Gold Coast Blaze - Testing week

I thought to myself today that I haven't seen or heard anything about the Gold Coast Blaze for a while. I checked the schedule and found out why ... the team only had one game last week and that was last Wednesday.

The schedule this week sees them on the road with two game, the first is Thursday against the New Zealand Breakers and the second is on Saturday night against the Adelaide 36ers.

The Blaze currently sit tied second last with the Melbourne Tigers but with the competition being so close still they're just 1.5 games out of 3rd. With two games on the road this is a defining week for the team. Their 3 wins have all come at home so they really need to get their first win on the road this round.

To win, the team needs to get out, run and get some strong offensive production from outside the big 3 of Harvey, Ubaka and Maxey. The Blaze need Gibson running the show at both ends of the court. Most importantly tho they need scoring from the second unit of Goulding, Vanderjagt, Petrie & Vukona.

Its going to be tough for the Blaze to go to NZ and knock off the Breakers but its not impossible. If they do lose tho, they need to regroup quickly and be ready for the 36ers just two days later. They should match up well with Adelaide as they have the defensive players to "contain" reigning Player of the Week John Gilchrist and bigman Adam Ballinger.

With 7 days off, the team should be well rested and focused. Let's hope that translates to their first road win and some momentum and confidence.

NBL update

With the NBL season just over 6 weeks away, there is starting to be some news and things happening.

Firstly, Fox is back on board saying they "back basketball". Whether this is good news or not I can't say, but since they took back their $35 million offer, I'd much prefer to see the NBL on OneHD. By now, a lot more households would have access to OneHD than Foxtel and this would really help bring the sport back in front of the viewing/sporting public. Look at how much netball is shown, its ridiculous ... its on so often I almost find myself watching it ... almost.

Now that most teams have their rosters close to completed we're at the point where import spots are announced. Over the last week there have been a number of announcements:

1. The Adelaide 36ers have confirmed the signing of American point guard John Gilchrist, agreeing to terms with the exciting import after a successful two-week trial period with the club.
2. The Gold Coast Blaze NBL basketball team have unveiled their first US import for the up-coming season. In a move designed to provide a bridge between the more experienced and the younger players, twenty seven-year-old 6’6” forward Michael Joiner will play in the blue and gold strip in season 2009/10.
3. Skytrans Cairns Taipans fans are in for a treat with the team today announcing the signing of powerhouse American Richard Melzer for the 2009-10 National Basketball League season. Melzer, 29, a 202cm power forward, was a standout performer in his only season with the New Zealand Breakers in 2005/06 averaging 18.6 points and 7.4 rebounds an outing before heading back to the US.
4. The Adelaide 36ers are excited about the arrival this Sunday of NBL excitement machine Cortez Groves. Groves will take the vacant import spot and play alongside the already secured John Gilchrist, giving Adelaide an exciting all-American starting backcourt.
5. The Perth Wildcats signed St Louis University shooting guard Kevin Lisch. Lisch is a 6’2 shooting guard who will provide the team with some much needed scoring power, speed and toughness. He has just completed a four-year stint at St Louis University and comes highly recommended by legendary St Louis Head Coach Rick Majerus, who is a good friend of Rob Beveridge’s.
6. American power forward David Gruber has been signed by the Wollongong Hawks for the 2009/10 NBL season. The 27 year old from Iowa, USA has spent the past several years playing in Victoria for the SEABL Frankston Blues and played his first year of NBL with the now defunct Sydney Spirit last season. He played out his college career in his home state representing the University of Northern Iowa until graduating in 2004.

New Blaze import Michael Joiner