WNBL Match Preview Rd 14: Adelaide Lightning vs Townsville Fire

The Adelaide Lightning can seal consecutive finals appearances tomorrow night but as the 2012-2013 semi-final proved, beware a Fire opponent which has nothing to lose as the underdog…

Suzy Batkovic was one of the most dominate players as the League MVP in 2012-2013 - Photo by Alchetron

Adelaide Lightning vs. Townsville Fire
When: 7:00pm (AEDT), Friday 17 January
Where: Titanium Security Arena, Adelaide
Broadcast: Foxtel/Kayo

Last times they’ve met:

3/01/2020: Townsville Fire 61 (Garbin 21, Bishop 15) defeated by Adelaide Lightning 87 (Turner 17, Nicholson 13, Westbeld, Talbot, Brook 12) at Townsville Stadium

STRIKE BACK INTO HISTORY 

2012/2013 Semi-Final: Flanagan fires up Townsville for famous victory

General basketball and non-basketball fans might not know that Townsville and Adelaide have had a storied history with many players and coaching staff involved with both clubs at different times. This time around current head coach Chris Lucas was at the helm of a fourth place finishing Fire with a very evenly balanced team statistically taking on a Lightning side featuring league MVP Suzy Batkovic and rookie of the year Stephanie Talbot under Peter Buckle.

This one turned out to be a bit of an epic, despite the Lightning going into the match on a seven game winning streak. The Fire were led by their Captain Rachael Flanagan who scored 8 of Townville’s first 10 points and held a 14-11 lead over the home side at quarter time then half time at 30- 27. Former Adelaide Lightning player Jess Foley stepped up to the plate to put the Lightning under some serious heat leading the Fire to a 3 point lead at the final break. The final quarter saw the contest rise to another level resulting in Fire’s Jessica Adair and Lightning’s Batkovic fouling out late in the game. Flanagan was taken from the court after a nasty head clash with Lightning tenacious guard Angela Marino, but the Fire held their cool. The Fire eventually extinguishing the Lightning to advance to the preliminary final against the Dandenong Rangers.

Key Match-Ups 

Stephanie Talbot vs. Tess Madgen

Talbot has a great record against the Fire this season averaging 15 ppg and 6.5 rpg. Her extra length troubles the Fire’s perimeter defence and the kick-outs she is getting from the break down dribbling of Captain Nicole Seekamp will need to be kept an eye on.

Madgen has really struggled against the Lightning this season averaging 5 ppg, but against all other teams she averages 12.3 ppg and 3.8 apg. That means she is a key distributor of the ball to her team-mates so expect a lot of off-ball screens to get the former Opal open early to negate the influence of Talbot and co at the defensive end of the floor.

Brianna Turner vs. Darcee Garbin

Turner has been a barometer for the Lightning this season with her contributions vital to the success of the team, although against the Capitals a few weeks back the Lightning showed some promising signs grabbing victory without a full contribution from her. She’s been very influential against the Fire averaging 18 ppg and 8 rpg which will need to be quelled if the Fire are even to be in the contest.

Garbin has been the most successful Fire player against the Lightning this season averaging 17 ppg and 8.5 rpg. Her presence in the paint has been one of the focal points against the Lightning so no doubt the likes of Madgen and Captain Micaela Cocks will be looking for her to get busy early to cause Turner problems at the defensive end of the floor.

Chelsea Brook vs. Kate Gaze

The impact of the Norwood Flames SA Premier League player of the bench has been felt the most by the Fire in their clashes this season. Brook averages 11 ppg against them this season and again the height and depth of the Lightning bench clearly runs deeper this season than the Fire. The alarming statistic that highlights the potential for Brook’s effectiveness in this match-up is the Lightning last time they met had 27-7 points from their bench against the Fire.

If anybody is going to spark the Fire from the pine, it’s going to be Kate Gaze. Gaze has some basketball pedigree clearly but not as you know it, Her father Mark represented Australia in basketball at the 1982 FIBA World Championship and played 182 National Basketball League games from 1983–1991. Her mother Michelle O’Connor was a WNBL champion with the Sydney Flames (now Sydney Uni Flames), and her grandfather Tony Gaze was a former Australian Opals coach. This is not the main reason why she is a focus player for this preview though, as recent form has Gaze clocking a 12 point outing against the Canberra Capitals and a lift in minutes since Abby Bishop departed the club. Beware the name and the stats that support her lift in the Fire ranks.

The Last Play

Mark my words this a danger game for the Lightning as they still need to win one out of their last four to seal their finals appearance and with games to follow against the Southside Flyers and Canberra Capitals away from home then a potentially desperate Andy Stewart led Perth Lynx, this one is a must for the Lightning to win. Shannon Seebohm’s side is out of the finals race but can finish the season strong with a few upset wins to change the formation of the top four. They will be looking to come into the Arena and burn the Lightning’s chances of maybe not making the top four but certainly where they finish.

Looking at both teams however, the Lightning as evident by their previous games against the Fire just have too many weapons offensively and defensively, so I expect the Fire to be around till about halfway through the third quarter then push the lead out through Turner, Westbeld and Talbot as the bigs on the rebounds and that might be too much for Garbin to shoulder alone for the Fire. A victory for Lightning this Friday night should guarantee a top four finish and be nice preparation for upcoming “finals” like fixtures against their next opponents.

Lightning by 15pts

Lightning has struck for a new direction in 2020

Last Friday night was an incredible game of WNBL and yet so many people missed it, did not even know it happened and then it hit me. Who in mainstream media is covering this stuff?

Incredible finish missed by so many basketball fans means its time to bring some light to this league - Photo from Boti Nagy article, originally from WNBL site

So in 2020 as much as I love the 36ers and the NBL, I am switching my prime focus from the NBL to the WNBL with the same format. We at the Cross Over Dribble are all about what’s happening on and off the court and the WNBL is clearly a highly underrated league that gets not enough media time in the spotlight. So my aim over the next 12 months starting with January 17 following my media break will be covering the Adelaide Lightning home games including preview, strike back in history (so some serious data digging is going to occur but I love a challenge like that) and a quarter by quarter account of the highlights you most likely missed in an easy to read format.

And what an outstanding team to cover with recent Opals in Steph Talbot (who also plays for the Minnesota Lynx in the WNBA), Nicole Seekamp and Lauren Nicholson who are absolute stars of the competition. Former Opal Laura Hodges and some quality imports in Brianna Turner and Kathyrn Westbeld, the hustle and bustle from NBL1 Albury/Wodonga Bandits duo Natalie Hurst and Jessie Edwards and the youth brigade lead by Norwood Flames Premier League star Chelsea Brook, Hannah Kaser, Sturt Sabres Premier League players Ruby Porter and Danni Angley, utility and solid role players Jennie Rintala and Sarah Elsworthy and West Adelaide Bearcats Premier League explosive scoring machine Jasmin Fejo.

So will be looking forward to bringing you some comprehensive Lightning coverage which is much needed in this town but for now have a safe and great festive season and start to 2020 and we’ll see you after the National Baptist Carnival 2020 which I’ll be helping to cover over the next week.

NBL Round 13: Adelaide 36ers vs New Zealand Breakers

“Remember who you are…” oops sorry WB we know its your theme round but there is another message the Sixers need to hear from your rivals as they take on the “Ice Cold Hopson” Breakers at the Ken Cole-sseum tomorrow…

Adelaide 36ers vs. New Zealand Breakers
When: 2:30pm (AEDT), Sunday 29 December
Where: Adelaide Entertainment Centre, Adelaide
Broadcast: NBL TV, SBS On Demand/Viceland, Twitch TV

Last times they’ve met:

Rd 11 2019/2020: New Zealand Breakers 96 (Abercrombie 22, Henry 20, Loe 13, Weeks, Hopson 12, Delaney 10) defeated by Adelaide 36ers 99 (Randle 29, D Johnson 26, Griffin 14) at Spark Arena

SIXERS SHOT BACK INTO HISTORY 

RD 2 2009/10: BALLINGER BURSTS THE BREAKERS

Only a few matches into the 2010/11 season and many were already branding Adelaide a team of veterans that were making up numbers. The opposite was said of New Zealand who were charging their way up the NBL table after plenty of close finishes to the finals but not quite making it. Fans were still getting their look at new import shooting machine John Gilchrist who’s career was cut savagely short with injury while an older Cortez Groves showed glimpses of his 2000s NBL career with the Wollongong Hawks and the South Dragons but never quite reached those lofty heights.

Adelaide were jumped by New Zealand before producing a 17-4 run sparked by naturalised import Adam Ballinger. Leading 21-15 at quarter time, the Breakers former 36er Oscar Forman tried to launch them back into the game. In the second quarter Darren “The Doctor” Ng broke it open again with some triples before the Breakers clawed it back to 2 points thanks to solid import centre “Rolling” Rick Rickert but trailed by four at the half. The margin at the end of each quarter after that never changed as both teams matched each other basket for basket. The Breakers had many chances to snatch the game but couldn’t make the key baskets as the 36ers eventually held on for a 80-76 win at the Dome. Ballinger led the way with 22 points at 68 percent from the field supported by Gilchrist with 17 and 7 rebounds showing his athleticism, Brad Hill had 11 while Groves had 10 points and 5 assists including a couple of still athletic rim slams. The Breakers were outgunned with only Penney and Rickert registering 18 and new import Awvee Storey hitting 11 for the game.

Key Match-Ups 

Jerome Randle vs. Sek Henry

Long may the last 15 seconds of their last game live in the minds of Sixers fans and Breaker supporters and what Randle can do when the Sixers play their style. Randle has had big scoring outings in the time on court he’s had against the Kiwis this season and clearly if the Breakers were to cause an upset at home then they’d have to stop his scoring production per minute and get over the top of those pick and rolls.

It seems that Henry has been the Zara Turner character in the “sliding doors” of imports at the Breakers surviving the injury, roster changes and trouble so far in the season. His production as a result has benefited averaging 18 ppg, 3.7 assists, 1.3 steals and 3.3 triples per game running the point for the Breakers. He poses a very real threat to the Sixers that must be quietened across the four quarters.

Anthony Drmic vs Scott Hopson

We love Anthony Drmic’s energy on defence and his season so far but he’s just starting to show a little bit of that hesitation when he gets an open look. Drmic needs to take his attack the rim pills this game and get back to what had him in the conversation for most improved player and this game is a perfect opportunity to reset his mindset and get back to his 2019 self.

After a long injury lay-off, Hopson is back with a bang knocking down 24 points against the Phoenix, 21 points against the Hawks and then 27 against the Bullets last night. This was not mentioning two daggers to win their last games so ice cold that a little french man in a bowler hat has started investigating daylight murder claims from the Hawks and Bullets. Liam Santamaria stated in one of his game previews that when Hopson scores 20 points or more the Breakers are 3-1, so keep an eye on the score cube for a stat which is the difference between W and L.

Eric Griffin vs. Brandon Ashley

The last game in Adelaide was the spark that lit the fuse of Griffin to explode. Coming off the pine has been a masterstroke from Wright and suits Griffin’s impact and playstyle well. Since he’s come off the bench he’s averaging 17.4 ppg, 8.1 rpg, shooting at 63.94 percent from the field and is 8 of 15 from the perimeter; they are some big numbers. The numbers prove Griffin’s playstyle suits the Sixers transition game and with a smaller, slower Breakers front court guarding him when he enters the court is gonna be a huge problem for the Kiwis.

Brandon Ashley has been down on numbers and despite being a starter for most of the season, “Director of Coaching” Dan Shamir has placed him in a pine role as well. Ashley seems to have trouble more than most imports adjusting to the foul calling of the post play this season hence his playing time down to 20 minutes per game. That with the return of Dr Evil’s number two in Rob Lo(w)e to the front court means Ashley needs to get producing otherwise he’ll be the next on the Breakers conveyor belt out of Auckland at seasons end.

The Last Play

I had a great chat via text with my Dad as I usually do after Sixers performances like last weekend, we talked players who couldn’t hit shots, lack of intensity and a severe break down in system. Then after much observation and thought I think I’ve figured it out and its been the same back in the Marty Clarke era of basketball. Many fans I spoke with and said they’d rather watch the Sixers drop games entertainingly rather than play half court keep moving it till player A gets shot (Steve Weigh i’m looking at you squarely on that one) and still drop it. The great successful Sixer teams have of course played defence as you do in basketball but it is generated by the flow of offensive production in the full court that Ken Cole and Phil Smyth instigated for years. We need to stop trying to be Perth and Melbourne and play natural Sixers basketball which is our identity as a club, excite fans, run fast transition and back our ability to score more points than the opposition even if we give up 90 plus, its who’s in front at the end that’ll count and the rest will follow.

So Joey and crew especially in this Looney Tunes themed round, go out and do what the tunes did against the Mon-stars in the second half and play to who you are, oh and don’t forget to take your “secret stuff”.

That’s all folks…

36ers by 15pts (Prediction 114-99)

*This article is a duplicate of an article written for publishing for And The Foul.net and may appear before or after publishing