NBL 2014/15 Power Rankings: November
At the end of each and every month of the NBL season, #TeamPnR’s NBL writers will sit down and explore a range of factors and end up with a list going 1 through 8 which ranks every team in the competition. At the end of November, the results are as follows:
1. New Zealand Breakers (9-3)
Last Month: 2nd
This Month: 5-1
Top of the NBL ladder, top of the PnR Power Rankings. It’s a nice view from up here for Breakers fans!
Despite Tom Abercrombie sitting on the sidelines, the only NZ based team have once again taken the competition by storm, much like their Triple Crown days only a few years ago.
Action (Cedric) Jackson is leading the charge and Most Improved candidate Corey Webster is shooting the lights out of Vector Arena and opposition gyms.
We all know the team at the top of the perch are hunted until shot down. How long can the Breakers stay top of the table?
2. Melbourne United (6-5)
Last Month: 7th
This Month: 5-2
Melbourne was very close from going second bottom in October to the top of the Power Rankings in November. A mighty hot month of basketball thanks to the team finally starting to gel together.
A string of home games plus a big 39 point victory in Adelaide meant that the newest (debatable) franchise has started their push for a finals berth.
Jordan McRae leads the league in scoring at a clip over 22ppg (22.36 to be exact) and will continue to do so if his jump shot is dropping on a consistent basis.
The next month could be a make or break for United as they tackle New Zealand/Perth head on to claim the top of the NBL tree.
How much will Stephen Dennis’ impact continue their winning ways?
3. Perth Wildcats (8-3)
Last Month: 3rd
This Month: 5-2
These guys in red just keep winning don’t they? Subtly flowing grabbing W’s one after another, not gaining too much attention in the early parts of the season.
While DeAndre Daniels has flown under the radar, in which the Wildcats have done a pretty good job hiding the fact he’s possibly underperforming.
Jermaine Beal has become a contender for the Most Valuable Player in a season where he’ll probably lead the league in 3PM.
Don’t be surprised to see the Wildcats lead the league once December is done and dusted, while not making a fuss about it at all.
4. Cairns Taipans (8-4)
Last Month: 1st
This Month: 3-4
While their perfect NBL season came crashing down in early November, it also created a continuous skid which was savoured late on in the month.
Losses to New Zealand, Melbourne and Sydney left the team pondering indeed where they were at with their progression, before a tough outing against the lowly Wollongong regrouped the Snakes.
With Scottie Wilbekin settling down after his professional debut, the focus has now turned to his supporting cast to lend a hand. The trio of Cameron Gliddon, Alex Loughton and Cameron Tragardh have all stood up at different times to lead a Cairns outfit desperate to stay in the hunt.
5. Sydney Kings (5-5)
Last Month: 6th
This Month: 4-3
His name is Josh Childress. Wait, you’re telling me I have to talk about a team called the Sydney Kings at the 5 spot and not just an individual?
The Kings are heavily relying on their MVP in JChillin and boy is he lighting up the NBL. At 22ppg, Childress is marginally behind just Jordan McRae scoring wise in the league.
He’s had multiple massive games this month; however the one everyone will remember is the victory against the Sixers where he finished with a whopping 36 points, 19 rebounds, seven assists and five blocks. What a game for the ages!
In December, look for Angus Brandt, Jason Cadee and Kendrick Perry to all step up and lend a hand as the Sydney Kings are primed to pick off some major scalps.
6. Townsville Crocodiles (4-7)
Photo taken from the Townsville Bulletin
Last Month: 4th
This Month: 2-4
Led by Brian Conklin averaging 17.5ppg, the Crocs are starting to find their true position within the NBL.....and it’s not near the top.
While Brian Conklin is putting up points, Mickell Gladness is swatting shots left, right and centre. So how come the NBL isn’t showing Gladness leading the blocked shots category? Well that’s a whole different story and AndTheFoul.net chimes in on that disagreement here (and we agree!).
At 4-7 the Crocs will be scrambling to get to .500 through December, however tough games against Melbourne, Cairns and New Zealand stand in their way sandwiched between two games against Adelaide. Massive month coming up.
7. Adelaide 36ers (3-7)
Last Month: 5th
This Month: 1-5
Adelaide was the talking point throughout early November as they were the winners in the Brock Motum sweepstakes. However, this certainly didn’t pan out as expected as the Sixers have found themselves digging a hole since Motum’s arrival.
Winless in four games while Brock has seen minutes means that it may take some time for Motum to fit into the system and that he’s just been running around trying to make plays for himself instead of running specific plays. The returning Mitch Creek and Jamar Wilson will certainly help somewhat so do look for a couple of wins from Adelaide leading up to Christmas.
8. Wollongong Hawks (2-11)
Last Month: 8th
This Month: 1-5
The Hawks were 0-5 in November before taking care of the Townsville Crocodiles for the second time this season. The backcourt issue of playing Jahii Carson and Gary Ervin on the court at the same time is continuously a coaching debate and this needs to be resolved much sooner rather than later.
For Wollongong going forward, it’s looking far less likely that this season we will witness another fantasy Hawks turnaround mid-season. This means that going into the new year the Hawks players will be playing for contracts for the future seasons, with Gordie McLeod needing to start shaking up the roster instead of keeping the same core year in, year out.