Club-By-Club: Highs & Lows of NBL23

Sunday, February 26, 2023

For NBL teams now out of the finals, there's always those questions about 'what could have been?'.

As Sydney and New Zealand prepare for the Championship Series, eight other teams, their coaches and staff are sitting back watching with a keen eye - how do they get to that level? How do they reach the ultimate pinnacle?

As we continue the countdown to Game 1 on Friday, March 3, we're analysing what went right and what went wrong for each team in NBL23.

In the first edition of Pete Hooley's new series, we look at the highs and lows for each team.

Adelaide

High
The more you look back and remember that this team beat the Phoenix Suns, the more unreal it sounds, especially when you consider what happened throughout the remainder of NBL23. There's one moment in history that can never be taken away from that squad ... call it pre-season, call it an exhibition, call it whatever you want – but that was one impressive performance from the 36ers. The highlights will live on in the history books and there was plenty of them.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">If anyone needs us, we'll be watching these highlights.<br><br>The <a href="https://twitter.com/Adelaide36ers?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Adelaide36ers</a> put on a 3-point shooting masterclass in their 142-132 win over the Phoenix Suns<br><br>24/43 (55.8%) from a bit deeper than they're used to. <a href="https://t.co/yTNK6sUjpc">pic.twitter.com/yTNK6sUjpc</a></p>— NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1576798323725709314?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 3, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Low
An overall disappointing season from Adelaide, considering where many predicted them to be with the roster they put together. There was one low point in particular that I felt changed the course of their season; the game against Cairns on New Year’s Eve really seemed to put the nail in the coffin for any hope of a 36ers miracle. Adelaide was up 18 with just over six minutes to go in the last quarter, until an almighty collapse saw them snatch defeat from victory. After that, Adelaide just never looked the same.

Adelaide

Brisbane

High
It took the entire team an eternity to figure some things out on the floor, but when they did, they showed glimpses of what could have been a very fun squad. One impressive takeaway would have to be Tyler Johnson’s play down the stretch of the season. A finalist for the Best Sixth Man, since Round 12, Johnson averaged 17.6 points per game, at 46 per cent from the field. He made it clear that he would love to stay around the league, and I hope we get the chance to see him in NBL24 and beyond.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">OK TJ ?<br><br>The Bullets are taking a three-point lead into the final quarter - and Tyler Johnson finished the third in style ?<br><br>Catch the action live on ESPN via Kayo Sports and Foxtel. <a href="https://t.co/d27M5lyfwN">pic.twitter.com/d27M5lyfwN</a></p>— NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1616014371146326019?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 19, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Low
There was a lot that happened both on and off the floor for Brisbane that wasn’t pretty at times. One of the major low points on the floor however, would have to be the Bullets' 49-point loss to Sydney in front of their home fans. No matter how much Brisbane struggled to put it altogether on the season, the fans never wavered, and for them to have to sit and watch their team lose by 50 would have been horrible. That game also came a week after losing by 26 on their home floor to Cairns.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">49 points. You’ve got to be kidding, Brisbane.</p>— Michael Randall (@MickRandallHS) <a href="https://twitter.com/MickRandallHS/status/1613117903246880770?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 11, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Cairns

High
He went from nearly out of the league in Adelaide two seasons ago, to the NBL’s Most Improved Player in NBL22. Then, just as everyone thought he had reached his peak, Keanu Pinder went to a new level this past season and put together a very special year for the Taipans. He put up 17 points per game to go with 9.3 rebounds and showcased to everyone that he’s not only a superstar now, but for many years to come.

Low
Unfortunately, the major highs/lows for Cairns come around the same topic – Keanu Pinder. It looked for a long time that not many, if anyone, could stop him when he was playing with confidence. Pinder’s ankle injury was what sidelined him initially for an extended period of time, then when he was still trying to work his way back into game shape, copped an errant elbow that put an end to his season. It hurts more when you realise that we never really saw the Taipans at their full potential for long enough in the business end of the season.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Keanu Pinder has been taken straight into the changerooms following a stray elbow to the face late in the third quarter. <a href="https://t.co/w5mcAmSgDo">pic.twitter.com/w5mcAmSgDo</a></p>— NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1618192464304820228?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 25, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Illawarra

High
The one shining light that will live on in the highlight reel for a very long time, was Tyler Harvey’s game-winning three against New Zealand. After beginning that game in blistering fashion, scoring 27-points in the first quarter, the Hawks ran out of gas late and nearly lost another game they fully deserved to win. After an ill-advised turnover by Sam Froling late, Harvey pulled up from the carpark and drained a three on the buzzer to give the Hawks a very overdue win.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">TYLER HARVEY TO WIN THE GAME. HE IS MAGIC ?<br><br>UNRIVALLED DRAMA<br><br>WHAT A GAME OF NBL BASKETBALL ? <a href="https://t.co/218UNw8XkS">pic.twitter.com/218UNw8XkS</a></p>— NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1615989417155637250?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 19, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Low
In terms of lows, there are a few to choose from unfortunately. The Hawks only won three games on the season, yet that doesn’t tell the true story of how hard they fought down the stretch. In fact, Illawarra lost five games by less than five points, all to teams who finished top four on the ladder. A one-point loss to both Sydney and Cairns, three-point loss to Tasmania and two five-point losses to the Kings and Taipans once again.

United

High
Towards the end of the season there was no hotter team in the entire league than Melbourne United. It finally looked as though it all clicked and on the back of some big performances from Goulding and Tucker, United meant business. They won 10 of their last 13 games and were knocking on the door of one of the most unlikely post-season trips, when you remember how it all started. What is even more hard to grasp, is that that final stretch began after they had just lost the Hawks by 14-points. A team that only won three games all season.

Side note: One of the best moments of the season for the entire country, not just the league and United, was Isaac Humphries' brave decision to come out and show the world who he truly was. No one will forget that anytime soon.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">?? ?????????? finish off the alley-oop<br>?? The clever cut back<br><br>Rayjon Tucker is UNSTOPPABLE above the rim tonight - he's up to 7 points now ?‍?<br><br>Watch <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBL23?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBL23</a> live on ESPN via Kayo Sports + Foxtel ? <a href="https://t.co/F885LGGzmQ">pic.twitter.com/F885LGGzmQ</a></p>— NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1619228910864195584?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 28, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Low
Injuries are a part of the game and no matter who it is, no one ever wants to see another player go down. It’s hard not to look back on their season and not think that the repeated concussion issues for Shea Ili were a major reason for their lack of success in NBL23. Ili played just 14 games on the season after picking up back-to-back concussions in preseason training. Then when all looked like he had put it behind him, Ili copped another innocuous knock against Adelaide and the team rightly shut him down. Whether you’re a fan of United or not, I think we are all fans of the way Ili goes about it and we hope he is back on the floor asap.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Dean Vickerman and Chris Goulding provide an update on Shea Ili's condition after he left tonight's game due to a head knock <a href="https://t.co/0xaEp51CYF">pic.twitter.com/0xaEp51CYF</a></p>— NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1616757841507028992?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 21, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

High
Pick any moment you want from this incredible season for New Zealand. From winning just five games last season and enduring one of the toughest grinds of any professional sports team ever, what they have managed to accomplish to this point is borderline unbelievable. For me, that first home game back in front of their friends and family was a special one for everyone involved in the NBL. After being away from home for two straight seasons, living out of hotel rooms, spending special occasions on facetime, to see them all be welcomed back to where they belong was fantastic. It’s a testament to everyone involved in the Breakers, both the club and the fans, as to how they got to this other side from where they were just 12 months ago.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Mody Maor has led New Zealand to a ???????? turnaround in NBL23 ?<br><br>The Breakers are what's beautiful about basketball ?<br><br>They'll face the Kings in the NBL23 Championship Series which kicks off on Friday, March 3 ? <a href="https://t.co/MGn79MDj4s">pic.twitter.com/MGn79MDj4s</a></p>— NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1627541605145284608?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 20, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Low
Due to scheduling and the team being impacted with covid, the Breakers had a stretch from the 9th of December until the 4th of January where they played just one game. Everyone was wondering if it would have impacted them in a negative way and we quickly saw that, when they lost four straight. In that time was the Tyler Harvey buzzer beater to sink the Breakers, and have everyone thinking maybe things had fallen apart.

Perth

High
There’s simply no highlight of a season in Perth that doesn’t involve Bryce Cotton and his greatness. In Round 17, Cotton put up 40 points against the Hawks at 52 per cent from the field. As if anyone needed another reminder of how good this man was. Cotton finished the season as an MVP finalist once again, after leading the league in scoring for the sixth season. In fact, the only season Cotton hasn’t led the league in scoring was in 2019, where he finished second behing Melo Trimble by just .7 of a point per game.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Bryce Cotton dropped a season high 40 points in the Perth Wildcats comeback victory over the Illawarra Hawks. Here are the highlights ? <a href="https://t.co/VOWq0hOMGu">pic.twitter.com/VOWq0hOMGu</a></p>— ESPN Australia & NZ (@ESPNAusNZ) <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNAusNZ/status/1618954187899035648?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 27, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Low
It was pretty early on that the alarm bells were ringing in Perth. It was around the time where they were embarrassed by Tasmania, on their way to a 31-point defeat. After just coming off a loss to United, then struggling in Tasmania, Perth lost a heartbreaker to the Phoenix and then lost by 17 to Melbourne again before again losing to Tasmania at home. That five game losing stretch wasn’t pretty and it wasn’t long before John Rillie pulled some major changes in the rotation.

Sem

High
It would be easy to say that Mitch Creek’s 46-point game was the highlight of the Phoenix season, but that’s too obvious. Instead, it’s worthy to give praise to big man Alan Williams, who was monstrous for them all season long. Williams averaged 16.6 points per game and 9.9 rebounds and became a walking double-double. Williams managed to figure out the NBL style of play incredibly quick and it showed with his big games on a nightly basis. The Phoenix acted quick and locked their man into a two year extension, which is great news for all involved.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Incredibly close game in Gippsland ?<a href="https://twitter.com/SEMelbPhoenix?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SEMelbPhoenix</a> take It out in the double overtime clash ??<br><br>Foot Locker Player of the Game honours go to Mitch Creek with career and <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBL23?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBL23</a> season high 46 points. <a href="https://t.co/pdXsxSRnRp">pic.twitter.com/pdXsxSRnRp</a></p>— NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1604350452195135488?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 18, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Low
The injury bug. As if it could be anything else. Ryan Broekhoff, Gary Browne and Trey Kell all missed significant time for the Phoenix over the course of the season. Not only that, but at one point they were all sitting out injured at the same time, just to make things worse. When this team was healthy and started to roll, they looked like a team that could contend for a title. Yet we just never saw that long enough to really be confident they could get it done, and you’d have to say that it ultimately derailed their season.

Syd

High
Take your pick. My heart wants to go back and look at DJ Vasiljevic’s record breaking night where he hit 10 threes on his way to 42-points. But my head is telling me that Xavier Cooks had two of the nastiest poster dunks you will ever see. You can also take your pick on which dunk was more spectacular, the one over Humphries or the crossover and finish on Sotto.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Dejan Vasiljevic's 10 three-point makes tied the <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NBL</a> record for a 40-minute game. <br><br>Previous to this, Bryce Cotton had also made 10 against Cairns in 2020 during the <a href="https://twitter.com/PerthWildcats?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PerthWildcats</a> Semi-Final Series. <a href="https://t.co/jkidXQCN02">pic.twitter.com/jkidXQCN02</a></p>— NBL History (@nblhistory) <a href="https://twitter.com/nblhistory/status/1611137745187131392?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 5, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Low
There weren’t too many low points in the impressive season for Sydney after winning a title just a few months prior. If anything, their 0-2 finish to the regular season raised some minor concerns for fans before finals began. It wasn’t so much as though the Kings were exposed by either Adelaide or Perth, rather it seemed as though they knew they had top spot locked up and took their foot off the gas. It’s not the ideal way to enter the post-season, but thankfully they had an extended break from their last game until the first semi-finals game.

Tas

High
Tasmania was staring down the barrel of an 0-4 start to the season, when they were down 16-points at half-time to Brisbane on their home floor. Whatever Scott Roth said at half-time, basically turned their entire season around for them and off they went. They came back and won that game by four and then won three straight and people were starting to wonder if Tasmania could possibly do it again. A second consecutive top four finish just further solidifies how impressive everything about that organisation and culture is.

Low
Take out Scott Roth and Jack McVeigh, the one other player that has seemed to perfectly encapsulate everything about the JackJumper program, is Josh Magette. After not missing a single game since his arrival before NBL22, Magette left the game against the Hawks in Round 18 after a horrible eye injury that saw him needed three metal plates inserted into his face. It was a freak accident, but an untimely one and with the reports of the pain he endured afterward, it was good to just see him smiling again on the sideline in the post-season.