The festive interval is right here, and whereas Adelaide stays atop the ladder, a former primary is sliding down the rankings, enduring one among its worst stretches of type in current reminiscence. In the meantime, the Sydney Kings are the most popular crew within the league, and Brisbane, underneath new management, have discovered a brand new lease on life.
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With type fluctuating throughout the competitors, stress mounting in key markets, and finals hopes already hanging within the stability for some, the approaching weeks might in the end outline how this season is remembered.
1. Adelaide 36ers
Report: 15-4
Offensive Rank: 1st
Defensive Rank: 4th
Earlier Rank: 1st
Retaining high spot for a second week in a row, the Adelaide 36ers noticed their profitable streak come to an finish, however responded shortly to get again on observe.
Adelaide went down 97-93 to the Sydney Kings in one of many video games of the spherical – a contest that might show a sneak preview of a finals matchup.
The loss snapped the 36ers’ eight-game profitable streak, a run that deserves recognition in a league the place current outcomes have proven any crew can declare a victory on any given evening.
They bounced again with a hard-fought win over the Illawarra Hawks. Regardless of being severely depleted by damage, the Hawks pushed Adelaide all the best way – a well timed reminder for Mike Wells and his group to respect each opponent, no matter how banged up they could be.
The 36ers return to motion tonight to kick off the festive interval in opposition to the Cairns Taipans, who’re coming off a heavy loss to the Sydney Kings – a end result that ought to function a warning to tread rigorously. A win can be a fine addition forward of a house conflict with the in-form Perth Wildcats, a real top-four contender.
If all goes to plan, it might be a really Merry Christmas for the league’s primary crew.
2. South East Melbourne Phoenix
Report: 13-6
Offensive Rank: third
Defensive Rank: 1st
Earlier Rank: third
Are the South East Melbourne Phoenix formally title favourites? A flawless spherical noticed them declare two wins in opposition to the Perth Wildcats and the Brisbane Bullets, with Josh King reworking the aspect into a real powerhouse in simply 12 months.
The Phoenix scraped residence in an exhilarating comeback win over Perth, edging the Wildcats 77–76 in what ranks amongst their finest victories of the season. They then underlined their rising dominance in opposition to Brisbane, dismantling the Bullets 107–78 to showcase simply how excessive their ceiling is.
Regardless of the momentum, the membership made the powerful name to launch import Hunter Maldonado after a career-high 18-point efficiency, opting as an alternative to usher in veteran guard and confirmed winner Ian Clark – a transfer that firmly cements the Phoenix as championship contenders.
Consideration now turns to Spherical 14, the place South East Melbourne face a lone matchup in opposition to the Tasmania JackJumpers. Having fallen to Tasmania of their earlier assembly, the Phoenix can have revenge firmly on their minds.
3. Sydney Kings
Report: 11-7
Offensive Rank: 2nd
Defensive Rank: 2nd
Earlier Rank: 4th
The Sydney Kings, led by legendary coach Brian Goorjian, are hitting type on the good time after a rocky begin to the season. If this trajectory continues, they are going to be extremely troublesome to cease come finals time.
Spherical 13 might hardly have gone any higher. The Kings knocked off competitors leaders Adelaide by 4 factors in an extra time thriller, earlier than backing it up with a dominant 42-point demolition of the Cairns Taipans in entrance of a house crowd.
The influence of Matthew Dellavedova’s return can’t be measured by the stat sheet alone. His presence has reworked the crew, releasing up Kendric Davis, who has rediscovered his finest basketball.
Sydney now turns its consideration to a Christmas Day showdown with the Illawarra Hawks – a rising custom that has firmly positioned the NBL on the radar of sports-mad followers. Ought to the Kings knock off the reigning champions, they’ll carry huge confidence into their subsequent matchup in opposition to a struggling Brisbane Bullets aspect – a harmful prospect for any opponent.
Issues are trying very promising for Sydney, they usually might discover themselves sitting atop the ladder by New Yr’s Eve.
4. Melbourne United
Report: 14-7
Offensive Rank: 4th
Defensive Rank: third
Earlier Rank: 2nd
It has been evening and day for Melbourne United. After beginning the season 9-0, they’ve now slipped right into a regarding type droop, managing only one win from their previous 5 outings.
The post-FIBA break interval has been significantly unkind to Dean Vickerman’s squad. Accidents are mounting, with Shea Ili sidelined for a number of weeks attributable to a hamstring subject, whereas Chris Goulding has been battling sickness. United are clearly in want of some relaxation and restoration because the calendar turns towards the brand new yr.
They did handle to separate their spherical, recording a dominant 97-75 win over the Illawarra Hawks, earlier than following it up with a disappointing 19-point residence loss to the Tasmania JackJumpers in entrance of a packed crowd.
Bruised, battered and quick on confidence, Melbourne United stay some of the harmful groups on any given evening. They play only one sport in Spherical 14 in opposition to the Brisbane Bullets – a matchup that might show tough, however one which shapes as a must-win for the back-to-back runners-up.
5. Perth Wildcats
Report: 11-9
Offensive Rank: fifth
Defensive Rank: fifth
Earlier Rank: fifth
The Perth Wildcats are starting to develop an unlucky fame for surrendering fourth-quarter leads – a flaw that, if corrected, might simply have them sitting inside the highest two on the ladder.
That stated, don’t let it overshadow their skill to ship huge wins. Perth confirmed precisely that in opposition to the Tasmania JackJumpers at MyState Financial institution Area, claiming a 94–85 victory on the again of a monster efficiency from Kristian Doolittle. The ahead poured in 30 factors and earned glowing reward from JackJumpers coach Scott Roth, who labelled him the very best participant within the league.
There’s nonetheless no official replace on Dylan Windler after he twisted his ankle within the earlier sport, however early indications recommend he might be sidelined for a number of weeks – a serious blow with the Wildcats set to face the Adelaide 36ers of their lone sport of the upcoming spherical.
With Windler seemingly unavailable, can Doolittle lead Perth to a press release win in entrance of a loud and intimidating 36ers crowd?
6. Tasmania JackJumpers
Report: 11th of September
Offensive Rank: sixth
Defensive Rank: seventh
Earlier Rank: sixth
Are the JackJumpers starting to seek out their new id? It might have taken half a season, however Scott Roth has this roster clicking on the proper time, they usually now look destined for a top-six end – a place that might see them labelled a darkish horse come finals time.
A house loss to Perth sparked a response, with Tasmania bouncing again in emphatic style by dismantling Melbourne United by 19 factors on the street – a major scalp in opposition to one of many league’s heavyweights.
Spherical 14 presents new challenges, however the positives are clear: each video games will likely be performed at residence. The New Zealand Breakers journey south to face the JackJumpers, and based mostly on what we noticed in opposition to United, Tasmania will again itself to ship them residence empty-handed.
Their second take a look at presents the proper alternative to remind the league why they had been topped champions in NBL24.
The JackJumpers tackle the South East Melbourne Phoenix – a crew they’ve cut up the season sequence with at 1–1 and most not too long ago defeated two weeks in the past.
Confidence is excessive, and in entrance of a house crowd, a win would supply useful momentum heading into 2026.
7. Illawarra Hawks
Report: 6-12
Offensive Rank: eighth
Defensive Rank: eighth
Earlier Rank: eighth
That is the place issues get tough for the Illawarra Hawks. Regardless of going 0–2 in Spherical 13, they confirmed real combat of their slim six-point loss to Adelaide, even with out key contributions from Tyler Harvey and JaVale McGee.
The spherical started poorly with a 22-point loss to Melbourne United in a finals rematch. That sport additionally noticed McGee undergo an ill-timed eye damage, which dominated him out of the next matchup. Nevertheless, the DNA that carried the Hawks to the NBL25 championship was most evident in opposition to the 36ers.
Taking part in with their backs in opposition to the wall and nothing to lose, Illawarra checked out their most harmful. Sure, they misplaced, however head coach Justin Tatum will take loads of positives from the efficiency.
Consideration now turns to a Christmas Day conflict with the Sydney Kings – a matchup the Hawks have received in every of their previous two conferences. If they will replicate the combat and depth proven in opposition to Adelaide, confidence will likely be excessive.
United face Jack Jumpers in open air | 00:52
8. New Zealand Breakers
Report: 7-13
Offensive Rank: seventh
Defensive Rank: sixth
Earlier Rank: seventh
Alarm bells are ringing for the New Zealand Breakers after a winless Spherical 13 in opposition to two of the league’s lower-ranked sides in Brisbane and Cairns – an far-from-ideal lead-in to the Christmas interval for head coach Petteri Koponen.
Following a strong stretch of wins, the Breakers have now dropped their previous three video games, and victories are wanted greater than ever because the season strikes deeper into its second half. Losses to Cairns and Brisbane, with respect to their campaigns, do little to encourage confidence in championship aspirations.
Led by Parker Jackson-Cartwright, the Breakers are in pressing want of higher manufacturing from their bench and from imports Rob Baker II and Izaiah Brockington. Whereas each have been constant, their output has but to match the influence of rival imports across the league.
With minimal time to coach and get better earlier than flying to Tasmania, the duty of claiming a Boxing Day win looms as a major problem. Nevertheless, ought to they handle it, the end result might inject some much-needed life again into their season.
9. Brisbane Bullets
Report: 6-14
Offensive Rank: ninth
Defensive Rank: ninth
Earlier Rank: tenth
A brand new period has begun for the Brisbane Bullets, who’ve parted methods with Stu Lash and appointed Darryl McDonald as interim head coach. McDonald has already uncovered what seems to be some untapped potential inside the roster.
The transition, nonetheless, began roughly. The South East Melbourne Phoenix handed Brisbane a 29-point loss – a well-recognized end result that followers have endured far too typically this season.
When the New Zealand Breakers arrived, the Bullets seemed like a very completely different crew. A renewed power and enthusiasm was evident on the bench, translating right into a much-needed 99–85 victory and snapping an eight-game dropping streak by a powerful all-round crew efficiency.
Whereas their season is successfully over, there are positives to take from the rest of the marketing campaign because the membership assesses what wants fixing shifting ahead. Sadly, it seems it has taken a largely wasted season for these solutions to turn out to be clear.
For the followers, the hope now could be that Brisbane can end the yr with a number of extra residence wins to construct some optimism for what lies forward.
10. Cairns Taipans
Report: 5-14
Offensive Rank: tenth
Defensive Rank: tenth
Earlier Rank: ninth
After one of many biggest offensive performances by a Taipan – Jack McVeigh’s 47-point outburst – Cairns skilled a brutal actuality test, struggling one among their worst losses in current reminiscence in a 119–77 defeat to the Sydney Kings.
It was a spherical outlined by contrasting feelings, however the broader arc of the Taipans’ season has been deeply disappointing. They’re near full well being and possess a roster gifted sufficient to register extra wins because the calendar turns to the brand new yr, but outcomes have did not comply with.
In some ways, this crew was extra aggressive final season with a much less stacked – and cheaper – roster. That factors to underlying points past pure expertise, probably at an inside or administration degree, which is able to want addressing within the low season.
The Taipans have only one sport this spherical: a Christmas Eve conflict in opposition to the Adelaide 36ers and Bryce Cotton, who has traditionally tormented Cairns.
It shapes as one other disappointing marketing campaign, however regardless of their struggles, the Taipans stay an entertaining crew to look at.
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