Congratulations to the ‘Statman’! Our Hops NBL Trivia Winner!
The fourth winner of INSIDE THE GAME’S ‘Hops NBL Trivia Competition’ is Mark Slocombe, AKA ‘The Statman’!
Congrats Mark, I’m sure it wasn’t too difficult. Your shoes are in the mail.
We appreciate all the hard work and sacrifices over the years that you’ve made towards the betterment of the game!
Stay strong, good luck and thanks for your support.
Here are the questions and correct answers Mark submitted;
1) Who was the first Australian to be drafted into the NBA!
Eddie Palubinskas: Pick 7 in round 4 by the Atlanta Hawks in 1974
2) Which Australian player recorded the highest scoring debut in the NBL?
Joe Ingles: 29 points for the South Dragons at the New Zealand Breakers
3) Who was the only NBL MVP that was not named a member of the All-Star First Team in the same season?
Jumpin’ Joe Hurst in 1988
See ya next week Ballers,
D.U.B.
My Two Cents: “CROCODILE DUN-DEEL!”
Finally, the Townsville Crocodiles have rediscovered their Cojones!!!
Apparently, they are no longer playing like a bunch of girls shooting rect…….ah, ah, yeah uhm, something like that!! Well let’s move on, why don’t we!
Maybe check out one of my favorite blogs; (JRonFire / A Stern Warning / Can’t Buy a Basket) or the Hoops.com.au forum to find the actual quote!
I don’t want to get shut down over Hindu’s ‘half-time highlights’! Follow me!
Anyway, it’s good to see the Crocs administer some psychological whoop-ass of their own Wednesday night on the Hawks of Wollongong!
I, like most of you, were interested to see if the Crocs made any adjustments to the butt-kicking they received in the Gong Friday night.
Gordie McLeod decided quite some time ago that he was not going to allow ‘One’ player to beat him. They’ve beaten the Crocs 4 out of 5 times and you couldn’t help but believe that the Hawks would sweep after the Crocs made no adjustments whatsoever in that last game! N-O-N-E!!!
The Martin Boys were instructed to sit under the basket and clog-up the lanes and/or even meditate, whenever Homicide had the ball. Last night Homicide decided that he was not only going to take those ‘WIDE-OPEN’ shots….but make a few. And he did! (CONFIDENCE ANYONE?)
The Crocs took it to the Hawks early, often and in closing. Homicide was a catalyst, with solid support from Hindu, Big Ro, Ho, Tov and B-Rad!
“Willing and Able”: You must not allow a defense/defender to play off you like that! You can’t allow them to have that type of impact on your confidence and psych!!!
It’s imperative that you show them that you’re ‘WILLING’ to take the shot, period. NOW, if you’re ‘ABLE’ to knock a few down than that’s even better. If you can muster the courage to do that……watch the opposition get sucked out of their game plan. Why, because no one want to get score on and our instincts can sometimes override our brains.
Well KB, just because he hits a couple, doesn’t mean he will beat you with that shot! True. But it doesn’t mean that he can’t either. If he knocks one down at the right time….Wow-Weeeeee! But the chances of doing that depend greatly upon him taking those same shots throughout the ball game to develop a feel, rhythm and confidence.
In many cases he doesn’t even have to make them. As long as his teammates know that he ‘WILL’ shoot it…..then they can get into rebounding position!
Furthermore, with the Martin Boys playing that far off Homicide, it was nice to see him post a bit, but he could also set some really good screens to free up his teammates especially with his size and strength.
Imagine by setting a few down-screens with his defender that far off…..who’s going to step-up or switch onto B-Rad and Cedar coming off? The Martin Boys are almost Out-Of-Bounds dude!! Not to mention Hindu and Hoare!
Imagine Homicide setting back-screens therefore forcing the defense to switch. He can dump it inside to his bigs or take the opposition bigs off the dribble to score or penetrate and kick!
This Saturday, let’s see if the Crocs can withstand the Hawks’ first quarter flurry and at least stay close, continue to be aggressive as a team and get Homicide playing ‘off the ball’ a little more in the half-court. For DJ Rod’s sake……I hope so.
As for the Hawks…..well they will be back in the Sandpit where they’ve lost only one game all year long. Enough said!
And that’s my two cents!
Holla,
D.U.B.
Craig Poole!! Craig becomes the 3rd winner of ITG’s Hops NBL Trivia Competition for Episode 28.
Congrats to him and his ‘FREE’ brand new pair of Hops Footwear is in the mail.
Below are the correct answers to our questions emailed in my Craig:
1) Who were Brisbane’s first two imports with NBA experience? Give us their names & the year in which they played.
1987 NBA draft 31st Pick overall – Denver Nuggets
Milwaukee Bucks 3 games
Denver Nuggets 7 Games
Avg 2.4pts
Brisbane Bullets 1990-94
Hobart Devils 1995
Cairns Taipans 1999
1987 NBA Draft 7th Pick, 3rd round Phoenix Suns
1987/88 played 29 games avg 3pts
1988/89 2 games
Brisbane Bullets 1989
2) In 1998 Adelaide’s two imports both had NBA experience. In the early nineties, a Victorian team and also a team north of Victoria had a similar situation. Name the players, NBL teams & years!
-Geelong Supercats 1993
Adrian Branch – 1986/87 Los Angeles Lakers, 87/88 New Jersey Nets, 88/89 Portland, 89/90 Minnesota
-Geelong Supercats 1993
Michael Fitzgerald Morrison – 1990 Phoenix Suns, 1993 Washington Bullets
-Newcastle Falcons 1992
Terry Dozier – 1989/1990 Charlotte Hornets
-Newcastle Falcons 1992
Everette Stephens – 1988/89 Indiana Pacers, 1990/91 Milwaukee Bucks
-There was also; Adrian Branch & Andre Moore / Brisbane / 1992
3) Name the ‘five’ NBL imports that were Top 20 NBA Draft Picks? Name them.
Todd Lichti (pick 15 in 1989)
Kevin Brooks (pick 18 in 1991)
Acie Earl (pick 19 in 1993)
Randolph Childress (pick 19 in 1995)
Tod Fuller (pick 11 1996)
Holla,
D.U.B.
My two cents! Game 1: Perth vs Gold Coast
What up Ballers?
Though I haven’t seen every game this season played by the Perth Wildcats, I’m sure that Coach Beveridge will admit that Game 1′s efforts were the best or one of their best defensive performances of the year!
They simply took the Gold Coast Blaze’s rhythm away even before they could establish any…..if that makes sense?
Their ball pressure up the floor gave Gibson, Harvey (who doesn’t like handling the ball anyway), Goulding and even their frontcourt players the absolute ‘blues’! That pressure took the Blaze completely out of their team and individual mojos!
The Cats were focused, executed better and quicker to the punch all night long!
On Tuesday, the Blaze have to do a better job getting the ball into the frontcourt and their offense quicker. Their spacing is normally good but they didn’t consistently exploit the mis-matches after the Wildcats switched the on-balls.
Furthermore, at least one of those bigs, (Petrie, Maxey, Vukona & Vanderjagt) need to have a big game, both scoring wise and on the boards. The more the merrier.
In addition, the Blaze need to step-it-up defensively too. They gave up entirely too many lay-ups and uncontested jumpshots, especially in the first half!
I predict that the Blaze will win tomorrow night on the Gold Coast and if they do…they’ll also win back in Perth with or without Ubaka. It’s imperative that they get into their stuff quicker, therefore managing Perth’s ball pressure. Then we’ll see them once again take advantage of the match-ups! If the bigs get going, that will take pressure off the perimeter players…….if not, Perth will sweep or win it back home!
Holla,
D.U.B.
What up Ballers?
Welcome to the first chapter of the critically acclaimed masterpiece……..’SWAGBELLY’!
Editor’s note: (The story you are about to read is said to be true. Only the names have been changed to protect the innocent!)
At this very moment…………..Australian basketball players, coaches, front office personnel, fans, supporters, journos and at least one high profile Wanker, are in the midst of one of the most secretive, cunning and conniving gangland wars that only the Few, the Proud, the son of a US Marine, could and would dare bring to you!
Pay attention and brace yourselves people! Cause the victims….could very well be you!
WARNING: THIS BLOG IS FOR MATURE READERS ONLY!!!
PARENTS! CLICK HERE TO BLOCK THIS BLOG WITH ‘FREE PARENTAL CONTROLS’!
In New South Wales, they control the ’Yellow’ Street Territory…………though they’ve been around for some time, most recently they have changed their name to the newly formed, ’AB-Gang’!
The AB-Gang though dangerous, are really just small-time hoods that are controlled by a larger, more perilous and powerful money-hungry cartel with tentacles that spread long and wide. They have many aliases, but are more commonly known as the, “Puppet-Masters’!!
The Puppet Masters control the AB-Gang with intimidation, bullying and most effectively…..boodle!
The AB -Gangs latest rivals, ‘fresh on the scene with a gangsta lean’ are the newly formed………….UK Boyz! Short for the ‘Upper Klazz Boyz’!
They are the ’pretty boyz’ of gang warfare but don’t sleep…..they boast significant gang experience, intellect & back-door (no pun intended) capabilities! The UK Boyz’ preferred method of engagement is by ‘ambush’ and their weapon of choice is the deadly ’C.E.A.’! They love nothing more than catching unsuspecting rival gangs off their guard!
The UK Boyz are not without back-up themselves. They have befriended four of the most wealthy and influential crime families in Australia. Two of which have strong international ties.
Editor’s note: (“Ahhhhhhh, there’s nothing like a swift kick in the balls to shake us out of our apathy”, Author Unknown.)
‘THE SWIFT KICK’: At mid-day, on Thursday the 7th of January, the leader of the UK Boyz, hereafter referred to as ‘The Acronym’ and his partners in crime…..’The Negro Jewel’ and ‘Stumpy’, (pronounced Stomp-me), walked into the clubhouse of the AB-Gang, in broad daylight and without the faintest hint of emotion or hesitation…………..set off an ‘C.E.A.’!
Though similar to an ‘I.E.D.’ (Improvised Explosive Device), the ‘C.E.A.’, (Cabalistic Explosive Agreement), requires superior stealth and planning but unlike it’s deadly cousin that rips through the flesh & blood of it’s unsuspecting targets………a C.E.A. attacks the mental, emotional and psychological side of it’s victims, therefore leaving them stupefied!
Stay tuned ballers! Over the next few weeks, I will attempt to paint a true picture of these untold and provocative events that have totally engulfed the basketball underworld.
These recent occurrences involving these two notorious gangs could go down as the unlikely ‘Saviour’ or the ‘Grim Reaper’ of basketball down-under.
One thing is for sure………they most definitely will impact us all.
Keep it Secret, Keep it Safe,
The Sleuth
“In the regular season you make your name….but in the play-offs you make your fame”! -The Big O
What up ballers? Sorry it’s taken so long for me to drop some knowledge…..but I’ve been suffering from a severe case of ‘writer’s block’! Not to mention I had to endure a doctor shoving a ’Minolta’ up my ass last week……..but that’s for another time!
Now that I’m able to walk again, let’s talk some hoops!
The NBL regular season is over and what an entertaining season it was! The top 4 spots were ‘up for grabs’ practically the entire season and never have I experienced such unpredictable jostling by teams so evenly balanced!
There were Guns & Roses (Welcome to the Jungle) and Who you calling an Under-dog? Homicidal Tendencies and The Empire Strikes Back! The Chosen Few and The Giant Killing Wannabes! And last but certainly not least……Blinded by the Light and Guess Who’s Coming to Play Tonight! All in all, anyone could truly have been beaten on any given night!
Entertaining? Yes! Never-Racking? And you know this man!!!!!!!!!!
Series 1 of the play-offs start tomorrow night in Perth with the 1st place Wildcats taking on the 4th place Gold Coast Blaze. I wouldn’t say the Blaze have the Wildcats’ number, but they have beaten them 3 out of 4 times including giving the Jungle their first home loss of the season & therefore could continue to cause match-up problems for the Wildcats. Not to mention the extra motivation for Harvey and Goulding!
However, without CH-Ubaka and Petrie coming off an ankle injury, it’ll be tough to think that the Blaze can take them, but that’s who I’m going with!
In Series 2, it’s the Wollongong Hawks versus The Croc Nation. Head Coach Gordie McLeod has guided his ‘Cinderella’ team to 3 wins over the Homicidal Crocs and the Hawkees have home-court advantage to boot! They’ve done an exceptional job on Corey Williams but over the past few rounds, his teammates have really stepped up in his absence. Nevertheless, I’m taking the Hawkees in 3 dog!
Well, now that my nose has been picked…….I’m outta here! We’ll discuss the Grand Final laterrrrrrrr.
Sit back, relax, pop a cold-one, let the wifey sit under your arm-pits and try to enjoy the Play-offs!
Holla,
D.U.B.
P.S. Be prepared for an 8-team league for some time to come!
Congrats to Aaron Winder from Welshpool, Western Australia!!!
Aaron is the second overall winner of the HOPS NBL TRIVIA COMPETITION after being the 1st of three participants to email the correct answers to us at insidethegame@australialivetv.com during Episode 27 of Friday’s ITG.
Aaron is an avid Wildcats fan therefore we wish him all the best in the Wildcats run for the Premiership.
See ya next week,
D.U.B.
Matty has just won a fresh ‘Free’ pair of Hops Footwear and they’re already in the mail.
We’re already searching for new questions for next week’s competition so stay tuned for another opportunity to win a free pair of Hops Footwear!
I’ll post the questions on our facebook page (www.facebook.com/insidethegametv), on Twitter and I’ll also blog them here.
Furthermore, at the start of each ‘ITG’ show, I’ll give you the questions and you’ll have until our ‘MailTime’ segment, towards the end of our show, to email us the correct answers to all the question(s) at ‘insidethegame@australialivetv.com’.
Holla,
Down Unda Brotha
And here is the winning submission….
“How can you not be rhetorical when handing out this weeks award? Is there anyone else as worthy as Wollongong’s whipper snipper Tywain McKee? Just as Chris Williams (2003) and Brian Wethers (2005) have already done this millennium, McKee, in his first season in the NBL, has done a Usain Bolt to all other potential MVP candidates and left them in his dust. In Round 12, McKee clocked up numbers that are off the chain, 20 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists as the Hawks smacked the Perth Wildcats and told them to “Sit Down!!” in the top of the table clash. McKee’s ability to be so complete has boosted the Hawks into the Cinderella team for the 2009/10 season.
Cheers, Scotty Hall
Don’t lie………..you know that was tight! Well done Scotty! Your Hops shoes are in the mail.
Holla,
Morpheus
Hops Sportswear Player of the Week Competition: Round 12
Yo ballers, what up? Let us know who your pick is for the Hops Sportswear Round 12 Player of the Week and you could win a FREE pair of Hops Basketball or Streetwear shoes.
All you need to do is a “Leave a Comment” here and include your name, your Round 12 Player of the Week pick and why they deserve your vote and we will announce the winner on Friday December 18th episode of ‘Inside the Game’ from 6-7pm (CST) on AustraliaLiveTV.com.
You have up until 6pm Friday (CST) to enter.
