You're the cracker, OP

I can see Adelaide fans being annoyed with this thread.

I can see NZ, Brisbane or Sydney fans being upset with this thread, too

Probably only two teams I'd write out of contention at this stage. The other 6 could all conceivably contest the GF or indeed, win the title.

Agree that Perth and United look the two favourites though.

LOL at this thread. Perth vs runner up will not be a nail biter. Don't u know how many titles we have? How many does your team have? We also have the most fans in attendance and the most refs so good luck.

Remember last season that Melbourne was terribly inconsistent, Perth looked destined to be champs, NZ looked destined to be champs, Adelaide looked horrible... all during the regular season.

Hahahaha, I'm loving this bizarro world version of me. Keep it up.

No teams at the moment are untouchable that you could guarantee their appearance in a GF.

Perth have a good record, but many of these are home games, and we've seen how they faded against Brisbane.

Conversely, I wouldn't count out anyone from making the GF now.

Brisbane, touted to be last or second last have beaten Perth, NZ in NZ and Adelaide in Adelaide...who would have predicted that?

Cairns are bottom but they have Trimble and if Hall steps up to be even an average import, they would have won a couple of those games.

Sydney continues to tease us with what they are capable of, they could be due to take off, we don't know.

Adelaide should improve significantly when Moore is fully healthy again, add him to a beasting Sobey and DJ with a very handy Wiley, look out for that NBL!

This year is very exciting, no certainties at all.

If you think 4 out of 8 is virtually everyone then yes anon ruled most teams out!

Only teams I would rule out at this stage are Cairns, Illawarra, Adelaide and Brisbane.

Its clear that Melb and Perth are early frontrunners but along way to go so will see if others can make a run.
Sydney are a threat if they make roster adjustments. That's a big IF.

I'm sorry but I just can't buy what United are offering us this season, I'm not sure if I'm influenced by them going to overtime (instead of winning in regulation) so they are working harder than other clubs or if it's because Dwayne Russell gets excited seeing them tap the ball out of bounds and he makes watching United games draining.

I agree with a lot of the posts above, Cairns have got off to a rough start but they have some very good parts and will get better the more that they play together (so far no double headers). Trimble is a flat out baller and Newbill is close to player of the month in October.

Illawarra simply have too many players that 'have been there, done that' so I'm expecting them to improve also.

NZ are a scary team to come up against as they could win or lose by 20 any match... that game against Perth they should have led by 15 for most of the first 3 quarters.

Brisbane are still trying to find their identity and Patterson and Bairstow will become unstoppable in 2019 and Gliddon seems to be flourishing as the go to guy (which may change as the above improve) so they could be a contender for sure.

Sydney playing Perth in the grand final series was my tip prior to the season starting and that hasn't changed even if David Wear is a complete waste of court time.

Adelaide don't impress me at all, I know this talks about the refereeing but they seem more concerned with the calls or lackthereof instead of playing basketball and Drmic is a bigger headcase than Sobey. Good luck to 36ers fans but I just can't trust this team and Wiley needs to start crashing the boards.

I see the Flint Tropics making it they have a great shot at 4th place, Jackie Moon is an innovator of the game with the intro of the alley-oop and bringing back the under arm free-throws in game, they have a great starting 5 Clarence Withers and ex-NBA player Ed Monix which Jackie got for a washing machine

All jokes aside i see the Kings, Melbourne, Perth and NZ getting in the top 4 and close to the end

I think it might be Melbourne v Kings in the end but can see any mix of the 4 above

There are quite a few NBA guys and European guys who just got cut from rosters who are still quality players the Kings could bring in who would fit there style more than Wear

Randle, Cotton, Childress, Boone, Ware.

5 players who joined their teams mid season in recent years.

This is why threads like this are pretty pointless right now.

Very true LV, although out of interest I think only one of those played on a championship team, and they were the defending champions.

We have won more titles than anyone else.

Make room for championship number 9 in the cabinet. If we get home court advantage, it will be over before it starts. The refs get paid handsomely to rig games in our favour.

Fair point Paul.

Although there have been other examples, like Donta Smith replacing Cortez Groves with the South Dragons in 2009.

Another example is Lampley replacing Muursepp at the Tigers in 2008.

Donta Smith, good get, you'd still have nightmares about him I reckon!

so many cheap knockoffs these days for example reply #714449
check for the Perf Werld avatar to know that you are reading the original and best Perthworld tribute account. I mean yes fake Perf Werld is partly right we all know the refs are our buddies over here but they don't get paid handsomely lol actually they are cheap compared to a wildcats membership.

No I am the real Perf Werld! No I am the real Perf Werld! No I am the real Perf Werld! No I am the real Perf Werld! No I am the real Perf Werld! No I am the real Perf Werld!

Apart from Adelaide, Cairns & Illawara I'd say the GF is open to anyone this season

I am honoured that you guys are copying my account, but cut it out!

Donta 2009 was indeed the stuff of nightmares

Although on the flipside, 2008 was one of my best basketball memories, travelling to Sydney and then watching Lampley hit the game winner!

Grumpy old Sydney lady physically hit a Tigers fan in the row in front of me after the game. You can see it in the background of the TV footage of one of the players getting interviewed. No word of a lie.

Good times!

It's not BS. It was pretty big news in online NBL circles when it happened. LV is old school like me.

I remember back in 2009 we were in an entirely different landscape - Kings fans were the most arrogant fans back then after enduring being Violet Crumbles for so long and then getting Goorj and three-peating. So so arrogant until their club went under.

"check for the Perf Werld avatar to know that you are reading the original and best Perthworld tribute account"

♪♫♬ May I have your attention, please?
May I have your attention, please?
Will the real Perthworld please stand up?
I repeat, will the real Perthworld please stand up?
We're gonna have a problem here ♪♫♬

Someone must have the recording...

LV remember the sheer arrogance of Kings fans?

Also there was another incident in the '03 GF G2 in Perth - female Kings fan went feral on Wildcats supporters. Too long ago to remember exactly what happened. Man, how times have changed.

Marcus Timmons was one of the GOAT mid-season import signings. His 2000 grandfinal performance is still the best by a single player for a Wildcats team.

No not even close

Feaster was damn good in 2003 as well. Shame about the rest of the team.

Timmons' haul was way more valuable, we needed it vs. the mighty Titans in a three game series. Meanwhile Cotton's game was against a hapless Hawks in a best of five who were one of the worst Grand Final teams of all time along with the 2010 Hawks funnily enough.

"Marcus Timmons was one of the GOAT mid-season import signings. His 2000 grandfinal performance is still the best by a single player for a Wildcats team."

He did it in 97 with the Tigers too, the ultimate mid-season guy!

Maybe all these Tigers championships with mid season signings is telling us something. Could be an omen for Kennedy....

Even last season, many would say the injury to Prather was the moment United started turning their season around. Of course Felix didn't stay….but him and Moller were crucial in the stretch the established the team

Moral of the story- there’s plenty ahead of us in NBL 18/19! It's early days....