NBLxNBL1 Preview (August 26)

Friday, August 26, 2022

NBL1 is well and truly heating up with every conference now starting to reach the pointy end of the season.

By Dan Woods - NBL Media
Photo: Brandon Hancock, Archie Creative

NBL1 is well and truly heating up with every conference now starting to reach the pointy end of the season. Within a matter of weeks each league will have crowned their new champions.

Despite pre-season officially kicking off for most NBL sides, there are still a number of league stars strutting their stuff in the NBL1, as they look to cap off their off-seasons with a bang.

From Kouat Noi and Jason Cadee in NBL1 North to Daniel Johnson in NBL1 Central, and everyone in between, we've got you covered with a rundown of this weekend's upcoming NBL1 action.

NBL1 North
It’s grand final time in NBL1 North, and there will be plenty of NBL talent on display, as USC Rip City take on the Gold Coast Rollers.

Kouat Noi’s dominance of the conference has been well covered this season, and despite initial reports Sydney wouldn’t release the star forward for game one of the series, he’ll travel to Queensland on game day in the hopes of finishing the season strongly.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/USCRipCityBball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@USCRipCityBball</a> have had a win of sorts in the lead up to their NBL1 North grand final series, with the <a href="https://twitter.com/SydneyKings?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SydneyKings</a> agreeing to release league MVP Kouat Noi for at least one game. <a href="https://t.co/dSgFbiE9NM">https://t.co/dSgFbiE9NM</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/LukeMcGarry7?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@LukeMcGarry7</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBL1North?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBL1North</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/7NEWS?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#7NEWS</a> <a href="https://t.co/FIPgdTxCac">pic.twitter.com/FIPgdTxCac</a></p>— 7NEWS Sunshine Coast (@7NewsSC) <a href="https://twitter.com/7NewsSC/status/1562719452436713472?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 25, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Noi's partner in crime for Rip City is new Illawarra signing and former King Wani Swaka Lo Buluk.

Often tasked with providing versatility and energy off the bench this season, Swaka Lo Buluk was held to a quiet eight points and two steals against Cairns in the semi-finals.

Back to back 20-point games earlier in the season showcased his ability to get a hot hand, and he’ll have to be at his best to ensure Rip City finish the season with a championship.

In Noi and Swaka Lo Buluk’s way is a star-studded Gold Coast Rollers side.

Gold Coast overcame a Northside team that featured NBL talents Keanu Pinder, Lual Diing and Anthony Drmic in the semi-finals. The Wizards obviously missed the presence of star guard Mitch McCarron, as they were dismantled by the DJ Mitchell led Rollers.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The DJ came to play ????<a href="https://twitter.com/BrisbaneBullets?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BrisbaneBullets</a>' <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBL23?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBL23</a> signing Donovan 'DJ' Mitchell went off for <a href="https://twitter.com/GoldCoastBBall?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GoldCoastBBall</a> in last night's <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NBL1</a> North semi-final, dropping 35 points on 14/21 FG <br><br>The Rollers will now battle it out for the ? against Kouat Noi's USC Rip City squad. <a href="https://t.co/hZAAhcvr87">pic.twitter.com/hZAAhcvr87</a></p>— The NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1561233116119076864?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 21, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Mitchell, Jason Cadee and Tanner Krebs have formed a lethal three-headed monster for the Rollers this season. It’s almost the case of if one doesn’t get you, the other two will.

Noi and Krebs have been two of the best players in the conference all season long – Noi won the league’s MVP - and the pair look set to create a mouth-watering matchup in the front court.

It was Rip City who came away with the win last time these sides played, with Noi’s 34 points getting his side over the line.

NBL1 South
NBL1 South is a couple of steps behind its northern counterparts, with four teams set to do battle for a place in the preliminary final this weekend.

Nick Marshall’s Mt Gambier Pioneers and Sam McDaniel, Harry Froling and Jarred Bairstow’s Hobart Chargers have already secured their place in the preliminary final.

Deng Deng and the Kilsyth Cobras will be hoping to walk away with a win at home against Bendigo to secure their spot, while a disappointing showing in last week’s qualifying final will provide more than enough motivation for David Barlow, David Okwera and the Sandringham Sabres to put their best foot forward against the Frankston Blues.

NBL1 West
Like NBL1 South, NBL1 West will be showcasing their semi-finals this weekend as four teams fight for two spots in the preliminaries.

Kyle Zunic and Majok Majok flew the flag for the NBL last night in a narrow two-point victory over Cockburn. They’re the last NBL players standing in what’s been a competitive league.

Cockburn took the NBL pairs' Senators side right to the final moments of the game. It took some classy off-ball movement for Majok to find space under the ring to put up a buzzer-beating winner.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">OH MY! Warwick Senators complete the most remarkable of comebacks finding Majok Majok under the bucket for the semi-final winner over <a href="https://twitter.com/CougarFamilyCBA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CougarFamilyCBA</a> <br><br>Watch <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBL1Finals?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBL1Finals</a> live and free on <a href="https://t.co/NEk1I7kIKG">https://t.co/NEk1I7kIKG</a> and the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBL1?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBL1</a> App ??? <a href="https://t.co/Plu7UoDOgI">pic.twitter.com/Plu7UoDOgI</a></p>— NBL1 (@NBL1) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL1/status/1562790326976520194?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 25, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

NBL1 East
NBL1 East is down to its final four teams and should results go their way there could be an NBL matchup in the grand final, as Illawarra’s Akoldah Gak and Sutherland’s Angus Glover both look to pull their teams into the next stage of the competition.

Gak and his Hawks travel to the home of the Canberra Gunners, while Glover’s Sharks take on the Maitland Mustangs.

NBL1 Central
The Woodville Warriors are already through to the grand final in NBL1 Central, and Daniel Johnson will be looking to take his Forestville side into the big dance to take them on.

‘DJ’ has averaged just shy of a double-double this season, putting up 20.7 points and 9.5 rebounds a game. The Adelaide veteran has been crucial to his side’s fortunes this season.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">? ICYMI ? Daniel Johnson posted a DOUBLE-DOUBLE in our <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBL1Central?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBL1Central</a> Air Everywhere Men's Elim Semi Final win over the Flames last Sat. Get tix to SATURDAY NIGHT'S 8:15pm Prelim Final v South at Mitchell Park via: <a href="https://t.co/e90AIqB8L1">https://t.co/e90AIqB8L1</a> <br>???? <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeTheVille?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeTheVille</a><br>?: AllStar Photos <a href="https://t.co/9OdkkR1Xfx">pic.twitter.com/9OdkkR1Xfx</a></p>— Forestville Eagles Basketball Club (@Forestville_Eag) <a href="https://twitter.com/Forestville_Eag/status/1562311292433494017?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 24, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Last time he played this weekend’s opponents – South Adelaide – he impressed with 19 points, seven rebounds and six assists, however the side was on the wrong end of a comfortable 15 points margin, largely due to the 32 points scored by Panther Alexander Starling.