Its that time again, with the league edging past the halfway mark this past weekend, to look at the players who are standing tall as the stars of the NBL.
With just eight teams and almost every game fought out like a playoff encounter (it wasnt that long ago eight teams made the playoffs!) it is harder than ever to separate the depth of good players gracing hardcourts down under.
1. Cedric Jackson (191-G-86, college: Cleveland St.) 2. Ben Madgen 3. Matthew Knight 4. Kevin Lisch 5. Gary Ervin 6. Adam Gibson 7. Jonny Flynn 8. Shawn Redhage 9. Mika Vukona 10. Rhys Martin 11. Luke Nevill 12. Jamar Wilson 13. Seth Scott 14. Damian Martin 15. Ian Crosswhite
Honourable mention Corin Henry Aaron Bruce Daniel Johnson Cam Tragardh Jesse Wagstaff Anthony Petrie Adris Deleon Chris Goudling Alex Pledger Will Hudson
Best players of New Zealand NBL round 5 - May 20, 2013
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American Akeem Wright (200-SF-84) had a very impressive game in the last round for league's leader OceanaGold N. and that's him to receive a Eurobasket.com Player of the Week award for round 5.
The 28-year old had a double-double of 35 points and ten rebounds, while his team crushed Taranaki MA (#7, 2-6) with 17-point margin 110-93. It allowed OceanaGold N. to consolidate first place in the New Zealand NBL. They maintain perfect record without any lost game in the league [read more]
American Akeem Wright (200-SF-84) had a very impressive game in the last round for league's leader OceanaGold N. and that's him to receive a Eurobasket.com Player of the Week award for round 5. The 28-year old had a double-double of 35 points and ten rebounds, while his team crushed Taranaki MA (#7, 2-6) with 17-point margin 110-93. It allowed OceanaGold N. to consolidate first place in the New Zealand NBL. They maintain perfect record without any lost game in the league. The season is already in a full swing and OceanaGold N. still have not lost a single game, getting all 7 victories. In the team's last game Wright had a remarkable 60.0% from 2-point range and got seven three-pointers out of 9 attempts. He just recently signed at OceanaGold N., being already a very valuable addition to the team. Kansas State University graduate has very impressive stats this year. Wright is in league's top in points (2nd best: 22.4ppg) and averages solid 2.4spg and 50.6% FGP. Worth to mention Wright played also at Eurobasket Summer League, which helped him get the job in pro basketball.
The second most remarkable performance in last round's games was 23-year old American forward Brian Conklin (198-F-89) of Southland S.. Conklin impressed basketball fans with 31 points, 7 rebounds and 3 assists. Of course he lead Southland S. to another comfortable win outscoring slightly lower-ranked Taranaki MA (#7, 2-6) 105-83. Southland S.'s 5th position in the standings has not changed. His team lost some distance to top teams. But 4-3 record is not bad and everything may still change. Conklin is one of the most experienced players at Southland S. and has a reputation of one of team's most reliable players. He belongs to the best scorers in the league with 19.9ppg (#5). He also registered 9.9 boards per game.
The third best performed player last round was American Brian Greene (196-G/F-83, agency: Hart Sports Mngm) of HBS Bank Hawks (#6). Greene showcased his all-around game by recording 19 points, eleven rebounds (!!!) and six assists in the last round. Despite Greene's great performance HBS Bank Hawks lost 88-90 to slightly lower-ranked Super City R. (#8, 1-6). But his team cannot count on just a single player as he also needs help of the other teammates. The chances of HBS Bank Hawks not to end season at such low position in the league, however are less than slim as they have already lost 4 games, recording just two victories. With bigger assistance of his teammates, Greene could try to bring HBS Bank Hawks' a little bit higher in the standings. Greene has individually a great season in New Zealand. After only 6 games, he made it on the list of the league's leaders in points with 19.2ppg (6th best) and rebounds with 9.0rpg (5th best). He also has 2.5spg and FGP: 57.1%.
Other top performing players last week: 4. Benny Anthony (198-F-88) of OceanaGold N. - 22 points, 13 rebounds and 4 assists 5. Josh Pace (196-G/F-83) of Nelson G. - 19 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists 6. Brian Conklin (198-F-89) of Southland S. - 23 points, 8 rebounds and 2 assists 7. Antoine Tisby (203-F/C-83) of OceanaGold N. - 19 points, 11 rebounds and 2 assists 8. Link Abrams (195-F-73) of Taranaki MA - 19 points and 7 rebounds 9. Antoine Tisby (203-F/C-83) of OceanaGold N. - 17 points and 13 rebounds 10. Akeem Wright (200-SF-84) of OceanaGold N. - 22 points, 7 rebounds and 2 assists
The Player of the week is chosen based on efficiency calculation, but also including game result, importance of the game, if played recorded double-double/triple-double, etc. The efficiency formula is a combination of various formulas used by different basketball organizations/leagues. We got involved many basketball scouts and journalists to assure it's accuracy. The formula: 1.5*PTS + 3* (REB+AST+ST+BL-TO) - 2*BSAG - 4*PF + 3*PFRV + 4* (2FGPM+3FGPM) + 1.5*FTM - 3* (2FGPA-2FGPM) - 3* (3FGPA-3FGPM) - (FTA-FTM)
Nelson Giants defeated the Waikato Pistons 89-75 in the opening game of round 5 of the NBL. The Giants looked to be cruising to a comfortable win late in the third quarter as they led 71-51 but a 15-1 run from the Pistons changed that. With 6:09 remaining in the game the Pistons trailed by just six points, 72-66 but that was as close as they would get [read more]
Nelson Giants defeated the Waikato Pistons 89-75 in the opening game of round 5 of the NBL. The Giants looked to be cruising to a comfortable win late in the third quarter as they led 71-51 but a 15-1 run from the Pistons changed that. With 6:09 remaining in the game the Pistons trailed by just six points, 72-66 but that was as close as they would get. Imports Erron Maxey, 22 points and Josh Pace, 19 points steadied the ship and with Brooke Ruscoe contributing 16 points the home team closed out the game. Mika Vukona only scored 6 points but he did snare a game high 14 rebounds. Tai Webster with 23 points was the best of the Pistons while new import Garrius Holloman (198-F-89, college: Beth.-Cookman) scored 20 points although he did require 25 shots for that output. Southland Sharks put together a strong performance, the game all but over by half time, the Sharks ahead of the Taranaki Mountain Airs 56-32 and eventually cruising to a 105-83 win. Import Brian Conklin (26 points) in his first year out of St Louis University continues to impress on his way to a season high 31 points. The eagerly anticipated matchup between Conklin and Taranaki star Kenny Gabriel did not eventuate as Gabriel fouled out in just 14 minutes playing time and with a mere 5 points to his name. Reuben Te Rangi also had a season best 26 points, he and Conklin combining for an eye catching 18 from 21 (86%) from the field. Senior players Aaron Bailey-Nowell (22pts) and Link Abrams (19pts) worked tirelessly for Taranaki. The Airs were faced with an equally tough task the following night when they took on the table topping Otago Nuggets in Dunedin. They made a much better fist of things in their second outing of the weekend trailing just 48-42 at half time. However, the Nuggets put their foot down in the third period winning the quarter 36-24 and going on to win 110-93. Kenny Gabriel made up for his lapses the previous day leading the Taranaki scoring with 21 points. Otago were without influential guard Hayden Allen but still possessed too much fire power for Taranaki. Akeem Wright dominated proceedings with 35 points, 10 rebounds, 3 blocks and the NBLs leading scorer BJ Anthony chimed in with a double double of his own (22 points/13 rebounds). Point guard Mark Dickel dished off 12 assists as the Nuggets claimed their sixth straight win. Billed as the game of the round the southern derby between the Southland Sharks and the Otago Nuggets, both teams playing their second game of the weekend, turned into a rather one sided affair. The Nuggets established a 27-10 first quarter advantage and although the lead was trimmed to eight points (43-35) by half time the Sharks were unable to mount a sustained comeback and the Nuggets eased to their seventh straight win,95-66, to distance themselves from the chasers at the top of the NBL ladder. Once again Wright (22 points) and Anthony (20 points) led the way for the Nuggets. Brian Conklin (23 points) and Kevin Braswell (21 points) scored two thirds of the points for the Sharks but young Reuben Te Rangi went from the penthouse to the outhouse in the space of 48 hours. Outstanding against Taranaki, shooting 10 from 15 from the field (4 from 8 threes) on his way to 26 points he shot 1 from 10 from the field against Otago. The only game played in the North Island in this round pitted the winless James Blond Super City Rangers against the Bay Hawks played in Auckland. As usual the Hawks were without their captain Paora Winitana for a Sunday fixture but Jarrod Kenny was also missing injured and perhaps more significantly coach Tab Baldwin was serving a suspension for being ejected from the Taranaki game in round 3. The Rangers sniffed the opportunity of an upset and in an exciting game where the lead changed no fewer than 31 times, the Rangers eventually prevailed 90-88. The Rangers were well served by rookies Patrich Bolstad and Shea Ili who both scored 11 points in the first half to help their team to a narrow 52-49 advantage. The second half had numerous momentum swings, unsportsmanlike fouls, missed free throws both teams shooting less than 50% from the line and key players in foul trouble. With 2:40 remaining in the fourth quarter Balstad missed a pair of free throws to give the Rangers a four points advantage. The Hawks swooped and Everard Bartlett nailed a three followed by a Dion Prewster and one to give the visitors an 88-84 advantage with 1:50 remaining. The outstanding Johnny Fesolai (22 points/13 rebounds) reduced the arrears but when Prewster was fouled and presented with two free throws and an opportunity to extend the Hawks advantage it looked as if the Rangers endeavors would go unrewarded. Surprisingly, Prewster (18 points) who had had a fine game missed both shots and left the door ajar. First Fesolai climbed through it to tie the scores then Carl Buck (14 points) nailed a pair of free throws and although the Hawks had the final possession the Rangers were not to be denied.
The Fico Finance Nelson Giants move to second spot, after defeating the ADVICE FIRST WAIKATO PISTONS 89-75, while in Invercargill the Zero Fees Southland Sharks have their fourth win of the season, dispatching the GOOD HOME TARANAKI MOUNTAIN AIRS 105-83.
ERRON MAXEY continued his hot form scoring twenty two points, while fellow American JOSH PACE collected 19 points and nine rebounds [read more]
The Fico Finance Nelson Giants move to second spot, after defeating the ADVICE FIRST WAIKATO PISTONS 89-75, while in Invercargill the Zero Fees Southland Sharks have their fourth win of the season, dispatching the GOOD HOME TARANAKI MOUNTAIN AIRS 105-83.
ERRON MAXEY continued his hot form scoring twenty two points, while fellow American JOSH PACE collected 19 points and nine rebounds.
Pistons guard TAI WEBSTER had a game high 23 points, but it was another slow start for the visitors as they were down 15 at half time.
Nelson would extend their lead to 19, but a late rally by Waikato in the fourth quarter, managed to close the gap to only six points with still five minutes remaining.
After a time out, the Giants regrouped and put a halt to the Pistons momentum, pushing their lead back up to double-digits, sealing win number five for the season.
League leading rebounder ZACK ATKINSON had a solid double-double of 14 points and 11 rebounds, but Giants MIKA VUKONA replied with fourteen rebounds of his own.
It is the Pistons fifth loss of the season and they will play their fourth straight road next week, which will be against the Mountain Airs, who have had back to back twenty plus point losses.
It was not the start to the double down south the Airs were hoping for, as the Sharks outplayed them on every facet.
Sharks import Brian Conklin (198-F-89, college: St.Louis) was impressive scoring 31 points and only missed two field goals (12/14 FG), while Breakers development player REUBEN TE RANGI had 25 points, making four of eight three pointers.
Round Three player of the week KENNY GABRIEL had limited minutes due to foul trouble, eventually fouling out in fourteen minutes, only scoring five points.
It was also a tough night for JACK LEASURE who was held to 11 points, going 5-for-15 from the field.
Taranaki will now move on to Dunedin to face the red hot OCEANAGOLD NUGGETS tomorrow night, while the Sharks will have a night off before they also travel to play the Nuggets in arguably the game of Round Five.
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