Red74
Years ago
NBL1-West Round 1 Mens preview and predictions
FRIDAY
WOLVES v EAGLES
Eagles return with the same squad from WWC 2020 with the exception of arguably their best player in Shaq Maharaj who has moved to NBL1-South. Wolves, once again return full of fire-power. Jonathon Wade, an American married to an Aussie was sitting over in Melbourne when Coach Summerville placed the call and got him over. Joel Vaiangina is back after an aborted 2020 season as well as the core group from the last 5-6 years. This aint gonna be pretty.
Wolves by 40.
MAGIC v SLAMMERS
Mandurah have lost Tom Atkinson to the Giants after a breakout WWC in 2020, however gain Brian BC Carwell along with the returning Ben Smith and Jerami Grace. With the WWC under the belts of the youngsters coming through at the Magic, lets hope Coach Trahair's team has a marked improvement and sets his sights on the playoffs. As with the Womens team there are only a handful of players on the roster tracker for the Slammers and unless Wortho and Fitch pull on the jerserys and wind back the clock, this will be a LONG season.
Magic by 20.
COUGARS v FLAMES
As with the womens team, the Cougars have loaded up in 2021. In comes Josh Hunt, Nic Pozoglou and the rumoured signing of Travers. If he has signed, I would imagine we wont see him until June/July at the earliest. Coach Petrik has loaded up with the return of Hire, Godfrey as well as the signing of the "Bassendean Bully" Tom Jervis and Hussey. Hoops.com rumors have said that Hussey is stuck in the USA with his wife and wont be returning. A big loss considering Jervis wont play until June/July and Hire will pop in and out as he balances his great work at “A Stitch in Time” charity.
Cougars too strong and win by 20.
SENATORS v REDBACKS
Senators are one of the luck teams with their import still in the country in Justin King. The usual suspects return led by Cody Ellis after their 2020 WWC Championship. Coach CJ returns for season 2 at Spiderland and have added Louis Timms from Kalamunda and his son Denzel Jackson from College. Marshall Nelson is still overseas earning a living and wont be back any time soon. This should be a good up-tempo game and close at the end. Im giving it to the home team.
Senators by 4.
SATURDAY
SLAMMERS v SENATORS
Senators to go 2-0 by the end of the night. Nuff said.
EAGLES v MAGIC
Magic will be 2-0 by the end of the night. Nuff said.
TIGERS v LIGHTNING
Coach Nener reportedly has the Tigers purring nicely while adding Michael Vigor after the loss of Lewis Thomas to the Hawks. The Lightnings 2 imports haven’t left Australia since the end of WWC in Bowie and Isenbarger and have the returning Armour from injury. With Shervill to return after Wildcats commitments, it would be expected that this group will push deep into the finals.
Tonight, Lakeside will win with the run and gun 3 point shooting imports.
Lakeside by 14.
GIANTS v HAWKS
Giants are, in my opinion, a dark horse for the Championship. Adding Atkinson, Pesava, Kuany, H Cummings and Creek they run deep and expectations should be high out on Hay St. The usual suspects return to Bendat along with Wildcats DP and former Lakeside Lightning player Andrew Ferguson along with Lewis Thomas from Willo. With these two additions Coach Parsons gets rim protection that he has been missing for years and front court help to the evergreen Purser. However, they don’t run as deep on the bench as the Giants.
Giants at home to win by 14.
