NBL Team of the Week

Wildcat Shaun Redhage makes my All NBL Team of the Week, who else rounds out the team?

Round 6 is locked in the volt and there is a little gap beginning to show between the Top 6 and the rest. There is still plenty of season remaining for the bottom four teams to turn it around but let's look at what individuals are running hot this week.

PG: Corey "Homicide" Williams (Crocs) - Williams averaged 28 points and 7 dimes for the weekend. He was the gamebreaker in the Crocs narrow win over the Spirit, while he was the Crocs best against the Tigers.

We all knew things were going well for Williams this week when he nailed a three pointer against the Spirit. That thing is like Hayley's Comet, only happens every 76 years!

SG: Ebe Ere (Tigers) - When Ere gets to shoot 25 times in a game he will put points on the board. Ere had 32 points to go along with 9 rebounds against the Crocs over the weekend.

Held in check the week before against the Dragons, Ere come out aggressive and seeking his shot in this contest. A step back three late in the fourth by Ere sealed the win for the Tigers.

SF: Shaun Redhage (Wildcats) - Just a usual weekend for the Perth forward. Notching a well rounded game of 25pts/6rebs/4ass saw Redhage and the Wildcats take care of the 36ers.

It seems all those games in succession have played the Wildcats into some good form. They are now riding a three game winning streak.

PF: Dusty Rychart (Hawks) - "The Garbageman" was at his best over the weekend. Averaging 21.5pts and 12 boards, it seems Rychart is right at home at the Gong picking up the rubbish left behind.

Although he is not a gamebreaker you have to reward his consistency. Not many guys can say they averaged a double double over the weekend.

C: Chris Anstey (Tigers) - The king of the "Koala Brothers" (more on this at a later date, but until then ask Damon Lowry what it means) just killed us on the weekend.

His 29pts and 16 rebs were all felt. He is the rudder that controls the Tigers ship and he controlled it the other night.

Not even Luke Schenscher's effort of 33pts and 20rebs can oust Anstey from this week's team.

Anstey's contribution had a massive effect on the end result while Adelaide's version of Bill Walton just simply filled his boxscore.

Honourable Mention

- Luke Schenscher - Had 18pts and 10rebs in the third quarter alone. His team needs a win if he is to crack my roster.

- Julian Khazzouh - His third year is making people quickly forget how bad last year was for him. Another double double weekend for the Spirit centre. 15.5pts/10.5rebs

- Kavossay Franklin - The ultra tough PG from Wollongong has gotten off to a slow start, but it seems the Blaze got his juices flowing. 20.5pts/8ass

- Greg Vanderjagt - The big giraffe could not get a game a the start of the season, now he is taking game winning shots for the Blaze. Averaged 17pts/10rebs over the weekend.

- Matt Burston - Always jogging on the spot is this Dragon centre. He has made a career out of being in the right spot at the right time. Burston relished the extra minutes due to the oft injured Nick Horvath. Burston rewarded Coach Goorjian with 16pts and 16 boards.

Crocs News

Monday Morning News and Scores

Always a long walk to the car when you have returned a loser.

- Sixers import to go?

- Melbourne teams get the win.

- Hawkins sidelined for two months, expect Blaze to have a new import, soon.

- Maher misses game due to calf problem, again.
- Breakers showing they can win on the road.

- Crocs fail to tame Tigers.

Round 6 scores

Crocs 103-101 Spirit
Taipans 101-92 Breakers
Hawks 98-96 Blaze
36ers 93-104 Wildcats
Tigers 110-97 Crocs
Dragons 94-65 Taipans
Blaze 113-116 Breakers
Spirit 99-86 Hawks

Ladder

Another NBA Fantasy League

Get in on the NBA Pick One Challenge if you dare.

For those of you that missed out on out Yahoo Fantasy NBA comp, there is another available to join. New teammate Anthony Susnjara is all over the NBA Pick One Challenge.

If this sounds like you here are the details to join.

League Name: sus's league
password: irvine

Get in quick as there are only fifty spots.

Episode 7 of "The OT" just released!

To celebrate 250 NBL home games in Townsville, we bring in former Sun's role player and legendary story teller Carl Ward for a chat around the card table.

Click here to hear Episode 7 in its entirety or click on "The OT" logo at the left which will direct you to an RSS feed or the iTunes store.

"Homicide's" Retro Jersey 4 Sale

Here is your chance to be a little like "187". The Crocodiles are having a silent auction for Corey "Homicide" Williams retro jersey that he wore in last Wednesday night's game.




The game celebrated 250 home games for the Suns/Crocs franchise.




You have until November 14 to get in your final bid.

Five Of The Best

It's all about the retro look and Cam Tovey (middle) loved it!

Wednesday night marked an important milestone in club history for the Townsville Crocodiles. It will be the 250th home game beginning with their introduction into the NBL in 1993.

So I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to look back at a little Suns/Crocs history and name my top five players. Since it is my team, I am initiating one rule: a player had to play for the club for more than one season.

Let’s kick the team off with a no brainer, Robert Rose. There was nothing on the basketball court this guy could not do. Whether it was hitting a clutch three to get the team to its only Grand Final appearance in 2001 or putting his hand out to nab that crucial steal late in the game, Rose had the complete game.

He has also been the only league MVP named in the club’s history.

My second member is Pat Reidy, a guy whose stat line would often not accurately reflect his value to a team. My personal experience with this came my first year in Townsville. Our team was hovering around mid-pack until Reidy returned to the lineup, when we promptly peeled of 10 straight wins. I can tell you it was not coincidence.

I have always rated Reidy as one of the best Aussie born players to play in our league and would be surprised if he was not an NBL Hall of Famer in the near future. It was unfortunate that injury cut his career short.

Next I’ll go with Clarence Tyson. Everyone knew Tyson was a rebounding machine night after night, but it was his consistency on offense that caught people by surprise. Despite every scouting report ever written about him stating that ‘to stop him, keep him on his right hand,’ he still found his way to the hoop,…with his left hand.

“The Elevator” and his workman like play was embraced by the Townsville basketball community and it was a shame that injury, again, took it’s toll on this fine player.

Sam MacKinnon was the first truly high profile Australian player to come to Townsville and played a huge part in helping lead the franchise down the playoff trail.

His all-round game was allowed to flourish under Coach Ian Stacker without the pressure of needing to carrying the team. Rose was the on-court leader that MacKinnon was not mature enough to be which worked to his benefit.

Mackinnon has gone on to win championships and has been league MVP so his credentials speak for themselves. He was one of the best to put on a Croc singlet.

Love him or hate him, you had to admit that Derek Rucker was at the very least entertaining when he set foot on the court at “The Furnace”. The Pocket Rocket could rack up points and assists like very few in the league in his time with the Suns.

Although he never did lead the Suns to the playoffs, you have to respect his individual brilliance. I’m sure more than one Suns fan with a good memory can recall at least one game where his talent alone got the Suns a win.

That’s my team for better or worse. I am confident that I will hear a few notes of dissension from loyal basketball followers in Townsville. I would love the opportunity to come back and review my team when 500 rolls around. Here’s hoping the best is still to come for basketball in Townsville.

Other News

- Adelaide great Brett Maher declares it will be his last season.

- Dragons fire up over both Melbourne teams playing on the same night.

- Boti Nagy's weekly look around the league.

- Aussie NBA ballers Andrew Bogut and Nathan Jawai are both in danger of missing the season opener.

- Brad Newley has a slow round 2 game in Greece, but his team gets the "W". Check out his strong round 1 game.

- Daniel Kickert beats David Andersen in Spanish league.

- Wade Helliwell still banging bodies in Italian league.

- Aleks Maric puts in a solid performance.

Thriller on Fox & News

I'm bringing sexy back!

Having been detained to my bed for the last few days due to some flu/virus illness, I felt like I gave my best Monty Burns impersonation tonight, live on FoxSports.

I will never be accused of carrying too much weight but I feel I can hold my own in a pound for pound contest. Tonight was a different story. I made Mr Burns off the TV show, "The Simpsons" look buff and me the physically fragile guy.

It is amazing how lying around for a few days can make you feel so lackluster and weak. Trouble was, I thought I could go out and mix it with the best in a basketball game.

I do not recommend this recipe to anyone trying to look after their body.

I'm glad to report though, our team doctor has me popping so many pills something good has to happen to my body in the upcoming days.

Enough about my health, here are tonight's results and some hoops news.

"The OT" will have a fresh episode later this week.

Results

Townsville 103-101 Sydney recap
Cairns 101-92 (ot) New Zealand recap

News

- Joe Ingles win POW award.

- Tougher 36ers?

- Hawks want to slow the Blaze backcourt.

- Kirk Penney talks all things Breakers.

- Darcy Harding stands tall.

- Shane Heal talks about the NBL schedule in his weekly column.

- Anstey to help out Bendigo.

- Joyce wants first win.

- Latest NBA preseason scores.

- Basketball Babies. Funny but disturbing stuff.

Can never have too much Charles Barkely!