News From The Hardwood

"I can't watch my carbs because I love the bread". - Luke Whitehead

- Don't forget, the latest edition of "The OT" is out now!

While I have spent the night kicking my wife's ass at checkers (draughts for you old timers like myself), this cannot be considered a major upset. The Wollongong Hawks however have put a hurtin' on the New Zealand Breakers tonight, 111-94. I can hear Dick Vitale right now, "upset city baby".

Read more on this below along with other news from around the hoops world.

News

- CJ Bruton will be out for three weeks with a dodgy wheel, while his replacement has been plucked from behind a office desk. Only in New Zealand!

Back to tonight's game. The Breakers were unable to capitalise on the favourable result of the South Dragons losing earlier on in the week. The Breakers had a chance to gain the outright lead at the top of the table with a win tonight.

Not to be. Now the Melbourne Tigers will begin to believe they are a chance of a top two finish.

- "I don't want to stir up the chemistry. He's come here to win a championship and fit in with the team and the way we use him will only be to the team's benefit. If we use him off the bench, we use him off the bench."

These are the words of Dragons coach Brian Goorjian talking to the Herald Sun about new import Donta Smith coming off the bench.

I see Smith playing a huge role the rest of the way for the Dragons. He oozes talent that could see him have a huge impact in this league.

But at who's expense will this come at?

- If you believe the words of Adelaide journo Boti Nagy, he will have you thinking the there will be a league next year (starting in October), and the name of it?

The NBL.

- Gold Coast Blaze import Luke Whitehead is at it again. He has put his rappin skills to work for a club song. I have yet to see or hear it, but as I'm heading to the Coast for a game on Sunday, I will endeavour to track it down.

Also, Whitehead has released a DVD titled Frisco 2 The Ville. Sorry Townsville, this is not us.

Luke grew up in San Francisco and attended college in Louisville, but the DVD centres around musical talents from these hoods.

Once again I'm trying to get my hands on a copy so I can review his work.

Just an idea Luke. If you want to create a buzz and push some major units, flick JR a copy or two of your DVD on Sunday. (Ask your teammate Scott MacGregor, I do not pay for anything so you are a better chance of a favourable review if you give me a copy instead of me having to go searching for a bootleg edition.)

I reach the masses from Toowoomba 2 Da Ville!

- Adelaide import Julius Hodge has not been getting his money on time. Ouch.

- Can the Cairns Taipans find an owner (or three) in time?

- While the NBL will continue to play in the summer, the WNBL is considering a change to the winter.

Ruffling Some Feathers

GOAT (greatest of all time). Last week it was Melbourne, this week New Zealand (insert own joke) but for more on it read Boti Nagy articles below.

It seems that my column I write for the Townsville Bulletin has ruffled a few feathers around the NBL circles.

First, Cairns Taipan Martin Cattalini replied via the Cairns Post calling me an 'idiot" and I have spent too much time in "Clownsville".

I showed him who was boss as I contributed a crucial 3 points in our come from behind win over his Snakes.

Now The Daily Telegraph has given my comments a run. ( I wish one of these mainstreams would give http://www.johnrillie.com/ a plug as they quote me!)

I would just like to make one thing clear from this article. They are now the Sydney Spirit so my approach to this franchise is a whole lot different as to if it was the West Sydney Razorbacks.

I was an original member of the Razorbacks so I have a soft spot for them.

As for the Spirit, I do not see them as the Razorbacks at all. Just as I'm sure many original Razorback fans have a different feeling about the Spirit team.

By no means am I backing down from my comments made about the current franchise in Sydney.

Sydney needs a franchise that has a presences within the community and I'm not sure if the Spirit has that selling power.

On the otherhand I did mention (not sure if it was published) that Mike Wrublewski has a proven track record in this situation and has probably made a wise decision in not competing in this year's NBL.

Wrublewski will use this time away from the game wisely in structuring a franchise that can have an impact on the people of Sydney.

There is no doubt a lot of water has to go under the bridge before the next national competition tips off but I'm speculating there will be a new franchise in Sydney when the new competition rolls around.

Time will tell, in the meantime I better see who else I can rub the wrong way.

News

- Coach Brendan Joyce gets away with a warning. Here is the press conference in audio. Another article from the West about the outburst.

- Boti Nagy's week in review. Nagy interviews (video) Jacob Holmes. Another article from Boti.

- Blaze not scoring. We all have that problem sometimes.

- 36ers to expose Breakers defense.

- Young Melbourne blogger weighs in on basketball's future.

- Exclusive - Shawn Kemp is afraid of the dark.

- Looking for some hoops blogs to check out, here is a solid list to start with.

- Tully Bevilaqua unsure about future.

- A good read about Perth girl Natalie Burton. 6'5 Burton is attending West Virginia University.

- Andrew Bogut is looking for the Bucks to improve.

- Former NBA player Jonathon Bender helping those in need.

Can anyone explain to me what Martin Cattalini was doing after Corey "Homicide" Williams dunked on him? Did he forget you have to inbound the ball?

Hoop Articles From Over The Weekend

Don't forget to catch the Opals in action at home against Brazil.

Andrew Gaze thinks A-League style is not for the NBL.

Wollongong Hawks have new slogan.

Tassie is producing some good hoopers all thanks to David Munns.

Mills happy to play conductor.

Spain beat Lithuania in friendly.

A full schedule of the upcoming Diamond Ball Tournament from the 29th. The Boomers play China in their first game on the 30th.

Click here for all details about the Diamond Ball.

Matt Nielsen dips into his own pockets to get to Beijing.

Check out fellow blogger A Stern Warning's preview of the Boomers. Worth a read.

Team USA take care of Canada, easily, 120-65.

Warriors undrafted Anthony Morrow is MVP of Rocky Mountain Revue.

Scoop Jackson' Q & A with Carmelo Anthony.

Sasha Vujacic gets $15 million from Lakers.

Monta Ellis inks deal with Warriors worth $67 million.

Josh Childress leaves Hawks for Greece.

Bill Bradley's ride from Euro to USA.

Early look at what might happen this year in the NBA.

Bogut's Bucks might show signs of life, soon.

LeBron James predicts gold for Team USA. (video)

Jason Kidd to look at Europe?

The Rookie - Mike Beasley, Episode 6

It's A Day For Updates - ABA, NBA, NBL and the Women

The Celtics may be getting ready to upgrade this poster!

Although it was a long weekend for most, not all hoopers were fortunate enough to enjoy the three day break. Take a look at what happened in your favourite ABA League.

Queensland: Is Cairns Marlins Rohan Grey becoming the next Grant Keys? Can light up an ABA scoreboard but will struggle to make the jump to the NBL level. I must say though, I did enjoy watching Keys and the Landlord (Simon Dwight) battle at practice in the early Razorback days.

Waratah: The Cockroach's had the weekend off. Must be using the time to mentally get ready for a Maroon onslaught on Wednesday.

Big V: I cannot believe the home of Australian basketball took the weekend off. Lindsay Gaze, you need to have a word to these people!

Western Australia: Geraldton's Michael Lay goes for another triple double. I need a little help WA people, is he worth a look at the NBL level?

South Australia: The Croweaters had the weekend off too. We all know these guys do not need much of an excuse to have a day off!

SEABL: Another league that took the weekend off. How many off these players would even know what the long weekend was for, let alone been alive when "God Save The Queen" was our national anthem.

Jawai Update:
Suns see him as a first round sleeper.
Jawai up against guys at his position at Suns workout.

The Ultimate Nathan Jawai Highlights:


Aleks Maric fans: Mr Maric must of honoured the long weekend in his homeland as there is nothing to report on him.

NBA News:

The Boston Celtics went up 2-0 on the Los Angles Lakers in the NBA Finals.

After watching the game I have come to the conclusion that it is the Celtics "role" players that have secured them this early series lead.

In Game 1 it was PJ Brown that came up huge for the C's. Today it was Leon Powe's turn to shine. The second year power forward gave the Celtics some unexpected offense, 21 points in 16 minutes to be exact.

It was just not Powe either. Point guard Rajon Rondo controlled the tempo for the Celtics and added 16 assists to his statline.

Once again James Posey hit some timely threes and played solid defense on Kobe Bryant.

All is not lost for the Lakers though. The next three games will be played out west on the Lakers home floor. The Lakers are deadly at home and the Celtics have had their troubles on the road during the playoffs.

The Lakers need the likes of Derek Fisher, Vladimir Radmanovic and their bench to lift their productivity so they can match the Celtics in this category.

There is no doubting that the Bryant's, Odom's, Garnett's, Allen's and Pierce's of this series will have their say but right now the Celtics are getting a better contribution from everyone.

Kobe needs some friends to help in Game 3 otherwise they may be getting the brooms out in Beantown.

GAME 2 Boxscore
Daily Dime
Suns get their guy.
OJ Mayo signs with new agent...I cannot believe I didn't make the article as one of Rose's clients.
Nene will not be in Beijing.

NBL/NZNBL News:

Stephen Weigh heading west?

Miles Pierce speaks his mind..gets him fired!

NZNBL axe team on the eve of their playoffs.

Kingma puts his feet up after three.

And For The Ladies:

Opals are in Cairns for a camp. Check out what Belinda Snell and Abby Bishop have too say about it all.

Euro stars return in pursuit of gold in Beijing.

Stirling honoured!

Leon Powe's Road To The NBA