Saps is going to player/coach the Flames?

He will be used in the case of an emergency only. Therefore I think he will be suiting up by Round 6.

Awesome write up Guru.... but who is this masked man???

Guru,
If you read an earlier thread you would have noted that the games will go ahead utilising the heat policy and a couple of other amendments. We now need the rest of your predictions. Also, do you only evaluate the mens games?

Almost completed part two.
Mens only at this stage as I am not familiar enough with the womens league.

Here's my shortened version of the rest while we wait for the Guru:

South

Best 5th: Halleran adequately replaces Scanlon and Kosmider stays fit.

Worst 8th: Panthers struggle to beat the bottom teams and struggle to consistently post winning scores.

Player to watch: McKenzie - its about time he started performing consistently at ABL (not just reserves)



Southern

Best 5th: The Bungey experiment works and the young guards play consistently.

Worst 9th: Coach Jury doesn't have the support of his players and the bitching affects the on court performance.

Player to watch: Without him they can't make the finals, with him he may cost them a finals place. All depends which Bungey they get each game.



Sturt

Best 2nd: Everyone stays fit and the Sabres improved roster works well together.

Worst 6th: They take a while to get going and just miss the playoffs.

Player to watch: Paul Bauer - just to see if he still has anything to offer - my tip is that he does and will be a boost for the Sabres if he does actually play.



West

Best 1st: Everything would have to go right for the Bearcats to finish top but you can't look at their roster and say they do not have a chance - there is a lot of talent there.

Worst 5th: The older crew have trouble staying fit and the young guys plateau after a great season last year.

Player to watch: Callier - haven't seen him here for a while (where has he been?) but he gave the Bearcats a real spark when he last played for them



Woodville

Best 6th: Cameron Wilson carries them all season and Reesy has an impact.

Worst 9th: Wilson struggles and Reesy has no impact.

Player to watch: Birmingham - can he take the next step and be more than just a shooter (ala Burdon)

Part 2.

South Adelaide Panthers
2007: 7th
Record: 7W / 11L

Greetings:
Matthew Dubrich (juniors), Justin Halleran (Canada), Brad Reid (juniors),

Farewell:
Ken Carter, Damian Coffey (retired), Matthew Davies (Southern), Agel Machar, Damian Scanlon

As with Eastern, significant off season losses will likely hurt the Panthers and with an obvious divide between the best and the worst this season, Kelly has a very tough ask to drag this team across that chasm.

Best Scenario:
Kosmider and Pilkington provide a solid, cool headed performance for 18 games allowing the likes of Hudson, McKenzie, Smith and Fuller to inject the spark. Finish 5th

Worst Scenario:
The Panthers continue to let the opposition dictate they way they play and the I in win prevents the team having any success. They probably steal 1 or 2 wins they shouldn't but balance that with losses to less favoured opponents. Finish 9th.

Player to watch:
Daniel Kosmider: A genuine veteran now, he has the ability to turn a game very quickly and is one of the best passers the Central ABL has ever had.

Southern Tigers
2007: 8th
Record: 6W / 12L

Greetings:
Shaun Bonney (juniors), Brad Bungey (Eastern), Jacob Davenport (USA), Matthew Davies (South Adelaide), Michael Florance (juniors), Michael McGreehan (juniors), Scott O'Connor (juniors)

Farewell:
Ben Beatty (Torrens Valley), David Bowley (Sturt), Matthew Clarke (Central Districts), Brad Gerlach (Forestville), Ben Hodges (retired), Tim Hodges (retired)

Wholesale changes at Morphett Vale in the off season may have a few of the loyal Tigers fans excited, but this reporter is not one of them. The Tigers would however expect to achieve better than 8th this year, even if only due to the fact that other teams have gotten worse rather than them get any better.

Best Case:
Bungey controls his mental lapses and covers the loss of Bowley and Hodges x 2 plus a bit extra. Lalic shows the benefits of working out with the 36ers and takes his game to a new level and Braithwaite returns to the form of 2006. Finish 4th.

Worst Case:
Losing becomes a habit and after several negative seasons and the loss of key players, early season optimism becomes a nightmare as the losses continue to mount. Finish 9th.

Player to watch:
Tristan Braithwaite: Never saw a shot he didn't like and when hot has the ability to make them all.




Sturt Sabres
2007: 5th
Record: 9W / 9L

Greetings:
Nathan Anderson (juniors), Paul Bauer, David Bowley (Southern), Andrew Braham (juniors), Keegan Brooksby (juniors), Chris Donaldson, Todd Gower (injury), Luke Liddiard (juniors), David Shepherd, Mitch Simmons (juniors), Nick Tamm (injury)

Farewell:
Chris Archer, Darren Ng

A long roster will only guarantee one thing for the Sabres this year, the ability to field a full team every week. Not to be dismissed as a championship contender, the Sabres are likely to improve on 2007 with the addition of some more talent. How far they go will hinge on the improvement of Dodman and Marcus Ng. The loss of Darren Ng will hurt, even if he had limited availability.

Best Case:
Marcus Ng and Dodman form a deadly 2-man combination and Gower returns to top fitness and form. The supporting cast employ basics basketball and use teamwork to overcome a slight lack of talent compared to the top 3 teams. Finish 2nd.

Worst Case:
The Sabres battle hard but lose a lot of close games and as a result miss the finals. They allow themselves to be dictated to by the opposition and cannot exploit the athletic ability of Ng and the size of Dodman. Finish 6th.

Player to watch:
Jordan Dodman: Has the size to dominate at this level and should do so this season.

West Adelaide Bearcats
2007: 4th
Record: 11W / 7L

Greetings:
Daniel Micu (NSW), Kurtis Phillips (juniors), Ben Vordermaier (juniors), Dan Zacharjak (injury), Luke Callier (NSW)

Farewell:
Stefan Hoffman, Gabriele Zappiello

David Spear will be looking to continue to build on the positive steps taken by the club last season. Any team with Blake Truslove in the middle is going to threaten to be around the mark and with players like Molitor, Spadavecchia and Cradock all a year older and wiser, anything less than finals would be considered a big failure.

Best Case:
Spadavecchia, Cradock and Molitor take the focus off Phillips who refines his role to that of a pure shooter and excels as the defense is preoccupied with containing Spadavecchia's penetration and Truslove's interior game. Finish 2nd.

Worst Case:
The Bearcats lose a few close one's then run cold mid season as a viral infection plagues the entire squad. Even if this happens, the bearcats will make the finals. Finish 5th.

Player to watch:
Chris Molitor: Has all the tools and could seriously impact the bearcats success this year if he breaks out.





Woodville Warriors
2007: 6th
Record: 8W / 10L

Greetings:
Jackson Amor-Haynes (juniors), Ben Darsow, Khoa Doan, Ryan Meakin, Ryan Pursche, Paul Rees, Jemmer Somozo (Forestville), Dominic White (juniors), Ryan Willis

Farewell:
Michael Anic-Kaliger (Queensland), Nathan Baggott, Rohan Cropley, Luke Mapunda (North Adelaide), Aaron Rice-Williams, Peter Steele (Whyalla), Ryan Wilson

Many would have been surprised with the results Woodville achieved last season but with Mapunda gone and Wilsons best years now behind him it is hard to see the Warriors classed as anything but also rans.

Best Case:
Rees is able to provide plenty of experience and puts together 18 solid games. Wilson and Birmingham are able to play 48 minutes in all 18 games and can pilot the Warriors into finals contention. Finish 6th.

Worst Case:
Rees cannot play and the lack of an interior presence means their only chance to win is against Centrals who beat them anyway on the strength of their guard rotation. Finish 10th.

Player to watch:
Gary Birmingham: Will carry a lot of the offensive load this year. Expect at least a couple of 30+ point games.

35 year old coach Wade Hampten turns 50 trying to coach Belal, Jared Younie and Rudy Dancis. All in the one team. I hope he is getting some big dollars.

Best Scenario: They all play nice and pass the ball.

Worst Scenario: They ask for rap music to be played during the games and each gets an And1 street name. Jared "Yoda" Younie. Rudy "all because of tiny" Dancis. Belal already has one.

Player to watch: Wade Hampton. He could still take all three to town and was known as a skilled player not "skilz".

when will people realise Dusty is not playing, stop listening to the coach and ask his agent.

And Brett Maher is on the Sabres required players list. Doesn't mean that either one is playing.