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Years ago
NBL 2014-15 Season Like Speed Dating!
The 2014-15 NBL season will be the sports equivalent of speed dating.
Each side will play 28 games in a little over four months.
Last season, the champions, the Perth Wildcats, started their season on October 11 and played their last home and away fixture on March 23.
This coming season, the Cats' start date is just one day earlier (October 10) but the season will be played over just 20 weeks. Perth's last game is on February 22.
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The finals will start on Thursday, February 26, with the grand final scheduled for Friday, March 13.
The condensing of the season has been done in a bid to make Australia a more attractive option for import players.
"This is a great opportunity for the National Basketball League to take the sporting spotlight in Australia by avoiding clashes with other major codes," said Wildcats managing director Nick Marvin.
“Feedback from our trips to the USA suggests that playing more games per week makes the competition a more attractive option to elite talent from America and overseas.”
The Cats will start their season with three home games, including the first-up clash with New Zealand where the Perth side will unfurl their 2013-14 championship banner. That game will be played on the first of eight Friday night games in Perth.
The season will again comprise of 112 home and away fixtures and include mid-week games in some markets.
“The players have made it clear they want to be playing games more regularly. The fans want to see more basketball. This helps cater to the feedback we have received,” NBL chief executive Fraser Neill said.
The 2014/15 draw introduces a Boxing Day game in Sydney. Due to its success last season, New Year's Eve games have again been scheduled in Cairns, Townsville and Wollongong.
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/sport/basketball/fixtures-nbl-season-like-speed-dating-for-perth-wildcats-20140613-zs6jr.html#ixzz34rmb95U9
