NBL readies for lift off

The 2017-18 NBL campaign is at our doorstep once again.

Will Perth Wildcats defend their championship?

Can the Illawarra Hawks break their own title drought?

Or will a stacked Melbourne United storm to the title?

Hoopla basketball scribe Mitch Cohen looks at each teams chances for the upcoming campaign.

Coach – Joey Wright

Roster – Brendan Teys (captain), Matt Hodgson, Caleb Davis (DP), Majok Deng, Adam Doyle, Nathan Sobey, Daniel Johnson, Anthony Drmic, Mitch Creek, Ramone Moore, Ronald Roberts, Shannon Shorter.

What To Expect – With star guard and reigning NBL MVP Jerome Randle taking the exit door, Adelaide will need someone else to step up and take charge. New arrivals Roberts and Shorter both have experience playing in Europe and will need to hit the ground running to help fill the void left by Randle. 

Key Man – Nathan Sobey. The all-action guard, who played Summer League with the Utah Jazz, enjoyed a breakout campaign in 2016-17 and can take things to another level this season in the absence of Randle. 

Prediction – Fifth. You can never write off a team coached by Wright, but competition for top-four spots will be as hot as ever this season. 

Coach – Andrej Lemanis

Roster – Adam Gibson (captain), Travis Trice, Mitchell Young, Matt Kenyon, Stephen Holt, Shaun Bruce, Tom Jervis, Daniel Kickert, Tom Fullarton (DP), Anthony Petrie, Reuben Te Rangi, Cameron Bairstow, Perrin Buford, Tyrell Harrison (DP). 

What To Expect – Brisbane’s fortunes will rely heavily on how well Holt and Trice can play together. Both had good moments at different NBL clubs in previous seasons, but will need to find a way to work together at the Bullets. Brisbane will be a force if they can. Kickert is also poised for another strong campaign after impressing with the Boomers.

Key Man – Stephen Holt. Had some dominant performances with United during one season at the club in 2015-16. He needs to do it on a regular basis to help the Bullets cover the loss of Torrey Craig, who signed with the Denver Nuggets in the NBA.

Prediction – Fourth – Provided everything gels they way they’ll hope it does, they should finish in the top-four.

Coach – Aaron Fearne 

Roster – Cameron Gliddon (captain), Damon Heuir, Kuany Kuany, Mitch McCarron, Stephen Weigh, Nathan Jawai, Nnanna Egwu, Micheal Carrera, Alex Loughton, Jarrad Weeks, Scoochie Smith.

What To Expect –  A lot will depend on how new import Scoochie Smith plays in his maiden NBL season. With Carrera set to miss the first six weeks due to a knee injury, Cairns must get by as best they can until he returns. Jawai’s fitness also needs to hold up throughout the campaign if the Taipans hope to return to the finals again this season.

Key Man – Cameron Gliddon – The Taipans skipper is a seasoned veteran in the competition now. His leadership at both ends of the floor will be crucial as Cairns look to upset their more fancied rivals again.

Prediction – Seventh –  The Taipans shocked many around the league by making the finals last season. Twelves months on they could find it more difficult as teams like Melbourne and Brisbane look to make their finals return.

Coach – Rob Beveridge

Roster – Kevin White (captain), AJ Ogilvy, Oscar Forman, Mitch Norton, Nick Kay, Rhys Martin, Rotnei Clarke, Demitrius Conger, Delvon Johnson, Tim Coenraad, Cody Ellis, Angus Glover (DP), Marshall Nelson (DP), Nic Pozoglou (DP).

What To Expect – Before a ball has been tipped, Conger and Johnson already look to be upgrades on departing imports Marvelle Harris and Michael Holyfield. If that is the case, the Hawks should be ultra competitive again, with most of the squad retained from last year’s grand final appearance. Norton and Kay can take things to the next level this campaign after making their Boomers debuts in the off-season.

Key Man – Demitrius Conger. After impressing at the NBL Blitz, the American forward looks ready to play a huge part for Illawarra. Clarke still has the ability to be a match winner, but Conger will provide something the Hawks lacked last year with his versatility.

Prediction – Third – Several critics have already foolishly written off the Hawks. As long as they can navigate a difficult start to the campaign, master coach Beveridge should have them in the mix. Once finals begin, anything can happen.

Coach – Dean Vickerman 

Roster – David Anderson (captain), Sam Short, Peter Hooley, Kyle Adnam, Craig Moller, Josh Boone, Tohi Smith-Miler (DP), David Barlow, Casper Ware, Majok Majok, Casey Prather, Tai Wesley, Chris Goulding, Daniel Dillon.

What To Expect – Championship winning coach Vickerman is a big addition. By retaining Boone and Ware as well as adding Prather, United have now become the league’s most stacked squad. While only one player can have the ball at any given time, Melbourne still have an abundance of attacking weapons at their disposal.

Key Man – Casey Prather. This is still Goulding’s team, but Prather will undoubtedly be United’s most influential player this season after making the switch from Perth. The American import has improved every season he’s played in the NBL.

Prediction – First. Anything other than a finish near the top of the competition would have to be considered a failure with the group United have assembled.

Coach – Paul Henare 

Roster – Mika Vukona (captain), Finn Delany, Edgar Sosa, Shea Ili, Kirk Penney, Mitchell Newton (DP), Derona Raukawa (DP), D.J Newbill, Rob Loe, Jordan Ngatai, James Hunter, Alex Pledger, Daniel Fotu.

What To Expect – Unless Henere can weave some magic, it looks set to be a long year for the Breakers. Veterans like Vukona and Penney will continue to give their all, but the quality looks to be lacking a shade compared to several of their rivals.

Key Man – Shea Ili – The Kiwi guard had a terrific off-season while playing with the Tall Blacks at the Asia Cup. If he can emulate that form he could be headed towards a breakout season in the NBL. The Breakers will need it.

Prediction – Eighth. A mixed squad of youth and experience doesn’t appear to have the depth needed to challenge for the top-four.

Coach – Trevor Gleeson 

Roster – Damian Martin (captain), Devondrick Walker, Lucas Walker, Mason Bragg (DP), Greg Hire, J.P Tokoto, Jarrod Kenny, Matt Knight, Dexter Kernich-Drew, Bryce Cotton, Angus Brandt, Derek Cooke, Jesse Wagstaff. 

What To Expect – Casey Prather is a big loss, but Perth still have all the core ingredients to be a successful side again this season. If new additions Tokoto and Cooke can blend with the remainder of the championship winning squad, the Cats will be in for another strong campaign.

Key Man – Bryce Cotton – The leading canditate for the MVP. The American guard can score at will and has the ability to take games by the throat.

Prediction – Second –  The perennial contenders don’t look like falling too far from the top this season.

Coach – Andrew Gaze

Roster – Kevin Lisch (captain), Isaac Humphries, Travis Leslie, Jason Cadee, Brad Newley, Amritpal Sing, Todd Blanchfield, Tom Garlepp, Dane Pineau, Adam Thoseby, Perry Ellis, Deng Acouth (DP), Sam Daly (DP), Darcy Malone (DP).

What To Expect – The pressure will be on Gaze to lead the Kings back to finals basketball in his second season. By adding Leslie and Blanchfield, Sydney will have increased depth in the back court, but appear to lack size up front. With few options, there will be a lot of pressure on teenager Isaac Humphries to perform. Can he handle it?

Key Man – Kevin Lisch. New imports Ellis and Leslie will be keen to make their mark, but the former Hawks remains Sydney’s most important player. His fitness will be key to the Kings’ hopes of returning to the finals.

Prediction – Sixth – The Kings will need everything with their squad to go right to make the top-five.