Sports Betting, Sports News, Sports Updates, Australia

Where and When: Sunday 8 March, Hisense Arena, 7.30pm (AEDT)

Past Three Head-to-Head
Melbourne Tigers 88-83 South Dragons, Game 2, Grand Final 2009.
South Dragons 93-81 Melbourne Tigers, Game 1, Grand Final 2009.
South Dragons 93-83 Melbourne Tigers, Round 21 2009.

Season Series
Dragons 3-1

Final Standings
Dragons 22-8 (first), Tigers 20-10 (second)

Melbourne were far from their best on Wednesday night but they did enough to get the job done.

The pressure is now on the South Dragons to maintain their impressive record at home and take a 2-1 lead in the best-of-five grand final series.

One slip up and the Tigers will fancy their chances of securing the championship at The Cage on Wednesday night.

Instrumental in the game two win was swingman David Barlow who scored a game-high 26 points, which included four three-pointers.

Barlow is in pretty good form at the moment – he scored 23 and 19 points in the two wins over the New Zealand Breakers in the semi-finals series.

The Dragons will need to keep him quiet if they are going to secure a vital win at home.

Expect Joe Ingles to go head-to-head with Barlow in what shapes as being a crucial match-up in determining the outcome of this match.

The Dragons will need Ingles to be aggressive at the offensive end and also apply plenty of defensive pressure and deny Barlow the time and space to knock down the three-ball.

While Barlow fired on Wednesday night, import Ebi Ere had yet another poor shooting night.

The former Brisbane Bullet has shot 11-of-33 from the field so far this series but Ere will fire at some stage during this series.

South Dragons import Tremmell Darden is likely to be given the task of minding Ere.

Darden will need to be in Ere’s face all night and force him to take tough shots from beyond the arc.

For the Dragons, Mark Worthington and import Donta Smith are the key players.

In game two the Dragons got to the free-throw line just 10 times while the Tigers managed to get to the charity stripe on 25 occasions.

The Tigers also managed 16 offensive rebounds.

If the Dragons are going to take a 2-1 lead in the series they will need Worthington and Smith to attack the basket and get to the foul line and also crash the boards and prevent the likes of Chris Anstey from getting easy second chance points.

The two games so far in this series have been hard-fought and low-scoring and you wouldn’t expect it to be any different on Sunday.

Melbourne has the big-game players in Anstey and Ere and an in-form Barlow but with a parochial home crowd behind them the Dragons should prevail in what shapes as being yet another epic contest.

This punter is putting his money on a Dragons’ win by 1-10, offering $2.80.

Where and When: Friday 6 March, State Netball and Hockey Centre, 7.30pm (AEDT)

Past Three Head-to-Head
South Dragons 93-81 Melbourne Tigers, Game 1, Grand Final 2009.
South Dragons 93-83 Melbourne Tigers, Round 21 2009.
Melbourne Tigers 92-86 South Dragons, Round 20 2009.

Season Series
Dragons 3-1

Final Standings
Tigers (20-10) second, Dragons (22-8) first

Melbourne find themselves down one-nil down but they will fancy their chances of levelling up the best-of-five grand final series on Friday night given their impressive 11-4 win-loss record at The Cage.

The Dragons won game one thanks to a big defensive effort – Brian Goorjan’s men restricted the Tigers to just 34 percent (28-of-83) from the field

The chief offenders in Melbourne’s poor shooting display were star import Ebi Ere and swingman David Barlow who combined for an abysmal 8-of-27 from the field.

If the Tigers are going to be any chance of breaking down the Dragons’ stifling defence they will need Barlow and Ere to knock down their shots early.

Instrumental in Melbourne’s success has been the scoring punch they have gotten off the bench but the likes of Luke Kendall and Stephen Hoare failed to have a meaningful impact in game one, scoring a meagre four and five points respectively.

The Tigers will need the aforementioned duo to lift and be more productive on the offensive end on Friday night.

For the Dragons, skipper Mark Worthington led from the front in game one, scoring a game-high 23 points and pulling down 10 rebounds.

Worthington was a part of the Sydney Kings side that won game one last season but eventually lost the grand final series to the Tigers, so he will know that the job is far from done.

Expect Worthington to be aggressive early and try and take the parochial Melbourne Tigers crowd out of the equation.

The Dragons also got good games out of import Donta Smith and swingman Joe Ingles who scored 19 points apiece.

But import Tremmell Darden had a game he would rather forget, managing just one point during more than 16 minutes on the court.

While Smith and Ingles both had good games on Wednesday night they do have the tendency to be wildly inconsistent, so the Dragons will need Darden to step up and justify his position in the starting five by attacking the basket early and not just settling for jump shots.

The Dragons will fancy their chances of taking a 2-0 lead in the grand final series given that they have won four of the five matches against Melbourne this season but the Tigers rarely lose two in a row and should prevail in a tight-one with Ere likely to have a big game.

This punter believes the smart money is on a Tigers’ win by 1-10, offering $2.85.

Where and When: Wednesday 4 March, Hisense Arena, 7.30pm (AEDT)

Past Three Head-to-Head
South Dragons 93-83 Melbourne Tigers, Round 21 2009.
Melbourne Tigers 92-86 South Dragons, Round 20 2009.
Melbourne Tigers 98-107 South Dragons, Round 13 2008.

Season Series
Dragons 3-1

Final Standings
Dragons 22-8 (first), Tigers 20-10 (second)

The South Dragons will enter this grand final series with plenty of confidence given that they have won three of the four matches against the Melbourne Tigers this season.

But the Tigers are the defending champions and have several big-game players that know what it takes to get the job done, so this series could go either way.

The last time these two sides met in round 21 South Dragons import Donta Smith scored a team-high 21 points to help his side to a 10-point win.

Smith is at his dangerous best when he is penetrating and attacking the basket and the Tigers will need to stop him if they are going to get a crucial win away from home.

Melbourne’s defensive specialist Tommy Greer, who is likely to match-up on Joe Ingles, will get the job on Smith when he comes off the bench.

Greer will need to apply plenty of defensive pressure all night and deny Smith any time or space as he is capable of turning a game on its head in the space of a quarter.

For the Tigers, Ebi Ere was instrumental in his side’s comeback win over the New Zealand Breakers in game two with a game-high 26 points.

The former Brisbane Bullet has plenty of big-game experience and looms as the main man the Dragons must stop if they are going to take a one-nil lead in the best-of-five series.

Ere is more than capable of getting to the basket and is damaging from three-point land, so stopping him will be a difficult task.

South Dragons import Tremmell Darden is expected to be given the task of guarding Ere in what shapes as being a crucial match-up in determining the outcome of this match.

Expect Darden, who has averaged 11.1 points per game this season., to be aggressive at the offensive end early and try and get Ere in foul trouble.

Melbourne centre Chris Anstey has been his side’s most consistent player this season and is the other man the Dragons must contain.

Anstey has been the Tigers’ leading scorer in three of the four Melbourne derbies this season and led the rebound count for his side on all four occasions.

The Dragons will need the likes of Matt Burston and Nick Horvath to apply plenty of defensive pressure inside the paint and prevent Anstey from crashing the boards and creating easy second chance scoring opportunities.

This match could go either way but the South Dragons are virtually unbeatable at home.

In their last win over the Tigers in round 21 the Dragons had six players in double figures while Ingles, who is starting to return to some of his best form, chimed in with nine points.

And it is the home-court advantage and their scoring depth that should see them prevail in a tight one.

Three of the four clashes between these two sides this season have been decided by 10 points or less, so with this in mind, my money is on a Dragons’ win by 1-10, offering $2.85.

Where and When: Saturday 28 February, Hisense Arena, 7.30pm (AEDT)

Past Three Head-to-Head
Townsville Crocodiles 82-77 South Dragons, Game two, semi-final 2009.
South Dragons 94-81 Townsville Crocodiles, Game one, semi-final 2009.
Townsville Crocodiles 101-98 South Dragons, Round 21 2009.

Season Series
Crocs 3-1

Final Standings
Dragons (22-8) first, Crocs (17-13) fifth

There is no tomorrow for the loser with the winner of this clash going on to the grand final.

The South Dragons will fancy their chances of booking their first-ever grand final berth given their impressive 12-3 win-loss record at home but the Townsville Crocodiles have defeated the Dragons at Hisense Arena this season so the venue holds no fears for them.

Instrumental in the game two win was star guard Corey Williams who finished with a game-high 22 points and six assists.

Williams is at his damaging best when he is pushing the ball up the floor, penetrating and kicking the ball back out to the likes of John Rillie, Brad Williamson and Michael Cedar.

Don’t be surprised if the Dragons employ a full court press to slow down the Crocodiles and turn this contest into a half-court grind.

Townsville forward Rosell Ellis also played a key role in game two, scoring 13 points and pulling down 18 rebounds.

The Crocodiles will need Ellis to crash the boards again on Saturday night otherwise the Dragons will be able to dictate the tempo of the game.

For the Dragons, Joe Ingles bounced back from a disappointing game one to score 17 points in game two.

Skipper Mark Worthington and Tremell Darden both had solid games but fellow import Donta Smith failed to fire, scoring just six points.

Smith showed how dangerous he can be in game one, scoring a team-high 25 points. The Dragons will need him to attack the basket and crash the boards and create second chance scoring opportunities if they are going to be any hope of booking a grand final showdown with cross-town rivals Melbourne.

This match could go either way but with a parochial home crowd behind them the Dragons should prevail in a tight one with their superior defence set to be the difference.

With so much at stake you would expect this contest to be hard-fought and tight throughout, so with this in mind my money is on a Dragons’ win by 1-10, offering $2.75.

Where and When: Friday 27 February, North Shore Events Centre, 7.30pm (NZDT)

Past Three Head-to-Head
Melbourne Tigers 117-99 New Zealand Breakers, Semi-final, game one 2009.
Melbourne Tigers 95-89 New Zealand Breakers, Round 19 2009.
New Zealand Breakers 85-103 Melbourne Tigers, Round 19 2009.

Season Series
Series tied 2-2

Final Standings
Breakers (18-12) third, Tigers (20-10) second

The equation is simple for the New Zealand Breakers – win and they head to Melbourne to play off for the right to play in the grand final – lose and their season is over.

The Breakers will enter this clash with some confidence given their impressive 10-5 win-loss record at home.

But the Melbourne Tigers will also fancy their chances of winning the semi-final series 2-0 given that they defeated the Breakers at the North Shore Events Centre by 18 points in round 19.

Game one was a one-sided contest with the Tigers taking a 15-point lead into the main break before cruising to a 117-99 victory.

The Breakers are the best three-point shooting team in the NBL but it was Melbourne that lit it up from beyond the arc, connecting on 16-of32 attempts from three-point land.

New Zealand will need to step up their perimeter defence and not give the likes of David Barlow, Luke Kendall and star import Ebi Ere any time or space to knock down the three-ball.

For the Breakers, guards CJ Bruton and Kirk Penney and veteran Tony Ronaldson all had productive games in game one but they received little support with Oscar Forman and Phill Jones failing to fire.

Forman managed a meagre three points while Jones finished with just four points – well down on their season averages of 13.4 and 14.7 points per game.

If the Breakers are going to keep their season alive they need Forman and Jones to get involved early.

In game one Melbourne had 16 more free-throw attempts than New Zealand.

The Breakers may be deadly from three-point range but they will also need to attack the basket and try and get the likes of Chris Anstey, Ere and co. into early foul trouble.

New Zealand will undoubtedly lift in front of their home crowd and put in a better performance than they did on Wednesday night but the Tigers simply have too many scorers for the Breakers to contain and should prevail in what shapes as being an epic clash.

This punter believes the smart money is on a Tigers’ win by 1-10, offering $2.85.

Where and When: Thursday 26 February, Townsville Entertainment & Convention Centre, 6.30pm (AEST)

Past Three Head-to-Head
South Dragons 94-81 Townsville Crocodiles, Game one, semi-final 2009.
Townsville Crocodiles 101-98 South Dragons, Round 21 2009.
Townsville Crocodiles 105-95 South Dragons, Round 16 2008.

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Season Series
Crocs 3-1

Final Standings
Crocs 17-13 (fourth), Dragons 22-8 (first)

This is a must-win match for the Townsville Crocodiles if they want to keep their season alive.

The Crocodiles were right in the contest in game one and will fancy their chances of levelling the series given their impressive 12-3 win-loss record at home.

The Dragons have an edge inside the paint with Mark Worthington scoring 27 points and pulling down 12 rebounds in game one while import Donta Smith was also influential with 25 points.

It is vital that Townsville applies immense defensive pressure inside the key and forces the Dragons to try their luck from beyond the arc, where they struggled on Wednesday night, shooting a meagre 29.2 per cent.

For the Crocodiles, veteran guard John Rillie was on fire early in game one, scoring 17 points in the first half – 11 of which came in a stunning three-minute burst.

But Rillie struggled after half-time, managing just three points with Tremell Darden and Nathan Herbert keeping the 37-year-old quiet.

Townsville’s biggest strength is their three-point shooting but Rillie can’t be expected to get the job done on his own.

He will need support from the likes of Michael Cedar and Brad Williamson who failed to fire in game one.

Star guard Corey Williams’ ability to penetrate and dish the ball allows the likes of Rillie, Cedar and Williamson to get wide open looks.

The Dragons will once again need to stop Williams if they are going to book a place in the grand final.

Williams struggled on Wednesday night, managing just 4-of-17 from the field. He will undoubtedly be fired up and try to attack the basket early.

Underrated South Dragons point guard Adam Gibson will once again be given the task of minding Williams in what shapes as being a crucial match-up in determining the outcome of this match.

Gibson will need to be in Williams’ face all night and deny him the time and space to penetrate and create easy scoring opportunities for his teammates.

The Dragons can sniff a grand final berth but the Crocodiles will take their game to another level in front of their home crowd and should prevail in a tight one with their better three-point shooters and a fired-up Williams set to be enough to get them over the line.

This punter believes the smart money is on a Crocodiles’ win by 1-10, offering $3.60.

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Where and When: Tuesday 24 February, Hisense Arena, 7.30pm (AEDT)

Past Three Head-to-Head
Townsville Crocodiles 101-98 South Dragons, Round 21 2009.
Townsville Crocodiles 105-95 South Dragons, Round 16 2008.
South Dragons 88-84 Townsville Crocodiles, Round 14 2008.

Season Series
Crocs 3-1

Final Standings
Dragons (22-8) first, Crocs (17-13) fifth

Townsville will enter this semi-final series full of confidence given that they have defeated the South Dragons three times this season.

The Crocodiles find themselves in the semi-finals thanks to the performances of veteran John Rillie and star import Corey Williams.

Rillie turned back the clock against the Wildcats, scoring 34 points which included a playoff record 10 three-pointers while Williams chimed in with 28 points and eight rebounds.

Joe Ingles has improved the defensive side of his game this season and looms as the likely candidate to mind Rillie.

If Rillie gets going early he is virtually impossible to stop – just ask the Wildcats.

Therefore, it is vital that Ingles is switched on defensively early and does his best to keep the ball out of Rillie’s hands and also deny him the time and space to knock down the three-ball.

Williams is arguably one of the best distributors in the NBL and will need to be kept quiet if the Dragons are going to take a one-nil lead in this best-of-three series.

South Dragons point-guard Adam Gibson will be given the unenviable task of trying to stop Williams.

Gibson will need to prevent Williams from penetrating and kicking the ball out to the likes of Rillie and Brad Williamson, who knocked down four three-pointers in his 19-point game against the Wildcats.

While the Crocodiles have the better three-point shooters, the Dragons have an edge inside the paint with their front-court boasting the likes of Mark Worthington, Matt Burtson and Tremell Darden while import Donta Smith provides some scoring punch off the bench.

The last time these two sides met in round 21 Worthington and Smith were particularly damaging with 22 points apiece while Darden chimed in with 11 points and 10 rebounds.

It is vital that the Crocodiles prevent the Dragons from pumping the ball inside and also that the likes of Rosell Ellis and Russell Hinder crash the boards as it will help get Townsville’s run-and-gun game going.

This match could go either way but the Dragons have greater scoring depth and should prevail in a hard-fought contest.

This punter believes the smart money is on a Dragons’ win by 1-10, offering $2.85.

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Where and When: Wednesday 25 February, State Netball and Hockey Centre, 7.30pm (AEDT)

Past Three Head-to-Head
Melbourne Tigers 95-89 New Zealand Breakers, Round 19 2009.
New Zealand Breakers 85-103 Melbourne Tigers, Round 19 2009.
Melbourne Tigers 84-86 New Zealand Breakers, Round 8 2008.

Season Series
Series tied 2-2

Final Standings
Tigers (20-10) second, Breakers (18-12) third

New Zealand appears to be back to their best after thumping the Adelaide 36ers to the tune of 30 points last Thursday.

They will need to be firing on all cylinders once again on Wednesday night if they are going to overcome a Melbourne side that has restricted them to less than 90 points in the past three clashes between these two sides.

Instrumental in the win over the 36ers was star guards Kirk Penney and CJ Bruton who scored 31 and 26 points respectively.

Penney and Bruton were particularly damaging from beyond the arc, combining for 12 three-pointers in the quarter-final win over the 36ers.

But the Tigers can’t be too Penney and Bruton conscious because New Zealand has several other players that are capable of knocking down the three-ball.

Oscar Forman has hit the most three’s of anyone in the NBL this season while Phill Jones is 10th in that category.

Melbourne will need to guard the perimeter and also prevent the Breakers from moving the ball quickly on offence otherwise the likes of Bruton. Penney, Jones and co. will have wide open looks.

The last time these two sides met in round 19 Chris Anstey starred with 20 points, 11 rebounds, three blocks and four steals.

Anstey was in some doubt for this clash due to a knee injury but the Melbourne centre was passed fit on Tuesday and will play a key role in determining the outcome of this match.

New Zealand centre Rick Rickert will need to apply plenty of defensive pressure and also keep Anstey off the boards if the Breakers are going to take a one-nil lead in the series.

Melbourne import Ebi Ere is another man the Breakers must stop if they are going to get a vital win on the road.

In the round 19 win over the Breakers in New Zealand Ere proved to be the difference between the two sides, scoring 20 of his 22 points in the second term to inspire the Tigers to a convincing 18-point win.

Penney looms as a likely option to go head-to-head with Ere in what shapes as being a crucial match-up in determining the outcome of this match.

The New Zealand guard will need to be switched on defensively for the full 48 minutes because Ere can turn a game on its head in the space of a quarter.

Penney is one of the best three-point shooters in the league but the Breakers will also need him to attack the basket and try and get Ere into early foul trouble.

These two sides are relatively evenly matched but with a parochial home crowd behind them the Tigers should prevail in a tight one with big-game players Anstey and Ere set to be the difference.

This punter suggests putting your money on a Tigers’ win by 1-10, offering $2.85.

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Where and When: Thursday 19 February, North Shore Events Centre, 7.30pm (NZDT)

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Past Three Head-to-Head
Adelaide 36ers 102-91 New Zealand Breakers, Round 21 2009.
New Zealand Breakers 86-96 Adelaide 36ers, Round 8 2008.
New Zealand Breakers 118-80 Adelaide 36ers, Round 3 2008.

Season Series
36ers 2-1

Final Standings
Breakers 18-12 (third), 36ers 15-15 (sixth)

New Zealand will enter their first ever home final full of confidence given their 10-5 win-loss record at home and the fact that the Adelaide 36ers have an abysmal 3-12 record on the road.

However, one of those wins was against the Breakers at the North Shore Events Centre in round eight.

In that round eight clash Adam Ballinger led the way with a team-high 22 points while fellow big man Luke Schenscher chimed in with 20 points.

If the Breakers are going to win this cut-throat final they will need to prevent the 36ers from pumping the ball inside to Ballinger and Schenscher.

New Zealand big men Rick Rickert and Oscar Forman will also need to box-out and prevent Adelaide’s twin towers from getting easy second chance points.

In their last-start win over the Cairns Taipans the New Zealand Breakers had five players in double figures with star guard Kirk Penney leading the way with a game-high 19 points.

When these two sides met in round three Penney proved to be the difference, scoring a game-high 34 points to inspire his side to a convincing 38-point win.

If the 36ers are going to secure a rare win on the road they will need to keep Penney quiet.

Expect veteran Brett Maher to go head-to-head with Penney in what shapes as being a crucial match-up in determining the outcome of this match.

Maher, who will be keen to fire in what could be his last ever NBL game, will need to be aggressive at the offensive end and also work hard to keep the ball out of Penney’s hands and deny him the time and space to knock down the three-ball.

The 36ers can’t rely on just Maher to keep Penney quiet – the whole team needs to play tight perimeter defence and also prevent the Breakers from moving the ball quickly on offence.

This match could go either way as anything can happen come playoffs time but with a parochial home crowd behind them the Breakers should prevail with their greater scoring depth set to be the difference.

This punter believes the smart money is on a Breakers’ win by 1-10, offering $2.85.

To Bet on NRL click the link

Where and When: Wednesday 18 February, Challenge Stadium, 6.30pm (AWDT)

Past Three Head-to-Head
Perth Wildcats 97-76 Townsville Crocodiles, Round 15 2008.
Perth Wildcats 115-78 Townsville Crocodiles, Round 8 2008.
Townsville Crocodiles 93-107 Perth Wildcats, Round 5 2008.

Season Series
Wildcats 3-1

Final Standings
Wildcats 17-13 (fourth), Crocs 17-13 (fifth)

Perth will enter this cut-throat final full of confidence given that they have defeated the Townsville Crocodiles three times this season and have not lost to the Crocodiles at Challenge Stadium since September 18, 2005.

Instrumental in the win over the Melbourne Tigers which allowed the Wildcats to clinch fourth spot and an all-important home final was forward Shawn Redhage who finished with a game-high 28 points, seven rebounds and five assists.

In Townsville’s win over Perth in round three Cameron Tovey scored 15 points and restricted Redhage to just 14.

The Crocodiles will need Tovey to be switched on defensively from the outset because once Redhage gets into a groove he is very hard to stop.

It is vital that Tovey prevents Redhage from attacking the basket and getting to the foul line where he is incredibly efficient – in the win over the Tigers Redhage knocked down all eight of his free-throw attempts.

Perth import Isiah Victor also played a major role in the win over Melbourne – he finished the match with 22 points, seven rebounds and two blocks.

When Victor fires the Cats invariably go on to win so stopping him will be a key for the Crocodiles.

The former Sydney King is damaging inside the paint and can also knock down the three-ball.

Rosell Ellis has the height and athleticism to match Victor and looms as the obvious candidate to go head-to-head with the Perth big man in what shapes as being a crucial match-up in determining the outcome of this match.

Rusell Hinder, Ellis and Tovey will need to keep the likes of Alex Loughton, Redhage and Victor off the glass otherwise the Cats will be able to dictate the tempo of the game and get easy second chance points inside the paint.

For Townsville, star guard Corey Williams has struggled against Perth this season, averaging 11 points, two assists and six turnovers in the four games between these two sides this season.

Williams will undoubtedly be fired up and will be keen to put in a big performance on Wednesday night.

Perth point guard Darnell Hinson will go head-to-head with Williams in what shapes as being yet another key match-up.

Hinson will need to apply immense defensive pressure and deny Williams the time and space to create.

Expect Hinson to be aggressive at the offensive end early and try and get Williams into foul trouble.

The last time these two sides met in round 15 the Crocodiles struggled from three-point land, connecting on just 3-of-29 attempts from beyond the arc.

The likes of Brad Williamson, Michael Cedar and John Rillie will need to knock down their shots early from three-point range if the Crocodiles are going to be any chance of recording a rare win at Challenge Stadium.

Rillie in particular has been in devastating form, scoring 28 and 26 points in Townsville’s last two wins.

The 37-year-old faces a tough night at the office with underrated guard Peter Crawford to be his likely opponent.

Crawford will be in Rillie’s face all night and not give him any time or space in which to knock down the three-ball.

Townsville with enter this clash in good form – they have won seven of their past nine matches – but the Wildcats are virtually unbeatable at home and should prevail in a physical clash with their more potent front court set to be the difference.

With so much at stake you wouldn’t expect this contest to be a blow-out, so with this in mind my money is on a Wildcats’ win by 1-10, offering $2.85.

Where and When: Saturday 14 February, Cairns Convention Centre, 7.30pm (AEST)

Past Three Head-to-Head
South Dragons 102-64 Cairns Taipans, Round 11 2008.
South Dragons 94-65 Cairns Taipans, Round 6 2008.
Cairns Taipans 98-92 South Dragons, Round 1 2008.

Season Series
Dragons 2-1

Current Standings
Taipans (11-18) ninth, Dragons (21-8) first

The South Dragons have little to play for given that they have already wrapped up top spot but they a professional outfit and will do everything in their power to come away with a win here.

The last time these two sides met in round 11 the Dragons humiliated Cairns, disposing of the Taipans by 38 points in a clinical display.

Instrumental in that win was centre Matt Burston, who scored a game-high 19 points and pulled down eight rebounds.

Burston will miss the clash with a knee complaint which means the Taipans have a slight edge inside the paint with Ian Crosswhite and Martin Cattalini in good form.

Nick Horvath is expected to be given the task of minding Crosswhite while South Dragons skipper Mark Worthington looms as a likely candidate to go head-to-head with Cattalini who has scored 28 and 19 points in Cairns’ last two matches.

Joe Ingles, who has improved the defensive side of his game this season, is another option for coach Brian Goorjan to match up on Cattalini.

The last time these two sides met the Taipans managed to shoot just 29 per cent from the field thanks to the Dragons’ swarming defence.

Cairns will need to move the ball quickly on offence and also knock down their shots from beyond the arc if they are going to break down the best defensive side in the league.

The Taipans will be desperate to finish what has been a disastrous season on a positive note and they will undoubtedly battle hard all night but the minor premiers simply have greater scoring depth and should prevail quite comfortably.

This punter is putting his money on a Dragons’ win by 11+, offering $2.10.

Where and When: Saturday 14 February, Gold Coast Convention Centre, 7.30pm (AEST)

Past Three Head-to-Head
Gold Coast Blaze 91-88 Wollongong Hawks, Round 14 2008.
Wollongong Hawks 110-111 Gold Coast Blaze, Round 9 2008.
Wollongong Hawks 98-96 Gold Coast Blaze, Round 6 2008.

Season Series
Blaze 2-1

Current Standings
Blaze (7-22) 10th, Hawks (11-18) seventh

The Wollongong Hawks are playing their last ever match in the NBL and will be keen to go out on a high while the Gold Coast Blaze will be desperate to finish what has been a disappointing season on a positive note.

These two sides are relatively evenly matched inside the paint with Cameron Tragardh, Dusty Rychart and Glen Saville more than capable of holding their own against Pero Cameron, Luke Whitehead and import Justin Bowen.

But it is in the backcourt where the Blaze hold a clear edge.

The last time these two sides met in round 14 Gold Coast skipper James Harvey proved to be the difference between the two sides, scoring a game-high 37 points to inspire his side to a hard-fought three-point win.

Harvey was particularly damaging from beyond the arc, connecting on 8-of 13 from long range.

He will need to be watched closely as will veteran Shane Heal, who will be keen to fire in his last ever game.

Lindsay Tait looms as the likely candidate to match-up on Harvey in what shapes as being a crucial match-up.

Tait will need to play aggressive in-your-face defence all night and not give Harvey any time or space.

If Harvey gets going early he is virtually impossible to contain, so it is vital that Tait is switched on defensively from the outset.

This match could go either way but the Blaze should have a touch too much firepower in the backcourt for a Wollongong side that may be a little flat after their emotional win at home on Friday night.

The three clashes between these two sides this season gave been decided by less than 10 points, so with this in mind my money is on a Gold Coast win by 1-10, offering $2.85.

Where and When: Saturday 14 February, Sydney Olympic Park Sports Centre, 7.30pm (AEDT)

Past Three Head-to-Head
Sydney Spirit 86-85 New Zealand Breakers, Round 16 2009.
New Zealand Breakers 114-70 Sydney Spirit, Round 14 2008.
Only met twice

Season Series
Series tied 1-1

Current Standings
Spirit (11-18) eighth, Breakers (17-12) third

New Zealand may have already clinched third spot and a home final for the first time in their history but they will want to win here and take some momentum into the playoffs after snapping a five-game losing streak on Thursday.

However, their task won’t be an easy one as the Sydney Spirit will be desperate to finish on a high in what will be their last ever game in the NBL.

The last time these two sides met in round 16 the Spirit prevailed by one-point with Matthew Knight and veteran Jason Smith leading the way with 18 and 16 points respectively.

Knight and Smith have been the Spirit’s most consistent performers this season but they will need support at the offensive end from the likes of Damian Martin, Graeme Dann and Dave Gruber if they are going to overcome a New Zealand side that is the best scoring team in the league.

While New Zealand is the most attacking side in the NBL, the Spirit are one of the lowest scoring teams in the league.

You would think that the Sydney side will need to turn this match into a half-court grind if they are going to snap a seven-game losing streak.

Expect the likes of Martin and Drew Williamson to employ a full-court press while the Spirit’s big men will need to crash the boards.

If the Spirit fail to win the rebound count or at least be competitive, then the Breakers will be able to push the ball up the floor and get easy baskets in transition.

Both sides are relatively evenly matched inside the paint with the likes of Blagoj Janev, Gruber, Dann and Knight more than capable of holding their own against Rick Rickert, Tony Ronaldson and Oscar Forman.

But it is in the backcourt where the Breakers hold a clear edge with Kirk Penney and CJ Bruton a class above Smith and Martin.

Smith is likely to be given the task of guarding Penney in what shapes as being a crucial match-up while Martin is expected to go head-to-head with Bruton.

Smith will need to apply plenty of pressure beyond the arc and not give Penney any time and space to knock down the three-ball while Martin will need to stop Bruton’s penetration.

The Spirit will undoubtedly battle hard and stick with the Breakers for a quarter or two but New Zealand simply has too much scoring power and should cruise to a relatively comfortable win.

This punter suggests putting your money on a Breakers’ win by 11+, offering $3.25.

Where and When: Saturday 14 February, Challenge Stadium, 7.00pm (AWST)

Past Three Head-to-Head
Melbourne Tigers 108-81 Perth Wildcats, Round 17 2009.
Perth Wildcats 95-108 Melbourne Tigers, Round 11 2008.
Melbourne Tigers 101-105 Perth Wildcats, Round 4 2008.

Season Series
Tigers 2-1

Current Standings
Wildcats (16-13) fifth, Tigers (20-9) second

This is a must-win match for Perth if they want to secure fourth spot and an all-important home final in the first week of the playoffs.

While Melbourne seemingly has little to play for given that they have already wrapped up second spot on the NBL ladder, they won’t want to flirt with their form and will undoubtedly come out all guns blazing on Saturday night.

The last time these two sides met in round 17 the Tigers prevailed by 27 points but the contest was a lot closer than the final score suggests with Melbourne leading by just eight points at three-quarter time before steamrolling the Cats with a 32-13 final quarter.

Instrumental in that win was star import Ebi Ere who scored a game-high 32 points.

Stopping Ere will go a long way towards securing a win for the Cats as Melbourne’s next best scorer – centre Chris Anstey – is likely to miss Saturday night’s clash.

Expect Shawn Redhage to go head-to-head with Ere in what shapes as being a crucial match-up in determining the outcome of this contest.

Ere has the ability to turn a game on its head in the space of a quarter, so Redhage will need to be switched on defensively for the full 48 minutes and also rely on support from his teammates to help deny the 27-year-old the time and space in which to work his magic.

Expect Redhage, who scored a game-high 31 points in Perth’s four-point win over the Tigers in round four, to be aggressive at the offensive end early and try and get Ere into early foul trouble.

Perth has shown glimpses of their best this season but their inability to string together four quarters of consistent basketball is what is stopping them from becoming a genuine championship contender.

If the Wildcats are going to come away with a much-needed win here they will need to play at the same level of intensity at both ends of the floor for the full 48 minutes.

Failure to do so will result in them being punished on the scoreboard by a Melbourne side that has dangerous scorers such as Ere, David Barlow and former Wildcat Luke Kendall at their disposal.

This match could go either way but the Wildcats simply have more to play for and with a parochial home crowd behind them they should prevail in what promises to be a hard-fought contest.

This punter believes the smart money is on a Perth win by 1-10, offering $2.85.

Where and When: Friday 13 February, Wollongong Entertainment Centre, 7.30pm (AEDT)

Past Three Head-to-Head
Adelaide 36ers 106-99 Wollongong Hawks, Round 17 2009.
Adelaide 36ers 101-96 Wollongong Hawks, Round 11 2008.
Wollongong Hawks 105-95 Adelaide 36ers, Round 5 2008.

Season Series
36ers 2-1

Current Standings
Hawks (10-18) ninth, 36ers (15-14) sixth

Adelaide can’t move up the ladder with a win over the Wollongong Hawks on Friday night but they will still want to find some form on the road as they will need to win away from home in the first week of the playoffs if they want to stay alive.

However, their task won’t be an easy one as the Hawks will be desperate to win in what is their last ever match at home.

The last time these two sides met in round 17 Luke Schenscher and Adam Ballinger proved to be the difference, scoring 25 and 23 points respectively to inspire their side to a hard-fought seven-point win.

Schenscher and Ballinger are the two men the Hawks must contain if they are going to come away with a win.

The 36ers are the best rebounding team in the league, averaging 45 rebounds per game.

It is vital that the likes of Cameron Tragardh, Dusty Rychart and Anthony Petrie apply immense defensive pressure inside the paint and also crash the boards.

They will also need to be aggressive at the offensive end and try and get Ballinger and Schenscher into early foul trouble.

Adelaide veteran Brett Maher was also instrumental in the round 17 win with 20 points and will head into this match with plenty of confidence after scoring 17 points against the New Zealand Breakers in his last ever game at the Distinctive Homes Dome.

The 35-year-old is still a serious threat from outside the arc and will need to be watched closely with Mat Campbell expected to go head-to-head with Maher in what shapes as being an interesting dual between two wily veterans.

If Maher is allowed any time and space he will punish the Hawks on the scoreboard.

Friday night is bound to be an emotional one for the Hawks but it is vital that the players push all emotion aside and focus on playing basketball and get off to a good start.

If they start well and get the crowd involved early it will be very difficult for the 36ers to reel them back in.

In their last-start win over the New Zealand Breakers the Hawks had six players in double figures while Lindsay Tait chimed in with nine points.

Adelaide has struggled on the road this season, winning just three of 14 games and with the Hawks having an even spread of scorers and a parochial home crowd behind them I can’t see that record improving on Friday night.

The three clashes between these two sides this season have been decided by 10 points or less, so with this in mind my money is on a Hawks’ win by 1-10, offering $2.85.

Where and When: Thursday 12 February, North Shore Events Centre, 7.30pm (NZDT)

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Past Three Head-to-Head
Cairns Taipans 81-93 New Zealand Breakers, Round 9 2008.
Cairns Taipans 101-92 New Zealand Breakers, Round 6 2008.
New Zealand Breakers 111-122 Cairns Taipans, Round 4 2008.

Season Series
Taipans 2-1

Current Standings
Breakers (16-12) third, Taipans (11-17) seventh

New Zealand has lost its past five matches and desperately needs a win here to secure a top-four finish and a home final for the first time in the club’s history.

However, their task won’t be an easy one as the Cairns Taipans have nothing to lose and will be keen to finish on a positive note in what could be their last season in the NBL.

In some good news for the Breakers, star guard Kirk Penney is likely to return for this clash after missing the past two matches against the Wollongong Hawks and the Adelaide 36ers with a jarred knee.

The last time these two sides met in round nine Penney proved to be the difference between the two sides, scoring a game-high 22 points to inspire his side to a 12-point win.

Penney can turn a game on its head quickly as he showed in that round nine clash, scoring 18 of his 22 points in the second half.

Expect Cairns’ defensive specialist Aaron Grabau to be given the task of guarding Penney in what will be a crucial match-up in determining the outcome of this match.

Grabau will need to work hard to keep the ball out of Penney’s hands and also deny him the time and space to knock down the three-ball.

Don’t be surprised if Grabau, who has scored 18 and 14 points in Cairns’ past two matches, attacks the basket early and tries to get Penney into early foul trouble.

While the return of Penney is a major boost for the Breakers, he can’t get the job done by himself.

Rick Rickert and Tony Ronaldson have struggled of late while CJ Bruton has been inconsistent since returning from an ankle injury.

The Breakers will need all three to lift and provide support on the offensive end if they are going to secure a much-needed win.

While the Breakers are the highest scoring team in the league, the Taipans struggle on the offensive end with their highest score in their past four matches being 92 in the 31-point loss to the Townsville Crocodiles in round 20.

You would think that if the Taipans are going to get a win here they will have to turn this contest into a half-court grind as they simply don’t have the firepower to get involved in a shootout with Andrej Lemanis’ men.

In their last-start loss to the Gold Coast Blaze the Taipans were smashed on the boards with the Blaze winning the rebound count 48 to 35.

It is vital that the likes of Ian Crosswhite, Martin Cattalini and Gary Boodnikoff crash the boards and help the Taipans win the rebound count otherwise the Breakers will be able to get out in transition and punish Cairns on the scoreboard.

Cairns will undoubtedly battle hard and may stick with New Zealand for a quarter or two but the Breakers simply have too much to play for and their scoring depth should see them prevail quite comfortably.

This punter suggests putting your money on a Breakers’ win by 11+, offering $1.65.

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Where and When: Wednesday 11 February, State Netball and Hockey Centre, 7.30pm (AEDT)

Past Three Head-to-Head
Townsville Crocodiles 113-105 Melbourne Tigers, Round 11 2008.
Melbourne Tigers 110-97 Townsville Crocodiles, Round 6 2008.
Townsville Crocodiles 107-81 Melbourne Tigers, Round 10 2007.

Season Series
Series tied 1-1

Current Standings
Tigers (19-9) second, Crocs (17-12) third

Melbourne has seemingly little to play for as they already know that they will enter the playoffs as the No.2 seed but there is plenty at stake for the Townsville Crocodiles with a win here securing them fourth spot and an all-important home-final first up.

The last time these two sides met at The Cage Chris Anstey was damaging inside the paint, scoring 29 points and pulling down 16 rebounds while star import Ebi Ere posted a game-high 32 points.

Anstey is currently in stellar form – he scored a game-high 23 points and pulled down 11 rebounds in the Tigers’ 10-point loss to the South Dragons on Sunday.

The Crocodiles will need to deny Anstey the time and space inside the paint in which to work his magic and also keep him off the glass if they are going to secure a much-needed win.

Expect Russell Hinder to go head-to-head with Anstey in what shapes as being a crucial match-up in determining the outcome of this match.

When these two sides met in round six the Crocodiles gave up 20 offensive rebounds – a similar performance on Wednesday night will see the Tigers cruise to a comfortable victory.

Ere is the other man the Crocodiles must contain if they are going to come away with a win.

The American likes playing against Townsville – he has scored 32 and 31 points in the two clashes between these two sides this season.

Ere is capable of scoring heavily in spurts and will need to be watched closely for the full 48 minutes with underrated defender Cameron Tovey expected to be given the task of guarding the 27-year-old.

Don’t be surprised if Tovey, who has averaged just 7.9 points per game this season, is aggressive early on the offensive end and tries to get Ere into early foul trouble.

For the Crocodiles, dangerous shooters Michael Cedar and John Rillie were on-song the last time these two sides met, scoring 27 and 26 points respectively to inspire their side to an eight-point win.

With Kelvin Robertson sidelined for the remainder of the season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee, the onus will be on the likes of Brad Williamson, Rillie and Cedar to knock down their shots from beyond the arc.

If they can connect from three-point land early it will help to spread the floor and allow the Crocodiles to get their inside-outside game going.

Instrumental in Townsville’s success so far this season has been star guard Corey Williams, who is averaging 18.8 points and 4.5 assists per game.

Nathan Crosswell is expected to go head-to-head with Williams in what shapes as being yet another crucial match-up.

The Tigers will need Crosswell to deny Williams the time and space to penetrate as it will go a long way towards containing a Townsville side that is capable of scoring heavily.

This match could go either way but the Tigers rarely lose at home and should prevail in what promises to be a hard-fought contest.

The two clashes between these two sides this season have been relatively close, so with this in mind my money is on a Melbourne win by 1-10, offering $2.85.

Where and When: Sunday 8 February, Hisense Arena, 4.00pm (AEDT)

Past Three Head-to-Head
Melbourne Tigers 92-86 South Dragons, Round 20 2009.
Melbourne Tigers 98-107 South Dragons, Round 13 2008.
South Dragons 108-80 Melbourne Tigers, Round 5 2008.

Season Series
Dragons 2-1

Current Standings
Dragons 20-8 (first), Tigers 19-8 (second)

These two sides may have wrapped up the top two spots on the NBL ladder but there is still plenty to play for with minor premiership and home-court advantage through the entire post-season up for grabs.

The Tigers will head into this clash with plenty of confidence considering they have won their last eight matches but the Dragons rarely lose two matches in a row and will fancy their chances of taking the season series against the Tigers given their impressive 12-2 record at the Hisense Arena.

The last time these two sides met in round 20 Chris Anstey proved to be the difference, scoring a game-high 26 points and pulling down 10 rebounds to inspire his side to a hard-fought six-point win.

The Dragons must limit Anstey’s effectiveness inside the paint with Matt Burston expected to be given the task of matching up on Melbourne’s star centre.

Burston will need to apply immense defensive pressure and keep Anstey off the glass if the Dragons are going to be any chance of coming away with a win.

While he struggled in the last clash between these two sides, import Ebi Ere is another man the ladder leaders must contain.

Ere managed a meagre seven points and will be keen to put in a big performance against the Dragons on Sunday.

The American is capable of scoring heavily in spurts and will need to be watched closely with in-form swingman Joe Ingles the likely candidate to match-up on the former Brisbane Bullet.

Ingles will need to work hard to keep the ball out of Ere’s hands and also deny him the time and space in which to work his magic.

Expect Ingles, who scored 18 points in the Dragons’ 20-point win over the Adelaide 36ers to be aggressive on the offensive end early and try and get Ere into foul trouble.

In their last-start win over the 36ers the Dragons restricted Adelaide to a meagre 77 points and had five players in double figures while import Donta Smith chimed in with eight points.

This match could go either way but the Dragons’ scoring depth and stifling defence should see them get over the line in what promises to be yet another classic contest.

The last two matches between these two sides have been decided by less than 10 points, so with this in mind my money is on a Dragons’ win by 1-10, offering $2.80.

Where and When: Saturday 7 February, Challenge Stadium, 7.00pm (AWST)

Past Three Head-to-Head
Sydney Spirit 78-88 Perth Wildcats, Round 20 2009.
Perth Wildcats 114-84 Sydney Spirit, Round 18 2009.
Sydney Spirit 101-86 Perth Wildcats, Round 4 2008.

Season Series
Wildcats 2-1

Current Standings
Wildcats 15-13 (fifth), Spirit 11-17 (eighth)

This is a must-win match for the Perth Wildcats if they are going to be any hope of securing a top-four finish.

The Cats will enter this clash with plenty of confidence as they have disposed of the Sydney Spirit twice in the past month.

The Spirit have lost their past six matches but the Wildcats won’t have it easy on Saturday night as Rob Beveridge’s men have nothing to lose and will be desperate to finish the season on a positive note.

Matthew Knight was once again his side’s best player in the loss to the Cairns Taipans on Wednesday night with 21 points and 11 rebounds while David Gruber and Blagoj Janev chimed in with 14 points apiece.

The likes of Drew Williamson, Luke Martin and Clint Reed who all failed to fire against the Taipans need to step up offensively and provide greater support to Knight and co. if the Spirit are going to be any chance of snapping a six-game losing streak.

Perth coach Conner Henry said during the week that he was disappointed with his side’s lack of intensity in the 15-point loss to Adelaide in round 20 and questioned the defensive toughness of some of his players.

The Wildcats will be keen to redeem themselves and will apply plenty of defensive pressure from the outset.

When these two sides last met the Spirit committed 22 turnovers and connected on just eight-of 22 attempts from three-point land.

They will need to take better care of the ball on Saturday night and be more efficient from beyond the arc if they are going to break down a Perth defence that restricted them to just 78 points in round 20.

The Wildcats prevailed by 10 points in that round 20 clash thanks to a team-effort – they had five players in double figures with guards Peter Crawford and Darnell Hinson leading the way with 16 points apiece while promising youngster Chris Goulding chimed in with eight points.

The Spirit will battle hard and stick with the Wildcats for the first half but Perth’s scoring depth should prove to be the difference as the match wears on.

This punter believes the smart money is on a Perth win by 11+, offering $1.45.

Where and When: Saturday 7 February, Distinctive Homes Dome, 7.00pm (ACT)

Past Three Head-to-Head
New Zealand Breakers 86-96 Adelaide 36ers, Round 8 2008.
New Zealand Breakers 118-80 Adelaide 36ers, Round 3 2008.
Adelaide 36ers 87-70 New Zealand Breakers, Round 7 2007.

Season Series
Series tied 1-1

Current Standings
36ers 14-13 (sixth), Breakers 16-11(third)

This is a must-win match for both sides as victory would give the New Zealand Breakers their first home final in their history while a win would see the Adelaide 36ers secure a playoffs spot.

The last time these two sides met in round eight Adam Ballinger and Luke Schenscher scored 22 and 20 points respectively to inspire the 36ers to a 10-point win.

The 36ers dominated the boards in that clash, winning the rebound count 51 to 38 with Ballinger and Schenscher pulling down nine and seven rebounds respectively.

The Breakers will need to prevent the likes of Aaron Bruce and Brad Davidson from penetrating, breaking down the defence and creating high percentage shots for Ballinger and Schenscher while Rick Rickert and Oscar Forman will need to be switched on defensively and also keep Adelaide’s twin towers off the glass.

If Ballinger and Schenscher are allowed to dominate the boards then the 36ers will record a comfortable victory.

While Ballinger and Schenscher are Adelaide’s two best players, veteran Brett Maher looms as the danger man in what is his last scheduled match at the Distinctive Homes Dome.

Maher will be keen to have a big game in front of his home crowd and will need to be watched closely with Paul Henare expected to be given the task of guarding the future Hall of Famer.

Henare will need to work hard to keep the ball out of Maher’s hands and deny him the time and space to knock it down from three-point land.

For the Breakers, Tony Ronaldson and Rickert struggled offensively against the Wollongong Hawks on Friday night – Ronaldson finished with a meagre nine points while Rickert scored just two points on 1-of-10 shooting.

New Zealand will need Ronaldson and Rickert to lift and be more productive on the offensive end if they are going to be any hope of overcoming a potent Adelaide front-court that boasts Schenscher, Ballinger and import Rod Grizzard.

The 36ers are virtually unbeatable at home – they boast an impressive 11-3 win-loss record at the Distinctive Homes Dome.

Expect them to make it 12 wins at home on Saturday night with their more potent front-court and the emotion surrounding Maher’s last game at home set to be enough to get them over the line.

There is plenty at stake for both sides so you would expect this contest to be a close one, so with this in mind my money is on a 36ers’ win by 1-10, offering $2.85.

Where and When: Saturday 7 February, Cairns Convention Centre, 7.30pm (AEST)

Past Three Head-to-Head
Gold Coast Blaze 88-97 Cairns Taipans, Round 13 2008.
Cairns Taipans 102-87 Gold Coast Blaze, Round 5 2008.
Gold Coast Blaze 75-85 Cairns Taipans, Round 1 2008.

Season Series
Taipans 2-0

Current Standings
Taipans 11-16 (seventh), Blaze 6-22 (10th)

Cairns kept their slim finals hopes alive with an eight-point win over the Sydney Spirit on Wednesday night.

The Taipans need to defeat the Blaze, the New Zealand Breakers and the South Dragons and then rely on Adelaide losing their last two matches in order to make the playoffs.

Cairns has won the two matches against the bottom-placed Blaze this season but they will need to be on their game on Saturday night if they are going to make it three from three as the Gold Coast are a dangerous side when they are switched on.

The Blaze showed just how dangerous they can be last Saturday night, scoring 139 points in their 20-point victory over the Sydney Spirit.

James Harvey was the chief destroyer in the win over the Spirit with a franchise record 42 points while veteran Shane Heal chimed in with 31 points.

Harvey and Heal were both lethal from beyond the arc, knocking down eight and seven three-point attempts respectively.

Cairns’ defensive specialist Aaron Grabau looms as the likely candidate to match-up on Harvey while Darnell Mee is expected to go head-to-head with Heal.

The Taipans will need to apply plenty of defensive pressure beyond the perimeter and prevent the Blaze from moving the ball quickly on offence and creating wide open looks for the likes of Harvey, Heal and big man Pero Cameron who knocked down all of his five attempts from three-point land against the Spirit.

For the Taipans, Martin Cattalini and Ian Crosswhite have been instrumental in their side’s recent success and loom as the two men the Blaze must stop if they are going to secure a rare win away from home.

Cattalini was inspirational in the win over the Spirit with a game-high 28 points, 10 rebounds and six assists while Crosswhite played a key role in Cairns’ last win over the Blaze in round 13 with 16 points and 17 rebounds.

Blaze import Justin Bowen is a likely candidate to match-up on Cattalini with Luke Whitehead another option for Gold Coast coach Brendan Joyce while Cameron is expected to go head-to-head with Crosswhite.

If Cattalini and Crosswhite are allowed to dominate the boards it will go a long way towards securing victory for the Taipans as they will be able to dictate the tempo of the game and turn the contest into a half-court grind.

This match could go either way but Cairns’ superior defence should see them get over the line in what shapes as being a tight struggle.

This punter suggests putting your money on a Cairns’ win by 1-10, offering $2.85.

Where and When: Friday 6 February, Wollongong Entertainment Centre, 7.30pm (AEDT)

Past Three Head-to-Head
Wollongong Hawks 111-94 New Zealand Breakers, Round 16 2009.
New Zealand Breakers 114-93 Wollongong Hawks, Round 1 2008.
Wollongong Hawks 111-101 New Zealand Breakers, Round 16 2008.

Season Series
Series tied 1-1

Current Standings
Hawks 9-18 (ninth), Breakers 16-10 (third)

The New Zealand Breakers have lost six of their past seven matches and will be desperate for a win here as victory will see them secure a home-final for the first time in their history.

However, their task won’t be an easy one as the Wollongong Hawks disposed of the Breakers by 17 points the last time these two sides met at the Wollongong Entertainment Centre in round 16.

The Breakers will have to get the job done without their leading scorer Kirk Penney who jarred his knee at training on Monday.

New Zealand will need the likes of Rick Rickert, Oscar Forman and CJ Bruton, who all scored below double figures in the loss to the South Dragons last Saturday night to step up and have bigger games offensively to cover the loss of Penney, who scored a game-high 30 points in the round 16 loss to the Hawks.

In their last-start loss to the Dragons the Breakers struggled to get going early with the ladder leaders skipping out to a 10-0 lead after just two-and-half minutes.

It is vital that the Breakers start well on Friday night and take the crowd out of the equation in what is bound to be an emotional game – this is Wollongong’s second last game ever at home with the club announcing during the week that they will not be seeking a place in the re-vamped national competition next season.

For the Hawks, guard Kavossy Franklin was instrumental in the win over the Breakers with a team-high 26 points, seven rebounds and four assists.

Franklin will go head-to-head with Bruton in what shapes as being a crucial match-up in determining the outcome of this match.

Whichever guard is more aggressive on the offensive end and shows a greater willingness to get their teammates involved by penetrating and breaking down the defence should lead their side to victory.

The Breakers have struggled against the Hawks at the WIN Entertainment Centre, winning just one of eight matches at the venue.

Don’t expect that record to improve on Friday night with a parochial home crowd and an even spread of scorers – Wollongong have five players that average in double figures – set to be enough to get the Hawks over a New Zealand side that will struggle to cover the loss of Penney.

This punter suggests putting your money on a Hawks’ win by 1-10, offering $3.55.

Where and When: Friday 6 February, Townsville Entertainment & Convention Centre, 7.30pm (AEST)

Past Three Head-to-Head
Townsville Crocodiles 105-95 South Dragons, Round 16 2008.
South Dragons 88-84 Townsville Crocodiles, Round 14 2008.
South Dragons 89-91 Townsville Crocodiles, Round 2 2008.

Season Series
Crocs 2-1

Current Standings
Crocs 16-12 (fourth), Dragons 20-7 (first)

This is a must-win match for the Townsville Crocodiles if they are going to be any hope of securing a top-four finish.

The Crocodiles will enter this clash with plenty of confidence as they are the only side to defeat the ladder leaders twice this season.

Townsville is capable of blowing a game wide open in the space of a quarter and they are incredibly unpredictable as they have so many scoring options – they had had five players in double figures in the win over the Dragons in round 16 while Daniel Egan and Russell Hinder chimed in with nine points apiece.

The ladder leaders will need to switched on defensively for the full 48 minutes and prevent the Crocodiles from pushing the ball up the floor and moving it quickly on offence.

If the Crocodiles are allowed to move the ball quickly on offence they will create wide open looks for the likes of Brad Williamson, Kelvin Robertson and the in-form John Rillie who are all damaging from beyond the arc.

Brian Goorjan’s men appear to have a slight edge inside the paint with Matt Burston scoring a team-high 17 points and pulling down eight rebounds in the Dragons’ seven-point win over the New Zealand Breakers in round 20 while skipper Mark Worthington has been his side’s most consistent player, averaging 17.5 points and 6.9 rebounds per game.

It is vital that Rosell Ellis and Hinder keep Worthington and Burston off the glass and win the rebound count as it will help the Crocodiles get their running game going.

This match could go either way but Townsville’s impressive record at the Townsville Entertainment & Convention Centre – they are 11-3 at home – and their dangerous three-point shooters should prove to be the difference in what promises to be an entertaining contest.

The last three clashes between these two sides have been decided by 10 points or less, so with this in mind my money is on a Townsville win by 1-10, offering $3.75

Where and When: Wednesday 4 February, Hisense Arena, 7.30pm (AEDT)

Past Three Head-to-Head
Adelaide 36ers 100-106 South Dragons, Round 10 2008.
South Dragons 97-82 Adelaide 36ers, Round 9 2008.
South Dragons 114-119 Adelaide 36ers, Round 15 2007.

Season Series
Dragons 2-0

Current Standings
Dragons 19-7 (first), 36ers 14-13 (sixth)

This is a must-win game for Adelaide who probably need to win their last three matches if they are going to be any hope of securing a home final.

They face a tough task as the South Dragons boast an impressive 11-2 record at home while the 36ers have struggled on the road this season, winning just three of their 13 matches.

Instrumental in Adelaide’s success this season has been big men Luke Schenscher and Adam Ballinger – they will need to have big games offensively on Wednesday night if they are going to overcome a Dragons side that has won the two clashes between these two sides this season.

Matt Burston is likely to be given the task of minding Schenscher while South Dragons skipper Mark Worthington is the obvious candidate to match-up on Ballinger.

Adelaide is the best rebounding team in the competition, averaging 45.9 rebounds per game.

It is vital that Worthington and Burtson keep Ballinger and Schenscher off the glass and not give them the opportunity to get easy second chance points.

While the 36ers are the best rebounding side in the league the Dragons are the best defensive side in the NBL.

Adelaide must push the ball up the floor and move it quickly on offence otherwise they will struggle to score enough points to secure a much-needed win.

The last time these two sides met in round 10 the Dragons prevailed by six points thanks to a team-effort – they had five players in double figures while the much-improved Rhys Carter chimed in with nine points.

The 36ers will undoubtedly put up a big fight but the home-court advantage and the Dragons’ scoring depth should prove to be the difference in what promises to be a tight affair.

This punter suggests putting your money on a Dragons’ win by 1-10, offering $2.90.

Where and When: Wednesday 4 February, Sydney Olympic Park Sports Centre, 7.30pm (AEDT)

Past Three Head-to-Head
Cairns Taipans 89-83 Sydney Spirit, Round 19 2009.
Cairns Taipans 78-92 Sydney Spirit, Round 12 2008.
Only met twice

Season Series
Series tied 1-1

Current Standings
Spirit 11-16 (seventh), Taipans 10-16 (eighth)

The Sydney Spirit have lost their past five matches and will be hoping to finish the season with a couple of wins while the Cairns Taipans will be keen to bounce back after their disappointing 31-point loss to the Townsville Crocodiles in round 20.

The last time these two sides met in round 19 the Taipans prevailed by six points thanks to a brilliant performance by Ian Crosswhite, who scored a game-high 27 points and pulled down 11 rebounds.

Crosswhite is facing the NBL Tribunal after being ejected early in the loss to the Crocodiles.

The Taipans will be hoping that the former Sydney King is given the all-clear to play as he is the obvious candidate to go head-to-head with Spirit big man Matt Knight who scored a team-high 35 points in the loss to the Gold Coast Blaze last Saturday night.

The Spirit appear to have the edge inside the paint with Blagoj Janev and Dave Gruber scoring 21 and 19 points respectively in the loss to the Blaze while the Taipans rely heavily on Crosswhite and Martin Cattalini.

When these two sides met in round 19 the Spirit took five minutes to score by which time the Taipans already had eight points on the board.

It is vital that the Spirit start well on Wednesday night and try and get the crowd involved early if they are going to be any chance of snapping a five-game losing streak.

The Spirit are a much better side at home – they are 9-4 at the Sydney Olympic Park Sports Centre compared to an abysmal 2-12 record on the road.

And it is the home-court advantage and a stronger presence inside the paint that should see the Spirit prevail in what promises to be a hard-fought low-scoring affair.

This punter believes the smart money is on a Spirit win by 1-10, offering $2.85.

Where and When: Saturday 31 January, Townsville Entertainment & Convention Centre, 7.30pm (AEST)

Past Three Head-to-Head
Cairns Taipans 90-94 Townsville Crocodiles, Round 11 2008.
Townsville Crocodiles 100-96 Cairns Taipans, Round 2 2008.
Townsville Crocodiles 120-113 Cairns Taipans, Round 19 2007.

Season Series
Crocs 2-0

Current Standings
Crocs 15-12 (fifth), Taipans 10-15 (eighth)

This is a must-win match for the Townsville Crocodiles if they are going to be any hope of finishing in the top-four.

In some good news for the Crocodiles, star guard Corey Williams is expected to return after missing the win over the Wollongong Hawks last weekend due to a personal reasons.

The Crocodiles have won the two matches against Cairns this season but their task won’t be easy on Saturday night as the Taipans have been in pretty good form of late and they are bound to throw everything at Townsville on Saturday night in what could be the last ever match between these North Queensland rivals.

The Taipans will undoubtedly be physical early but it is vital that they don’t lose focus and still play basketball – failure to do will result in them being punished on the scoreboard as the Crocodiles are more than capable of piling on 40 points in a quarter.

The last time these two sides met in round 11 Williams proved to be the difference, scoring a team-high 24 points to inspire his side to a thrilling four-point win.

Williams will once again receive close attention from Cairns’ defensive specialist Aaron Grabau in what shapes as being a pivotal clash.

Grabau will need to be in Williams’ face for the full 48 minutes and not give him the time and space to penetrate, break down the defence and create wide open looks for Townville’s dangerous shooters.

For the Taipans, Ian Crosswhite and Martin Cattalini have been instrumental in their side’s recent success and they will need to have big games again on Saturday night if Cairns is going to make it four wins from five games.

If Russell Hinder and Rosell Ellis can keep Crosswhite and Cattalini quiet it will go a long way towards securing a win for the Crocodiles as the Taipans don’t exactly boast a number of players that can score 20-plus points.

The Taipans have been very competitive in the two losses to Trevor Gleeson’s men this season and they will battle hard again on Saturday night and stick with the Crocodiles for the first half but Townsville’s three-point shooters should prove to be the difference as the match wears on.

The last three clashes between these two sides have been decided by less than 10 points, so the smart money according to this punter is on a Townsville win by 1-10, offering $2.85.

Where and When: Saturday 31 January, Distinctive Homes Dome, 7.00pm (ACT)

Past Three Head-to-Head
Perth Wildcats 129-120 Adelaide 36ers, Round 13 2008.
Adelaide 36ers 93-104 Perth Wildcats, Round 6 2008.
Adelaide 36ers 82-101 Perth Wildcats, Round 18 2007.

Season Series
Wildcats 2-0

Current Standings
36ers 13-13 (sixth), Wildcats 15-12 (fourth)

There is plenty at stake for both sides in this clash with a win all but securing the Adelaide 36ers a playoff spot while the Perth Wildcats need to keep on winning if they are going to secure a top-four finish.

The last time these two sides met in round 13 Shawn Redhage starred, scoring a team-high 23 points to inspire his side to a hard-fought nine point victory.

Redhage managed just 10 points in the win over the Spirit on Wednesday night – well down on his season average of 19.3 points per game.

The 28-year-old rarely has two quiet games in a row and will need to be watched very closely with Jacob Holmes likely to be given first crack at the star forward in what shapes as being a crucial match-up in determining the outcome of this clash.

Adam Ballinger and Luke Schenscher nearly got their side over the line in the round 13 clash – the pair combined for 48 points and 18 rebounds.

With Perth skipper Paul Rogers still on the sidelines the onus will be on the likes of Alex Loughton, Ben Knight and Isiah Victor to apply immense defensive pressure inside the paint and keep Ballinger and Schenscher off the boards.

These two sides are relatively evenly matched but Adelaide’s impressive record at the Distinctive Homes Dome – they are 10-3 at home – and the size of Ballinger and in particular Schenscher should prove to be the difference.

Contests between these two traditional rivals have usually been hard-fought and with plenty up for grabs you wouldn’t expect this clash to be any different.

With this in mind, my money is on a 36ers’ win by 1-10, offering $2.85.

Where and When: Saturday 31 January, Gold Coast Convention Centre, 7.30pm (AEST)

Past Three Head-to-Head
Sydney Spirit 115-93 Gold Coast Blaze, Round 9 2008.
Gold Coast Blaze 92-98 Sydney Spirit, Round 4 2008.
Only met twice

Season Series
Spirit 2-0

Current Standings
Blaze 5-22 (10th), Spirit 11-15 (seventh)

This is a must-win match for the Sydney Spirit if they are going to be any chance of featuring in the playoffs.

One positive for the Spirit is that they are playing the bottom-placed Gold Coast Blaze – a side that they have already defeated twice this season.

Admittedly both of those wins came when the Spirit still had import Derrick Low, Julian Khazzouh and Liam Rush still on their roster.

The Spirit struggled offensively against the Perth Wildcats on Wednesday night – they managed a meagre 78 points.

Matthew Knight and veteran Jason Smith were the only players that managed to reach double figures in the loss to the Cats and they will need greater support from the likes of Clint Reed, Dave Gruber and Drew Williamson if the Spirit are going to overcome a Blaze side that is capable of scoring heavily when they are switched on.

The Blaze have been more than competitive in their past two losses to the Melbourne Tigers and the Perth Wildcats and they could have easily won both games if things had fallen their way.

Imports Justin Bowen and Luke Whitehead and skipper James Harvey were the Blaze’s best players in the losses to the Tigers and the Cats and they are the men the Spirit need to stop if they are going to secure a much-needed win.

Harvey and Bowen in particular are capable of single-handedly turning a game on its head – so their likely opponents – Smith and Reed will need to be switched on defensively for the full 48 minutes.

Don’t be surprised if the Spirit try and employ a full-court press at every available opportunity in a bid to slow the Blaze down and turn this contest into a half-court grind.

This match could go either way but the Spirit simply have too much to play for and should prevail in a tight one.

This punter suggests putting your money on a Sydney win by 1-10, offering $3.80.

Where and When: Friday 30 January, Wollongong Entertainment Centre, 7.30pm (AEDT)

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Past Three Head-to-Head
Wollongong Hawks 94-108 Melbourne Tigers, Round 18 2009.
Melbourne Tigers 128-101 Wollongong Hawks, Round 14 2008.
Wollongong Hawks 98-109 Melbourne Tigers, Round 20 2008.

Season Series
Tigers 2-0

Current Standings
Hawks 9-7 (ninth), Tigers 18-8 (second)

Melbourne will head into this clash as red-hot favourites considering they have won their past seven matches.

But this shapes as being a danger game for them as the Wollongong Hawks are out of playoff contention and have nothing to lose.

The last time these two sides met in round 18 star import Ebi Ere proved to be the difference, scoring a game-high 36 points to inspire the Tigers to a 14-point win.

Keeping Ere quiet is a must for the Hawks if they are going to record an upset win with Glen Saville likely to be given first crack at the dangerous American.

Ere has the ability to turn a game on its head in the space of a quarter – he poured in 16 of his 36 points in the third quarter – so Saville will need to be switched on defensively for the full 48 minutes and not give Ere any time or space in which to work his magic.

Even if the Hawks manage to keep Ere quiet the Tigers still have plenty of scoring power with centre Chris Anstey and swingman David Barlow in good form while Luke Kendall, Dave Thomas and Stephen Hoare are more than valuable contributors off the bench.

Barlow and Ere were particularly damaging from beyond the arc the last time these two sides met, knocking down seven and four three-pointers respectively.

The Hawks will need to improve their perimeter defence on Friday night and not allow the Tigers to move the ball quickly on offence and create wide open looks.

Wollongong was more than competitive in the loss to the Tigers in round 18 but their inability to play four quarters of consistent basketball proved to be costly with Melbourne restricting the Hawks to just 37 points in the second half.

The Hawks struggled to hit their shots from three-point range in that loss, connecting on just five-of-15 attempts.

They will need to knock down their shots from beyond the arc if they are going to be any chance of breaking down a Melbourne defence that has contained some of the best sides in the competition.

Wollongong is a different proposition at home and they will undoubtedly battle hard for two or three quarters but the Tigers have too much class and depth and should prevail quite comfortably.

This punter suggests putting your money on a Tigers’ win by 11+, offering $2.12.

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Where and When: Thursday 29 January, North Shore Events Centre, 7.30pm (NZDT)

Past Three Head-to-Head
South Dragons 115-112 New Zealand Breakers, Round 17 2009.
New Zealand Breakers 112-98 South Dragons, Round 10 2008.
South Dragons 93-104 New Zealand Breakers, Round 20 2007

Season Series
Series tied 1-1

Current Standings
Breakers 16-9 (third), Dragons 18-7 (first)

New Zealand has lost their past two to the Melbourne Tigers and will be desperate for a win here to keep their hopes of a top-two finish alive while the South Dragons have won just two of their last five and will be keen find some form with the playoffs just around the corner.

The last time these two sides met in round 17 the Dragons prevailed in a thriller, with Rhys Carter nailing a three to give his side victory in overtime.

Carter scored 25 points in the win and was well supported by skipper Mark Worthington who scored a team-high 27 points.

Worthington was also his side’s best player in the round 20 loss to the Melbourne Tigers, scoring 25 points.

However, he received little support with Adam Gibson and Matt Burtson scoring 11 and 10 points respectively while import Donta Smith managed 10 points but he only had two points to his name with just over two minutes remaining in the third term before coming to life.

The ladder leaders will need Burston, Smith and Joe Ingles who has struggled offensively of late to fire if they are going to be any hope of matching the most attacking side in the competition.

For the Breakers, star guard Kirk Penney has been in stellar form of late, scoring 28 and 23 points in the two losses to the Tigers.

Fellow guard CJ Bruton played his best game since returning from an ankle injury, scoring 29 in the loss to the Tigers on Saturday night.

But the Breakers can’t rely on their backcourt duo to get them over the line and they will need the likes of Phill Jones, Oscar Forman and veteran Tony Ronaldson to lift if they are going to secure a much-needed win.

The Dragons have one of the best defences in the competition so the Breakers will need to move the ball quickly on offence to give their multiple offensive weapons the best chance of having an impact.

This match could go either way but New Zealand’s scoring depth – they have six players that average in double figures -and the home court advantage tips this contest slightly in their favour.

Both teams have plenty to play for with a top-two spot up for grabs, so you would expect this contest to be a tight struggle.

With this in mind, my money is on a Breakers’ win by 1-10, offering $2.80.