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NBL Round 12
Wollongong v Singapore
2nd last hosts last here in what I believe could very well be game one of a two game wooden spoon playoff series (game two is in Singapore in round 17). The Hawks will want to avoid a 7th loss on the trot whilst the Slingers will be out to show that their victory at home against the tired looking Brisbane Bullets was no fluke.
The Hawks got demolished 82-115 by Gold Coast on their home court last Friday. Imports Kavossy Franklin and Angelo Reyes had 19 and 16 points respectively. Outside of this, they received minimal support. They are a team that lives and dies on their outside shooting and at 20% (4 from 20) on 3 pointers against the Blaze, such a score line is not very surprising.
The Slingers victory against the Bullets last Sunday put an end to a 6 game losing streak. They had 6 players score in double figures with imports Mike Helms, Rod Grizzard as well as Ben Knight (31, 24 and 21 points respectively) lead the way. Their weak defence gives teams a chance to beat them every time (no matter what their imports do offensively).
The Hawks will have plenty of good looks to get their outside shot going. Singapore is, behind West Sydney, the owners of the weakest defence in the league when playing away from home (111 points per game). The key to this game will be whose big men contribute more. If Knight and Chris Cameron can get the better of Cameron Tragardh and Larry Davidson, the Slingers are a definite chance. Whether or not the Slingers imports will give them the opportunity to do so remains to be seen. The line betting looks about right. I will be sitting back and cheering for the Slingers in our wooden spoon bet. The points total looks spot on to me.
Gold Coast v South Dragons
The TV game on Big Wednesday has the 5th placed Blaze hosting the 11th placed Dragons. The Blaze are on a 2 game winning streak whilst the Dragons are on a 2 game losing streak.
The Blaze comfortably defeated the Hawks in Wollongong last Friday after beating Adelaide at home 2 days earlier. James Harvey just missed out on NBL Player of the week honours after averaging 28.5 points across these two games. A win in this game will keep them breathing down the neck of the top 4.
The Dragons got soundly beat in Cairns by the Taipans 96-125 last Saturday after leaving their run a little too late and narrowly losing 2 days earlier in New Zealand. Given that New Zealand did not have any imports in that game, it was definitely a game that the Dragons should have won (especially if they want to be considered as top 8 contenders).
On paper, these two teams match up very evenly (the Blaze may have the slightest of edges in the frontcourt, if at all). However, the Blaze are the much better coached side, all their players know their roles and they stick to them. The same cannot be said about the Dragons. I expect the Blaze to win this game on their home floor and wrap up the season series against the Dragons (after beating them in Melbourne in round 9). The Dragons will play hard and may make a game of it. The line betting seems to accurately reflect all of this. The points total looks about right to me.
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