Agreed, Trimble isn't a winner. Would be great to see an All Star game, imports v Australian/NZ lineup. I think it would be competitive:

PG: Sobey
SG: Goulding
SF: Creek
PF: Kay
C: Bogut

I think an Aussie/Kiwi team would get hammered by imports.

Really? I'd back this team in:

Bogut/Johnson
Kay/Newley
Creek/McCarron
Goulding/Sobey
Lisch/Martin

I'd have Hopson in over Patterson.

On this topic, could this be the first time ever we have an All NBL team without an Aussie?

I'm tipping Creek makes the 1st team and Kay makes the 2nd team, but you never know.

If Kay made the first team, then Patterson and Hopson would make the 2nd team. Oliver might get in ahead of Bogut or Johnson at the 5, and then you have the backcourt- probably Machado/Ware and Newbill?

Hopson starts at SG for NZ currently and occasionally slides to SF, Delaney and Ashley cover the 4 spot.
Not sure what bearing Kay making the team would have on Hopson's selection considering he's a PF.

Typically the teams include 2 guards, 2 forwards and a 5- this is why Kay is relevant.

Hopson is playing SG, you're right

I still think of him as an SF, as that's where he was playing before his injury, when Hampton and Webster were there - is Hampton returning soon? If so, Hopson will play out much of the remainder as a 3 and be considered a 3 for team selections.


The guards - Cotton is a guaranteed 1st team selection. Ware/Machado should be the next 2. Newbill is the 4th. Sobey, Goulding still a chance too?

Forwards- Creek, Kay, Patterson and Hopson a clear top 4. If Hopson considered a guard, then I'm not sure who would be next- White? Griffin?

5 - Long, Oliver then Bogut and Johnson

Real chance we only have 2 Aussies in the 10 players selected for All NBL teams IMO. That's historically low levels.

There's never been an all import All NBL team. This includes the days where there were 3 all NBL teams.

Actually Tate is another serious prospect at the forward spot.

Kay isn't even guaranteed a spot in either team, with Patterson, Tate and Hopson all around the mark. Plus Creek clearly the best forward.

So again, Kay and Creek are the only two Aussies who look likely at this point.

It's been awhile since Perth signed an import with previous NBL experience ( Redhage, Timmons and VanDyke spring to mind)
Hopefully they go after Machado and or Oliver.

I think most of Perth's recent imports have been just fine, Cotton, White, Prather, Ennis, Beal, Lisch over the past decade!

If United does continue their habit of poaching imports, Machado would be a lovely signing to replace Trimble!

"Typically the teams include 2 guards, 2 forwards and a 5- this is why Kay is relevant. "

Perhaps, but that's not how the team is selected.
There are two frontcourt players, and 3 backcourt. so regardless of what labels we attach, it comes down to how they play and how that is categorised for the purpose of this selection.
Also remember that it's an acknowledgment for the player, not the formulation of an actual teams. Hence I suspect Creek will be selected in the frontcourt, and that would probably exclude Kay.
So, with that in mind, my tip is:
Long
Creek
Cotton
Machado
Roberson

if I were picking the team, no problems, it would be:
Long
Kay
Creek
Cotton
Machado

[Perhaps, but that's not how the team is selected.
There are two frontcourt players, and 3 backcourt.]

You're right but I think they'll still look at team balance and put in a 3 man or a swingman (e.g. Patterson or Hopson) instead of having 3 point guards

If it was purely the best 3 outside players, then it might be Cotton, Ware, Machado but I'll bet you that doesn't happen

They did put Randle and Ware in a couple of years ago but they won't pick a team that's ridiculously out of balance

I could be wrong, I'm just basing my prediction on the teams of the past 6 years

I understand what you are seeing, and personally I agree. I prefer to pick using the old 1-5 criteria. As such I would have Machado, Cotton, Creek at the 3, Kay at 4 (narrowly ahead of Oliver) and Long at 5.

They have picked unbalanced teams. Last years 2nd team had 3 PGs and 2 centres.
But what's interesting is the way they they shuffle around SFs: Childress, Prather, and Tokoto have all been named outside players,jet Craig was named Inside. So it will depend where they slot Creek.

Machado
Cotton
Patterson
Oliver
Long