ABBA They predicted it in 1980. The winner takes it all, the loser standing small.

I think Melbourne will.
I hope Perth will.
Sydney an outside chance.

Anon 121.

Sadly I got all the references.

People predicting Kings in the GF need to remember that they would ned to win a SF series, with Gaze coaching.
Their chances of even getting that far rest on their ability to replace Wear. If they can bring in a stud 4 to partner Bogut, and leave Kickert as the backup 4/5, they'll go to another level. But the rumour is the money tap has been turned off?
I guess this will be the proof of that rumour, whether or not they can afford to replace the worst import in the league.

I think Melbourne have to be favourites at this point.

Still an open comp.

Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney & Perth should qualify for semis.

If Sydney replace Ware they're a chance and top 4 looks pretty even.

If Brisbane get a gun third import pg they’ll have someone to drive the bullet train to the grand final series.

If Perth don’t get a third import the others are still a chance and the top 4 looks pretty even.

"Everyone’s a winner baby, that’s the truth."

People need to realize that Gaze might be coaching Sydney but Bogut is now coaching Gaze to coach Sydney. So Bogut is coaching Sydney. Gaze is just pulling funny faces and doing interviews (and doing what Bogut says). So Sydney are definitely a chance.

Barring injury to Ware, Melbourne would have to be the favourite now.

Great insight there anon.

Still going with Melbourne.

Recent moves and non-moves make this thread relevant again.

Sydney- does Turner shore up their chances of winning finals series?

Perth- does their third import inaction result in missing finals, or just making their semi opponent have an easier run into grand final series?

Adelaide- will a Moore replacement occur, and can they still make finals?

Melbourne- can Boone do enough in finals to get them over the line.

Brisbane- look good to me, but no big impact point guard. Gibson could be an X factor if he gets up enough for finals. He doesn't need to play big minutes, but if he can add composure at the crucial times he could win finals for them.

New Zealand- can Ili perform and lead his team in finals?

My prediction:
Perth will squeak into finals with a couple more wins on the back of Cotton.
Sydney and Melbourne will finish 1&2, probably with Sydney on top.
Brisbane will finish 3rd or 4th.

Whoever is seeded against Perth will have an easier run through semi final series. Both Sydney and Melbourne would benefit from this, and therefore be a good chance go 2-0 to start grand final series. Hard to beat either of those teams when you’re down 2 to start a final series.

Conclusion: either Sydney or Melbourne will win it all by finishing in top 2. Whichever team plays Perth in GF series will be the winner. For you betting types, maybe try to get on as soon as we know who’s gonna lay SF against Perth.

On the other hand, the whole comp has been unpredictable, so I’m very likely to be completely wrong.

Not Sydney I can't see them beating Melbourne or Brisbane in a series and possibly not Adelaide either.

I really have no idea who wins it all now. Anyone who claims to be able to predict this season's champion is either a genius or totally delusional.

I posted this in today’s game thread:

"Good game, might actually turn our season around. Still no clear favourite for the tittle."

Correct.

"Adelaide form team atm but still to much up and down from every team."

Have to disagree there. Adelaide too unpredictable and inconsistent, just like the other 7 teams. Hence why there's no clear favourite.

I had thought that the winner would be the team that finished 1st or 2nd, with the advantage to whichever of those played Perth in semis. But now Sydney or Melbourne might stumble over the line in 1st or 2nd, and still lose to Perth in semi final series.

Bullet train looks good, but they’re still not as consistent as you’d want them to be in the lead-in to finals.

Still plenty of interest in the season, and the finals could result in any of the 4 winning the title. This is great for generating interest in the league from casual or general audiences.

I think Melbourne are still the best team, and with a winning coach.
However what today's game showed is just how thin they are at the 1 & 4.
No Ware would literally mean no Melbourne. And they really struggle when Barlow is off the court.

On the face of it, Sydney should be able to beat them, but the question is whether Gaze can get the best of Vickerman???

#Bump

Anyone brave enough to predict it now???

#bump

Anyone brave enough to make a prediction now?

Melbourne are looking the least vulnerable, but too many of their important players are older and might suffer with successive finals series.

Perth seem to be recovering, but it's only been a few good games, and quality guard stocks are thin.

Sydney= vulnerability personified, not enough space to outline all the reasons.

Brisbane, might struggle to make the 4.

Adelaide, will struggle to make the 4.

Illawarra= the mathematical top 4 possibility now.

NZ= gone.

Cairns= never were.

No team has consistently impressed me in 2019. I think Melbourne will repeat, but they could just as easily lose in the semis.

Even if Sydney lose tomorrow, Perth have a couple of tough games at home versus Adelaide and in Melbourne to finish the season. Not home and hosed yet by any means. Sydney have a Cairns game up their sleeve but really need a win tomorrow for a realistic shot at #1... but if Adelaide finish 4th, not sure which of the top 3 would be enthusiastic about facing them first.

Adelaide have 1 game up on Bris.

But NBL app has them on same % (1.01).

Can Brisbane rely on finishing the season with a higher % than Adelaide? Most here thought Brisbane were ahead in the race for 4th because of % and run home.

If Adelaide can beat either Perth or Melbourne, they finish 4th. If they lose very narrowly and Brisbane beat. NZ very narrowly, that % gap might need calculating to a few more decimal places.

Interesting, but would you be tipping either team to win semi final if they limp into 4th place?

But do they have the points correct???

If Mlelbourne beat adelaide melbourne win it all..if not who knows

1650 AEDT

MU win against Adelaide

If Perth beat Sydney, they move to 1st
If Sydney beat Perth, they move to 1st

If Perth win today, are they guaranteed top 2?

Getting more interesting.

If United wins their last 2, they will finish 1st unless Sydney has two massive wins

If Perth wins today and then beats Adelaide, they'll finish top 2.

If Sydney wins their last 2 they'll finish on top, and they'll finish first if United drops either of their last 2

Adelaide finishes 4th if they beat Perth. If they lose, they'll finish 4th only if Brisbane loses at home to NZ

Plenty still to happen. Every game changes the equation!

That was meant to say...

Sydney wins their last 2 they'll finish TOP TWO, and they'll finish first if United drops either of their last 2

My eyes rolled all the way under the couch and I can't find them...

Melbourne

If Perth don't win it; it will be a choke on their part.

"..If Perth get Norton back and play their best then maybe they could challenge but I still couldn't see them winning a series."

How couldn't you see them winning a series? Yet will have home advantage on a semi, and a great chance of having home advantage - How does anyone beat them at RAC Arena?

No one is clear favourite where there is LV type daylight between top and everyone else.

So far this season Home Court isn't as safe as that, you still need to show up.

Perth lost to Cairns and were well on their way to losing to Sydney before some missed dunks from Bogut and Turner, followed by some unlikely threes from Martin and Kay and of course Cotton heroics.

"Perth would have lost were it not for the fact that they played better".

Well when you put it that way...

I have said Melbourne all season but it's not too late to change my mind is it :)

Perth were $6 for the title at start of season

That was easily the best bet, but I decided against it out of principle

Decided that winning money from a Perth win would've made me feel too dirty

Wrong

United deserved to lose- you can't shoot 4 from 27 from 3 and expect to win a playoff game

(Just repeating that, since you must've missed the first 3 or 4 times I said it)