The Flames Walter "Trey" McBride needs another big game if the Flames are to crack their heartbreaking streak of defeats. Photo supplied by Picture IT Sports Photography
5-Minute Read
Monday 25/04/22
Norwood Flames vs Southern Tigers – (ARC – The Firedome)
Women (1:30pm)
Two of the title contenders go head-to-head in a star studded duel of Wilson/Basham vs Yaeger/Skinner. It might take the likes of McKendrick and Thacker to knock off the other Flames key pieces in Akeun and Anderson. Wilson’s experience might just give the Flames the difference as well as her ability to bring others into the game with assists (7 against the Warriors on the weekend); that just gives the Flames the edge at home.
Key Stat – Ally Wilson (36 ppg) and Morgan Yaeger (32 ppg) are the top two leading points average scorers after three rounds.
ESPN Prediction: Flames by 3 points
Men (3:15pm)
I have it on very good authority that the Tigers will have some reinforcements back for today’s game and they’ll need them against the desperate Flames. The Flames statistically have been right up there and the only thing thats not in their column is a tick in the win box. Walter “Trey” McBride and Ray Harding look the game breakers in this one and expect Anthony Green to have a big one after a quiet first few rounds…
Key Stat – The Flames average 81 points per game compared to the Tigers 71; the Tigers are also averaging 21 percent from behind the arc.
ESPN Prediction: Flames by 14 points
North Adelaide Rockets vs Sturt Sabres (Lights – The Launch Pad)
Women (1:30pm)
The front court is where this game is potentially won and the Sabres showed through Nicola Mathews and import Williams they could dominate rebounding, but as has always been their strength is their number of players that can hit the scoreboard with 17 assists in their first outing. Peyton Taylor and Rayven Thomas will get some incoming help potentially from Lily Zbierski in those areas but the Sabres showed their system is still solid.
Key Stat – The Rockets are averaging 19.5 turnovers already this season, the imports have to help the home side look after the ball…
ESPN Prediction: Sabres by 20 points
Men (3:15pm)
The Sabres proved their system is still king but as we know in last season coach Dean Nyberg was able to exploit it and get his Rockets into the decider. Both teams look like they’ll be scoring at a high clip shooting it at over 45 percent but the Sabres we’ve only seen one game which mainly came from Spear and Rigoni. Not much separates these two so its bound to be a thriller much like we saw in Round one at the Launch Pad.
Key Stat – 11 triples at 45.1 percent was a key figure in the finality of the preliminary final result of 2021 along with 6-13 points from 22 turnovers of the Sabres; although different personnel, the impact of this will be evident again in this one.
ESPN Prediction: Rockets by 5 points
Woodville Warriors vs Eastern Mavericks (St Clair – The Castle)
Women (1:30pm)
The form line of these two teams is really hard to draw after a few games, the Warriors are on the improve and the Mavericks won it comfortably over the Lions on the weekend. It seems to come down to the two imports for the Mavs that will be the difference.
Key Stat – Lefebvre-Okankwu and Gouchie-Provencher had 41 points between them making up a huge percentage of the Mavs scoring in Round 3.
ESPN Prediction: Mavs by 11 points
Men (3:15pm)
The biggest question is where are the Mavs reinforcements and will they be ready for today? A big name is about to drop soon I’ve heard but until they are all on the court in uniform, this could be a struggle for the away side. The Warriors have been frustrating to watch but you can also see all the pieces coming together and its likely today we’ll see more of that coming together.
Key Stat – The Warriors average 13 offensive rebounds per game, an area the Mavs will need to be wary of…
ESPN Prediction: Warriors by 30 points
West Adelaide Bearcats vs South Adelaide Panthers (Port Adelaide – Bearcat Cave)
Women (1:30pm)
The Panthers are getting it done in multiple ways and the Bearcats despite their loss are in very good early season form. There is quality across every line with the Jordan Hunter vs Jasmin Fejo matchup looking to be the key one after she caused problems for the Panthers in their last game at Marion in 2021. The influence of Hannah Stewart and Jasmine Simmons may decide this contest through their defence and contributions.
Key Stat – Simmons already averages 2 steals, 3 assists, 8.5 points and 15 rebounds in three games; officially on triple double watch for the season.
ESPN Prediction: Panthers by 7 points
Men (3:15pm)
The Panthers could not have started the season better and perhaps I have vastly underestimated the impact of this roster so far. In perspective they’ve beaten the Flames and an under strength Eagles (now one of the few times we’ll see this season) so this game against the Bearcats doesn’t necessarily tell us anything new about Ninnis’s men. Winning form is good form and with Smith and Starling starting the season inn a blaze; the Bearcats may find themselves playing plenty of catchup in this one. .
Key Stat – Both these teams are in the top three for three point percentage; expect a show of shooting beyond the perimeter in this one.
ESPN Prediction: Panthers by 18 points
Forestville Eagles vs Central District Lions (Wayville – The Nest) – Game of the Week
Women (3:00pm)
The Lions are building and have shown some good signs they are heading in the right direction; already the recruitment of Samuels and Washington seems the right fit and Tyla Bennett looked like a player to keep an eye on. The Eagles however will have too much class in this one and will have too much firepower across all lines. Funnier results have happened on ANZAC day though in the past…
Key Stat – The Eagles have 7 players inside the top 50 point scoring averages led by Sam Simons and Izzy Stratford with 15.5
ESPN Prediction: Eagles by 28 points
Men (4:45pm)
This game of the week is now much closer than maybe when the draw came out. A battle of the basketball minds of Simons vs York is going to be a treat to watch and Dowdell is now “the man” at the Lions; him versus Greg Mays is going to be great to watch. Add to the quality viewing of ex 36ers Bijan Johnson and possibly Adam Doyle, a battle between young guns Tyrone Fui and Malith Machar; This is suddenly shaping as an ANZAC classic…
Key Stat – The Eagles take care of the ball the best in the league averaging 12.5 turnovers per game; the Lions only average 5 in steals. .
ESPN Prediction: Eagles by 5 points
Catch all the NBL1 Central action today on the NBL1 website, app and game of the week in Round 4 between the Forestville Eagles and the Central District Lions on Kayo and Kayo Freebies this afternoon.
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Written by Tristan Prentice
CROSS OVER DRIBBLE 