NBL Thread

[Arcane]

I hope Patty Mills gets a high draft ranking I would really like to see him get some real NBA exposure.

I was at the Blaze vs Tigers game the other week was an awesome game to watch Blaze did really well apart from final 90-120 seconds of the game when Blaze turned it over too much. I did also like the Gold Coast Convention Centre it had more a basketball stadium feel and look than the Brisbane Convention Centre.

[The X]

after his injury & the depth of PG in 2009 Draft, I see Mills returning for his junior season....maybe he'll declare & test the waters though....

[Fresh8]

After this season, I think Patty Mills slipped back into perhaps second round. If he hadn't been injured, he would have been a late first round pick in my opinion.

[The X]

I have him as a 1st Round bubble....reason I have him that low is that it is a very strong PG draft, hence the reason he should come back for junior season & try to crack top 15....

[Andrew]

Would it hurt him too much if he went late first round/early second round? It doesn't always hold players back and I'm sure the Olympic tournament grabbed a lot of people's attention. That's not to say he should declare but would he really be that doomed if he did?

[sucram]

Christ, it's always frustrating as shit watching my home team (Townsville Crocs) play. They got the win last night but it wasn't pretty.

I've not been paying any attention to the NBL the last 2 or so seasons but it would be awesome to see Townsville in the finals again, however it won't quite make up for that heartbreaking series vs Wollongong (back in 01 i think was.)

[CMJ3]

Well the grand final series comes down to this one last game, they are hoping for 10,000 people to attend but i highly doubt it though it would be great for Aussie basketball. I think the Tigers are gonna win but it would be nice to see South Dragons take it home. Lets hope Australian basketball can get back to being one of the top sports in Australia once again.

[Fresh8]

Patty Mills led the Gaels to a win against Stephen Curry and Davidson. Don't forget this is a team that got to regional finals last year! I feel like both teams were snubbed big time for the tourney... however... main reason posting is that Mills might get picked closer to the lottery than I expected. Well, I'm only hoping!

[The X]

Patty Mills led the Gaels to a win against Stephen Curry and Davidson. Don't forget this is a team that got to regional finals last year! I feel like both teams were snubbed big time for the tourney... however... main reason posting is that Mills might get picked closer to the lottery than I expected. Well, I'm only hoping!

He also shot 1/10 from 3pt land....and it's not the first or last time he'll shoot that badly....he's also lucky to be 6 feet tall....he's a mid-to-late 1st Round pick at the moment, depends on who is in draft....if his wrist/hand is fully healed, he may as well test his draft status....hope he does well....

I would agree that Saint Mary's should've been in the Tourney, probably in Arizona's spot....if they were, they'd likely be in the Sweet 16 right now....such is life....don't think Davidson deserved to make it, although surprised they drew such a low seeding at NIT....

[Fresh8]

X, I chose to ignore that tiny fact. Please don't bring it up again!

He had a career high 10 assists.

[The X]

X, I chose to ignore that tiny fact. Please don't bring it up again!

He had a career high 10 assists.

that was a career high?!?

Mark Dickel averaged 9.1apg to lead the nation his senior season....of course he had studs like Kaspar Kambala & Shawn Marion to pass to

[Fresh8]

Yep, I was surprised that his career high was set at 10 just a few nights ago. And just checked his stats, he only averages 4 a game.

[Andrew]

Apparently Mills will be making himself available for the Draft but won't be signing with an agent so that he may keep the option of returning to college open.

[The X]

Apparently Mills will be making himself available for the Draft but won't be signing with an agent so that he may keep the option of returning to college open.

a very wise move....he has nothing to lose, provided he's fully healthy, which he should be....at the very least, our of the process he will learn that he has to improve as a lead guard, improve his shot selection & improve his perimeter shot....

[Andrew]

Do you think there'll be much interest in him? His stock seemed pretty high after the Olympics but his numbers don't stand out as dazzling. I'm guessing his footspeed and ability to get into the paint despite his size could work to his advantage.

[The X]

It will depend on workouts....he seems like a bubble 1st Rounder....but he's behind at least 5 PG's (Rubio, Brandon Jennings, Curry if he declares, Flynn, Ty Lawson) in pecking order in 1st Round....and as you know, usually no more than about 5 PG's go in 1st Round....and I haven't even factored in quality seniors like Eric Maynor & Darren Collison, whom could also go in 1st Round....if Curry stays in college & Mills outplays other PG's ahead of him, he could get in 1st Round & stay in draft....at the moment, he seems to be in the 25-40 range, which is why he might go back to college....

[Andrew]

Has Rubio officially declared? I thought that was still up in the air.

[The X]

I just assumed it was a gimme that he'd go as he's a lock at number 2 behind Griffin....after those 2, IMO there is not a lot of difference between somebody picked at 3 & 13....

[Fresh8]

Workouts are crucial for Patty Mills because of the fact that

A) He had a really good performance at the Olympics
B) He didn't do so well in his second year of college

I guess that there will be GMs/scouts out there who think of him very highly because of point A and look past point B and blame that on injury while there will be some who take more importance in point B.

For me, I think that Mills proving that he could hold his own against the best players/pros in the world at Beijing holds more weight than him doing not so well at Saint Mary's. There should be plenty others who think the same so I think he will get some attention at least.

[The X]

I think his ability to get to rim at will bodes well for him....main thing for me is he needs to improve his shot selection....I think he is more of a pass-first PG than people think, but because he plays on an average team that requires him to take the lead, he is less of a setup man....

[Fresh8]

I think it's more likely we will see the Mills of the Aussie national team than the Mills of Saint Marys in the NBA.

[Andrew]

I hope so, I'd really like him to succeed as I'm sure we all would after he generated some hype in the Olympic tournament. I know it's hardly a guarantee but I certainly think he's doing things the right way going through college rather than trying to make the jump from the NBL, though I'm still hoping Nathan Jawai will eventually find success too.

[Fresh8]

Too bad about the injuries to Jawai but from what I have read, it seems that the Raptors coaching staff think of him fondly and he should be getting playing time next season. However, Jawai was always a project.

[Andrew]

Yeah, his heart concerns were a setback before anything else but I've read that too, that the Raptors are high up on him despite being a project which should hopefully give him a greater opportunity next year.

[Fresh8]

I guess quality big men are hard to find... so despite the fact that he started with bball so late, his athleticism (given his AFL background) should be a plus I'm sure he has a great chance at becoming a solid player in the NBA. As for Mills, there are so many quality guards out there that I am just hoping he lands in the right situation.