It has got to the point where it has detracted from the game, and directly influenced the outcome of a game. It must be some badge of honour for the NBL to have its Player of the Month putting on an Oscar worthy performance dropping to the floor with such gusto. Hilarity ensued with a comical sequence of events that saw an unsportmanlike foul called on the floppee resulting in free throws and possession for Melbourne, effectively handing them the game.

This goes beyond Goulding. Yes he, and a handful of other players have reputations for flopping but it is ultimately the refereeing ethos that has allowed this to eventuate to epidemic levels. You may attribute this to previous NBL management, but it is current management’s issue now. Time and time again I have cringed at the site of a player dropping to the floor as if they were sniped only to be rewarded with the call. Though exact details are sketchy, I seem to recall, a season or two ago, a referee call a charge, then issue a warning for flopping. How can it be both?

It is clear there is a failure in the system and Leader Suit Larry has his work cut out for him. To fix this problem the culture needs to be changed, and it is arguably one of the toughest things to do within an organisation, and requires buy in from everyone at the top through to the bottom. To change the flopping culture we would need to unlock the current attitudes and behaviours, and implement new attitudes and behaviours. This could involve:

• Looking at a way a charge is called. Unless a player ends up on the floor it isn’t called. At the end of the day, if players didn’t feel like they needed to fall to get a call, they will stop.
• Stop rewarding those that flop with the call. As it is now, flopping is merely playing the percentages. If the gamble was enough that the risk of giving up position under the basket allowing an easy basket was far greater, you wouldn’t see players giving up position to easily.

Current rules are insufficient. The threat of a warning is not intimidating. It has not affected or altered any on court behaviour. I don’t see much point in penalising those that flop by fining them or imposing ejections, or suspensions. The path to getting this back on track is to make the risk of allowing an easy uncontested basket greater than getting the charge call. This can be done, but the players and the refs need to be on board.

Another view of the Goulding Flop

The post Stop The Flop appeared first on cantbuyabasket.com.

Wide Screen (16:9)   Standard (4:3)

The post Wallpaper: Josh Childress appeared first on cantbuyabasket.com.

Can I play for the Australia Olympic team

— Nick Young (@NickSwagyPYoung) August 24, 2015

Well it turns out ‘Swaggy P’ is serious. TMZ reports that Swaggy’s peeps have officially reached out to Aussie officials to “get the ball rolling”

There has been much publicity about Young’s engagement to Iggy Azalea but Boomers fans wanting a taste of that Swaggy Pie needn’t told their breath. ‘Swaggy Dundee’ would need to become an Australian citizen before he would be eligible to play for the green & gold, and even should that happen Young would need to make himself available for selection before Boomers officials would consider his selection based on merit, the same process as everyone else.

The post Nick Young serious about playing for Boomers appeared first on cantbuyabasket.com.

To put it simply. We have not seen this sort of coverage in the NBL ever. The 90s gave us a largely regional market where a team’s games were usually only played in that city. The 2000s gave us more or less two games a week live on Foxtel and more recently two games a week on Network Ten, one live and one delayed.

The catch however, is that Fox can review this agreement after one year. So for Larry Kestelman, his time is now. Since his anointment as the king of the NBL he has preached where he wants to see the game, as a class leading sports and entertainment package. Like most of us, I believe it can be, but with only a season to prove its worth, the NBL as a package needs to hit the ground running at full stride. The good news is that there are heaps of little ways to add to the overall quality of the product. On screen stats could be one way. Seeing what the AFL have done with providing real time stats in their broadcasts provides many ideas for the NBL.

Whilst we are talking about the AFL, it’s obvious that a lot of success of this agreement with Fox Sports stems on the number of Foxtel subscriptions there are because of the Fox Footy Channel. No doubt the idea is that these avid sports fan keep tuning in to the sports channels in between the AFL season and this is where the NBL pounces, providing live sport to the sports fans that crave it. Australia seems to love its live sport.

The flipside to cutting a deal with a subscription based sports broadcaster is also apparent. Foxtel has somewhere around 2.6 million subscribers. Australia has more than 9 million households. That is a pretty low strike rate. $50 a month, or whatever a Foxtel subscription is with the sports package could be out of reach for some NBL fans, Fans without Foxtel are the hardest hit.

That is until we look at the one game simulcast on a FTA station a week clause. Does this necessarily need to be at a national level? Could we not look at it regionally? For instance could a Perth based network simulcast a Wildcats game once a week, and a Sydney based network simulcast a Kings game? Is there a need to simulcast the same game into all markets? If not, this is a way better outcome than having enough NBL on FTA to let people know the league still exists.

The NBL stands here now, a month out from the start of the season, a TV partnership in one hand, plans to deliver an entertaining sports package in the other. With a long term media partnership on the horizon, the ball definitely is in the NBL’s court, and I look forward to seeing what they do.

The post Thoughts on the NBL Fox Sports Agreement appeared first on cantbuyabasket.com.

There is no point rehashing the facts over Kestelman’s not-so-hostile takeover of the NBL. His cash injection is an obvious vehicle to push the league in the right direction, and give it the best shot of regaining the mass appeal it had through the early to mid-nineties. The first thing Uncle Larry did was to fill the NBL offices with the best business minds the league has ever seen.

Whilst it’s great having someone with pockets as deep as Kestelman, as well as his interest and desire to see the league be successful, for some, it will be hard to overlook the potential conflict of interest there is with having a team owner have a controlling stake in the league. I’m certain the NBL has some safeguards, other than ‘trust me’ in order to ensure that the potential conflict of interest doesn’t become actual.

What makes me the most excited about this season is the crop of talent, particularly Aussie talent joining or re-joining different teams. Talent-wise, this is definitely the best we’ve seen in some time.

The return of AJ Ogilvy and Julian Khazzouh will make for some epic battles inside with the likes of Daniel Johnson, and Matty Knight.  Add the return of a former MVP, Kevin Lisch, sharp shooting Kiwi legend Kirk Penney, and the last dude to hit the 50 point mark in a game, Chris Goulding, the league is in great shape. Reports that the ‘Outback Shaq’, Nate Jawai, has signed with the Perth Wildcats had many NBL fans reminiscing about the Seamus McPeake era. Now before we get our pitchforks and run the Perth Wildcats out of town over some perceived points cap sketchiness, let’s not forget that that the Wildcats have very little to do with the NBL governance. It was the league administration that allowed the reported points changes. It is not the first time something like this has been done and I bet it won’t be the last.

Remember when Larry Kestelman said that he wanted the NBL to be a place where the best Aussie basketball players wanted to play? Well, it’s happening, and why would we want any bureaucratic red tape preventing Aussie’s best from playing in the best Aussie league? Imagine a Boomer or Tall Black player being left out because of a point or two on the points cap.

The same could be put up for Daniel Johnson’s loyalty reduction for the Adelaide 36ers. Why does it continue when he showed he had no intention of playing for them last season by signing with a team in Europe, only returning when he was cut; or Majok Majok being rated a bargain 5 points given he played in Europe prior to coming to the NBL. But as Kestelman stated earlier, ‘we want the best Aussies playing here’, so to achieve that, you may need to have some creative interpretation of some of the rules. If anything is to be blamed it might be time to revisit the team point cap.

But as it stands we are a month or so away from a new NBL season with effectively a new NBL. The only obstacle in our way is a TV deal, or online steaming package, and each day the need for something is becoming more urgent. We have the strongest talent pool we have had for some time and the fans will want to watch it.

So, whilst this site has been lying dormant, much like the career of Aaron Bruce, I guess this is effectively my full page advert saying “I’m back”, not solely discussing the NBL, but basketball in general. Bring on the season, bring on the highs and lows, and bring on your thoughts in the comments. No time for fancy #hashtags, let’s just get on with it.

The post NBL 2015-16 Off Season Musings appeared first on cantbuyabasket.com.

Martin’s block is a serious contender for not only block of the year, but play of the year too. Here is our video homage to ‘The Block’.

The post Damian Martin: The Block appeared first on cantbuyabasket.com.

What I like about Jason’s article is his candid recollection on how he fell in love with the sport. It is a story that I have heard quite a bit in recent years but that doesn’t make Jason’s any less special. As a fan of basketball and the NBL I love hearing these sorts of stories. I would love to hear more of them. Jason’s article is the first in what I want the call the CBAB Fanscipt  – Haggard.

12 Rows up.

“The NBL is boring” This is a statement I used to get when I asked the question, “have you been to a Wildcats game lately?”

The NBL is far from boring nowadays and I’m writing to tell you all a little bit about my NBL experience as a fan.

I’m lucky to be in Perth right now. My team is 6-0 for the start of the 13-14 season; which I agree makes being a fan of the sport easy. I can only describe my experience as a Wildcats fan but would assume it would be the same for everyone else and their respected teams they root for.

I remember being a kid in the 80’s watching Mike Ellis, Andrew Vlahov, Ricky ‘Amazing’ Grace, Trevor Torrence, Tiny Pinder, and the ‘Alabama Slammer’ James Crawford battling against the likes of Andrew Gaze and Shane Heal; absolutely loving the sport. It was a family thing to watch the basketball on a Friday night and as an 8 year old getting to stay up late to watch it was a bonus!

Then came the early 90’s, when the NBA was readily available to watch on free-to-air TV on a Saturday afternoon and Basketball Cards were the biggest craze out there. (I’m talking about the days of Jordan, Malone, Shaq, Webber, Barkley, Ewing, Penny, Kemp for those old enough to remember and those young enough not to know).

Then, as what usually happens; you grow up, meet girls, start partying, rebel, get your license and basketball got left behind for me.

It wasn’t until 2012 as a 30 year old that I got a glimpse of a Grand Final Game, by chance flicking through the channels for something to watch, between the Breakers and The Wildcats.

Watching that game brought back memories and that afternoon I went out and bought my first basketball as an Adult. Long story short, the next season we (the missus and I) became Wildcats Members and will continue to be for a long time, win or lose.

During the first season of membership (2012-2013) I got to meet the players and was star struck. I felt like a school girl meeting Justin Bieber when Damian Martin came and said hi!!

After going on Twitter and following all the Wildcats I could (as you do when you meet celebrities) I began having conversations with my man Greg Hire, number 4, SF Starting five and it felt like what I was saying was being heard and responded to as if I was chatting to a friend on FaceBook.

I could not believe how friendly these guys were.

After the next home game we went into the Granite Room at Perth Arena where I finally got to meet the Wildcats for the first time. I saw Matty Knight, Brad Robbins, Cam Tovey, Jeremiah Trueman, Shawn Redhage and when I got to Greg Hire he looked at me and said “how ya been buddy? How’s things?”

To most people this would mean nothing, but when someone you consider to be a celebrity notices you and says “Hi” first it’s a major uplift and conversation strikes up and before long you’re no longer star struck.

Then there is this season, 2013-2014. The first home game we went to the Granite Room again and Greg remembered who I was, what I had been up to in my life (maybe because I bug him so much on twitter hehehe) but to have a guy you look up to, remember you, and take the time to hear how YOU have been is great. Where else in the world do you get this? I hear of stories about players in other leagues shunning off fans because they’re tired, they don’t have time etc. etc. but these guys always make time for their fans; and it’s paying off.

The NBL is back on TV free-to-air EVERY Friday night, 9.30pm on OneHD and EVERY Sunday afternoon at 2pm on Channel 10. There is more media coverage on the news in primetime and on the radio, FM and AM with live games beamed across  some AM radio stations.

There are signs everywhere and with the two new imports we have, James Ennis and Jermaine Beal, EVERYONE knows about the NBL.

With most of the teams playing “above the rim” with the likes of Chris Goulding, James Ennis,  Daniel Johnson and a hell-of-a-lot of others dunking, fast-breaks off steals, big blocks and alley oops, how can anyone say it’s boring?

I no longer ask my friends, “have you been to a Wildcats game lately?” because they come to me and say “man, did you see Ennis on the weekend? The Cats are hot right now” to which I always respond, “I was there, at the game, 12 rows up!”

Take the time to follow Jason on Twitter. When he isn’t busy liking NBA2k14 videos he loves to chat about all things NBL.

If you would like to share your story or want to admit your man-crush on Greg Hire please get in touch via our contact page or get in touch on Twitter, Facebook or email (cantbuyabasket@gmail.com). I would love to post them.  

The post CBAB Fanscript: 12 Rows Up- Jason Strother appeared first on cantbuyabasket.com.

James Ennis is still dunking all over the place. Ennis earned frequent flier miles in Auckland and Sydney this week.

Spirits were high after the 36ers v Tigers game, both teams going out for a night of fun. Looks like they went to the same place ‘Mosh Girl’ (‘member her?} frequents. Check out Peach, BJ Anthony and Auryn McMillin get their freak on on the dance floor.

Guess who is back? that lovable character Gary Wilkinson returns to the Breakers at the expense of Darnell Lazare and Jeremiah Trueman. I feel for Trueman, I really do, but is the villain (other than Wortho and Redhage) that the league needs?

Now for something different. Here is our first segment of ‘Remember them?’

straight the bat. Robert Sibley. I ‘member Robert setting a HUGE screen on Trevor Torrance.

The post NBL 13/14 Round 3 musings appeared first on cantbuyabasket.com.

Don’t click on it, it is not an advert. it is Ronald Dorsey

Have we settled on an official game hashtag format yet?

Speaking of Twitter. Perth fans are glad that James Ennis took his talents from South Beach to Cottesloe Beach. Ennis capped off a fantastic week almost dunking at will. Let’s see how Twitter reacted.

Gee willikers.

Cairns Taipan sensation, Cam Gliddon has now spent a year in sunny Queensland and has somehow avoided a tan. Let’s see how Cammy looks with a little spray tan and a hair style to go with it.

For now… Don’t forget to #Bringit

Haggard

The post NBL 13/14 Round 2 musings appeared first on cantbuyabasket.com.

For now, take care

Haggard

The NBL kicked off this week much to the excitement of fans across the nation but interestingly the NBL has aggressively been pushing the #Bringit hashtag on Twitter. So it is safe to assume that #bringit is the official tag of the NBL13/14 season, but what are actually supposed to bring?

Let’s have a look to see what some of lords of the court brought to opening night

Dean Vickerman kicked the season off by bringing his chainsaw

Mika Vukona made an early play for defensive player of the year with this timely steal from Larry Davidson

Coach Gleeson brought his back pack with him

Jason brought a hand bag with him. Yes, Jason. It is adorable

#Starbucksdrakehands. did he bring it? You bet he did!

Now Gary. He did forget to bring something

Tiger, Scott Morrison did #bringit too. he brought a wind up clown music box. Good work, Scott

What do you think everyone else brought? NBL… #Bringit

The post NBL Round 1 musings #Bringit appeared first on cantbuyabasket.com.