NBL 2022-2023 Round one predictions

 Round one Match ups

The NBL season tips off this Saturday 1st of October and for the punters out there the early rounds are the best time to get in some good wins with the betting agencies, usually a few steps behind in the NBL. 

Game 1 

South East Melbourne Phoenix (home) vs Tasmania JackJumpers (Away) 1/10/22 at 6:00pm AEST

The betting agencies have S.E. Melbourne as the favorites here but this should be an easy early win for Tasmania. Phoenix will have to have some players back from injury if they are to get a win here but as far as I know; Mitch creek still injured/limited minutes, Ryan Broekhoff still out injured and Gary Brown out injured, Trey Kell out injured. Gary Brown was the one bright spot for Phoenix in the NBL blitz and even with him they were looking like the cellar dwellers of the season. Phoenix do have Mitch Creek and Zhou Qi returning which is a huge part of their offense, but after watching them in the Blitz Creek would have to carry them to get a win here.
Tasmania looked surprisingly solid in the Blitz. I was expecting a pretty big slump from them after their stellar run to the finals last season but they still look strong managing to maintain the core group and this should be a good win to start their season. Watch out for Milton Doyle to have a big game posting a good points total. Over all it will probably be a low scoring game but Tassie should walk away with the W and for the punters out there a good bet on the underdog here. 

 I predict Tasmania to win by 10. 

Game 2

Illawarra Hawks (Home) vs Sydney Kings (Away) Saturday Oct 1 8:00pm AEST

This should be a tight game. Sydney will be strong as usual and Illawarra were a standout team at the Blitz. The Kings are the favorites on the betting sites but again i think ill have to tip the underdog. 

The Hawks just look very well rounded in the Blitz and Sydney may have some teething issues to start the season with the all new import line ups. Xavier Cooks is coming off a huge NZNBL season but his shot was not looking great at the Blitz and looked a little passive. They need him aggressive and to set the tone for this new Sydney team.

The Hawks are lead by Tyler Harvey at the point and he will put up some good numbers all around If Sydney don't contain him he will dominate the points but if they do Hawks move the ball well and look like they can break most early defensive schemes.

I predict Hawks by 6

Game 3: 

Melbourne United (Home) vs New Zealand Breakers (Away) Sunday Oct 2 2:00pm AEST

 

Melbourne are the heavy favorites here as they should be, they destroyed Perth in the NBL Blitz and if they are firing on all cylinders New Zealand will struggle to keep up. If Chris Goulding takes it out of 1st gear which he ran in the Blitz they will have too many weapons for New Zealand to contain who looked to struggle a little at the Blitz without their point guard William McDowel White. 

I predict Melbourne to win at home by 16

 

 

 

Game 4

Perth Wildcats (Home) VS Brisbane Bullets (Away) Sunday Oct 2 4pm

Perth are the favorites here at home and they should get the home win but i think i have to tip this one to Brisbane. Perth really looked lack luster against Melbourne in the Blitz and showed the league how to slow them down. Contain Bryce Cotton and slow the Wildcats. Luke Travers looks to be a great option running the point but he is not a scoring point guard and more a traditional style point guard. From the Blitz it didn't look like Perth had enough to shooters to take focus away from Cotton.

Brisbane during the Blitz, moved the ball well and got open shots for so many players. If they manage to play with that style and maybe get Aron Baynes a few more post touches watch out the rest of the league. Tyler Johnson seemed to always be able to get a bucket or get to the free throw line when the offense stalled. Even with Nathan Sobey still on limited minutes from injury i think Brisbane are looking strong. This one will be tight, Should be a great game!

I predict Brisbane by 2

Melbourne United vs Perth Wildcats Blitz 22 game review

 Melbourne United vs Perth Wildcats Game review

 

Melbourne started their preseason with some very unimpressive play. Brisbane handled them easily, with solid ball movement and a consistent play style. This game against Perth was a big indicator about where they were going to stand on the leader board this season.

Perth have been playing well with Cotton back to his best, dropping 36 points in 31 minutes in the Wildcats 1^st Preseason Blitz game. Can they continue that unbeaten streak.

 

1^st Quarter:

Ariel Huckporti opened the game with an attempt at a monster jam which rimmed out. He had been missing a few shot so far in the preseason and that attempt looked like he wanted destroy the ring!

Xavier Rathan-Mayes (XRM) opened scoring for the game with a strong drive, one on one against Luke Travers who is normally a very strong defender. Off ball Travers is elite defensively, maybe on ball is a hole in his defensive game.

Travers makes up for it though with a steal in the next play and opens scoring for Perth with a drive to the rim. Travers has a similar defensive play style to Mattise Thybulle in that he uses his basketball IQ and physical gifts to be an elite off the ball defender, he manages to help on nearly every other defensive play.

Huckporti skies for a big block then runs the lane for a big jam on offence. He certainly made up for the miss on the opening play!

Travers made a great cut and received the feed for a jam for Perth and it looks like Travers is playing point guard again!

XRM played exceptional defence on Bryce cotton and made him a complete non factor the whole half, let alone the first quarter with Cotton barely getting a touch of the ball. 

Makuach Maluach made a strong drive one on one against Travers again, and Melbourne have a good lead 16-8 with 3 minutes left in the quarter.

Cory Webster is in and immediately made a classic Webster play with a crossover, step back and mid range J for Perth. But Isaac Humphries comes in for Hukporti and there is no loss in the center position as he brings down the offensive board and makes the bucket. A strong Humphries would be huge for this Melbourne team. He was playing MVP level basketball before his injury with the Adelaide 36ers alongside Josh Giddey.  

Melbourne show off their improved ball movement and drop a 3 bomb at the buzzer to take a 10 point lead after the first 10 minutes 21-11.

2^nd quarter

Perth make a better start in the second with a great cut by Luke Travers for the easy dunk. 

Chris Goulding drops a bomb 3 for Melbourne though and extends the lead.

Ariel Hukporti is everywhere as he blocks a Bryce Cotton drive which leads to a David Barlow dunk in transition. Isn't Barlow retired?! Must be nice for Melbourne to have a on court assistant coach.

 

Rayjon Tucker gets in on the action with a 3 bomb and the Melbourne lead keeps getting bigger as United are rolling. 29-13 with 7:30 left in the 2nd quarter.

Perth get a bucket off a great cut from TeShawn Thomas off an excellent Travers pass as he is still playing point guard and carrying Perth in many ways. Travers seems to have a hand in every play that goes anywhere on both sides of the ball. But Melbourne shut him down with a big block and the Melbourne block count just keeps going!

Issac Humphries is pushing when he gets on the floor and makes a nice drive and layup off a XRM assist. He must be a big fantasy pick up for cheap. Very high upside. (Both players)

Melbourne cant do anything wrong. Playing excellent defence and moving the ball. Then XRM and Isaac Humphries team up for a block and steal to push the ball and complete a full court transition play with two passes and the ball not touching the ground, finishing with a Tucker and one layup!

Rajon Tucker is an exciting player who's enthusiasm for the game is infectious. When he makes a good play you'll know about it with his celebrations and his plays are awesome!

XRM continued to dominate dropping step back mid range J's over Bryce Cotton like its a pick up game. 

Perth were struggling to get anything and everything was going Melbourne's way until Brady Manek drops a 3 at the buzzer. 

Melbourne with a dominating lead 48-30 at the half. 

3rd Quarter:

Rajon Tucker opens the quarter with a huge right hand dunk.

Tucker backs up the dunk with a steel off a the quick hands of Hukporti and leads the fast break to feed Hukporti for the Jam!

Todd Blanchfield got scoring started for Perth with a big 3. 

Bryce Cotton backde it up with a 3, for his first points of the game with six minutes left in the third quarter. Melbourne absolutely shutting him down!

Some hard defense from Melbourne and Cotton and Travers are down after some hard hits, but in the back court Ariel Hukporti is down and not getting up off, a non contact play! He is carried off the floor by his teammates and he couldn't put any weight down on his foot!

The story of the game isn't Melbourne's excellent play but the Hukporti injury! Its later confirmed its a torn archiles and he is out for the entire season! Its a huge loss for Melbourne United and the entire league. Hukporti was ready for a break out season before possibly going to the the NBA and off his play from this game he was looking like a dominating big man in the NBL. I really hope he recovers well and can continue his career without lasting injury. 

 

Cotton droped another 3 and it was looking like Perth might make a run, but Tucker got a steal on the next play and an easy transition lay up. 

XRM then just catches fire, smoking cotton and dropping a bomb three as cotton looks on. While on the other end absolutely shutting Cotton down. 

XRM then feeds Humphries for a couple of layups and makes more buckets before asking for a rest. He absolutely took over the game with Melbourne up 26. 

Tucker dropped a 3 at the buzzer and Melbourne go into the final break dominating 73-47. 

4th Quarter

Perth open the quarter with a Thomas 3 ball and back it up with a Cotton steal, and another Thomas 3 but its 73-51. 

Melbourne forced a turnover and find Brad Newley for an easy layup and it stops Perth's run in its tracks. 

The final quarter didn't need to be played as Melbourne continued their great play and run away with the win 90-63. 

Final score Melbourne 90 Perth 63. 

Its preseason but it was a statement win by Melbourne, who if they can play like that, will be very tough to beat. 

Losing Hukporti can not be understated though. His defence and offence in this game was exceptional. 

 

Game Leaders:

Melbourne United

Xavier Rathan-Mayes (XRM) - 22 points 2 assists

Rajon Tucker - 18 points  7 rebounds 3 assists

Isaac humphries - 12 points, 7 rebounds 3 assists

Perth Wildcats:

Tashawn Thomas - 10 Points 

Bryce Cotton - 8 Points, 7 rebounds

Cory Webster - 10 points

Luke travers - 7 points, 4 assists, 3 steals, 2 rebounds

NBL Blitz Day 2 Games

 NBL Blitz 2022 Day 2

 

Game 1: 5:30pm Sydney Kings Vs Tasmania JackJumpers

Ive gotta tip Sydney to get the win here. Its the grand final rematch but with Tasmania losing some players and Sydney as well I gotta go with the team with better individual players. The kings always have a strong roster and with Xavier Cooks still on the team his offensive and defensive prowess will power the kings to many wins through the season and i believe this will be the first. 

Tasmania are a team that will grow with time and teamwork needs time to strengthen. Keep an eye on them after the first half of the season but early on they will struggle. 

Sydney to win by 12

Game 2: Perth wildcats Vs Cairns Taipans

Again its the bigger team that should prevail early. Perth will be itching to start well and make a strong play at being their at the end of the season. Bryce Cotton will carry Perth to a win even if Cairns keep it close. If they play him the full game that is. Preseason depends a lot on what the coach is looking to develop in the team. 

Perth to win by 15

Should be a couple of good games and if your wanting to get early in your NBL season punts watching the preseason will get you some good early season wins in your account.