regular SBL. Bowie and Isenbarger + Vigor

Surely some clubs won't be looking to spend up big for basically a domestic comp. Those that have imports playing will probably be having those imports that they see as options for 2021.

I just spoke to one of the head coaches tonight. It is open to restricted players if the clubs are willing to pay them. There are a few still in WA who are trying to get residency.

Some of the clubs are also talking to Wildcats players trying to recruit them.

Any source on that? And how are we defining "WA resident"? That could potentially include any imports who happened to be living here.

The West says Shaun Bruce wants to play in the West COast thingy

Why would he want to come back as an assistant?

So this is a shorter SBL season?

So this is a shorter SBL season?

This isn't even SBL, much less NBL1. I wouldn't expect things to be a higher standard than normal.

Obviously someone else could then answer the question if they have further info. Seems reasonable for someone with at least some relevant info to post it as a placeholder until there's confirmation.

SBL games aren't usually live streamed, outside of one or two clubs.

On the radio this morning, crocs expected to announce Shawn Dennis as new crocs coach. Nice one, if true!