Aussie Basketball Discussion

[koberulz]

So, uh...that Bullets thing didn't pan out. Yet.

What has happened over this off-season: Larry Kestelman has invested $6 million into the league and been named Executive Director. There were a few small movements initially, like naming new board members and appointing Jeremy Loeliger GM, and vague promises of overhauls and everything else.

The first big sign of progress: a completely revamped schedule, featuring games Wednesday-Sunday every single week, with no scheduling clashes. Previously, games have been Friday-Sunday only, and frequently on either simultaneously or overlapping. This also shortened the season to 19 weeks, avoiding conflicts with football codes. Clearly, instead of just hoping for interest from TV, the schedule was built to cater to TV in order to make a deal more likely. A pretty big gamble, given possible drop-off in fan interest in terms of attending mid-week games. This past week, it paid off: every game will be aired live on Fox Sports in HD. Not only that, there is a provision in the deal for the NBL to organise its own streaming service, a la NBA League Pass, and for one game per week to be simulcast live on FTA. Negotiations in both those areas are ongoing and seem promising.

The TV deal is a five-year contract, but includes within it a review after the first season. The primary reason for this is to allow Fox Sports to withdraw should the Brisbane Bullets not be participating in the 2016/17 season. I'd say that, and Kestelman's record thus far, pretty much guarantees the Bullets will finally get off the damn ground.

They've also rebranded the league and overhauled the website. The schedule is available as an eCal download for the first time, which is a small thing but a thoroughly good idea.

On the court, it's stacking up to be one of the best seasons in NBL history. Julian Khazzouh (Syd), Nate Jawai (Per), Chris Goulding (Mel), Ebi Ere (Adl), AJ Ogilvy (Ill) and former league MVPs Kevin Lisch (Ill) and Kirk Penney (Ill) are all back from Europe. The Kings have retained Josh Childress and added Celtics draft pick Marcus Thornton.

If you have Fox, you should be watching.

[koberulz]

[koberulz]

Every NBL Blitz game streamed live and free

[mp3]

I see Hakeem Warrick has signed in Oz this year!

[koberulz]

In addition to every game live on Fox Sports, there will be a live streaming service via a mobile app to be made available shortly (which will also function as a league app), and Sunday afternoon games on the Nine network FTA.

[koberulz]

http://www.theage.com.au/sport/basketba ... k2mxw.html

The NBL and Channel Nine have signed a multi-year television deal that will net the league a weekly Sunday afternoon game on free-to-air television.

Nine will simulcast the feed from Fox Sports, starting with Melbourne United's first home game against Illawarra Hawks at Hisense Arena this Sunday at 3pm.

The NBL has seven rounds without a scheduled Sunday 3pm game, so Nine will replay the best game from earlier matches in the round.

There's also now an NBL Live app available in the App and Google Play stores, which on top of handling stats, news, etc. also allows free streaming of the first round of games. Apparently there will be a subscription fee after that, though.

[koberulz]

An explanation of the new FIBA World Cup qualifying process

Short version: the Boomers are going to be playing meaningful games a lot more often, including during NBL/NBA season. Be interesting to see what effect that has.

[koberulz]

Andrej Lemanis announced as Brisbane Bullets head coach

[koberulz]

Boomers Olympic roster to be announced tomorrow, with games to follow against a college all-star team on Tuesday and Thursday, both live on Fox Sports.

[Andrew]

Boomers announce Rio 2016 squad

Looks like Bogut is a tentative inclusion, health permitting. How do you rate our chances?

[koberulz]

I don't know enough about the other countries (and, to an extent, a couple of the Europe-based Boomers) to really comment.

Martin in for Newley is interesting. Could see a very NBL-style game from the Boomers, to an even greater extent than in past years. I look forward to seeing Kyrie Irving breathe a sigh of relief when Delly goes off, only to discover that Damo is worse.

The only projection I've seen thus far has us finishing fourth in our group and bowing out to Spain in the quarters, which is what's happened most years (except with the US instead of Spain).

I've been watching a few NBL games from 99/00 recently, and a lot of the commentary has mentioned the then-upcoming Sydney Olympics, and talking about how we have more talent than ever and this is a fantastic chance to get a medal, etc. Eerily similar to what's being said in some corners about this year's team. Not that they did poorly in 2000, mind you.

[Andrew]

I still feel they could've (and should've) captured the bronze in 2000. I'd love to see it happen this time around, but I'm not getting my hopes up.

[iamSamke]

Australia will participate in QF. For sure. They will finish 4th in group stage, behind USA, France and Serbia.

[koberulz]

Based on their performance tonight, I'd say they won't win a game.

Early days though.

[koberulz]

Bogut played nine minutes in a warm-up game against China this morning.